A Secure & Reliable Hope
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Confident in my grip, I left the oars behind as I took a flat-bottom boat out to install dock pieces. This worked for quite some time until, after lowering a dock piece into the water, my grip slipped, and I drifted off into the lake. I realized then it was foolish not to anchor myself to where I needed to stay.
Faith can feel the same way. Sometimes we trust our own strength to hold us steady, forgetting the secure and reliable hope that truly anchors us to our promised salvation.
CONNECTION
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,
TAKE HOME
As we long to be established in our faith, we increasingly recognize the security and reliability of our hope in salvation.
Scripture Introduction
Jesus as our High Priest
We can draw near the throne of God with confidence
Compassion with our struggles
Appointed by God
Modeled dependence on God
(after the order of Melchizedek)
Lack of Interest Stunts Spiritual Growth vv.11-6:3
Lack of Interest Stunts Spiritual Growth vv.11-6:3
Zedekiah and all the people were unfaithful 2 Chronicles 36:11-16
Yah persistently sent messengers, because he had compassion on them
They kept mocking the messengers, despising their words.
The Problem
About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
Maybe that is where you are now.
Comparison
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,
A good grasp on the subject.
Illustration
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,
"Amen” sermon
for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.
We must be able to go further than “Jesus loves me”.
You must understand
You have a secure and reliable hope (priesthood in relation to Melchizedek)
We cannot mature in the Christian life if we are uncertain about God’s promise of eternal life. -Edward Hindson
How to live worthy of this fact through righteousness (distinguish good from evil (v.14)).
But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Cults and perversions of Christianity gain members by reaching those who only know the basics.
Runners with natural ability will usually get surpassed by those putting in hard work. Nature ability will only take you so far.
Task
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
Sense of being carried
Elders and teachers should consider if they have done their due diligence in relaying these elementary principles.
Attendees should consider if they participated and had interest.
. . . repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
6 elementary doctrines.
Probably not ment to be a complete list.
*APPLICATION
We must overcome our disinterests so we can advance beyond the basic doctrines of Christianity to discern truth and live appropriately.
*IMPLEMENTATION
Let the reality invigorate you that you are being trained by the all-powerful, all-knowing creator and sustainer of the universe every time you engage with God’s word.
Lack of Interest Breeds Denial vv.4-8
Lack of Interest Breeds Denial vv.4-8
Jehoshaphat asks Ahab if there is yet one whom may inquire of the LORD? 1 Ki 22:5-8
“Micaiah (Migh KAY yuh), but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil.”
Warning
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been . . . to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
Current rejection of Jesus.
Not that it’s impossible to be a believer, deny the faith, and then believe again, for consider the parable of the prodigal son, Luke 15:11-32
Reason
. . . enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, 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 . . .
Five blessings that have been ignored even after having the ability to experiencing them.
A lack of interest stunts our growth in wisdom in these areas.
Illustration
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, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
What we do with the blessings of God matters.
Reassurance
But the author feels sure of better things for the reader.
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.
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.
As you still do
Task
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.
*APPLICATION
We have received wonderful blessings from God, but we must actively embrace them to truly benefit.
*IMPLEMENTATION
Bring your needs before God and entrust them to Him. Speak with Him daily about your concerns and listen for what He may ask of you. Offer gratitude when He provides.
Lack of Interest is Overcome by Hope vv.9-20
Lack of Interest is Overcome by Hope vv.9-20
Motivation: How the meaning comes to life
For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,
Encouragement of our Hope
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,
Dreaded software updates
Ps 33:11, The plans of Yahweh stand firm forever
The offer of salvation will never change. It’s security will never be reworked.
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.
Any manipulation of the truth in order to decisive is also a lie (e.g., withholding information).
1 Ki 8:56, Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave.
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.
Confident expectation
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,
Confident expectation for it is secure and reliable.
Anchor to the throne of God, and then shorten the rope! -Dwight L. Moody
where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
This is the topic that we will pick up next time.
*APPLICATION
Hope is our secure and reliable anchor fastening us to salvation as the waves of life toss us about.
Growing to maturity allows us to
Understand our anchor is secure and reliable.
That we are truly fastened to salvation.
*IMPLEMENTATION
If you are unsure about the security and reliability of our hope, never feel ashamed; ask a Christian and seek clarification.
Sometimes it takes seeking out multiple sources before finding the explanation that connects with you.
Summary
Our lack of interest in information that will help establish our faith stunts our spiritual growth and may lead to a denial of the faith.
Whereas, when we long for what God is teaching us, we increasingly recognize the security and reliability of our hope in salvation.
