Reasonable Hope

Introduction

Well good morning, it’s good to be with you today. Spring break starts this week so prayers for all those traveling, pray for the pastor and his family as they are in New Orleans this week doing some mission work with the Killgore family. It was great to have them here last week and hear about their ministry and all the things God is doing through them. It’s really cool to see that our church can be apart of something like that and other things around the world just be your generosity to the global missions fund. It’s so cool.

Well today, on through Easter we are starting a short series on the topic of Hope. We’ll kind of be looking at what the bible says about Hope and the Hope we have as believers in Christ. You know with all the craziness going on in the world it’s really important for Christians to center ourselves every now and then and remember that no matter what happens or what troubles we face, we have a Hope that exceeds everything we come up against. I remember the pastor saying one time, ya know at no point in the bible does God say be worried. At no point does he say be really scared. Instead he says don’t be afraid, don’t worry, take courage.

So that’s what we are praying happens this Easter season, that you would be reminded of the Hope we have in Jesus and then be so full of it that you would take it to those you work with and are around every day, that they would see hey he’s got something that I want. Hey she’s got something that I want.

So I’m excited about where we’re going with this, but today I get the honor of starting us off. And as I thought about Hope and I thought about what Hope means to me, I kept getting a lot of different answers. I kept coming up with a ton of different things that I attach the word Hope to.

So what I want to do with our time this morning is I want us to look at, not only what Hope is, but also why we have good reason to Hope. Kind of a Hope 101 if you will. So turn with me to the book of Hebrews, chapter 6. We’ll begin reading in verse 13.

Hebrews 6:13–20 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, 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. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because he has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Hope, AR Illustration

Well in case you didn’t know I grew up and lived for most of my life in the big city of Hope, Arkansas. We grow 2 things really well in Hope, watermelons and politicians. I’ll let you figure out which one we’re most proud of… but I eat several of them in July. But when I was in high school I remember we used to joke about how we didn’t live in Hope, AR, we lived in Hopeless, AR. Because let’s be honest every teenager hates the town they live in, they want to get out, they want to go see the world, they want a change of scenery. It’s like for most teenagers who have grown up in a small town. But looking back, it’s kind of sad that we thought that way about it because there actually was a lot of potential there, there are lot of people trying to live up to it’s name sake. They just don’t have a lot of help.

And it was interesting if you ever talked to the people who ran the homeless shelters and the food pantries in town, they’d get people who would come from all over the place looking for help. And when they asked them why did you come all the way here of all places, they’d usually get an answer like this, “Because I had no hope, so I thought I’d maybe I’d find it here.”

C.S. Lewis Quote Illustration

We’re all looking for hope in something aren’t we? We need hope in our lives because we look around us at a chaotic disorderly world and we don’t see it anywhere. I mean people are looking for it so hard they see it on a map and they think I guess I’ll try that. But why can’t we find hope anywhere? It always seems to be far away from us, or maybe you get what looks like it for a little bit but it doesn’t last, it never lasts. Why is that? There’s a quote by C.S. Lewis in his book “Mere Christianity” which in my opinion is a must read for literally anybody, Christian or non-Christian. But he puts together this little argument for God’s existence and when he gets to the end he sums it up like this. “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

Every one of us looking for hope somewhere. And we need hope in our lives because we look around and we say there has to be more than this. Something is just not right. Something is missing. There has to be meaning to all this. This just isn’t enough. And it’s not enough because this world is broken, and fallen, and it’s sin ridden, and it needed a savior to come and restore that brokenness to what it was always supposed to be, which is communion with it’s creator.

And so what’s happening in this passage of scripture we have this morning is that the writer is trying to remind believers to hold on to the Hope they have in christ. Hold on to it and push forward to it in the midst of their suffering, in the midst of their persecution and temptation, and the world telling them their wrong.

And the way he goes about telling them this is he comes at in logical way. He’s trying to explain why it makes it sense that Jesus has not only brought about our salvation but he’s sealed it forever in heaven with the Father. He wants these believers, Jewish believers specifically, hence the title “Hebrews”, that all this Jesus stuff makes sense when you actually understand the Old Testament. This isn’t some blind faith or religion we have, it’s reasonable and logical that this is the truth. So I just want to make 3 observations from this text this morning about Hope, and because I’m a good Baptist they all start with the letter P.

The Promise of Hope (v.13-15)

Context Hebrews 6:11-12

Notice how he takes them back to Genesis and references Abraham. The writer of Hebrews does this a lot actually, and it makes sense because he’s really trying to hammer home the idea of faith and trusting God, and who is the father of faith? Abraham.

But he starts verse 13 with a little word that carries a lot of meaning “For”. So access those Sunday School memories for a second, whenever you so the word “for” in the bible or the word “therefore”, we have to go back and see what it’s… There for!

So look back a few verses in Hebrews 6:11-12

Hebrews 6:11–12 CSB

Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end, so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.

