All Scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible 1995 Ed. (NASB95)

One of the chief failures of western evangelical Christians is the failure to see our desperate need for personal, persistent, and probing encouragement from our brethren in Christ. The pervading mindset of most western believers is that we can mostly get along fine on our own, and engaging in some casual conversation, or a little talk about some Bible verses, is enough personal interaction with Christians outside our households to spur us on to diligent faithfulness to the Lord. That’s usually dead wrong. The fact is – for normal westerners especially – we’re so bombarded and submerged in incessant worldly ideas, words, images, gestures, music, and truth claims, that we need far more Christian influence than we realize. Why? Because all these influences from the world are designed and packaged to either distract, deceive, or distress us out of giving attention to our callings from God. Most of them contain explicit temptations to unbelief, fear, laziness, self-love, folly, pride, greed, and a dozen other sins. And you know the main tools the world uses to bring these temptations – our phones, computers, advertisements, and entertainment. Obviously, we are in great danger in the West from these threats to the diligence, zeal, and wisdom of our hearts. And just as obvious is the fact that we need a consistent and regular prayer effort, and Scripture consideration, to simply remind and enable ourselves to focus on the Lord’s desires for us. Personal prayer and Bible learning are absolutely essential to simply maintain – let alone improve – our holiness. However, what is often neglected by many believers is the once ordinary ministry of Christian friendships worked out in regular words and conversations of encouragement. The teachings of the apostles are emphatic that one of the main ways believers guard against sin and temptation, and grow in love for God, is through this personal ministry of encouragement.

There’s hardly any clearer demonstration of this teaching than the teachings of the Letter to the Hebrews. This Epistle was written to believers who were in dire straits threatening the life and knowledge of their souls. They were being fiercely persecuted and pressured to abandon their profession of faith in Jesus as Messiah, and return to the rabbinic, temple-centered, Judaism that they had renounced because of the claims and call of Christ. They still lived in the midst of many people who still practiced the animal-sacrificing, temple-honoring, and Christ-rejecting religion of their upbringing and society. Therefore, many of them were weighing the benefits and downsides of the two religions in the scales, and beginning to lose a taste for the glories of the gospel, and favor some of the perceived blessings of Judaism. In response, the unknown apostolic writer of the letter sent a well-ordered series of arguments pointing to the surpassing excellence of Jesus and His high priestly ministry and covenant, over the old, insufficient, shadows of the Old Testament priestly religion. As part of this argument, he includes several calls to his audience to give attention to the personal care of each other through regular encouragement. And he further argues that this is one way that they can remind each other of the gospel, and guard against being deceived by the false claims of Judaism, disbelief in Jesus, and the exaltation of the Old Testament heroes and structures. In essence, this encouragement implies that all deceiving and hardening influences of the world are greatly hindered by the regular, consistent, personal, and ordinary encouragements of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I’ll demonstrate this teaching by giving an overview of the two clearest passages on this subject in the letter. The first is near the beginning, and the other is near the end.

His first main call to mutual encouragement against the temptations of sin is this:

“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.” – Heb. 3:13-14

Second, just before the last controversial “warning passage” of the letter:

“. . . and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment . . .” – Heb. 10:24-27

Although there are many nuances between these two passages, the main difference is that the first explains how to engage in everyday encouragement between believers, while the second focuses on the more weekly encouragement that should be going on when fellowships gather for corporate ministry and remembrance of Christ’s redemption. However, by far the more important is the encouragement that believers give each other day by day, outside of the weekly assembly. Why? Because the author says that we daily face the danger of being “hardened by the deceitfulness of sin”. In the context, the particular sin that’s referenced is the sin of distrusting the awesome claims of Christ, but this principle can be applied to any sin.

So, let’s examine both these passages to see three truths:

  1. How we should encourage each other.
  2. How often we should encourage each other.
  3. What danger is avoided when we encourage each other rightly.

