Hebrews 6:13-20

Introduction:

Announcements:

Senior Bibles (winter grads)

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They are super excited

Unite Tickets (Tuesday at 8:30pm, Doors open at 8pm. Reed Arena in place of Breakaway

JP, Jennie Allen, Elevation Rhytmn

God is up to something in this generation… you don’t want to miss it

• ⁃ Bunch O Studs softball game tonight at 10:45 (Pimberthy) (first playoff game)

Kickball

Friday 6pm

Field 12

Bible Study days as teams

Try to keep a central theme as a day

Merch (5 minutes after service)

Who am I? ~ I’m very thankful to be before you, and to dive into the back half of Hebrews Chapter 6 (turn your bibles there)

We have a lot to cover, are you guys ready?, let’s pray

Pray

Recap

If you have been with us the last couple of weeks we have seen beginning in chapter 5 and continuing into chapter 6 a clear warning… (a theme throughout the book of Hebrews)

There’s a warning against complacency in your walk with the Lord, a warning against stagnation, but also a warning against falling away which we are going to see tonight there’s an unshakeable assurance for the believer in Christ.

This chapter is often a scary one to look at and dissect (go back and listen to them on the podcast) but as the Scriptures always do, especially in this letter the author ends the warning with encouragement towards hope.

These warnings aren’t meant to leave the believer in a panic or paralyzing fear, but extend into a deeper gratitude for the person and work of Jesus Christ, but also sole and utter dependance on Him (not yourself)

We also get to be encouraged by the care that God has to preserve these words to warn us of that, watch out for this that and the other, and invites us in to His story further

I love what we talked about last week, after really ripping into the listener and warning against apostasy, he says in v.9

Hebrews 6:9 “9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.”

There’s a foundational assurance for those saved by the grace and mercy of God, and tonight we are going to see that come even more alive through verses 13 to 20. Let’s read…

Read

Hebrews 6:13–20 ESV

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

VV. 13-15: The Promise Giving God - Abraham’s Faithful Response

As we begin, we see the word FOR or BECAUSE…

The writer is giving support for what was spoken just before, namely, verses 11–12. Let’s remind ourselves what the author said there:

Hebrews 6:11–12 “11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

The aim of v.11-12 is the same as it in the passage we are going to be reading today…

God wants you to have the FULL assurance of hope:

Not a weak or flimsy hope, but a strong, full, and confident hope - lest you might become “sluggish” or “dull” and begin to think that the Christian hope is not as real as the hopes offered by the world.

That’s the danger Hebrews is warning against over and over again… don’t be sluggish in the way you fight to keep your hope strong and vivd and compelling and alluring…

And the best part of this is the Christian hope is alive and proven to be a victorious hope because of the resurrection

Like we hope in someone who has proven Himself to be who He says He is

It’s also important for us to realize that, the writer of Hebrews has been urging the Jews to completely abandon the Old Covenant. Everything from Judaism is to be dropped away and they are to commit themselves entirely to Jesus Christ in the New Covenant. The forms and rituals and ceremonies and practices are to be left behind. But, as the writer says very clearly here—and says even more clearly in chapter 11—the essence, the substance, even of the Old Covenant was faith, as far as man’s part was concerned. At no time were the forms and ceremonies the most important thing. Faith was always paramount even in the OT.

One of if not the most outstanding example of trusting God in the OT was Abraham - The author portrays him as the model of faith and patience that we should look to

Let’s continue: Hebrews 6:13–15 “13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.”

For when God made a promise to Abraham - Talking about the Abrahamic Covenant (or promise) made to him in the book of Genesis Chapter 12 and is again confirmed in Genesis chapter 22

Genesis 22:15–18 ESV

And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

This is what v.13 is pointing to, this promise given to Abraham

The promise that He is going to bless Abraham and multiply Him -> and the multiplication of Abraham was going to be a blessing to ALL the nations and ultimately bring glory to God

This is extra for you… It would be a fair question to ask if God has been faithful to this promise:

Galatians 3:29 “29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

Those who place their faith in the Son of God, are considered Abraham’s Offspring, and heirs according to this promise

Think about earlier in Hebrews (Chapter 2 specifically) where we are called Jesus’s brothers and sisters and thus share in Abraham’s promise

There are over 14 million physical descendants of Abraham still in the world today, but not only there are MANY MORE MILLION around the world that are Abraham’s spiritual descendants according to Galatians 3:29.

