Things That Accompany Salvation

“THINGS THAT ACCOMPANY SALVATION”

Heb. 6:9-20

Introduction:        Following immediately after one of the most sobering of warnings, we come to a passage which is designed to encourage and edify by pointing to those things which must characterize the life of a Christian.

We see here an important principle: not only does the Word of God teach us what to “put off”, but also what to “put on” (see Col. 3:8-11; Gal. 5:19-24; 2 Pet. 1:5-11). “What we “don’t do” is only part of the story; we must also be active in our Christian living!

I.          “Work and labor of love” (v. 10)

            A.   Compare 1 Thess. 1:3 - “work of faith, labor of love, patience of hope”.

B.   How was this shown?

1.     “Toward His Name...” (God’s name)

2.     Manifested by their ministering (service) to brethren!

3.     Cf. 1 Cor. 16:15; 1 Tim. 5:10; 2 Thess. 1:3; 1 Jn. 4:20, 21.

II.        “Diligence”

A.    Means “earnestness, steadfastness”.

1.     Suggests continuing in the right way.

2.     Further, it suggests watchfulness, being aware of dangers, as well as awareness of rewards.

B.     The diligence is shown by assurance of hope, held till the “end”, i.e. the goal is attained.

III.       “Be Followers” (12)

A.    Requires effort.

        1.     “Be not slothful” is put in apposition to “(be) followers.”

2.     The Christian life is not for the slothful or indolent!

B.     Follow What?

1.     “Them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

2.     This is nearly an introduction to Hebrews 11!

3.     Abraham is given as an example of those.

a.      Notice, by contrast, Heb. 11:13: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises...”

b.     Abraham is represented as both “having received” and “not having received” the promises.

c.      He received the promises in the sense that God promised that in his seed all the families of the earth would be blessed, and that Isaac would be the one through whom this promise would be fulfilled. Abraham saw the birth of Isaac, and then “received him from the dead” (Heb. 11:19) when he was willing to offer Isaac as a sacrifice.

d.     He received not the promises in the sense that the ultimate fulfillment awaited the work of Jesus, accomplished by his virgin birth, his sinless life, his atoning sacrifice, his glorious resurrection and exaltation; all of which occurred

long after Abraham was dead. But he died, “having obtained a good report through faith, not having received the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” (Heb. 11:39, 40).

IV.       “Lay hold on hope” (v.18)

A.    Hope based on promises of God.

1.     Promises are confirmed “by two immutable things.”

2.     What are they?

a.      The nature of God (Rom. 14:20, 21) (impossible to lie).

b.     The oath God took. (Gen. 22:16; Ps. 110:4).

B.     Hope is our “anchor”.

1.     By grasping it, we shall not be moved from the promises.

2.     “Hope” is more than a wish, or a desire.

3.     Expresses anticipation, expectation.

Conclusion:        The passage, vv. 19, 20 brings us back to the subject mentioned in 5:10, and serves to introduce the subject matter of 7: 1ff.

What a beautiful passage of encouragement, an incitement to hope and endurance!