How Believers Ought to Encourage Each Other

In order to understand what we’re actually doing by encouraging each other, a definition is in order. The fact is, the Greek word translated “encouragement” can be converted to English in a variety of ways. The word is parakaleo, which is literally “call alongside”. But to do what exactly? In general, the purpose is obviously to help the person you’re calling. But English Bibles translate this word as “comfort,” “console,” “beg,” “urge,” and even “invite.” Nevertheless, given the context of the verse we’re looking at, we can take the author as meaning that believers need to help others through direct and inviting communication in whatever way is necessary. Mainly, we are to call each other to the knowledge and presence of the truth from Jesus Christ.

The second passage specifically gives us a guideline for how we should encourage each other. He begins his earnest instruction by urging the Christians to “consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (10:24). Since this is a command given to us, we should understand that he has more in mind than passing thoughts about our fellow believers. In fact, the Greek words literally say to “consider one another” for the purpose to stirring them toward love and goodness. That is, we need to pay attention to our brethren’s needs, struggles, problems, temptations, strengths, and circumstances. This implies that we truly know the brethren in our fellowships, and sympathize with their unique spiritual battles.
Further, this command is a call to careful planning of how we can best achieve the intended goal. What is that goal? That our brethren would be “stimulated,” “provoked,” or “stirred up,” toward the exercise of love and good works. And this is the encouragement that the author mostly has in mind throughout the letter.

The question is – what sort of words and communication will tend to incite in our brother or sister a desire to love the Lord by loving others and doing good things for others? This is where the “considering” of our brethren comes in. We must tailor our words to their specific situations with wisdom, compassion, and diligence. However, in general, we can always say that it’s the truth about God’s reality that will direct our thoughts, affections, and desires toward more love and desire for goodness.

One last important detail must be noted about our encouragement of the brethren. As well as in personal, everyday, interactions, the author also explains that our encouragement should be given when we “assemble together”, since this is a practice that was being “forsaken” by some of the professing believers among his audience. Thus, rather than giving up meeting together during their regular, weekly, assemblies, they were to be “encouraging” each other during these meetings. Thus, when Christians meet together, they shouldn’t be content to only come, sit, sing, and listen, but to deliberately and lovingly encourage some of the very ones whom they’ve already been encouraging throughout the week.

How Often We Should Encourage Each Other

This brings us to the frequency of our mutual and personal encouragement of each other. The apostolic writer insists to the Hebrews that they should encourage each other “day after day, as long as it is still called “Today”” (v. 13). It’s possible that they may have been in greater need of their brethren’s encouragement while facing the intense ostracization, ridicule, insult, and threats of their neighbors. Yet most of us western believers should realize they we usually stand in need of daily encouragement from our brethren as well. At the very least, we ought to have such friendships and mentorships with our brothers and sisters, that we naturally feel the need to reach our almost every day to them with encouragement. Clearly, if you have a believing spouse, this is usually easier than if you’re single and living alone. Nevertheless, note that the author doesn’t merely address spouses within their marriages, but the whole body of believers. In other words, in whatever close relationships we have with our brethren, we should be leveraging them for the purpose of encouraging each other toward ever greater love and goodness.

But whatever are some specific ways that we can encourage each other? We’ve already seen that we must be thinking about these ways, but what are some practical suggestions for encouraging our brethren?

First, our concern for our brother or sister should be empowered and guided by prayer for them. In everything, it’s usually those things for which we pray that will yield any spiritual success. But secondly, we all have cell phones! If you’re not going to physically see your brother or sister, why not text them, or even call them? Thirdly, most of us should be able to show some hospitality throughout the week toward our brethren. Inviting friends over for dinner or coffee is one of the most effective avenues of bringing encouragement. Fourthly, as regards the content of our encouragement, you don’t even necessarily have to have a conversation with them. Why not send them a daily relevant Bible verse you’ve read, an insightful thought you’ve had, or a reminder that you’re praying for something specific?

Doubtless, there are other ways to encourage the brethren, such as simply giving material help or support, but we should be open to the most fitting, appropriate, and timely ways that we can encourage our brethren to pursue obedience to the Lord in their whole lives. And one of the greatest reasons for this encouragement is intensely serious, especially if we aren’t intimately knowledgeable of the state of our brother’s soul.

