Three Facts That Assure Our Salvation

Hebrews 6:13-20

Hebrews 6:13–20 (NLT)

13 For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:

14 “I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.”

15 Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

16 Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding.

17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.

18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.

19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.

20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

INTRODUCTION:

I. OUR SALVATION IS ASSURED BECAUSE OF WHO PROMISED IT TO US (Hebrews 6:13-16)

Hebrews 6:13–16 (NLT)

13 For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:

14 “I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.”

15 Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

16 Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding.

A. There is assurance because there is none greater than the one who made the promise. (Hebrews 6:13-14).

Hebrews 6:13–14 (NLT)

13 For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:

14 “I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.”

1. He is the creator and sustainer of life (Col. 1:16-17).

Colossians 1:16–17 (NLT)

16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

2. He is the one who wields all power (Matt. 28:18-20)

Matthew 28:18–20 (NLT)

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

3. He is the giver of every good gift (Jas. 1:17).

James 1:17 (NLT)

17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

B. There is assurance because there are examples of God’s faithfulness. (Hebrews 6:15-16).

Hebrews 6:15–16 (NLT)

15 Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.

16 Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding.

1. God made a promise to Abraham and fulfilled it (text).

2. God made a promise to Moses (Exodus 3:10-12).

Exodus 3:10–12 (NLT)

10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”

11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”

12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”

3. God made a promise to Paul (Acts 27:21-44)

Acts 27:21–44 (NLT)

21 No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss.

22 But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down.

23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me,

24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’

25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.

26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”

27 About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria, the sailors sensed land was near.

28 They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep.

29 At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight.

30 Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship.

31 But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.”

32 So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away.

33 Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said.

34 “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.”

35 Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it.

36 Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat—

37 all 276 of us who were on board.

38 After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard.

39 When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground.

40 So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore.

41 But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart.

42 The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape.

43 But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land.

44 The others held onto planks or debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore.

4. God’s promise to us will not fail.

II. OUR SALVATION IS ASSURED BECAUSE OF HIS UNCAHANGABLE CHARACTER (Hebrews 6:17-18).

Hebrews 6:17–18 (NLT)

17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.

18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.

A. There are two unchangeable things we can rely on. (Hebrews 6:17-18).

1. God’s Character (Heb. 13:8; Mal. 3:6)

Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Malachi 3:6 (NLT)

6 “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed.

2. God’s Communication (Word)

( Matthew 5:18; Isaiah 40:8)

Matthew 5:18 (NLT)

18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.

Isaiah 40:8 (NLT)

8 The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”

B. It is impossible for God to lie. (Hebrews 6:18).

Hebrews 6:18 (NLT)

18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable (ἀμεταθέτων) because it is impossible for God to lie (ἐν οἷς ἀδύνατον ψεύσασθαι θεόν). Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence (ἰσχυρὰν παράκλησιν) as we hold to the hope that lies before us.

1. impossible = ἀδύνατον = unable to be done, impossible

2. lie - ψεύσασθαι = to communicate what is false, with the evident purpose of misleading—‘to lie, to tell falsehoods.’

2. When God promises something it will be done.

III. OUR SALVATION IS ASSURED BECAUSE OF JESUS’ FINISHED WORK (Hebrews 6:19-20).

A. Jesus is the anchor for our soul. (Hebrews 6:19).

Hebrews 6:19 (NLT)

19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.

1. This anchor is strong (ἀσφαλῆ= pertaining to being certain and thus completely believable—‘worthy of being believed, certainly true, completely believable.)

2. This anchor is trustworthy (βεβαίαν= pertaining to being certain, on the basis of being well established—‘certain, sure.’)

3. This anchor is Jesus’ finished work.

B. Jesus has entered into the holy of holies for us. (Hebrews 6:20).

Hebrews 6:20 (NLT)

20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

1. Jesus entered the Holy of Holies for us.

2. He tore the veil of separation in two, making access for us. (Matthew 27:51 ; Ephesians 2:18; Romans 5:2)

Matthew 27:51 (NLT)

51 At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart,

Ephesians 2:18 (NLT)

18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

Romans 5:2 (NLT)

2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

CONCLUSION: