God is Faithful

Today’s Reading from God’s Word

Hebrews 6:13–19 (CSB)

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself:

14 I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you.

15 And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise.

16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute.

17 Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath,

18 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.

19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

Introduction

How many people do you really trust? I mean really trust?

Less than it used to be?

Why? Bad experience?

A promise made. A word given. Doesn’t matter.

The other party falls through.

Or … we speak in confidence, only to find out later that person cannot be trusted…

We get burned … and then battle cynicism and tend toward self-preservation…

Say to ourselves … you can’t trust anyone anymore… or trust but verify.

And the bad experiences can pile up … and people simply begin to withdraw.

And that is what is happening across our culture. Research continues to find how more people are lonely and feel disconnected at anytime in our nation’s history.

And yet, almost paradoxically, people are looking for something they can trust … something they can stake their life on and win…

Can’t trust the government.

Can’t trust our centers of learning.

Can’t trust the media.

And many would argue that you can’t trust religion.

Some do think they’ve found spirituality and left religion behind, but yet they never find peace, meaning, or belonging.

Others get burned by false teachers who have tried to convince them of philosophies that don’t work.

And they come away asking, Who do you trust?

Who can you really believe in? Stake your life on?

Proverbs 29:25 ESV

25 The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

Psalm 37:4–5 CSB

4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act,

And you can really tell who trusts in the Lord:

Proverbs 28:25 ASV

25 He that is of a greedy spirit stirreth up strife; But he that putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be made fat.

“prosper”

Can we trust God?

Paul said we can.

1 Timothy 4:10 CSB

10 For this reason we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.

Can God really keep that which we commit to Him?

Can you really trust your soul to Jesus Christ?

Can you be secure that God is going to hold on to you no matter what?

Scripture answers with a resounding “yes.”

And this is especially relevant as we continue this month’s sermon series today by looking into the past to learn how God has secured our hope.

Now, how do we know it is ours? That God won’t suddenly pull the plug at the last minute and decide we’re not good enough?

Do we really trust God that He will be good to His word?

Perhaps one of the best examples in all Scripture that we have of a man trusting God is the father of faith, Abraham.

He is the theme of Hebrews 6.13-20.

And this is so relevant to the Hebrew Christians of the first century who were struggling with persecution and discouragement.

The writer wants them to see the perfect illustration of a man who went all the way with God … totally trusting in God in everything… in the midst of unbelievable adversity … all the way to the point of raising a knife to take the life of his own son, killing every dream and hope God had ever given him…

Besides Jesus, there may be no better biblical example of the lengths gone in trusting God.

They are called to follow him, using their own faith, and inherit the promises just like Abraham did.

He is a tremendous example of a man of faith. He trusted God against all odds.

Today

We’ll talk about how Abraham trusted God.

We’ll learn about three things his trust was based on

And we’ll close with a look at v. 18 which stresses why God wants us to move with the strongest confidence in trusting Him.

Abraham Trusted God

What Romans 4 Says

Here we find Paul speaking of salvation by faith and Abraham is the first example he uses.

Romans 4:3 (CSB)

3 For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.

What brought him righteousness? Faith. Abraham believed God.

Abraham made the decision to trust the promises of God. When he did it was credited to him for righteousness.

Works didn’t do it. Faith did.

Belief in Action

Now, let’s look at Romans 4.17:

Here’s an amazing promise to a childless man.

Romans 4:17 CSB

17 As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations— in the presence of the God in whom he believed, the one who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist.

Look at what Paul says next:

Romans 4:18–22 (NASB 2020)

18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your Descendants be.”

19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;

20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,

21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

22 Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness.

Go back to v. 20-21:

Romans 4:20–21 NASB 2020

20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

He did not waver in unbelief, but was strengthened in his faith…

Do you think he had a faith that was alive and indicative of a relationship with God?

Do you think he trusted God?

Do you think he had a responsive or obedient faith?

It is obvious, isn’t it?

Now, look at how James describes the responsive faith of Abraham.

Works are always the response to what God has already done.

They are the evidence of faith.

And, since God had already declared him righteous, notice how James describes his faith:

James 2:22–24 CSB

22 You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

you can’t separate them. You can’t have one without the other and still please God.

James 2:26 (CSB)

26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

No works? No faith. No salvation.

But if you have faith, if you are truly depending on God & trusting in His work already done for you on the cross, works naturally follow.

