“Better Things”

Hebrews 6:9-12 (ESV)

⁹ Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. ¹⁰ For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. ¹¹ And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, ¹² so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. – Heb. 6:9-12, ESV

In the sixth chapter of Hebrews, the inspired writer is urging his readers to grow up in their knowledge; to go on to maturity. There is a tone of rebuke, coming out of chapter five and into chapter six. But now, in the section that begins with verse 6, there is encouragement. That is captured in one phrase, “we feel sure of better things.” The original readers had the capacity to go on to maturity and embrace better things. Things that belong to salvation.

Now, in the rebuke, there is no implication that the people had done it all wrong. There was legitimate love that promoted them to serve the saints. What was needed was, to apply that same diligence to the whole spectrum of relationship with God through Christ.

They are assured that God knows their good work. “For God is not unjust … to overlook your work and the love you have shown for his name.”

At the end of this paragraph, there is a lead in to the next section. The writer calls upon his readers to be “imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” This is the transitional sentence into the next section about Abraham. That will be the subject of the next podcast: Heb. 6:13-20.

Remember this from what we’ve read – “God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.”