So that writer has just gotten done talking about those who have fallen away from the faith and he comes back and he’s like, but those of you who remain, don’t become lazy, don’t become complacent, live into the full assurance of your salvation. We know and are sure of your salvation, so you continue to live and walk with that assurance.

Later in the book in Hebrews 11:1

Hebrews 11:1 CSB

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

So hope is the thing we want, and the thing that brings it about is faith. So faith is really the big theme in Hebrews, but he’s a good teacher, and he takes a short break to explain that we have a good reason to have faith. But it’s not faith in the Law like the readers have always thought. It’s a faith that is in God and God alone for salvation through the work of Jesus Christ.

Here’s how he goes about it.

He goes back to Abraham

Hebrews 6:13–15 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.

So the writer is calling the readers to remember back to the covenant God made with Abraham, and he quote’s it here. “I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you”. That was the promise that God made to Abraham, and the nation of Israel is the result of that promise. Abraham is literally the father of Israel, through his son Isaac and Isaac’s son Jacob.

Look at what he actually says to Abraham.

Genesis 22:16–18 NIV

and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

So because of Abraham’s faith in God, God promised him a blessing that would continue to be inherited by his descendants. So the hope of Abraham and the hope of Israel was that God would keep his promise and bless them. But here’s the thing, for the entire Old Testament and even into Jesus’ time the Jews thought they were the only recipients of that promise. But then Jesus comes along and the apostles come along saying that there is now a new covenant that includes everyone into the family of God, that the Law given to the Israelites is actually not sufficient for salvation, but your salvation has been brought about by the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Why do we, Gentiles, get to inherit this promise?

But here’s what he’s getting at: we gentiles, that just means not Jewish, we can now inherit the promise of God originally made to Abraham because that promise was made because of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of faith, we are the children of faith. So the Israelites were special in the sense that they were blood descendants of Abraham, but we who hold faith in Jesus are the spiritual descendants of Abraham.

Point

And we’ll talk more about why that’s significant here in a minute, and I hope I’m making sense right now, but what I want you to see here is the actual promise that we have. We have the same promise that Abraham was given, it was a promise of blessing and redemption. That promise is the Hope we have.

The Proof of Hope (v.16-18)

When you think about proof of something what do you think of? You think of evidence right? you think of logical reason for something happening. It’s the smoking gun, it’s video tape evidence. you might think of math.

I am not a math guy at all. I can hold my own in simple algebra, I can do some simple conversions, but that’s about the extent of it. Sarah on the other hand, big math girl. She’s got a degree in it. And when we were at Ouachita she had to take a class called “proofs”. My roommate actually took this class as well, so I got a double dose of witnessing someone go through what most would agree is the hardest class on campus. Like my roommates got this massive 5 by 10 whiteboard and hung it the living room of our dorm just to do proofs on.

And Sarah will of course correct me later if I’m wrong, but what proofs essentially is is taking a statement, usually a mathematical statement, and then working backwards to show or prove logically why this statement is true, or maybe why it’s false.

Difference between promise and oath

And that’s what the writer is doing in verses 16-18. He’s been talking about this hope that we have, and why we should have hope, and now he needs to explain and prove why this is true.

Hebrews 6:16–18 CSB

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, 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.

So he explains it pretty clearly, here’s why we ought to seize the hope set before us, because of the two unchangeable things. What are the 2 unchangeable things? Well I’m glad you asked! It’s God’s promise, and God’s oath. He doesn’t just say God’s promise is a good reason to have Hope, although it would be seeing as God has never not kept a promise. But he goes farther and includes the oath that God gives.

But why does he need to this? What is the difference between a promise and an oath? Well we just talked about what the promise, the promise is God’s blessing and redemption, but he also gives us his oath.

Court case illustration

Think about a court case. In a court case, a claim is made about someone, and then the whole trial consists of both sides using evidence and logic to prove whether the claim is true or false. And one of the things that happens in a court case is they bring up witnesses to testify as to the truth of certain things. And when you bring a witness up, they give an oath to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, right? And one of the most effective things to do in a court case is to bring in an expert witness. This is a person who is supposedly a professional in this certain field or topic that needs clarity. So that side of the case appeals to the authority or expertise of this witness because they know the most about this topic.

And when you look at the account in Genesis when God makes a covenant with Abraham he says

Genesis 22:16 (NIV)

“I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,

So the writer of Hebrews is like, God swears by himself, because there’s no one greater for God to swear by. There’s nothing he can put his hand on to make an oath, there’s no expert witness for him to call in, he is the expert witness. So this unchangeable thing the writer speaks about is God’s credibility of being God. There’s no one better at being God than God.

Point

So when the promise doesn’t seem clear. When hope seems hard to hold on to. We can remember, Hebrews says, that God has swore to us, he gave us his oath that the promise is ours and we will receive it. We don’t have to doubt, we don’t have to worry, because his oath is final and it’s trustworthy.

