"And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence
so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,
that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those
who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
For when God made the promise to Abraham,
since He could swear by no one greater,
He swore by Himself, saying,
'I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply you.'
And thus, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.
For men swear by one greater than themselves,
and with them an oath given as confirmation
is an end of every dispute.
In the same way God, desiring even more to show to
the heirs of promise the unchangeableness of His purpose,
interposed with an oath,
in order that by two unchangeable things,
in which it is impossible for God to lie,
we may have strong encouragement,
we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us.
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul,
a hope both sure and steadfast,
and one which enters within the veil,
where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us,
having become a priest forever according
to the order of Melchizedek."
(vs11-20)
Hebrews 6 is a mouthful. It's a mouthful that is often twisted, abused and misused to falsely teach that true Christians can lose their salvation, when in reality it is a chapter that points to the unchanging anchor of the soul that is found in Christ.
True, the first part of the chapter begins with the perils of falling away. However, it is interesting to me to note the language that is used to describe these folks who have fallen away. Verses 1-8 refer to them as those who have only known "the elementary teaching about Christ" not as those that are mature at all. They are said to have been "enlightened" but not referred to as those that have been effectually called. They are described as those who have "tasted" of the heavenly gift and of the good word and power of God but not as those who have truly partaken, injested, and eaten of it.
As is always the case, the harder passages of the Bible must be interpreted based on the clearer and easier to understand passages of the Bible. Thus, I fall to Philippians 1:6 - "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began the good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." And to 1 John 2:19 - "They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us."
These folks aren't salvation losing reprobates - they are covenant breaking hypocrites. They have been a part of the church. They have had the sign of the covenant placed upon them, played around with the teachings of the redeemed, tasted of the good things and then spewed them out rather than drinking them in. The writer of the Hebrews warns them of the covenant curses that will surely follow them if they stubbornly turn from covenant blessings and put Christ to "open shame". He says that they will "yield thorns and thistles," that they are "worthless and close to being cursed," and that they will "end up being burned." The covenant comes with blessings for obedience and with curses for disobedience. Hear and heed the warning hypocritical members of the visible church.
However, the apostle doesn't leave us in peril. He points us to promise. He is "convinced of better things concerning you and things that accompany salvation." He reminds us that God is not unjust. Our God knows our hearts and sees our labors of love for His namesake.
That said, the heart of this passage is about our diligence in obtaining assurance of the hope of our salvation. This is not a passage about fearing that we might lose our salvation. It is a passage about knowing that we have it!!
"And we desire that each of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." (vs 11-12)
Assurance is attainable in this life but it is only attainable with diligent pursuit. We must, by grace, be serious about realizing this hope. We must not be sluggish in our religious duties. The earnest pursuit of the means of grace are crucial. So the question must be asked: are we diligently pursuing those things that will enable us to realize the full assurance of hope?
Are we "continually devoting ourselves to the apostle's teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer?" (Acts 2:42). Are corporate worship, family worship, and private worship a devotion of yours? Are you under the sound of the Word of God regularly? Are you fellowshipping with other believers that they might encourage and exhort you in your walk? Do you take seriously your partaking of the Lord's Supper -examining yourself before the meal and using it as a tangible way to take hold of Christ? Do you pray? Do you really pray - wet or dry prayers? If we are not, by grace - hear me - by grace, dilligently pursuing these things then we are among the sluggish and we may find ourselves among the un-assurred. (Note that I didn't say among the un-saved but among those who struggle throughout this life with uncertainty as to their spiritual condition.)
Lest we find ourselves undone by our inability to accomplish so great a task. Our kind apostolic friend points us to the help and hope of reaching such a lofty goal. The assistance we need is found in the un-changing, un-lying character of God and in the mediatorial work of Christ our Great Hight Priest!
God desires for the heirs of the promise to know that they are heirs of the promise! His promise is founded in the unchanging nature of His eternal counsel and in the absolute certainty of His word. God does not change. God does not lie. Therefore, we should be encouraged if we are fleeing to Him for refuge and through Him laying hold of the hope He has set before us.
"In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of his purpose, interposed with an oath, in order that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us." (vs 17-18)
Notice that regarding this "diligent seeking of full assurance" we are told that we "may have strong encouragement" if we are fleeiong to Him for refuge. Matthew Henry points out that "God is concerned for the encouragement of believers. The encouragements of God are strong enough to support His people under their strongest trials. The comforts of this world are too weak, but the consolations of the Lord are neither few nor small."
Beloved, seek better things than the peril of being a covenant breaker. Be desirous and diligent to make your calling and election sure that you may "realize the full assurance of hope until the end." Be strongly encouraged as you pursue that goal through the power and mercies of the immutable and honest God.
"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters withint the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." (vs 19-20).
"We are in this world as a ship at sea, in danger of being cast away. Heaven is the harbor to which we sail. We have need of an anchor to keep us sure and steady. Gospel hope is our anchor and it is certain and steadfast. It is sure in its own nature. It is not a flattering hope made out of a spider's web, but is a true work of God. It is steadfast as to its object; it is an anchor that has taken good hold. It does not seek to fasten in the sands, but in the veil, and fixes there upon Christ. He is the anchor hold of the believers hope!"
Oh dear friends, we need not live in peril if we are building our lives upon the promise of Christ our great preserving Priest. Take strong encouragement as you flee to Him alone as the anchor of your souls.
Encouraged and anchored,
Lori
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