⁹ But, beloved, we are convinced of better things of you – things that accompany salvation, even though we are speaking in this way. ¹⁰ For GOD IS NOT UNJUST SO AS TO FORGET YOUR WORK AND THE LOVE WHICH YOU HAVE SHOWN toward His name, by having served and by still serving the saints. ¹¹ And we desire that each one of you demonstrate the same diligence so as to REALIZE THE FULL ASSURANCE OF HOPE until the end, ¹² so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faithfulness and endurance inherit the promises. ¹³ For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear an oath by no one greater, He swore by Himself, ¹⁴ saying, “indeed I will greatly bless you and I will greatly multiply you.” ¹⁵ And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. ¹⁶ For people swear an oath by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath serving as confirmation is an end of every dispute. ¹⁷Similarly God, desiring even more to demonstrate to the HEIRS OF THE PROMISE  the fact that His purpose is unchangeable, confirmed it with an oath, ¹⁸ so that by two unchangeable things in which it is IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to hold firmly to the hope set before us. ¹⁹This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable and one which ENTERS WITHIN THE VEIL, ²⁰ WHERE JESUS HAS ENTERED AS A FORERUNNER for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek (Heb6:9-20).

Now for the good news

After the writer to the Hebrews’ warning about falling from grace (previous post), he is able to comfort the original readers of his letter with a welcome but/however – “we are convinced of better things of you – things that accompany salvation!” (v9). And the rest of this passage is largely good news also – especially that which I have capitalized above. But firstly note why the writer has confidence about his readers’ eternal estate. In verse 10 the opening conjunction is  γὰρ = for which reason, or “it follows from what I have just been saying” – the reason I have this confidence in you is that “God would not be so unjust as to forget your works and your love (v10). Again it affirms that our salvation (and our assurance of it) is not primarily related to our state of mind (as Luther would effectively have asserted), it pertains to what we do  and how we live. God would be unjust if He did not acknowledge and reward these things, says the writer.

Grounds for assurance

In the next verse (11) he indicates that we can know a measure of assurance, indeed “realize the full assurance of hope”. What? – if we believe strongly enough that Christ died for our sins and look to His finished work at Calvary for our salvation? No, do that by all means, but salvation is rarely if ever expressed in such terms in Scripture. [Such concepts are entirely absent from the evangelistic preaching in the Book of Acts]. Rather this assurance will be attained “if we demonstrate the same diligence” with respect to the aforementioned works of love. And if  you seek more generally for texts regarding assurance of salvation, it is much the same principle (e.g., 1Jn2:3-5; 1Jn3:14; 1Jn3:7). [Contrary to what I believed as an Evangelical and used to sing about (”I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded”… etc – 2Tim1:12), when rightly translated, is not referring to assurance of salvation – see earlier post]. This is actually good news, for it is problematic reliably to assess how strongly and firmly we  believe something, “trust” or “wholly rely” on something or Someone. If you have read a non-partisan Luther biography you will see this is something he struggled with. It’s easier to assess what we love and so act upon, and thankfully that’s Christ’s method of assessment also, as the Mt25 “sheep” found to their delight.

Heirs of the promise

More briefly, the other highlighted good news concerns God’s elect – that they are “the heirs of the promise” (v17). The writer was referring to the promises given to Abraham that were ratified by God swearing by Himself that He would honour them. And, wrote Paul, “if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise” (Gal3:29). “Promises, promises” – but these can be wholeheartedly relied upon, for the even better news concerns the One who gave them.

Jesus – our Forerunner

The God of the Bible can do anything, one might imagine. Thankfully that is not the case. He cannot change (in nature) and He cannot lie. Verse 18 affirms the latter. That is why “we have strong encouragement to hold firmly to the hope set before us” (v18). As to the nature of that hope, it is expressed here in terms of “entering the veil”. That is referring to the holy of holies that under the Old Covenant none but the High Priest could enter. It is referring to entering the very presence of God, which as becomes clearer later in Hebrews (ch10) is not just referring to future glories but  is a present reality for the Christian, a mystery to be discussed in later posts. Like everything else relating to such privileges it has become possible because “Jesus has entered as a Forerunner for us” – as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

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