But you must get them in the proper order. The works flow from faith.

I’m not working for salvation, I’m working from it.

Instead of living in constant fear that I’m not doing enough, God sets us free to enjoy the beautiful and genuine expression of a grateful, thankful, and melted heart that has willingly offered itself to the Lord.

they are the active response to what God has done for you by grace.

They do not enhance or add to the status you already enjoy. They will not make you more saved than you already are.

your salvation has nothing to do with you. All you can do is submit your heart in trust that God will do what He says He will do.

Isn’t that what our response is?

Because we trust God’s promise, we submit in repentance by committing to turn away from sin and be regenerated by the Spirit in baptism.

Your salvation is totally by grace through faith.

So who can you trust?

Abraham trusted God and he was blessed.

Abraham’s Early Life

We are first introduced to Abraham & his family in Genesis 11.26-32.

Abraham was a pagan idolator, Joshua 24.1-2.

He lived in the city of Ur with his father and the rest of his family.

His father was an idolator.

Their ancestry went back to Shem, one of the sons of Noah.

Stephen in Acts 7 fills in some of the blanks for us:

Acts 7:2–3 CSB

2 “Brothers and fathers,” he replied, “listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he settled in Haran, 3 and said to him: Leave your country and relatives, and come to the land that I will show you.

There is nothing here indicating Abraham has anything that God owes him. There is no obvious reason for God choosing him.

Now I personally think that God had the ability to look ahead & know the type of person Abraham was and that’s why he chose him.

In the big picture it doesn’t really matter

Look again at v. 3.

What does God do?

Gives him an inheritance.

And what does Abraham do in response? What work does he do to indicate he trusted God?

Acts 7:4 CSB

4 “Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this land in which you are now living.

Now this is a big deal. Packing up his entire family and moving thousands of miles away to a place he’d never been? Sight unseen?

They made it to Haran and settled there … probably because his father was too old to go farther…

After Terah dies, God comes to Abraham in Haran and that’s where he receives more promises.

God was going to bless him

God was going to multiply his descendants.

God was going to make of him a great nation. By his seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed.

How does Abraham respond to what God has done for him?

Genesis 12:4 (CSB)

4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, ……

And God repeats the promises to him continually.

Genesis 12, 13, 15, 17, 17, and 22.

Over and over God says, “Here is my promise, here is what I’m going to do for you.”

And Abraham believed it. He believed.

Hebrews 11:8–9 (CSB)

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going.

9 By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise.

Acts 7:5 CSB

5 He didn’t give him an inheritance in it—not even a foot of ground—but he promised to give it to him as a possession, and to his descendants after him, even though he was childless.

This is trust!

And now, let’s put Romans back on the screen, which should really come alive for us now:

Romans 4:20–21 CSB

20 He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 because he was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to do.

How Abraham Could Trust God

How did Abraham know his hope was secure?

6.13-15: He trusted God’s Character

Let’s look at Hebrews 6.13.

Hebrews 6:13 (CSB)

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, ...

There is no one greater in the universe than God.

God cannot lie, 6.18.

He invented truth. He is the source of it.

Whatever He says is truth.

He has no ability to contradict himself.

Whatever he does is right.

So his promises are secured by who he is.

Today, when we come to Christ our hope is secured by his character:

Titus 1:2 CSB

2 in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.

God promises eternal life for those who trust in Jesus. He cannot lie.

See how James describes God:

James 1:17 (CSB)

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

He never deviates from his will.

He never deviates from his promise.

6.14: what did he promise Abraham?

Hebrews 6:14 CSB

14 I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you.

Did God keep it?

And He did it in a not-so-conventional way.

Isaac born @ 100 years old.

Abraham believed God.

6.15: Didn’t do it perfectly, but he hung in there.

Hebrews 6:15 (CSB)

15 And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise.

He threw his whole life on God.

He totally surrendered, because all he had was trust.

That’s all we have by the way.

If you’re relying on law-keeping, you will be lost.

Galatians 3:10–11 CSB

10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed. 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith.

Law-keeping does not bring life.

Galatians 3:21 (CSB)

21 For if the law had been granted with the ability to give life, then righteousness would certainly be on the basis of the law.

So all you’ve got is faith. That’s all you need.

God will come through. You can trust him. You may think you’re getting to the end of your rope, but he always, always comes through.

Abraham was secure, we are secure because of who God is. His promises will never fail.

