Hebrews 3:14 “For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;”
The Children of God are blessed (“made”) to be “partakers of Christ” in this life “if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end”. We know for sure that this text refers to our present life, because it specifies “Today” (Hebrews 3:15). “our confidence” is our steadfastness in the use of our God-given “faith” (Hebrews 11:1; 12:2); that is, we go forward in faithful service to our Lord, not wavering, no matter how difficult or trying the circumstances of our life may be, never compromising “the doctrine of Christ” (Hebrews 6:1; II John 1:9). Said another way, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (I Corinthians 15:58)! The “beginning” and “end” “of our confidence” literally means, to the fullest extent of the “faith” our God has given us. Peter explained it this way, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (II Peter 1:5-8). The backdrop thought is that we should not expect a life of blissful ease in the service of our Lord; for, He clearly tells us that “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) and “In the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). But, on the other hand, our Almighty Lord God has “overcome the world” that so often thrusts these awful tribulations upon us, and “in” our Lord we “have peace” (John 16:33). This blessed “peace” is “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” for He “shall keep” our “hearts and minds” from ruinous despair and anguish “through Christ Jesus” our Lord (Philippians 4:7). “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.” (Hebrews 4:1) and “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)!