(by Pastor Jean)

I like the Amplified Bible’s rendition of Heb 3:14; “For we (believers) have become partakers of Christ (sharing in all that the Messiah has for us), if only we hold firm our newborn confidence (which originally led us to Him) until the end.” What a marvelous thing to be a “partaker of Christ”! The word “partaker” means someone who shares in or partners with someone else. So, what exactly can we partake of? First and foremost, we can enjoy His love; there are so many verses that tell us how much God loves us (for example John 3:16, Jer 31:3). We can also receive His salvation; which includes forgiveness, healing, deliverance and protection. We share in His grace, the gift of the Holy Spirit, His guidance, wisdom, strength and ability. Not to mention the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) and the gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:8-11). However, did you notice the word “if” in the verse above from Hebrews? We have a part to play if we are to enjoy the wonderful privilege of being a “partaker of Christ.” We have to hold firm our confidence until the end. What does that mean? Another word for “confidence” is conviction or firm trust. I believe it means we are to stay faithful to our beliefs about Christ that we had when we first became Christians and continue in that faith despite the challenges that may come.