Even though the danger his readers faced was great, the writer believed they could avoid it. Consequently he concluded this warning as he did the ones in 2:1-4 and 3:1-4:16 with a word of hope to encourage his audience.
6:9 The "better things"in view reflect the writer's confidence that his readers would not turn away from the truth. He based his confidence on their realizing the dreadful consequences of apostasy that he had just explained. "Salvation"refers to the full salvation ahead of them about which he had been speaking throughout this epistle (cf. 1:14).
"The things to which he refers are defined in the following verses (6:10-12): work and love, diligence to the end, and faith and patience. Salvation is the victorious participation with Christ in the coming kingdom as it is in Heb. 1:14, which only those who persevere as companions of the King will inherit. The writer obviously expects that his readers will persevere to the end, enter into rest, and obtain these blessings."202
This is the only place in the epistle where the writer referred to his readers as "beloved"(dear friends). This affectionate address softens the severity of the warning just given (vv. 4-8). Verses 9-12 provide strong evidence, I believe, that genuine Christians are in view throughout this warning passage.
6:10 God had taken note of the readers' commendable Christian conduct and would justly reward them for it. Therefore they should persevere in it and not turn aside from it (i.e., apostatize). "Not unjust"is understatement; God is eminently just.203
6:11-12 "Hope is important. Probably no movement has ever gripped the hearts of people if it did not give them hope."204
Earlier the writer had described his readers as being sluggish (lit. lazy, 5:11). Now he urged them to be diligent and to stop being lazy (v. 12; cf. Prov. 24:30-34). The same Greek word (nothroi) occurs in both places. He wanted them to remain faithful to God while waiting patiently for Him to fulfill His promises to them regarding their future inheritance.
"The theme of imitation recurs in 13:7, and in both instances faith is seen as steadfast persistence that pursues the divine promise . . ."205
Some commentators have used this verse to support the unbiblical idea that believers should look to their good works as evidence of their election and as the basis for their assurance of salvation. This verse is not saying that. The Greek word plerophoriaalways means "fullness"in the passive sense, not "fulfilling."The writer was saying that we need to be diligent regarding something we have already obtained, not to obtain something, namely, assurance.206
Note the linking of love (v. 10), hope (v. 11), and faith (v.12) here (cf. 10:22-24). This triad occurs often in the New Testament epistles (cf. Rom. 5:2-5; 1 Cor. 13:13; Gal. 5:5-6; Col. 1:4-5; 1 Thess. 1:3; 5:8; 1 Pet. 1:21-22).
