Hebrews 6:9-12: Things That Accompany Salvation
2022-11-26
Hebrews 6:9
The conjunction “But” demonstrates the following sentence will be in contrast to what was said before. The apostle just left off with some heavy doctrine concerning the reprobate; he adds, “we are persuaded better things of you.” He was going to encourage them in their activity and to continue following the hope in Jesus Christ.
Paul referred to them as “beloved.” He always had a genuine care for those he wrote to. He prayed for people all the time. He wrote to people honestly in love because he cared about their spiritual lives.
Why were Paul and his companions “persuaded better things” for these Hebrews? That is what this section is about. The Hebrew Christians had “things that accompany salvation.” There was evidence of changed lives in their actions. The epistle of 1 John emphasizes many ways how to identify true faith: it is right doctrine and righteous living.
Concerning righteous living, we read, “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:7-8). This is not speaking of sinless perfection. The Christian is not going to be in the continuous habit of sinning, “for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9).
In the same epistle, we read, “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also” (1 John 2:22-23). One denying Christ, the Trinity, or the distinction between the Father and the Son while claiming to know the God of the Bible is a lying antichrist.
Hebrews 6:10
The Hebrews struggled with doctrine, but not with the good works. God remembered the works of righteousness they did. One word used is “labor,” which indicates that they were very diligent in carrying out their work in the Lord. The same phrase “labour of love” is used elsewhere: “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God” (1 Thessalonians 1:3-4). This “labour of love” indicated their “election of God.”
It was a “labour of love.” Love is service, which indicated their selflessness toward other people.
These works “shewed toward his name.” The works pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ. Others were edified and brought to the Lord because of the things that they did. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35).
Specifically, the ministry they offered was to the saints, namely, other believers. “For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things” (Romans 15:26-27). We do not know where these Jewish Christians lived. If in Jerusalem, they would have served in spiritual things, because the church there was destitute. More likely, if they lived elsewhere, like in Achaia (which contained Corinth), they were more well-to-do, more so than Macedonia (which contained Thessalonica and Philippi), and more likely to give physically.
We find out later (Hebrews 10:32-34) that they suffered greatly when they first believed, to the point where they had property confiscated. This happened likewise in Thessalonica, where Paul and his companions were worried that they may be pushed away from the faith because of afflictions (1 Thessalonians 3:1-7; cf. Acts 17:5-9). Likewise, the Hebrews of this epistle likewise persevered as did the Thessalonians.
Their labor of love was something they did, but they also continued up to the point of the receipt of this epistle. In good works they continued to persevere.
Hebrews 6:11-12
After praising the people for their work and labor for the saints, Paul exhorts them to embrace the assurance of hope of eternal life in Christ with the same exuberance. Embrace the teaching from the Word and the promises that were in them. It is because of the hope of eternal life in Christ and the grace He showed us why we can and want to serve Him. “And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you” (2 Thessalonians 3:4). “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
To continue in assurance counteracts being slothful because that eternal hope keeps us going. If we are fixated on this life only, what hope is that? Our works then are the fruit of legalism, and not of Christ.
In addition, Paul encouraged the Hebrews to be “followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” An example will be of Abraham, which is the discussion of the next section. However, having godly role models is not idolatry, but rather concrete examples to learn what it means to walk in faith. See some illustrations:
Paul said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). He had communion with the risen Lord, being an apostle. Therefore, the Corinthians had an example to follow, having not seen Jesus in the flesh or a completed New Testament.
The apostle also said, “For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews” (1 Thessalonians 2:14). The Thessalonians saw that the Judean church suffered much, and when the tribulation came for them, they were ready, responding as they in Judaea did.