Sermon Tone Analysis

Promises of God

(CSB) — For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself: I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you.

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

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

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

(13-16)(The promise to Abraham and to us, the children of promise.)

(13-16)(The promise to Abraham and to us, the children of promise.)

How Oath-making Works

You have to swear by something greater—usually

When an oath is made, it is considered fact—code of ethics

The promises made to Abraham were guaranteed with an oath to clarify God’s unchangeable purpose for the inheritors of God’s promises.

Promise to Abraham

Bless you

Promised Land

Multiply you

STORY: Abraham counting the stars

Promise to Us

After arguing that the Covenant established with Israel by the law was insufficient, the author of the letter quotes God’s oath, “The Lord will not change His mind; you are a priest forever.”

(CSB) — Because of this oath, Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.

The guarantor is the giver.

A better covenant than the law is given by Jesus.

The promises of that covenant are guaranteed by the oath.

(CSB) — By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete.

And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away.

The New Covenant makes the Old Obsolete and is dying.

The better covenant offered through Jesus is the way to God.

Many people hold out hope for Israel as a nation today, but God requires that people enter His presence through faith in Jesus alone.

The land of Israel was a shadow of a greater blessing; the greater Promised Land.

The nation of Israel was a shadow of a greater nation; the Kingdom of God.

APP: “When Abraham counted the stars, he counted you.”

cf.

… or Galatians

We are Israel today (inclusion theology)

Eternal Security.

Character of God

Character of God

(CSB) — Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath, 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.

Immutability

The two unchangeable things are the promise and the New Covenant fulfillments (not the Old as they were not guaranteed by an oath.)

These two unchangeable things point to the immutability of God Himself as the promises are a direct reflection of the charachter and nature of God.

Honesty

Cooperation

The oft neglected characteristic of God, whereby God calls upon people and divine beings to cooperate with Him in His plan and purposes.

I.e.

The hope was placed before us.

John even tells us that the Spirit draws us ()—beckons us to pick up hope—(indeed he draws all people, cf. ).

But, God leaves it to us to pick it up—the paradox of scriptures, that God has called us and predestined us for adoption as sons and Abraham’s seed, but also that we must respond when He calls us.

APP:

God’s immutability, honesty, and cooperation encourage people to seize the hope of Christ.

3 of the most important evangelistic tools for us as well.

Apologetics: Who God is at creation and must be through eternity.

Be unchangeable

Be honest

Cooperate/Participate

Historicity of Jesus

(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.

The Sci-fi Veil

Give the biblical precedent for veil between the natural and supernatural worlds.

POINT: Jesus went behind that veil when He was seated at the right hand of the Father.

The Humanity of Jesus

He goes ‘on our behalf’ as a forerunner because He is human.

The Divinity of Jesus

Jesus always was (), but Jesus set aside His divine nature in order to become human ().

But, Jesus was re-divinized (if you will) when he became high priest on our behalf.

He is re-divinized so that we can be divinized (tomorrows message).

(19)(The historicity of Jesus [preeminence, life, death, resurrection unto glory] who "has gone before us as a forerunner.”)

APP:

The patience of God.

c.f. .

Enter His rest.

Hope of God

The patience of God.

c.f. .)

Hope of God (20)(Future hope of escaping judgment)(APP: Living in light of eternal hope vs. living for hope now.)

(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.

What does it mean that Jesus was re-divinized?

What does it mean that people are divinized?

What are the implications for the nature of eternity?

c.f. .)

Hope of God (20)(Future hope of escaping judgment)(APP: Living in light of eternal hope vs. living for hope now.)

APP:

Living in light of eternal hope vs. living for hope now.