The Three Marks of Faithful Believers

What does it mean to be truly faithful? Not faithful like those die-hard sports fans who stick with their teams through decades of disappointment—though there's something admirable about that kind of loyalty. But what does genuine spiritual faithfulness look like in the everyday rhythm of our lives?

The book of Hebrews addresses this question with remarkable clarity. Written to Jewish believers who had embraced Jesus but found themselves tempted to return to familiar religious systems, this letter speaks powerfully to anyone who has ever felt the pull of old patterns, comfortable compromises, or the safety of what once was.

The Revolutionary Access We've Been Given

Under the old covenant, approaching God was a carefully regulated affair. Only priests could enter certain areas of the temple, and only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies—and even then, just once a year, bearing the blood of sacrificial animals. The message was unmistakable: Stay back. God is holy.

But something changed when Jesus died. Matthew's Gospel tells us that at the moment of His death, the temple veil tore from top to bottom. This wasn't a human act; it was God's dramatic declaration that the way was now open. What was once forbidden became an invitation: Come on in.

Hebrews 10:19-22 captures this revolutionary shift: "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith."

This is the first mark of faithful believers: they draw near.

Coming Close Without Fear

We all know what it feels like to mess up and want to hide. Perhaps as children, we avoided our parents after doing something wrong, anticipating their anger. Even as adults, we carry this instinct into our spiritual lives—when we fall short, we tend to distance ourselves from God rather than running toward Him.

But this passage offers a different invitation. We can come before God without fear—not because we're perfect, but because Jesus stands as our great high priest, representing us before the Father. When we approach, He says, "This one is mine. I've got this."

Because of Jesus, we have:
- Clean hearts and renewed lives through His sacrifice
- Bold access to God's presence without fear of judgment
- A standing invitation to come as often as we need

The call is simple yet profound: when you feel burdened, come closer. When you've sinned and fallen short, come near. When you're grateful, come near. Faithful believers don't live at a distance from God—they live close to His heart.

The question becomes personal: Are we drawing near, or are we drifting away?

Holding On When Everything Pulls Away

Faith isn't a one-time decision that requires no further attention. It's something we actively hold onto, renewing our commitment each day. Hebrews 10:23 challenges us: "Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."

The believers receiving this letter faced tremendous pressure to let go and return to what was familiar, safe, and socially acceptable. We face similar temptations today. When life gets stressful, overwhelming, or painful, we're tempted to wonder if things were better before—better when we walked a different way, when we embraced different comforts, when we indulged different patterns.

This is the second mark of faithful believers: they hold fast.

Think about committed relationships. A spouse chooses love daily, even when their partner gives them reasons to be frustrated. Similarly, we must wake up each day and choose to hold onto our faith, to grip the gospel tightly even when circumstances tempt us to loosen our grasp.

Why can we do this? Because God is faithful. Even when we waver, He doesn't. Even when we can't see what He's doing, He's working. Even when we don't feel His presence, He's right there.

This is where feelings don't matter as much as truth. Scripture clearly tells us that God is faithful, that He will never leave us or forsake us. Our emotions may scream otherwise, but we hold fast to what we know is true rather than what we feel in a moment.

Every promise Jesus made will stand forever. Our faithfulness to Him is simply our response to His unwavering faithfulness to us.

The Power of Walking Together

Faithfulness isn't just a vertical relationship between us and God—it's also horizontal, connecting us with other believers. Hebrews 10:24-25 makes this clear: "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

This is the third mark of faithful believers: they look after one another.

Faith grows when we deepen our relationship with God, but it accelerates when we walk alongside others who help us take the next step. Sometimes we need someone to lovingly tell us we've lost our first love and need to return to it. Sometimes we need encouragement when we can't see the path forward. Sometimes we simply need to know we're not alone.

The writer tells us to "consider one another"—to set our minds on our fellow believers and think about how we can encourage, strengthen, and stir them up toward love and good works.

This happens in several ways:

We love together. Jesus said the world would know His disciples by their love for one another—not by their theological precision, their debating skills, or the volume of their voices, but by their love. The church should be the warmest, most welcoming place in any community.

We work together. Instead of criticizing what others are doing, we build each other up. We're not competitors in the faith; we're co-laborers in the gospel.

We worship together. Some early believers stopped gathering, and the same happens today for various reasons. But the truth remains: we need each other. When we isolate ourselves from the body of Christ, we grow cold in our faith. Gathering for worship, prayer, study, and service does something that can't be replicated in isolation.

We wait together. The closer we get to Christ's return, the more we need fellowship with God's people. The world may grow darker, but the light of the church should shine brighter. We don't know when Jesus will return, but we need to be ready—not living in fear, but encouraging one another and letting our light shine so others will know Jesus.

Living It Out

So what does faithful living actually look like in practice?

To draw near: Devote time daily to be with God. Keep short accounts—confess sin quickly rather than letting it create distance. Feed your faith with God's Word. Worship often and honestly. Guard your heart against spiritual drift.

To hold fast: Reaffirm your commitment to Jesus regularly. Anchor your hope in God's promises, not in circumstances. When trials come, focus on what you know is true, not what you feel. Surround yourself with people who strengthen your faith. Remember God's past faithfulness—it fuels trust for tomorrow.

To consider one another: Show up. Be present. Ask God to put someone on your heart to pray for this week. Speak life to others. Serve someone quietly. Stay expectant that God will move every time believers gather.

Faithfulness isn't about perfection—it's about persistent closeness, persistent courage, and persistent care. It's drawing near to God daily, holding fast to truth through challenges, and staying connected in love with other believers.

The way has been opened. The invitation stands. The question is simply: Will we be faithful?