Holding to the Profession of Faith
There is a book of the New Testament that is designed to inspire Christians to hold fast to the profession of faith. That book is the great book of Hebrews. One of the key passages of the book is Hebrews 10:23: “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised).”
First century Jewish Christians, to whom this book was originally written, needed encouragement to be faithful to the Lord. The church was being persecuted, and many were tempted to leave Christianity and return to their former religion of Judaism. This is why the writer admonished: “hold fast the profession of our faith.”
What is the “profession of our faith”? Many translations read, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope” or similar language. Instead of “profession,” these other translations use the word “confession.”
But what is the “confession” we are to make? In becoming a Christian, there is a confession to be made: “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10). The confession under consideration is the one that Peter made, stating, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). It is upon that confession that Jesus would build His church (Matthew 16:18). That is the confession that sinners made at baptism (cf. Acts 8:37), that Jesus is the Son of God.
With these thoughts in mind, consider again the question, “What is the ‘profession’ of our faith?” At a minimum, involved in this “profession” is the “confession” that Jesus is the Son of God. This confession is at the center of Christianity and without it, there would be no Christianity. Christians are to love, obey, serve, worship, and follow Christ because He is the Son of God. In becoming a Christian one must believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and one must continue to believe that confession throughout the Christian life (cf. I John 5:13).
Do you know why there are those who are hypocrites, claiming to be Christians but living in sin, bringing shame upon the very name Christian? It is because they were never truly convinced that He is the Son of God, or their faith has become so weak they have ceased to have a sincere faith in Christ? The reason some are lukewarm, reckless in attending worship services, neglectful in their duties as a Christian is that they do not have a strong faith in the Son of God!
If you have made the “confession of faith,” do you still believe it? Does your life reflect a strong faith that Jesus is the Son of God? These are questions we all need to consider. So…Christian…hold fast the profession of faith!