The Danger We Must Avoid through Encouragement

Although the benefits and blessings of providing and receiving regular, consistent, personal, encouragement among our fellow members can be enough to motivate us to engage in it, there are great dangers that come if we neglect it. In the authors passage, he argues that the Hebrews ought to encourage each other daily “so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (3:13). Then, he continues by describing the future condition of those who escape this fate:

“For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.” (3:14)

What is he suggesting here? That we must hold on to assurance of Christ’s relationship to us until we die in order to become a sharer in Christ’s life? No, instead, he’s promising that if you’ve shared in Christ through faith in Him, then you will cling to the beginning of your assurance about Him as your Savior until the end of your life. Hence, the “hardening” of “the deceitfulness of sin” is the state of losing this assurance of Christ’s salvation of your soul. And if you lose that assurance, you prove that you’ve never been a sharer in His life and fellowship.

Thus, the author is calling his professing brethren to encourage each other against being hardened, so they won’t let go of their assurance in Christ, the gospel, and their salvation. This is a protection against apostasy.

In the same way, the author’s other exhortation provides one serious motivation for believers to come together for mutual encouragement:

“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment . . .” – Heb.10:26

So why does he give this as a reason that believers ought to determine to assemble together, and encourage each other at their meetings? Because if they forsake this regular meeting for encouragement, then they’re in danger of being hardened against God’s call in the gospel through the lies of their former sin. What was this sin they once were committing? The sin distrusting God’s and the apostles’ testimony about Jesus, or disbelieving the gospel. Therefore, this is the particular sin that the author speaks of – the sin of unbelief toward Christ and His redemptive work. If anyone willfully goes on in their rejection of the truth about Christ, after outwardly “receiving” it through profession and practice, then they will no longer have a sacrifice for their sins, but a terrifying expectation of God’s final judgment in hell. And this is the sin of apostasy, just as the other passage warns against.

If we gather up all the truths and teachings that these passages give us, there’s one main conclusion about what we’re avoiding through mutual, regular, encouragement of each other. It is that this considerate, loving, Spirit-impelled, and truthful encouragement is one of the instruments that God uses to keep His children away from the lies of temptations, away from being hardened to the truth about Him and sin, and ultimately away from choosing the passing pleasures of sin over the eternal riches of depending on Jesus for His blessing, joy, fulfillment, and glory.

Aside from this ultimate danger, however, mutual personal encouragement among believers clearly also prevents lesser dangers. For we’re constantly in need of reminders of the truth, of warnings against temptations and dangerous behaviors, or reminders of our unique weaknesses, and of counsel for dealing with challenging situations. As we walk along this narrow way, the devil and his hordes are constantly at work through the world to pull our attention from our identity, purposes, and responsibilities, and toward the “interesting,” “possible,” “enjoyable,” “fun,” “exciting,” and “pleasurable.” Rather than assume that we’re fit to wage spiritual warfare as “lone rangers,” we ought to recognize our need for the different, more experienced, and helpful fellow soldiers that desire our ultimate victory of full Christlikeness and godliness. This is part of what it means to be the body of Christ, and the family of God.

Are You Encouraging and Being Encouraged?

I simply want to end by urging you to seriously examine your attitudes, behaviors, and speech. We’ve seen that sin grows more powerful the more isolated and self-sufficient a Christian is. So some of things you should consider are these:

Are seeking to daily encourage your brethren in Christ with truth, out of love for their souls, and an awareness of their spiritual danger?

Do you daily seek to put yourself in the line of encouragement from your brother or sister in Christ, so that you can be encouraged by their faith?

Do you regularly and prayerfully consider the condition and conflicts that your brethren are in, so you know how best to provoke them to continue loving people, and engaging in good deeds?

Are you dedicated to meeting with a localized and well-led body of believers for the encouragement of communion remembrance, Bible teaching, praise singing, and corporate prayer?

Are you personally diligent to use any biblical means to more consistently love the Lord, your believing and unbelieving neighbors, and do what is godly and Christ-glorifying?

May we all pray that we’ll grow in our love for the Lord Jesus, our hatred for the deceptions of sin, and our devotion to the encouragement of God’s children, as we eagerly await the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ to bring us and all creation to completion!