Don't Forsake Meeting Together

February 25th, 2026
by Lance Waldie

Hebrews 10:19-25 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

In light of what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross and His subsequent resurrection from the dead—and after His ascension into the heavenly sanctuary as the High Priest who sat down at the right hand of God the Father, having completed His work of redemption—and given that He intercedes for His people at the right hand of God the Father (7:25; cf. Rom. 8:34), Christians can now live free from our guilty consciences and approach God with boldness.

In vv. 22, as previously noted, the Hebrews author makes one of three applications, namely “let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” The second application he gives is in v. 23: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Again, the present active verb “let us hold fast” indicates a perpetual, ongoing action. In this case, “hold fast” (Gr. katechō) means to “stick firmly; to possess.” And what is the Christian to stick firmly to but “the confession of our hope.” A “confession” (Gr. homologia) refers to an open belief, creed, or opinion—in this case the Christian confession of the doctrine of God through Jesus Christ. Holding fast such a confession is to be done “without wavering”—with firm determination. Why? “For He who promised,” namely Jesus, “is faithful.” In other words, the application of v. 23 is to remain faithful to our faithful Savior and Lord. Since hope is the anchor of the soul (6:19), Christians can and must hold confidently to their hope in Christ, for they can rely on the fact that God will indeed fulfill His promises.

A third application in response to what Jesus Christ accomplished as our great High Priest is found in vv. 24-25: “Consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds… encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” The author adds to this, warning those who isolate themselves from the Church, saying, “…not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some.” In other words, Christians are to assemble together regularly—every Sunday for corporate worship. There it is in the Bible! How else can Christians consider how to “stimulate” each other unto good works, to stir people up and encourage them to do good and worshipful deeds unless they are meeting together? And since “the day drawing near” no doubt concerns the return of Christ, our time is short. So let us utilize what time God has given us to meet together and encourage one another “to love and good deeds.”

Food For Thought
Do you draw near to God daily with full assurance, or do you keep Him at a safe distance where He won’t smother you with religious duties or activities around the church? Are you certain of your salvation through the finished work of Christ, or do you doubt, living in the guilt of your former sins? And do you often miss church and group Bible studies for no good reason? God has done so much, and we do so little, making weak excuses so often for our lack of faith. Let us be about the task of meeting together regularly and stirring each other up to love and good deeds. We should stop making excuses and get to work. Christ will be returning soon.