Warning against Retrograding, which leads to Apostasy—Encouragement to Steadfastness from God’s Faithfulness to His Word and Oath. Heb. 6:9-12
“The passage which is to be before us is in strong and blessed contrast from what we found in vv. 4–6. There we beheld a class of people highly favored, blest with grand external privileges, richly gifted, and wrought upon by the Holy Spirit. There we see the faculties of the natural man’s soul wound up to their highest pitch: the conscience searched, the understanding enlightened, the affections drawn out, and the will moved to action. Yet, though they have never been born again, though they are unsaved, though their end is destruction. Oftentimes their head-knowledge of the truth, their zeal for religion, their moral qualities, put him to shame. Still, if he weighs them in the balances of the sanctuary, they will be found wanting. Our present passage treats of “the remnant according to the election of grace” Rom. 11:5. “But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you.” The “But” sets these “beloved” ones in opposition from those mentioned in v. 8. The “better things” also points an antithesis.” Pink Arthur W. We subjoin Dr. J. Brown’s summary of our passage. “The reason why I have made these awful statements about apostates, is not because I consider you whom I am addressing as apostates for your conduct proves that this is not your character, and the promise of God secures that this doom shall not be yours; but that you may be stirred up to persevering steadiness in the faith, and hope, and obedience of the truth, by a constant continuance in which alone you can, like those who have gone before you, obtain in all their perfections the promised blessings of the Christian salvation.” “We hence conclude that not only the reprobates ought to be reproved, severely, and with sharp earnestness, hut also the elect themselves, even those whom we deem to be children of God” John Calvin.
“But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you.” Heb. 10:34, Phi. 1:6-7, 1Th. 1:3. It is the duty of every pastor to ascertain the spiritual condition of his people: “Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks” Prov. 27:23 While he is ignorant of their state, he knows not when or how to rebuke or console, to warn or encourage
“And things that accompany salvation” (v. 9). ch. 5:9, Is. 57:15, Matt. 5:3–12, Mar. 16:16. Act. 20:21, 2Cor. 7:10, Gal. 5:6, 22, 23, Tit. 2:11–14. “The principal things that “accompany salvation” are sorrow for and hatred of sin, humility or self-abnegation, the peace of God comforting the conscience, godly fear or the principle of obedience, a diligent perseverance in using the appointed means of grace and pressing forward in the race set before us, the spirit of prayer, and a joyous expectation of being conformed to the image of Christ and spending eternity with Him.” Pink Arthur W. I must come to Him renouncing all my righteousness Rom. 10:3, as an empty-handed beggar Matt. 19:21. But more; to be received by Christ, I must come to Him forsaking my self-will and rebellion against Him Ps. 2:11, 12; Pro. 28:13. An “unfeigned faith” (2 Tim. 1:5) in Christ, is one which submits to His yoke and bows to His authority. There is no such thing in Scripture as receiving Christ as Savior without also receiving Him as Lord: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk ye in Him” (Col. 2:6). If it be an honest and genuine faith, it is inseparably connected with a spirit of obedience, a desire to please Him, a resolve to not henceforth live unto self, but unto Him which died for me 2Cor. 5:15.
