Better Things for You
A fake Christian is a false professor of the Christian faith. Having been exposed to the good things of God’s Spirit, a sluggish disregard eventually prevails. The Gospel call reached these people, but the good Word of God did not profit them with faith, hope, and love. No good fruit is produced, but only thorns and thistles to be burned (Heb 6:8).
The writer of Hebrews warns His readers of the slippery slope of neglecting so great a salvation through lethargy (Heb 6:4–8). He has confidence in His readers, however, because they have proven themselves to be different than those people, he has warned them about (Heb 6:9; 10:32–34; 13:1–3). As God has revealed Himself to them, they observe His faithfulness to them (Rev 3:14; 19:1).
In God’s covenant of grace, He made promises. These are the things that accompany salvation (Heb 6:9). Faith takes hold of the One making the promise; while hope patiently waits for the realization of what was promised. Christians lay hold of Christ (Phil 3:12); and our ambition is to please Him (2 Cor 5:9), while we wait for the consummation of the covenant promises.
True believers in Jesus Christ are manifest through many trials of testing (Jas 1:2; 1 Pet 1:6). Instead of falling away in the presence of adversity, the faithful one diligently labors in hope (1 Pet 4:10). He presses on to secure the prize (1 Cor 9:24; Phil 3:14). An inheritance awaits those who persevere until the end (1 Pet 1:4). We live in light of who we are as heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17; Heb 6:17; Jas 2:5).
The work that God does not forget is the work of faith (Heb 6:10). God is faithful and true to His Word. He makes promises to His people; and He is able to accomplish what He has promised. The more we know of God’s Word of promise, the more we see his faithfulness to do what He said He would do.
In turn, the diligent Christian lives by faith and works by faith in the Son of God (Gal 2:20; 3:11; 1 Thess 1:3). We labor as unto God, which is a labor of love (1 Thess 1:3). We look to the faithful people in the Bible; and we see them preserved by grace until the end (Rom 8:30).
It is God’s grace that saves us (Eph 2:8–9). It is God’s grace that sanctifies us (Acts 20:32). It is God’s grace that grants us the faith to trust Christ (Phil 1:29). All the promises of God are “yes” and “amen” in Him (2 Cor 1:20). Not only do we believe in Christ, we love Him (1 Jn 4:19).
Faith that proves itself by a practical love is active (1 Jn 3:17). It works. (Jas 2:17). It ministers to the saints (Heb 6:10). It loves to minister to the saints. It waits in hope for the glorious future promised by God in His Word (Rom 8:25; Gal 5:5).
The Christian knows that God does not forget His promises, so he is bold in the face of persecution (Mt 5:10–12; 2 Thess 1:4). He tends to the needy with practical measures (1 Jn 3:17); and he suffers loss in this world (Heb 10:34), in laboring for the next. Better things belong to the believer in Jesus.
There are degrees of faith, which is why Jesus’ disciples asked Him to increase their faith (Lk 17:5). There are also degrees of hope. To have the full assurance of hope means one endures the fires of testing with joy (Heb 6:11; Jas 1:2). Christians rejoice to suffer for His name’s sake (Acts 5:41; 9:16; Jas 5:10; 1 Pet 4:16). In this, we demonstrate our love for His name (Heb 6:10).
Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness (Rom 4:3; Gal 3:6; Jas 2:23). All of the saints and faithful brethren throughout history have done the same. Paul believed God; and he went to work. God’s love in Christ compels us to diligently labor for the advance of the Gospel and the kingdom of God (2 Cor 5:14). We delight to do God’s will (Ps 40:8); and it is God’s will for us to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord Jesus (Col 1:10), who came to serve and give His life a ransom for many (Mt 20:28; Mk 10:45).
The Apostle Paul insisted that men be imitators of God (Eph 5:1). Because He diligently sought and served the Lord, the great Apostle invited men to follow him even as He followed Christ (1 Cor 1:11). We should not grow weary in doing good (2 Thess 3:13); but being renewed day by day in the Spirit (2 Cor 4:16), we pursue the good works prepared beforehand for us to walk in (Eph 2:10).
The glory to be revealed to us is not to be compared to the suffering we endure now (Rom 8:18). Our labor of love is performed in faith and in hope (1 Tim 4:10). Our labor in the Lord is not in vain. We have God’s Word on that fact (Is 65:23; 1 Cor 15:10; Heb 6:10).
Jesus Christ is fully sufficient for every true believer (2 Cor 12:9). There is no going back to Judaism, nor to any idol religion. We press on to the finish line with steadfast hope, fighting the good fight of faith all the way (1 Cor 9:24; 1 Thess 1:3; 1 Tim 6:12; 2 Tim 4:7; Heb 12:1).
When the promises of God are realized, hope will no longer be a necessary grace from God. Faith itself will be justified on that day because it will have proven true. Thus, we have noted the author’s message not to be discouraged, coupled with his message not to be careless.
The true believer is safe and secure in Christ Jesus. There is nothing to add to Christ because there is nothing lacking in Him (Jas 1:4). He is able (2 Cor 9:8). He is willing (Phil 2:13). By His transforming grace, He gives us faith, hope, and love. Having received these, we look back to all God has done for us in Christ. We give thanks to God for His indescribable gift (2 Cor 9:15). We look forward with hope that will not disappoint us (Rom 9:33; 10:11; 1 Pet 2:6).
Today, we live between the promises made by God and the promises of God to be fully realized. No one else and nothing else is worthy of our complete trust (Prv 3:5–6). Better things belong to us. This is His promise. Having been qualified as heirs of God (Col 1:12), we will soon inherit all that He promised us in Christ…an inheritance reserved for us in heaven (1 Pet 1:4). Then, we will know that it was all worth the wait.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
November 21, 2023
Hebrews 6:9–12
