Thus far we have seen that the writer of Hebrews expected that his readers would not be content to remain immature followers of Christ. He urged them "rush on" to maturity, to quit lingering around the fundamentals of the faith - necessary though they are - and stop glorying in the same minimal experiences of Christ, and to disabuse themselves of the idea that merely hearing the Word of God is all that was required of them as believers.

These are all essential aspects of the life of faith: a solid foundation in the basic truths of the Gospel, true knowledge of Christ experienced as forgiveness and new life, and ongoing participation in the preaching and teaching of the Word of God. But, as our writer notes in v. 9, "Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things - things that belong to salvation." In other words, the writer was not willing to believe the reports he was hearing about these Christians - that they weren't growing and had become complacent and satisfied in a kind of status quo Christianity. He felt sure there must be more, not just these basics, but things that truly are characteristic of saving faith.

The writer clearly implies that just being able to profess belief in fundamental Gospel truths, or being satisfied with a kind of minimal experience of Christ, or just being present to hear the Word, or even to read it faithfully - these things, while one cannot be saved without them, do not, by themselves nor all together, provide the kind of evidence of saving faith that allows one to "have the full assurance of hope until the end" (v. 11), which every Christian should desire to know.

There are "better things" than these, things without which we cannot be sure of our salvation. But if we are not "rushing on" to maturity, pressing on toward the goal of the upward prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, working out our salvation in fear and trembling, giving all diligence to make our calling and election sure, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God, then we are "sluggish" (v. 12) with respect to our salvation, and have nothing truly persuasive to cling to as our hope of eternal life. There are other things - better things - which it is every true believer's duty to "rush on" to attain and achieve.

Just what those "better things" are we shall see in our next installment.

T. M. Moore