Letter to the Hebrews Volume 51

 A Better Forecast is Expected for the True Believer Part 1

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. KJV

As we used the final words of the Apostle Peter to the Church (2 Peter 3:14-18) to close out the part of the writer of Hebrews letter where he loudly urged the Hebrew converts back then and all converts to Christ of every era and generation to keep growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, in order that they/we would not become a spiritually barren Christian lacking in vitality, learning nothing beyond the elementary principles of salvation, and even lifeless to the point of needing to be taught again what it really means to be saved from sin and hell. The writer of Hebrews now goes on to move away from the previous direction of warning them/us into declaring to them his belief about their true spiritual condition, despite some evidence in some of their lack of spiritual growth, as it is written here, "But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak." (Hebrews 6:9) (KJV). It was the pattern used by the Apostle Paul in both of his letters written to the Church @ Corinth, that is, to warn them vehemently against certain practices that were not pleasing to our Lord Jesus Christ, yet at the same time declaring his undying, unwavering, and unconditional love for them in spite of their lack of spiritual growth into maturity, for example his warning to the Church @ Corinth against idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:1-22).

The English phrase 'we are persuaded' in Hebrews 6:9 is translated by the Greek word peithō a primary verb meaning to convince (by argument, true or false); by analogy to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); reflexively or passively to assent (to evidence or authority), to rely (by inward certainty): - agree, assure, believe, have confidence, be (wax) content, make friend, obey, persuade, trust, yield. In other words, the writer of Hebrews is firmly convinced that they surely do belong to our Lord Jesus Christ and that their spiritual growth into maturity will be made manifest, that is, made evident soon in some but maybe later in others. The verb indicates a past hesitation or waver or relunctance completely overcome. The English phrase 'better things' is translated by the Greek word kreittōn meaning stronger, that is, (figuratively) better, that is, nobler: - best, better. In other words, the writer of Hebrews is here declaring again what we just said above and that is, their spiritual growth into maturity will be made manifest, that is, made evident soon in some but maybe later in others (Hebrews 6:1). When the writer declares these last words in verse 9, 'and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak', he means that despite the loud warning to them, that is, the then Hebrew converts to Christ of the danger that they found themselves in due to their lack of growing up spiritually into maturity which blocked or obstructed their ability (at all times) to discern good from evil, yet he is still convinced that spiritual growth will take place and they will do the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and go onward displaying the evidence of their spiritual maturity and all things that declare a redeemed life by way of the grace of God and the work of God the Holy Spirit.

The writer of Hebrews now in the very next verse declares to them what he knows of the evidence of their true faith and also of their moving on into spiritual maturity with these words, "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." (Hebrews 6:10) (KJV). The fact that they are making themselves valuable  to the saints in whatever the capacity that is needed is evidence of their spiritual growth taking place in the direction away from being 'babes in Christ' into the direction of spiritual maturity. The Hebrew converts then had begun to show by their spiritual growth by their love of ministering in the Name of Christ Jesus our Lord, for what they actually engaged themselves in is not declared here by the writer of Hebrews, but we know it was to and for the adopted sons and daughters of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is what persuaded the writer of Hebrews that they were beginning to grow up from babes. The evidence of 'babes in Christ' would be what the Apostle Paul declared and described concerning the behavior of the Church @ Corinth in his first letter to them when he wrote these words of the evidence that had gotten back to him, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? (1 Corinthians 3:1-3) (KJV).

However, now the writer of Hebrews has been persuaded that these charateristics of envy, strife, discord, and divisions have been replaced among the then Hebrew converts to Christ (as well should be no longer a part of any true believing body of believers in every era and generation) with a 'labour of love, which ye have shewed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister', that is, the opposite of envy and strife is love and respect. The little English phrase 'ye have shewed' is translated by the Greek word endeiknumi meaning to indicate (by word or act): - do, show (forth). The English phrase 'in that ye have ministered' is translated by the Greek word diakoneō meaning to be an attendant, that is, wait upon (menially or as a host, friend or [figuratively] teacher); technically to act as a Christian deacon: - (ad-) minister (unto), serve, use the office of a deacon. The motivation for their good works and labor of love to the saints in their location, as well as , saints elsewhere surely was because of their love for our Lord Jesus Christ, just as our Lord Himself declared He wanted for us and from us when He said this, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it. If ye love Me, keep my commandments." (John 14:12-15) (KJV).

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…