Hebrews 6:13-20

Introduction

Text Read

Hebrews 6:13–20 “For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 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. 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.”

Text Explained

Build off last week’s “therefore… for...”

The author then gives a two-part call to persevere. The first part of this call to persevere is a negative. The text tells us that

1 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened (those who have been given the light), who have tasted the heavenly gift (ones who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good), and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, (As 1John 2:19 would say they went out from us.) Who are these people?

to restore them again to repentance, Why? since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. How are they crucifying Jesus again?

Illustration: 1b For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, Result: receives a blessing from God.

But if it bears thorns and thistles, Result: it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.”

Both drink the rain, but one produces useful crop and the other bears thorns & thistles. One is blessed by God, one is cursed and burned.

Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.

2 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do. Their actions demonstrated their faith. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. The saints who persisted.

3 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.

4 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. 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