God has never failed on His promises and He never will. We can trust God because He has no capacity for deception or failure in His nature.

A lot of you in the room have been placing way to much hope or reliance on people who’s nature is bent on SIN instead of placing your entire hope on the One who has zero capacity to sin (not even an ounce)

And although it would be a good use of our time to continue to look at the faith of Abraham, I want us to focus on the One WHO MADE THE PROMISE

Notice that in v.13 it wasn’t Abraham making a promise with God BUT God made a promise to Abraham

This is incredible news for us as we look at these promises, the promises of God

God is the AUTHOR AND SUSTAINER of these Promises

Here’s the point: God’s promise did not depend on anyone’s faithfulness but His own

Was Abraham faithful to the call of God? Yes. But it wasn’t Abraham’s faithfulness that made God to stay true to His Word

Hebrews: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary His Purpose—To Redeem a Lost World

God expected many things of Abraham, but as far as fulfilling the promise was concerned, Abraham was but a spectator—watching what God was doing for him and through him

It’s God’s own character that IS UNCHANGEABLE… that is what makes His promises come to pass

No one in the universe is greater than God. And the reason He cannot lie is that He invented truth. He is truth. By definition, whatever He says is true. By the very nature of His person, He cannot lie. He has no capacity to lie (we see this in v.18). His promises, then, are first of all secured by His Person. Whatever He does has to be right and whatever He says has to be true. If God makes a promise, therefore, He not only will keep it, He must keep it.

Trust in the person of Jesus because He cannot lie ~ James speaks of God’s utter dependability when speaking about good gifts that God lavishes upon His creation

James 1:17 “17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

God never deviates from His will or from His promises. He simply cannot

God knows that even in His promises (his true promises, that never fail), we have a tendency to lack trust especially when our experiences doesn’t match His character (explain)

VV. 16-18: God Knows our Weakness and Moves Towards Us Humbly

So what does God do?

Well first it is important to recognize that He knows our weakness fully, and in response He doesn’t draw away from us, but moves towards us in humility.

I LOVE these next couple verses here within the context of our weakness and God’s meekness (Humility) ~

Hebrews 6:16–18 ESV

For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

This should strengthen your trust, reliance, and your wholehearted confidence in His promises made to us (Christians) as heirs ~ Think about a courtroom and people swear by something they know is True, above Human Authority, and absolutely Holy… the Bible

They put their hand on it, saying that they will say nothing less than the truth ~ that is their oath (their promise affirmed by invoking something or someone higher

Hebrews: Verse by Verse The Immutable Oath (6:16–18)

A major rule in oath-taking is that the person swear “by someone greater than themselves,” for instance a parent, a powerful person, or the emperor himself. The ultimate oath thereby is to swear in the name of God, and so as verse 13 states above, God could only swear “by himself.” The twofold purpose of all oaths is then made clear: to confirm what is said and put an end to all argument.” With God standing behind the assertion, there is nothing more to be said. When God anchors his covenant promise to Abraham with a divine oath, all possible debate is over, and the confirmation is iron-clad

Like do you get it?, there is no one GREATER than our Lord, our Father ~ So He keeps His promises by the Oath of HIS OWN NAME

And His reputation and His record is infinite - He has never failed, no promise has ever fallen flat on it’s face when God’s puts His Name on it.

Some of you need to hear this, God HAS NEVER COME UP SHORT ON HIS WORD - Do you really believe that?

