Hebrews 6 speaks to salvation-sanctification, not to salvation-justification.
Actually, Heb 6 speaks to
apostasy and
perseverance in faith of Hebrews who were considering
returning to Judaism because of the rejection and persecution of their families and friends.
It's one of the four warnings (4:1-13, 5:11-6:12, 10:19-39, 12:14-28) not to fail in belief,
as did their forefathers (3:7-19).
We do indeed have persevering faith to inherit the promises. This is a reward.
Paul uses "reward" in two different ways:
1) The inheritance (
Col 4:24) of Jesus' own glory (2Th 2:14) in eternal life through
faith alone,
which is the salvation of true saving faith.
All those of true saving faith receive this inheritance (reward) of eternal life by salvation.
2) The reward received in heaven, where entrance is based on eternal life (salvation),
for the quality of the believer's
work on earth (
1Co 3:12-15), and which
has
no bearing on one's salvation (1Co 3:15).
It is in addition to the first "reward," but it is possible that not all the saved will receive it.
Context in the light of the NT determines which reward is meant.
In the context of the NT, your use of "reward" above is the first meaning.
Not all believers will inherit all the promises
Because not all faith is true saving faith, there is also counterfeit faith (Mt 7:21-23).
Counterfeit faith does not save and, therefore, does not receive
any of God's promises.
Those who persevere inherit more.
Not exactly. . .
Only those who persevere in faith receive the inheritance (reward),
because those who do not persevere are
not saved and receive
no inheritance (reward).
All who persevere receive the inheritance (reward) of eternal life,
but may not receive an
additional reward for the quality of their work.
While others who persevere and receive the inheritance (reward) of eternal life
may receive an additional reward for the quality of their work, so that
some of those who persevere may receive more than others who persevere.
This is what Paul means in Rom. 2
7to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;
8but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.
I know some of you will object to the idea that the above verses are speaking about believers, but how else are we to understand the clear point that
6who
WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:and
9There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek,
10but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
11For there is no partiality with God.
Just taking the words at face value.
Let's take the words in context of the NT, where a person is saved not by what
he does,
but by faith in what
Christ does for him.
In Ro 2:1-16, Paul presents the principles that govern God's judgment:
1) according to truth (v.2), for those who hold the truth in unrighteousness,
2) according to deeds (vv. 6-11), for those who possess the Mosaic law,
3) according to the light a person has; i.e, conscience (vv. 12-15), for those who do not possess
the Mosaic law.
These are the g
roundwork for Paul's discussion of the guilt of the Jews in vv. 17-29.
In vv. 6-7, if anyone persists in doing good deeds (i.e., lives a perfect life), he will receive eternal life.
But no one can do this (Gal 3:10); however, if anyone could, God would give him life,
since God judges according to what a person does.
In vv. 8-12, since God judges according to what a person does,
all who do evil will receive wrath.
And so, since all men do evil (Ro 3:10), God's wrath is on all men, Jew and Gentile alike (v. 9).
Thus, the need for a Savior.