Striving and Suffering for Christ

²⁷ Only ^(A)let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, ^(B)with one mind ^(C)striving together for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but ^[a]to you of salvation, and that from God. ²⁹ For to you ^(D)it has been granted on behalf of Christ, ^(E)not only to believe in Him, but also to ^(F)suffer for His sake, ^30 (G)having the same conflict ^(H)which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

Faith Triumphs in Trouble

5 Therefore, ^(A)having been justified by faith, ^[a]we have ^(B)peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ^2 (C)through whom also we have access by faith into this grace ^(D)in which we stand, and ^(E)rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but ^(F)we also glory in tribulations, ^(G)knowing that tribulation produces ^[b]perseverance; ^4 (H)and perseverance, ^[c]character; and character, hope.

Hold Fast Your Confession

¹⁹ Therefore, brethren, having ^(A)boldness^[a] to enter ^(B)the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and ^(C)living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, ²¹ and having a High Priest over the house of God, ²² let us ^(D)draw near with a true heart ^(E)in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for ^(F)He who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ^25 (G)not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and ^(H)so much the more as you see ^(I)the Day approaching.

³² But ^(A)recall the former days in which, after you were ^[a]illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: ³³ partly while you were made ^(B)a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while ^(C)you became companions of those who were so treated; ³⁴ for you had compassion on ^[b]me ^(D)in my chains, and ^(E)joyfully accepted the plundering of your ^[c]goods, knowing that ^(F)you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves ^[d]in heaven. ³⁵ Therefore do not cast away your confidence, ^(G)which has great reward. ^36 (H)For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, ^(I)you may receive the promise:

^9 (A)“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. ¹⁰ And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. ¹¹ Then ^(B)many false prophets will rise up and ^(C)deceive many. ¹² And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow ^(D)cold. ^13 (E)But he who endures to the end shall be saved. ¹⁴ And this ^(F)gospel of the kingdom ^(G)will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

^6 (A)Be strong and of good courage, ^(B)do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, ^(C)He is the One who goes with you. ^(D)He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

⁷ Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, ^(E)“Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. ⁸ And the Lord, ^(F)He is the One who goes before you. ^(G)He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

^5 (A)No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; ^(B)as I was with Moses, so ^(C)I will be with you. ^(D)I will not leave you nor forsake you. ^6 (E)Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall ^[a]divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. ⁷ Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law ^(F)which Moses My servant commanded you; ^(G)do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may ^[b]prosper wherever you go. ^8 (H)This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but ^(I)you^[c] shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. ^9 (J)Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; ^(K)do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

^58 (A)Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing ^(B)that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

⁶ Therefore I remind you ^(A)to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For ^(B)God has not given us a spirit of fear, ^(C)but of power and of love and of a sound mind.