9: Diligence and Assurance (Heb 6:9-20)
The Basics
Setting
The author has expressed his
concern for the readers’ spiritual immaturity and warned them about the
consequences of falling away. Nevertheless, he is confident of better things
about them. In this passage, he encourages them to be diligent and to put their
hope in God, who has given us His promise and confirmed it with an oath.
Key Verse
“And we desire that each one of you
show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you
do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience
inherit the promises” (6:11-12).
Did You Know…?
1. “He
swore by Himself” (): This is in
reference to Genesis 22:16.
2. The
Presence behind the veil (): The
holy of holies, which represented the presence of God.
Observation
Outline
(6:9-12)
(6:13-20)
Key Words/Phrases
Segment Analysis
6:9-12
1a. What makes the author “confident of better things” about the
believers he was writing to?
1b. If the author is confident of better things about them, why
does he still need to admonish them in -12?
2. What
is required in order for us to have full assurance of hope and inherit the
promises?
3. What
causes sluggishness?
4. In
what areas should you be particularly more diligent? What are your goals in
pursuing maturity?
6:13-20
5. How
does this paragraph continue the thought of verse 12?
6 . What lesson does the author want
us to learn from Abraham?
7. What
does an oath add to a promise?
8a. What are the “two immutable things” (18)?
8b. What is the author’s point in discussing the immutable?
9. How
have we “fled for refuge”?
10a. What is the “anchor for the soul” that
enters the Presence behind the veil?
10b. How has your hope in Christ been the
anchor of your soul in your doubts, worries, weakness, failures, and
sufferings?
