Unshakeable Hope | Hebrews 6:13-20

Intro - Common problem: discouragement >> sluggish (Heb 6:12).

The word sluggish (nothros) was used early in Heb 5:11 where the readers are called “dull of hearing.”

Being sluggish is like being stuck, it hinders gospel progress, but the good news is that you don’t have to stay there.

God’s solution to the problem: Encouragement through hope

Now, it is very important that we understand what we mean when we use the word “hope.” We must distinguish between biblical hope and the “hope” we use in our daily conversations.

· I hope the Vikings win the super bowl

· I hope I get a new [insert fancy gift] for Christmas

“Such hope often amounts to no more than a desire that something nice may happen to us, plus a belief that it might just take place.”(William Hendriksen, Romans, 271)

Biblical hope on the other hand is “a looking forward in confident expectation”

Chapter 6 - first half - strong warning

Chapter 6 - second half - strong encouragement

Let’s look at how the writer of Hebrews seeks to motivate his readers to continue making gospel progress.

V. 13 starts with the word “for.” Our passage flows directly from vv. 11-12 where believers are encouraged to press on towards perseverance in order to inherit the promises of God.

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.”

Here’s the main idea that our passage provides.

MAIN IDEA: Life is uncertain but the promises of God provide unshakeable hope to persevere

Three lessons about hope from the passage.

1. Hope does not just happen, you must seize it!

Hebrews 6:18 speaks of holding fast to the hope set before us.

Hebrews 3:6 encourages to hold fast to the hope of which we boast

Hebrews 10:23 says“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

Illustration - Abraham

God gives Abraham a promise in Genesis 12:2-3 “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.””

Years later in Genesis 22, God confirmed his promise with an oath. The writer to the Hebrews explains in v.13 that, “since he had no one greater by whom to swear, God swore by himself.”

Genesis 22:16-17 “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 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,”

God word is more than enough. Why make an oath?

The oath was for the sake of Abraham and for us.

Hebrews 6:17 “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,”

This is a wonderful display of God’s goodness and mercy. God did not need to make an oath so that you and I who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.

We are so weak and prone to doubt the promises of God. We should know better. Yet our wonderful, gracious, merciful God desired for you and I to remove any doubt on our part and be doubly sure.

John Calvin writes: “See how kindly God as a gracious Father accommodates himself to our slowness to believe; as he sees that we rest not on his simple word, that he might more fully impress it on our hearts he adds an oath.”

We have a wonderful formula before us:

Two Unchangeable Things: God’s promise + his oath = strong encouragement to seize hope

Hope does not just happen, you must seize it!

How can you not be encouraged to seize hope when you have God’s promise + his oath.

Application: Run to God for refuge.

2. This hope is a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul

V. 19 declares that this hope is a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.

Anchor. Weight held on the end of a cable that when submerged in water holds a ship in place. The anchor would stabilize the ship during storms so that it does not drift away (Hebrews 2:11)

The anchor is designed in such a way to remained fixed at the bottom of the sea bead in order to hold a ship stable no matter the conditions of the sea.

The idea is that the anchor is so firm and secure that is incapable of being moved.

Who/what is your anchor? Don’t anchor your hope on something you may lose.

Make sure the anchor is sure and steadfast.

Why you need an anchor for your soul?

Because life is filled with storms. Storms that come in many shapes and sizes:

· Medical problems (hospitalization?)

· Pile of bills (behind in half)

· Parenting challenges (lack of sleep)

· Prodigal children (cut parents off)

· Unhealthy family dynamics (in-laws)

· Hostile work environment (might lose job)

· Inability to conceive a child

· Miscarriage

. Grief

.Mental Health - anxiety & depression

.Growing antagonism from the world. Are you ready for persecution?

Big temptation in the storms of life: GOD HAS FORGOTTEN ME (Heb 6:10)

It’s here where you need to seize and hold fast to the anchor?

Claim the promises

Isaiah 26:3 “3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

The words here “perfect peace” are, literally from the Hebrew, “shalom, shalom.” It indicates a deep kind of peace which Isaiah later describes as a river of peace (Isa. 48:18)

Fellowship with other believers for mutual encouragement

Hebrews 10:25 “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

3. Our hope is anchored on Christ’s priestly work

The author draws a beautiful picture: Rather than the anchor descending deep to the seabed, our anchor ascends deep into heaven, the very presence of God.

The second half of v.19 states that we have “a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain.”

This is a reference to the place called The Holy of Holies found in the tabernacle where Jesus entered on our behalf.

Tabernacle Graphic

Only the High Priest could enter the HoH once a year.

The HoH is where the sacrifice of atonement was made yearly by the High Priest. Jesus is our High Priest who entered the inner place behind the curtain to offer himself once for all. (Heb 7:27)

The atoning work on the cross is the foundation of our hope.

Our souls are now anchored in heaven itself. It that wasn’t enough, Jesus, our Savior stands guard over our soul through his continual work of intercession as our Forever High Priest.

Hebrews 7:25 “25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

Ponder this promise: Jesus, right now, at this moment, in the midst of your storm, is interceding for you. The King of the universe is speaking on your behalf. He is calling out to the heavenly Father. He is urging the help of the Holy Spirit. He is advocating for a special blessing to be sent your way. You do not fight the wind and waves alone. It’s not up to you to find a solution. You have the mightiest Prince and the holiest Advocate standing up for you. (Max Lucado)

Life is uncertain but the promises of God provide unshakeable hope to persevere

You receive this anchor by faith by trusting in Christ: Christians & non Christians.