2. Things That Accompany Salvation
“But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner” (Hebrews 6:9).

3. Things That Accompany Salvation
Spiritual Growth

4. Spiritual Growth 1) Indicated by leaving the first principles.
“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:1-2).

5. Spiritual Growth 2) Seen in one’s ability to partake of solid food.
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14).

6. Spiritual Growth 3) Certainly are commanded to grow.
“You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:17-18).

7. Spiritual Growth 4) We are told how to grow.
“Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:1-3).

8. Things That Accompany Salvation
Spiritual Growth
Work & Love

9. Work & Love 1) God does not forget such efforts.
“For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10).

10. Work & Love 2) Commended for helping the saints.
“distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality” (Romans 12:13).
“Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority” (2 Corinthians 9:1- 2).

11. Work & Love 3) God expects us to work.
“At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did” (Acts 9:36).
“Now if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do” (1 Corinthians 16:10).

12. Work & Love 4) The motivation – love.
“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died” (2 Corinthians 5:14).

13. Things That Accompany Salvation
Spiritual Growth
Work & Love
Imitate The Faithful

14. Imitate The Faithful 1) Look to those who are faithfully serving.
“that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:12).
“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children” (Ephesians 5:1).

15. Imitate The Faithful 2) Look the faithful in Hebrews 11!
(a) Abel’s sacrifice (v. 4).
(b) Enoch pleased God and was taken (v. 5).
(c) Noah prepared an ark (v. 7).
(d) Abraham’s journey & his sacrifice (vv. 8-10; 17-19).
(e) Sarah strength to conceive (v. 11).
(f) Isaac blessing Jacob & Esau (v. 20).
(g) Jacob blessing Joseph’s sons (v. 21).
(h) Joseph instruction about his bones (v. 22).
(i) Moses choosing to suffer (vv ).

16. Imitate The Faithful 3) Encouragement from these witnesses.
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

17. Imitate The Faithful 4) The perfect example to imitate.
“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
Author – “one that takes the lead in anything, and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter: of Christ, Hebrews 12:2 (who in the prominence of his faith far surpassed the examples of faith commemorated in Hebrews 11)” (Thayer, p. 77).
Finisher – “one who has in his own person raised faith to its perfection and so set before us the highest example of faith, Hebrews 12:2” (Thayer, p. 619).

18. Things That Accompany Salvation
Spiritual Growth
Work & Love
Imitate The Faithful
Energetic

19. Energetic 1) Easy to become lazy.
“that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:12).
Sluggish – “that ye become not sluggish (or dull of hearing)” as some already were (Hebrews 5:11)” (A.T. Robertson).

20. Energetic 2) The Hebrews became dull of hearing.
“And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing” (Hebrews 5:9-11).

21. Energetic 3) Being lukewarm is unacceptable.
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked-- I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (Revelation 3:15-18).

22. Things That Accompany Salvation
Spiritual Growth
Work & Love
Imitate The Faithful
Energetic
Faithful Till Death

23. Faithful Till Death 1) It takes effort.
“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end” (Hebrews 6:11).
“We want each of you to go on with the same hard work all your lives so you will surely get what you hope for” (Hebrews 6:11). New Century Version
Diligence – “earnestness, diligence: universally, earnestness in accomplishing, promoting, or striving after anything” (Thayer, p. 585).

24. Faithful Till Death 2) Must be steadfast.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you” (2 Peter 3:14-15).

25. Faithful Till Death 3) To the very end!
“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion” (Hebrews 3:12-15).

26. Things That Accompany Salvation
Spiritual Growth
Work & Love
Imitate The Faithful
Energetic
Faithful Till Death