TUESDAY November 4, 2025

Inheriting the Promises of God

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.
Hebrews 6:11-12

Christians influenced by Judaizers became sluggish in their faith. They were encouraged by Paul to have the same diligence of other believers whose works and labor of love were evident because of their genuine faith in Christ. These steadfast Christians had faith and patience that would give them an immovable assurance of hope until the end. They were secure in the hope of their eternal salvation.

Can a Christian be secure in the hope of their salvation? Yes, as long as they are abiding in Christ. In John 15:5, Jesus taught: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” The fruitfulness of the Christian life is in direct correlation to abiding in Christ. So is the assurance of the inherited promise of eternal life.

The danger will come when a Christian lives an unstable life in continual sin. If they choose to walk away from the Lord and go back into the world, they become apostates. At that point, they have fully renounced Christ. Christians, especially new believers, will often trip and fall, but this does not mean they have lost their salvation. They are to repent so that Jesus can forgive them and restore their lives: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Christians are set apart––holy. Therefore, they are to live holy lives. In 1 Peter 1:14-16, we discover an important exhortation: ...as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Do not become sluggish in your faith. Mimic believers who are steadfast in the faith. Surround yourself with Christians who are diligent. They know at the end of their lives, they will inherit the promise of eternal life.

At great cost to Himself, God has made it possible for each of us to live with Him eternally.
~Billy Graham~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!