Going On Unto Perfection Part II
Hebrews 6: 9-10
But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
In Part I of this title it was stated that slothfulness in hearing the doctrine of Christ is intolerable and inexcusable. The slothful hearer is one who hears the doctrine of Christ as a thing to be lightly esteemed, and regards not the privilege of hearing it as a gift from God and therefore of infinite value to the souls of men. Those who hear slothfully do not “give the more earnest heed” to the sound doctrine that they hear; and unless God intervenes they will let them slip unto final apostacy and the eternal perdition of their souls (Hebrews 2:1; II Peter 3: 7).
But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you. The writer had a more favorable opinion of these Hebrews who had claimed a saving interest in Christ. The better things of which the writer was persuaded concerning these professed believers are things that accompany salvation even though in the same breath he spoke of those for whom it is impossible that they should be renewed again unto repentance. The writer had a better persuasion of them because of the work and labor of love which the Hebrew believers had shown toward the name of Christ, in that they had ministered to the necessities of the saints and did minister. This ministering to the necessities of the saints, was a “work and labor of love” motivated by the love of Christ “shed abroad in the hearts” (Romans 5: 5) of these believers by the Spirit of Christ. This “work and labor of love” demonstrated the reality of saving faith, in as much as it shows that their faith was the gift of the Holy Ghost, as it is written: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2: 8-9).
The Apostle James, in his Epistle wrote these words: “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2: 20-26).
In these verses the point that the Apostle James is seeking to establish is that the faith “which worketh by love” is saving faith, while that faith which is only the illumination of the intellect is not truly saving faith for it does not work by love. For it either works not at all, or it works from wrong motives and unto wrong ends. Only faith which worketh by love is saving faith; for it is written: “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love” (Galatians 5:6). The right motive of faith which worketh by love is the glory of God, through ministering unto the necessities of the saints. As it is written: “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10). And again it is written: “Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; While by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you” (II Corinthians 9:11-14).
Intellectual assent to the doctrine of Christ is not saving faith, for “with the heart man believeth unto righteousness” (Romans 10:10). Intellectual assent to the doctrine of Christ: without love of the doctrine, without the love of the God Who is the author of the doctrine, and without the love to those who are fellow-heirs of grace through believing the doctrine, is not saving faith. Love never fails (I Corinthians 13:8) and it is written: “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost” (Romans 5:5). Therefore the writer seeing the labor of love of the Hebrews, had good reason to believe “better things of them and things that accompany salvation” though he warned them of the danger of slothful hearing. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1: 6). “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).
The things that accompany salvation, are things that are the fruit and effect of salvation. There is the fruit of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5: 22-23). There is also “all spiritual blessedness” as it is written: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1: 3). And there is a heart that is prepared for “work and labor of love” toward others. There are other things that accompany salvation as follow:
(1.) Rest to the weary soul, as evidenced when our Lord Jesus said: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:28). Isaiah saith: “For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear” (Isaiah 28:11-12) it is “Israel after the flesh” that would not hear (I Corinthians 10:18; see Romans 9: 6-8).
(2.) Another accompaniment of salvation is a spirit of power, love, and of a sound mind. As it is written: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (II Timothy 1; 8). God has put His fear in our hearts; but God has not given us the spirit of fear, as in Deuteronomy where He saith: “There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as he hath said unto you” (Deuteronomy 11:25; Genesis 9: 2). The fear of God that He gives His children of the covenant is that reverential awe and love of God that He puts in the hearts of His elect and redeemed ones. It is not a spirit of bondage and legal fear.
(3.) God gives His dear children a good hope through grace: “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, (II Thessalonians 2:16). For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (Romans 8: 24).
(4.) The spirit of adoption, as it is written: “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15).
Those who are saved with an “everlasting salvation” (Isaiah 45:17) are justified by the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ. Those who do His commandments “have right to the tree of life” as it is written: “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14) “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment” (I John 3:22). Believing on the name of the only begotten Son of God is doing righteousness, as it is written: “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous” (I John 3:7); and believers are made the righteousness of God in him, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (II Corinthians 5:21).
The righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to the account of the believing sinner. This justification by the righteousness of Jesus Christ gives full right to the tree of life. The believing sinner is from eternity set apart, that is, the elect sinner is sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ, (Jude 1:1; I Corinthians 1:2); and the believing sinner was redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ at the cross. These things: justification, sanctification, redemption, pardon, unconditional election of grace, predestination to the adoption of children from eternity, all these things are the portion, the salvation, of those who are saved, along with those previously mentioned that accompany salvation. As our Lord Jesus said: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life” (John 6:47). Again He said “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24).
AJ Ison
See the writers blog at www.hebrews915.blogspot.com Hear the true gospel preached at www.13thstbaptist.org webcasting live at listed service times.
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