Hebrews 3:14

Heb. 3:14. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.

Blank Bible:

partakers of Christ] It might have been rendered as partakers for so the word metochor is used in Hebrews 1:9 and Luke 5:7 so that 'tis the same as if it had been said partakers with Christ, which is what the apostle means particularly by partakers with him. His in his rest, compare verse 11 and Hebrews 4:5; Hebrews 4:9; Hebrews 4:10.

Hebrews 3:12-14 is shown (in "The Duty of Prayer") to teach that the promise that saints shall persevere does not preclude their taking heed lest they fall away:

Christ gives this as a distinguishing character of those that are his disciples indeed, and of a true and saving faith, that it is accompanied with perseverance in the obedience of Christ's word. John 8:31, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed:" This is mentioned as a necessary evidence of an interest in Christ Hebrews 3:14: "We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end."

Perseverance is not only a necessary concomitant and evidence of a title to salvation; but also a necessary prerequisite to the actual possession of eternal life. It is the only way to heaven, the narrow way that leadeth to life. Hence Christ exhorts the church of Philadelphia to persevere in holiness from this consideration, that it was necessary in order to her obtaining the crown. Revelation 3:11, "Hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." It is necessary not only that persons should once have been walking in the way of duty, but that they should be found so doing when Christ cometh. Luke 12:43, "Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing." Holding out to the end is often made the condition of actual salvation. Matthew 10:22, "He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved." And Revelation 2:10, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

2. In order to your own perseverance in the way of duty, your own care and watchfulness is necessary. For though it be promised that true saints shall persevere, yet that is no argument that their care and watchfulness is not necessary in order to it; because their care to keep the commandments of God is the thing promised. If the saints should fail of care, watchfulness, and diligence to persevere in holiness, that failure of their care and diligence would itself be a failure of holiness. They who persevere not in watchfulness and diligence, persevere not in holiness of life, for holiness of life very much consists in watchfulness and diligence to keep the commands of God. It is one promise of the covenant of grace, that the saints shall keep God's commandments, Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 11:20. Yet that is no argument that they have no need to take care to keep these commandments, or to do their duty. So the promise of God, that the saints shall persevere in holiness, is no argument that it is not necessary that they should take heed lest they fall away.

Therefore the Scriptures abundantly warn men to watch over themselves diligently, and to give earnest heed lest they fall away: 1 Corinthians 16:13, "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." 1 Corinthians 10:12, "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." Hebrews 3:12-14, "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end." Hebrews 4:1, "Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it." 2 Peter 3:17, "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness." 2 John 1:8, "Look to yourselves that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward."

Heb. 3:16-19