The Person of Hope (v.19-20)

This is the most popular Sunday school answer so I’ll consult with my Sunday school answer experts: Who would you guess is “the person of hope”? - Jesus

Look at Hebrews 6:19-20 I love this

Hebrews 6:19–20 CSB

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because he has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

And it all comes back to Jesus :)

Context: Who is Melchizedek?

Now this is kind of weird, you’ve probably heard of Jesus considered has our high priest, but you may not have ever even heard of this Melchizedek guy. He’s not an incredibly popular character in the bible because he doesn’t get much screen time, but the Israelites definitely knew who he was but they might have been confused as to what he has to do with Jesus. So he goes on in chapter 7 explaining why this guy is so important. He talks about how Melchizedek was a priest during Abraham’s time, and how Abraham went through Melchizedek to give offerings to God. But you might ask, the priests of Israel didn’t start until the Israelites were out of Egypt and the Levites were the ones appointed to do that job. So why is Jesus like Melchizedek and not like Aaron? Well there’s absolutely no need for me to explain it to you because the scriptures do it way better than I can.

Hebrews 7:11–28 CSB

Now if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be according to the order of Melchizedek and not according to the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well. For the one these things are spoken about belonged to a different tribe. No one from it has served at the altar. Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah, and Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests. And this becomes clearer if another priest like Melchizedek appears, who did not become a priest based on a legal regulation about physical descent but based on the power of an indestructible life. For it has been testified: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable (for the law perfected nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. None of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath, but he became a priest with an oath made by the one who said to him: The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever.” Because of this oath, Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant. Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office. But because he remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them. For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever.

Melchizedek interceded for Abraham because Abraham walked by faith. Aaron interceded for the people of Israel because they walked according to the Law. The Law was imperfect and could not save. So the great high priest has to be different in that he has to be someone who intercedes for those who walk by faith and he lives forever. That’s Jesus! That’s what Jesus did for us and that’s what he’s still doing for us in heaven. He brought about our redemption when he became the sacrifice for our sins on the cross and because he is eternally with the father that sacrifice is good and settled forevermore, can someone please say hallelujah!?

Conclusion

That’s the hope we have. Hope isn’t just a verb. Oh I hope this happens. Oh I desire this to happen. I hope the Razorbacks win the national championship every year. Do I have good reason or evidence to know that will happen? Nope. It’s just a desire of mine. But our hope we have in Jesus is more than just a blind desire, it’s a willful expectation upon good evidence. We have good reason to have hope.

But the author of Hebrews wants us to remember our hope is in Jesus and Jesus alone. And I want you to hear me this morning, if you’re here or if you’re watching online…

You have no hope outside of Jesus Christ...

What? Why would you say that? Stephen that’s mean, why would you tell me I have no hope, I have no identity, I have no purpose. That’s the meanest thing you could say. That’s what the world thinks. The world despises us because the message we bring and the message we preach is you have no hope apart from Jesus. And the most important part about that is you can’t leave out Jesus. He is the “good” in good news. All we had before him was bad news, but with him we have the best news.

So me telling you that you have no hope outside of Jesus is not rude or hateful, it’s actually the most loving thing I could possibly do for you.

I would be an awful… awful person. No I’d be the worst person in the world, if I really believed with all my heart and was convinced upon good evidence that Jesus is your only hope and I didn’t tell you about him.

2 Things To Think About

So I want to ask you 2 questions and then I’m done. 1. What are you placing your hope in today? What is it that you are looking to for purpose, what are you looking to for identity, what are you looking to for meaning and direction, if it’s literally anything else other than Jesus it will never satisfy you. If that’s you today I want to submit to you, stop placing your hope and desires in things that won’t satisfy.

Second question, if you are a believer here today. If you do claim hope in Jesus and Jesus alone, then are sharing that Hope with those around you? Is it evident to those you spend most of your time with that, hey he’s different. Hey she got something that we don’t. Our hope in Jesus is not something that we should keep to ourselves, and I’d go as far to say that if you do actually have that hope then you will be sharing it.

What Hope do you have today?

I know whom I believed Hymn

There’s an old hymn that we sang this past Wednesday at midweek and it’s been in my head ever since so I thought I’d read for you real quick, because this is a song you’ve probably sang a lot if you grew up in church singing hymns, but I wonder if you actually agree with the words in it. It’s an old hymn so the lyrics are all backwards like they were written by Yoda, so I took the time and put them in an order easier to understand. You’re welcome.

I know not why God hath made his wondrous grace known to me, Nor why unworthy Christ in love redeemed for his own.

I know not how he did impart this saving faith to me, Nor how believing in his word wrought peace within my heart.

I know not how the Spirit moves, Convincing men of sin, Revealing Jesus through the Word, Creating faith in Him.

I know not what of good or ill May be reserved for me, Of weary ways or golden days, Before His face I see.

I know not when my Lord may come, At night or noonday fair, Nor if I’ll walk the vale with Him, Or meet Him in the air.

But I know Whom I have believed, And am persuaded that He is able To keep that which I’ve committed Unto Him against that day.

Pray