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Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.¹

Indeed those who are in Christ have reason to rejoice; their security is not based on something imagined or conjured. A Christian’s hope is based on a covenant promise—For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.² A promise so definite for it was God who made the promise; he never lies³ nor can he.⁴

Our Savior Jesus Christ has been revealed. He abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.⁵ The old covenant is therefore obsolete and ready to vanish away⁶—as proof, the temple curtain was torn from top to bottom⁷; for God himself tore it open. Thus, a new covenant is established. “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. . . . For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”⁸

In a fallen world we will have trouble. But don’t fret; Jesus has overcome the world.⁹ Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance, the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.¹⁰ Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.¹¹ Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God you may may receive what is promised.¹²

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one, and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.¹³

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 priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith with our hearts sprinkled clean from and evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.¹⁴