An Encouragement to Believers

Introduction: After giving the strictest of warnings to those who had not yet believed Christ, the writer changes his audience and begins speaking to the beloved of the faith.

Is He Talking to Me?

This section is meant to be an encouragement to believers who, at this point, might have been wondering if the previous warnings were meant for them. Have you ever wondered that? Wondering and evaluating are not bad things, but we must know where our confidence is. Another way verse 9 could be worded is, “Beloved, we are confident of better things for you because you have the things that accompany salvation.” The warnings to apostates were included because the apostates were in their midst. The parable of the wheat and the tares illustrates that believers and unbelievers would be in the church together until Christ separates the believers out.

Matthew 13:24–30 NKJV

Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

Only God knows who the tares are in the congregation of the church. We do not know the condition of men’s hearts and should not try to be the ultimate judges of men. However, we are commanded to hold each other accountable and continually exhort one another towards belief as well as warn those who are living in sin of the coming judgement so that they would seriously consider their own standing before God.

Hebrews 3:13 NKJV

but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

:!3

Although we do not know who they are, it is possible for any congregation to have an unbeliever in its membership and so we must give these warnings for their benefit.

God Does Not Forget

Many Christians go through times of doubt when they read or hear messages of judgment, but God does not forget those who are His and we can be confident in the finished work of Christ.

After Malachi had given his severe warning of judgment, many of the believers were concerned that the warning was for them. But the Lord said to them

Malachi 3:16–17 NKJV

Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name. “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.”

After this Malachi issued another warning to the wicked but the Lord reassured His own:

Malachi 4:2 NKJV

But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.

God knows those who have placed their faith and confidence in Christ and we should not fear the final judgement. For those who are in Christ, there is no condemnation.

Accompaniments of Salvation

A Christian’s work is not what saves him or keeps him, but they are an evidence of his salvation. Genuine faith can only be demonstrated by works.

James 2:18 NKJV

But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Labors of Love

God is not unjust to forget the works of love His children perform. Paul encouraged that Thessalonians that he knew they were genuine because of their love. Their fruit of love accompanied their statement of faith.

1 Thessalonians 1:3–4 NKJV

remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.

1 Thessalonians

Love for His Name

More significant than labors of love is the believer’s love for the name of God. The Hebrew believer here ministered with labors of love out of a love for His name. Christians ought to be loving and lovable, but service for people is always driven out of a love for God. Jesus told Peter that if Peter loved Him Peter would feed His sheep.

John 21:15–17 NKJV

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

The love we have for God is directly related to the love we show for others.

A Continual Ministry

Keeping God as our first love gives us the ability to continually serve in the church. These believing Hebrews had ministered and were still ministering. Their love for God was unbroken and so their love for people was unbroken. They kept loving and serving the saints because they loved and served God.

Show the Same Diligence

Turning again to the unbelievers the writer says:

Hebrews 6:11 NKJV

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,

The writer of Hebrews is telling the unbelievers that he desires that each one of them would become as the genuine believers are. He wanted them to have hope and full assurance and there is no hope apart from Christ. So again, the unbelieving Jews are called, not to Judaism, but to Christ.

Diligence carries with it the idea of eagerness.

Example: The noticeable change in a new believer’s life.

The contrast is clear between the sluggishness and the eagerness.

Conclusion: It was the desire of the writer of Hebrews as well as the desire of the other believers that the unbelieving Jews in their midst would come to full assurance of salvation in Christ.