I love v.17 ~ So when God Desired - God desires to show us His unchanging nature (he’s not lingering in the shadows trying to hide from you)… He knows you fully and desired to make His purposes and promises VERY CLEAR (NIV)

This is His desire before it is ever your desire… We have a God who doesn’t hold our weakness against us, but knows it fully and bridges this gap

He meets your RIGHT where you are at (in your confusion, in your doubt, even in your false sense of strength)

A valid question should be, why did God swear by His own Name as an oath? ~ Isn’t His spoken word enough?

His Word is 1000% enough, and it should be…

But God knows our weakness, He knows the way sin would fill the cosmos at EVERY SINGLE LEVEL, including the way you trust people just at their word and how they have inevitably fallen short of their word

God knows that just Him promising His own presence, intimacy with you, blessing (often in ways we don’t define blessing), power, boldness, the list goes on and on, He knows that if He were to just say it, we would be prone to not believe it one, and two wander and forget the sweet promises that He is offering (the biggest being Himself) (the best that God offers is Himself)

As we continue, In v.18 These two “unchangeable things” refer to the irrevocable nature of God’s purpose and word (which you could say are His promises), and the second is the Oath that He declared publicly.

Because it is impossible for God to lie, God never deviates from the truth in these two unchangeable things. (He doesn’t move on from His promise and back out, and HIs oath is there to stay for eternity) ~ He’s not shocked by your darkest moments, thoughts, or actions (His blood is enough)

God would cease to be God if He could lie

Titus 1:2 “2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began”

Exalting Jesus in Hebrews The Oath-Giving, Promise-Keeping God (Hebrews 6:13–18)

Because God’s Word is true and it is impossible for him to lie, we have all the confidence in the world to take heart and trust God’s promises just as Abraham did. The faithfulness of God and the certainty of his promises are not theoretical propositions. They are unchangeable realities. Like Abraham, we can stake our lives on God’s promises because God is the One who has promised them. Our God is a promise-keeping God

As v.18 concludes… it says “We who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

In the Septuagint, the greek word there translated for “refuge” is used for the cities of refuge God provided for those who sought protection from avengers for an accidental killing (Num. 35, Deut. 19, and Josh.20).

But here’s the implication of that, We will never know whether God can hold us until in DESPERATION we run to Him for refuge.

Haven’t you noticed, that the times you often saw Him most clearly was in the times of desperation where you knew all you could rely on is Him

And for those who have fled for refuge from the wrath of God, have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us, why?

Because of the argument mentioned earlier by the author, we have a God who doesn’t lie and is unwavering in His purpose and Word

But also we have a hope that is set before us… and that hope is Jesus Himself, and the Gospel He brought (Our HOPE is Jesus)

Paul speaks of His Savior as “Christ Jesus, who is our hope (1 tim 1:1)

In Colossians he speaks of the gospel as our hope (1:5)

As we land, we get a clear picture of Jesus, which becomes a firm foundation for us

VV. 19-20: We have HOPE that is a Sure and Steadfast Anchor

Hebrews 6:19–20 ESV

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

We see a couple things very clearly in just these two verses that we are going to need to hold on to for the rest of our time in Hebrews:

1st - We have an anchor of the soul - a sure and steadfast anchor as the esv puts it

An anchor for a ship helps keep it from drifting from it’s original location

It’s a heavy object attached to a rope or chain and used to establish a vessel to the sea bottom

This imagrey is quickly connected to our souls, and the way we walk through this journey of life

When the storms of life come your way, just like the waves in the sea, this anchor will allow you to hold firm despite the circumstance

When you think of an anchor it has those two sharp edges that wedge in between the seafloor to hold an extremely heavy ship

The author says that we have “this” talking about the hope of jesus and His Gospel as an anchor of our soul

Jesus’ Anchor: Wedged between His known sacrifice on the cross that is finished and final , and the other side is wedged into His current day priestly duties

Jesus has finished the work on your behalf and is still working for your good and His own glory

You have to understand that this anchor is an anchor based off NOTHING you’ve done, but you get to reap the benefits of it because you are an heir of God

