Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction:
We continue our journey through the book of Hebrews
We have worked our way to the central part of the book
We began with an introduction and a stage setting for the book
Jesus is Superior
Last week, the author took a side step and gave a warning before he continues on into the primary point of the book.
Today, he is going to open up a few concepts in preparation for the next handful of chapters.
We only have a few verses today, so I want to take some time and lay a good foundation for the main points this book has to offer.
Pray
As we dive into this book, I want to remind you of a few things.
First, this book is written to the Hebrews.
They were familiar with the OT text.
It had been impressed upon their hearts and minds since childhood.
It was a part of their very culture.
Second, his book is a book of apologetics (of sorts).
It uses exclusively OT text to teach NT concepts.
In it we see the law, Moses, the priesthood, sacrifices, angels and everything else the Jewish people would have held to be core beliefs.
Third, we are not Jewish.
This will not hit us in the same way as it would have the audience of the Hebrews
Many of the points will be applicable
But one of the key things that I want to open up today is that when we focus on the NT exclusively, we lose some of the context of what is happening.
THE BOOK OF HEBREWS TEACHES US THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OT AND HOW IT FITS INTO NT LIVING.
Many of us need this introduction in our growth as believers.
So when this gets complex, don’t be afraid to leave a note on your card asking questions.
Don’t give up and say, “This is over my head”
It has tremendous value for us and I want to ensure that all of us have the tools to grow through this.
Topic
Today’s passage has one purpose.
I want to read it to you to start.
Hebrews 6:18 (NIV)
God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.
Today’s passage is meant to encourage us.
It is my hope and prayer that today is an encouragement.
Because it is meant to be an encouragement
The path to finding the encouragement may be a little winding, but we will be encouraged.
What is our encouragement?
How are we to be encouraged?
We are going to start in the first passages of our text today.
Context:
I want to tackle our context:
Two weeks ago, we looked at Chapter 5 and Chapter 7
The author pointed out a reality that Jesus had been appointed as a Priest like Melchizedek
He referenced the story of Melchizedek in Genesis, but highlighted the statement in Psalms 110:4
Before expanding on the meaning of this, the author gave a warning to the audience
Paraphrased: Before I tell you why this is important, you need to know that many of you have gotten lazy.
Your Spiritual self is sitting on the couch eating delicious ice cream.
You are arguing about stuff that doesn’t matter
You are learning things that translate into no life-change
You have gotten lazy.
One day, you may get so lazy on your couch that you cannot get off of it.
So get in shape, because the things I am about to tell you have to result in life change.
This is a very important warning at this time.
This gives us the indication that what we are about to hear is very important and should have direct application to our hearts, minds and actions.
In preparation for the upcoming teaching, the author wants to encourage the audience.
He just hammered them with a very strong warning and public accountability.
They needed some encouragement.
Not something to make them feel better.
The admonishment was warranted.
But there was encouragement.
The author begins this encouragement by going backwards to looking at the story of Abraham.
This may not make very much sense to us about how it fits right away, but I want to highlight the key points of what he is talking about so we can attach it to his point.
God made a promise to Abraham
He swore by himself- We will cover this in a minute because the author explains that in the next couple of verses
God made a promise to Abraham and the promise was
The promise referenced here is from Genesis 22.
In Genesis 22, we see the story of God telling Abraham to go up to the mountain and sacrifice his one and only son.
Abraham responded in faith.
Now, we may look at this as a confusing story, and it is!
The point of this story was not that God wanted Abraham to kill his son.
The point of the story is not a twisted view of parenting.
The point of this story was about Abraham’s faith.
As we have discussed in this book many times, a foundation of faith always builds a building of action upon it.
It was not enough for Abraham to possess the faith, but God allowed him the opportunity to put action to the depth of the faith he had.
Later in Hebrews we find that Abraham knew God did not want his son dead.
He believed God would resurrect his son from the dead.
He knew his son was a part of God’s promise
But that is a whole separate sermon.
Following this moment, God speaks to Abraham:
When God called Abraham, he had said this would happen, but now God has made an oath
God had made a promise, and he made an oath to keep the promise.
As a result:
When God makes a promise, then doubles down on that promise and makes an oath to keep the promise, there is certainty that His word is true.
Now it may seem weird to us that God made an oath to keep his promise.
In normal circumstances, the promise and the oath seem like the same thing.
But I want to highlight what is happening here.
Remember, this is going to end in an encouragement, but we have to dig into this text to find the encouragement
It may not be on the surface for us, because we are more unfamiliar with the teaching and understanding of how the OT fits into the NT world.
The author makes this quick point so we understand what an oath is.
People swear by someone greater than themselves.
What this means is that the person swearing makes themselves accountable to someone to ensure that what was promised will be done.
An oath is an accountability measure
This is something we are familiar with in our world, but in a few different settings
In court, we are asked to place our hand on the Bible and swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God.
In this, we aren’t swearing upon the actual item of the Bible.
The Bible would have no means of accountability to us.
Rather, we are swearing on the God of the Bible, who we hold to be higher than us and bring us accountability.
Court Photo
There are other types of oaths in our culture as well.
I remember one time, we learned a lesson in the hard way.
We needed some quick money and we got a title loan.
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