Three Things that Accompany Salvation
Three Things that Accompany Salvation
Hebrews 6:9-20 NIV
Thesis - Faith, hope and love accompany salvation.
Evangelistic Objective - To cause people to anchor in Jesus and produce faith, hope and love.
Prior to considering the verses before us we need to remember something about the verses behind us. Thus far in the epistle the writer has given us three warnings. In Chapter 2 he warned us of the danger of drifting in our Christian life. Then in chapters 3 and 4 he warned us concerning the danger of hardening our hearts. In the verses immediately before those which we are going to consider today he warns us against the danger of apostasy or falling so far from God's grace that it is impossible to ever be restored.
The tone of the epistle to this point has been aggressive, but now it changes. Through the use of an endearing title, beloved, the writer moves the tone to one of assurance. Apparently he became concerned that his initial readers would think he thought they were already too far gone spiritually. While he wanted to point out the possibility of going too far away from God he did not mean to imply they already had.
Hence, he tells them in verse 9 that he believes they're Christians. His reason for saying so is they have three things that accompany salvation. He takes the rest of the chapter to discuss these three things.
The first accompaniment he mentions is
I. Working love (v. 10)
A. The Hebrews had been and were ministering to God's people.
1. The specifics of this ministry are not clear.
a) No doubt, it was need meeting.
(1) And the King will answer and say to them,Truly I say to you, to the extent you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them you did it to Me. Matthew 25:40
(2) So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10
b) It may also have been in identifying with them (cf. Hebrews 10:32-34).
2. He calls on them and us to continue ministering to God's people (vv. 12, 13).
a) This continuance produces security.
b) In order that you may not grow disinterested and become [spiritual] sluggards but imitators, behaving as do those who through faith [that is, by their leaning of the entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom and goodness] and by practice of patient endurance and waiting are [now] inheriting the promises (v. 12, AMP).
3. He calls on them and us to imitate Abraham (v. 13).
a) Abraham's faith worked by love when he offered Issac.
b) "God did not seek Isaac's death but Abraham's heart." -J. C. Macaulay
B. Saving faith always issues in working love.
1. The scriptures teach this.
a) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. Galatians 5:6
b) The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:8
2. “No love is to be reckoned as love but working love; and no works are right works, which flow not from love to Christ." -Matthew Henry
The second thing which the writer mentions as accompanying salvation is
II. Assuring hope (v. 11)
A. Hope is the "expectation of good" (Unger).
1. In this specific case the "good" is the fulfillment of God's promises.
2. God's promises equal salvation.
B. Our hope is the result of faith in two immutable things (v. 18).
1. God's oath (vv. 16, 17)
a) He swore by Himself as there was nothing higher.
b) The use of an oath suggests a delay.
c) "His oath, His covenant, His blood, Support me in the whelming flood. When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay." -Edward Mote
2. God's counsel - promise of salvation (vv. 17, 18)
C. Our hope keeps us hanging on to Jesus (instead of letting go) in spite of how things are or seem.
1. H. Orton Wiley explains the illustration of verse 19 - "We are told in many of the inland seas of ancient times there were great stones imbedded in the ground along the shore, where smaller craft were usually moored. But often because of adverse winds the larger vessels were not able to reach the harbor by means of their own sails. Then it was the practice to lower a small boat and send a forerunner to shore with a strong cable, which was fastened to one of these stones known as anchoria, and holding fast to that line the ship could be brought safely to its moorings. The uniqueness of the Christian's hope then lies in this, that it finds no anchorage in the shallow waters of this world, but reaches within the veil, and by the strong chords of grace and truth is bound to the heavenly anchoria, the eternal throne of God."
2. We do not anchor in our feelings or experiences because they are unstable.
a) "Outside the Peabody Maritime Museum in Salem, Massachusetts there is an old anchor, whose original weight was 4004 pounds. It doubtless served its ship well, but in a great gale its shaft was twisted." -J. C. Macaulay b) "Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?" -Priscilla J. Owens 3. We anchor in Jesus because He is our forerunner.
a) "My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness." -Edward Mote
b) "We have an anchor that keeps the soul. Steadfast and sure while the billows roll, fastened to the Rock which cannot move, Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour's love." -Priscilla J. Owens
The third and final thing, according to the writer, that accompanies salvation is
III. Waiting faith (v. 12)
A. Patience is the outgrowth of faith.
1. Patience is steadfast endurance.
2. Abraham demonstrated this
B. God's delays are not denials.
1. He has never broken a promise.
2. "What He says He will do" -W. J. Henry
In these verses the writer of Hebrews joins Paul and Peter in declaring that faith, hope and love accompany salvation. When you anchor in Jesus you have working love, assuring hope and waiting faith.
Do you have this terrific trio in your life or do you need to anchor in Jesus?
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