Deuteronomy 31:8 CSB

8 The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

6.14: He Trusted in God’s Promise

What was God’s promise?

Ultimately, Our redemption.

Hebrews 6:14 (CSB)

14 I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you.

The plan, the predetermined purpose was to establish a lineage leading all the way to Jesus.

It is through Jesus that all the nations of the earth would be blessed.

Abraham is a key person in this promise.

Genesis 18:17–19 CSB

17 Then the Lord said, “Should I hide what I am about to do from Abraham? 18 Abraham is to become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. 19 For I have chosen him so that he will command his children and his house after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. This is how the Lord will fulfill to Abraham what he promised him.”

How does God guarantee His promise?

Let’s look at the dialogue in the opening verses of Genesis 15.

Genesis 15:1–6 CSB

1 After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great. 2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Abram continued, “Look, you have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir.” 4 Now the word of the Lord came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” 5 He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.” 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

This is belief. This is hoping against hope. There is no other way but God.

I think what happens in the next couple of verses is the natural response. Abraham wants verification.

Genesis 15:7–8 CSB

7 He also said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” 8 But he said, “Lord God, how can I know that I will possess it?”

In v. 9-16 Abraham is told to prepare a sacrifice.

He gathers everything, brings it to the alter and prepares everything.

God brings him into a deep sleep and reveals the purpose to him in greater specifics.

Once he wakes up it is completely dark. Remember, all the elements are still lying there prepared and ready.

Now v. 17:

Genesis 15:17 CSB

17 When the sun had set and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch appeared and passed between the divided animals.

And then God further defines the land promise in v. 18-21.

But what is going on here in v. 17?

In Abraham’s day, covenants were sealed with blood.

The animals would be cut in half and the parties in the covenant would pass between the pieces, ratifying the covenant in front of witnesses.

Here it is believed that God the presence of God is represented by the smoking fire pot and the flaming torch.

That’s what passes between the divided animals.

God is making the covenant with himself, based on his own purpose, that this is what he would do.

He alone is binding himself to the obligations of this oath.

6.13b, 16-17: He Trusted God’s Oath

Hebrews 6.13.

Hebrews 6:13 (CSB)

13 …since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself:

Hebrews 6:16 CSB

16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute.

Ancient cultural norms had established that a person needed to make an oath on someone greater than himself - altar, high priest, or even God.

Once the oath was made, that was it. Every person expected it to be carried out.

Jews might say, “As the Lord Lives, I will…”

But God can’t make an oath of someone greater than himself so, he swore an oath to himself. “As I live,” he says……

Now God didn’t have to make an oath … but he did… to accommodate our struggling faith.

6.17:

Hebrews 6:17 (CSB)

17 Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath,

Note the first part of 6.17: God desires to show us convincingly that his purposes for us are unshakable.

He wants us to enjoy the security of His plan to bring us home.

What is His oath that He’s going to carry through on His promises to us?

It is the gift of the Spirit.

Remember the passage we’ve looked at the previous 2 weeks - We are sealed by the Spirit, Ephesians 1.13-14, His presence in your life is the mark you are owned by God and that He is the down payment of the inheritance you will receive.

Look again at 6.17:

This was not done just for Abraham, but for us as well … because we too are heirs to the promise.

Note … his purpose is unchangeable… It can’t be altered or changed.

God is saying, I will keep my promise to you. God has given us an oath that He will keep his word.

As We Close…

Look closely at v. 18:

Hebrews 6:18 (CSB)

18 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, …

What are the two unchangeable things?

His promise, 6.14.

His oath, 6.17

He stated it. Then he swore by it.

What God has established will not change. He will follow through. It is impossible for Him to lie.

If there were any more possible, he would have given us that.

This assurance is all for a purpose:

Hebrews 6:18 (CSB)

18 …we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.

He wants us to have the strongest of confidence.

for what…

to seize the hope set before us.

It’s as if God is saying, “Get out there and do what I tell you to do, and stop thinking about whether you have hope or not. Do what’s right because it’s right, and stop dwelling on the future. Do what you’re supposed to do and stop wondering about how it’s going to turn out in the end.”

God is utterly committed to working for our hope.

He insists we be people of confident hope, not of worry and anxiety.

He wants us to think about the future, and be totally confident, and assured about how it will turn out.

6.19a.

Hebrews 6:19 (CSB)

19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

What is your anchor?

Who are you trusting?