2nd - we see that our hope enters into the inner place behind the curtain

For all of you Bible Scholars in the room, you know this is in reference to the high priest duties we see back in the Old Testament

Jesus’ entering within the veil signifies His entering the Holy of Holies, where the sacrifice of atonement was made. Under the Old Covenant it was made yearly by the high priest. Under the New is has been made once for all time by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Our anchored soul is, in God’s mind, already secure within the veil, secure within His eternal sanctuary. When Jesus entered the heavenly Holy of Holies, he did not leave after the sacrifice as did the Aaronic high priests, but “He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3). In other words, Jesus remains there forever as Guardian of our souls. Such absolute security is almost incomprehensible. How can the Christian’s security be described as anything but eternal? Truly we can trust God and His Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, with our souls

Not only is He a high priest forever, the eternal high priest, but since He is after the order of Melchizedek..

He is also KING… He is reigning and ruling as King over all the earth, and yet even intercedes on your behalf and calls you brother and sisters.

As we talk about this concept of hope, I love this quote from Charles Spurgeon that needs to be shared…

Do not look to your hope, but to Christ, the source of your hope.

Charles Spurgeon

Don’t rely on your hope but the object of your hope

Stop putting your trust in the “activity” of your hope, but on the finished work of Christ

Lastly, in these two verses we see that Jesus, because He entered the inner place behind the curtain, he has also gone as a forerunner on our behalf.

This is amazing news for us, because wrapped up with all this is an idea of why hasn’t God just taken me up into paradise…

This phrasing implies there’s a race that we call life, and Jesus is our forerunner.

If he is your forerunner, then run after Him.

Because here is there reality, there can be no forerunner, unless somebody follows. Jesus is our forerunner, so let us be his after-runners.

Let us live in light of all that we have read to be faithful runners and bold evangelists… knowing that Jesus has gone before us

Hebrews 12:1–2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

We run a race that we know we are victors in the end because of Christ.

We also can have confidence because His promises are true and He swears them by His own Name and Word.

Let His presence, the Holy Spirit, be the fuel that pushes you into faithfulness

The author gives us four reasons to trust God and avoid wandering in this passage…

His person, His purpose, His pledge, and His priest

Take Home:

Hebrews 9:24 “24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.”

jesus appears in the presence of God, and He does it on our behalf!!!!

And also hold on to this… He knows you FULLY in all your weaknesses, your passions, your location here, your heartbreaks, your successes, HE KNOWS ALL OF IT BETTER THAN YOU DO, and He is interceding on your behalf

This entire passage lays under this idea that we are prone to wander, to forget, and to doubt -

Jesus entered the holy place to buy intimacy with you, He died the ultimate death on the cross because He wants YOU

If you don’t have nearness to God this isn’t on Him

There’s an invitation to come in and dine with the Creator of the Universe… the work of your salvation is secure according to the very Word of God.

Quickly think back to v.9 ~ We feel SURE of better things - SALVATION - why? Because salvation is SECURE since it is instituted, put together, and sustained by the only One who can hold it… Our God, our forerunner, our promise keeping Father who holds salvation

Your salvation is too heavy to carry in your own hands and He knows that, so He took it all upon Himself to accomplish your freedom from sin, to hold it all in HIs hands, and gives you the best promise of HIs own presence that indwells the believer.

This could be you:

In despair and need to accept the invitation again, that Jesus desires to be involved in the inner places of your soul - Maybe you’ve asked the question what does God want from me? God wants YOU

Maybe your Lacking hope - need the reminder of His promises, that they are sure and stable, as an anchor is to a boat.

Or maybe you are in the room and might just be wondering in the purpose God has for you… Here’s the promise for all of us..

Forerunner

As Christ followers, we are now a part of the promise given to Abraham - We are to be a blessing to ALL nations

Or maybe this might be the first moment for you where God has made the Gospel clear to you and you desire to make Jesus your ALL

Wherever you are at I want to pray for us, our leaders are going to be spread out in the back if you need prayer or just someone to pour your heart out to…