Wednesday, February 9
After the strong and sincere warning of Hebrews 6:4-8, Paul expresses confidence that the readers have neither fallen away from the Son, nor will they in the future. He believes that his audience will receive the warning and produce the appropriate fruits. They are like the “earth,” which is cultivated by God and produces the fruits He expects. These people will receive the blessing from God (Hebrews 6:7), which is “salvation” (Hebrews 6:9).
Read Hebrews 6:9-12. List the good things that the audience has done and continues to do and explain what they mean.
Believers show their love toward God’s “name,” that is, toward God Himself, by their service to the saints. These were not isolated actions in the past, but sustained actions that have extended into the present. Exceptional acts do not reveal the true character of a person. The weightiest evidence of love toward God is not “religious” acts per say, but acts of love toward fellow human beings, especially those who are disadvantaged (Matthew 10:42, 25:31-46). Thus, Paul exhorts believers not to “forget” to do good (Hebrews 13:2, 16).
Look at Hebrews 6:12. It warns against their becoming “dull” or “slothful”, which characterizes those who fail to mature and who are in danger of falling away (Hebrews 5:11, 6:12). Hope is not kept alive by intellectual exercises of faith, but by faith expressed in acts of love (Romans 13:8-10).
Paul wants the readers to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. He has already presented the wilderness generation as a negative example of those who, through lack of faith and perseverance, failed to inherit what was promised. He then presents Abraham (Hebrews 6:13-15) as an example of one who through “faith and patience” inherited the promises. The list of positive exemplars is lengthened with the people of faith in Hebrews 11, and it climaxes with Jesus in Hebrews 12 as the greatest example of faith and patience (Hebrews 12:1-4). In Revelation 14:12, faith, patience, and commandment keeping are characteristics of the saints in the last days.
Sometimes we have to give words of warning to those people whom we love. What can we learn from the apostle regarding warning and encouraging others?
Thursday, February 10
Paul culminates his warning against apostasy and encouragement toward love and faith with a beautiful, soaring exposition of assurance in Christ.
Read Hebrews 6:17-20. How did God guarantee His promises to us?
God guaranteed His promises for us in several ways. First, God guaranteed His promise with an oath (Hebrews 6:17). According to Scripture, God’s oaths to Abraham and David became the ultimate basis of confidence in God’s permanent favor for Israel. When Moses sought to secure God’s forgiveness for Israel after the apostasy with the golden calf, he referred to God’s oath to Abraham (see Exodus 32:11-14, Genesis 22:16-18). The implied strength of his plea was that God’s oath was irrevocable (Romans 9:4; 11:28, 29).
Similarly, when the psalmist interceded before God for Israel, he claimed God’s oath to David. God had said: “My covenant will I not break, Nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness That I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, And his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, And as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah” (Psalms 89:34-37). According to the New Testament, both oaths were fulfilled in Jesus, the seed of Abraham, who ascended and was seated on the throne of David (Galatians 3:13-16; Luke 1:31-33, 54, 55).
Second, God has guaranteed His promises to us by the act of seating Jesus at His right hand. Jesus’ ascension has the purpose of corroborating the promise made to the believers because Jesus ascended as a “forerunner” (Hebrews 6:20). Thus, the ascension reveals to us the certainty of God’s salvation for us. God led Jesus to glory through the suffering of “death for every man,” so that He might bring “many sons unto glory” (Hebrews 2:9, 10). Jesus’ presence before the Father is the “anchor of the soul” (Hebrews 6:19), that has been fastened to the throne of God. The honor of God’s rule has been waged on the fulfillment of His promise to us through Jesus. What more assurance do we need?
What do you feel when you think that God has made an oath to you? Why should that thought alone help give you assurance of salvation, even when you feel unworthy?
Friday, February 11
Read Ellen G. White, “John the Beloved,” pp. 539-545, in The Acts of the Apostles; “Judas,” pp. 716-722, in The Desire of Ages.
“The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God, requires a struggle; but the soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in holiness.” Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 43
“John desired to become like Jesus, and under the transforming influence of the love of Christ he did become meek and lowly. Self was hid in Jesus. Above all his companions, John yielded himself to the power of that wondrous life. …
It was John’s deep love for Christ which led him always to desire to be close by His side. The Saviour loved all the Twelve, but John’s was the most receptive spirit. He was younger than the others, and with more of the child’s confiding trust he opened his heart to Jesus. Thus he came more into sympathy with Christ, and through him the Saviour’s deepest spiritual teaching was communicated to the people. …
The beauty of holiness which had transformed him shone with a Christlike radiance from his countenance. In adoration and love he beheld the Saviour until likeness to Christ and fellowship with Him became his one desire, and in his character was reflected the character of his Master.” Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 544, 545
Discussion Questions:
1. The lives of John, the beloved disciple, and Judas Iscariot provide an important contrast. When Jesus saw John and his brother, He called them Boanerges, sons of thunder. John had grave defects. Judas also had defects, but they were not more dramatic or serious than John’s. Why did John come to be transformed into the image of Jesus while Judas committed the sin against the Holy Spirit? What was the difference?
2. Jesus invites believers to take up their crosses and follow Him. What is the difference between taking the cross and submitting to abuse from others?
3. Why does God require a total surrender of our lives to Him? What is the relationship between free will and salvation?
