What does "full assurance of hope" mean in the context of Hebrews 6:11? Immediate Setting of Hebrews 6:11 - Verses 9–12 reassure believers who had been warned against drifting. - Their past works of love (v. 10) proved genuine faith, yet the writer urges continued diligence “to the very end” (v. 11). - Purpose statement: “so that your hope may be fully assured.” The phrase ties perseverance (ongoing diligence) to the settled confidence of final salvation. Defining “Full Assurance of Hope” - “Hope” (elpis) in Scripture means confident expectation, not mere wishfulness. - “Full assurance” (plerophoria) speaks of complete certainty, overflowing conviction, nothing lacking or wavering. - Together: an unshakable, wholehearted confidence that God will finish what He promised—eternal life, final inheritance, and perfected fellowship with Him. The Nature of Biblical Hope • Future-oriented: looks to the promised inheritance (Hebrews 9:15). • Anchored: “an anchor for the soul, firm and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:19). • Living: “He has given us new birth into a living hope” (1 Peter 1:3-4). • Joy-producing: “We rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2). • Certain because it rests on God’s character: “God is not unjust” (Hebrews 6:10) and “God is not a man, that He should lie” (Numbers 23:19). Sources of Our Assurance 1. God’s Promise and Oath (Hebrews 6:13-18) • Two unchangeable things—His word and His oath—guarantee the believer’s future. 2. Christ’s Finished Work (Hebrews 6:20; 9:12) • Jesus, our forerunner, has already entered the heavenly sanctuary, securing our place. 3. The Spirit’s Inner Witness (Romans 8:16) • The Spirit testifies that we are children and heirs. 4. Evidences of Grace in Life (Hebrews 6:10) • Love, service, and perseverance affirm the reality of salvation. Cultivating the Assurance • Show the “same diligence” (v. 11): keep pressing on in faith and obedience. • Imitate “those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (v. 12)—Abraham, the patriarchs, and every steadfast saint (Hebrews 11). • Hold fast the confession (Hebrews 10:23) and draw near with “full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22). • Feed on God’s word; faith grows by hearing (Romans 10:17). • Practice love and good works (Hebrews 10:24) which strengthen confident expectation. Results of Living in Full Assurance - Steadfast endurance under trial (James 1:12). - Freedom from sluggishness or spiritual apathy (Hebrews 6:12). - Joy and peace by the power of the Spirit (Romans 15:13). - Bold witness, knowing the outcome is secure (1 Peter 3:15). Key Supporting Passages • Hebrews 6:11 – “We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that your hope may be fully assured.” • Hebrews 6:19 – “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and steadfast.” • Hebrews 10:22-23 – “Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith… Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” • 1 Peter 1:3-4 – “He has given us new birth into a living hope… into an inheritance that is imperishable…” • Romans 5:5 – “Hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” Summary “Full assurance of hope” in Hebrews 6:11 is the believer’s complete, unwavering confidence that every promise of God—secured by Christ’s work and confirmed by God’s unchangeable oath—will come to pass. It is cultivated through diligent faith, patient endurance, and active love, resulting in a steadfast, joyful, and persevering walk until the final inheritance is received. |
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