Post by arete on Nov 3, 2014 22:14:51 GMT
Introduction:
We may be certain that whatever God has made prominent in his word, he intended to be conspicuous in our lives (Charles Spurgeon). What prominent idea is found in this morning’s text? The author to this letter prominently displays the changeless nature of God’s person and purpose. He offers for our understanding and application, the reality that God’s promises are certain. I contend that when God has given us such a steadfast, sure and certain foundation as the revelation of himself and his will in his word, then by no means should we ever permit ourselves to be displaced from that foundation. Let us then turn to the teaching from the letter to the Hebrews where the promises of God are so prominently displayed…
Context:
The author of the letter to the Hebrews has started developing his message of Christ as a high priest, after the order of Melchizedek. Last week, we took a brief, but related side trip into the spiritual state of the audience. Some among them may be false converts who cannot handle such teaching, but the author is certain that there are maturing believers in their midst. So, the author of Hebrews returns to the high priesthood of Christ, beginning with God’s promise to Abraham before looking at the role Melchizedek played in Abraham’s life and God’s promises…
Body – Hebrews 6:13-20 – ESV
The Certainty of God's Promise
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 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, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Sworn Blessing vv. 13-15
For… the author is building on the last section. He desires earnestness and assurance of the hope of salvation for the recipients of the letter. He wants them to imitate others who had hope and faith and patience in regards to God’s promises. So he takes these Jewish folks back in the Scripture to the father of Israel, Abraham.
When and what promise did God make to Abraham (v. 13a; 14)? The Scripture referenced is Genesis 22:17 and occurred just after Abraham offered Isaac. But this was a restatement of the original promise that occurred 25 years before. The promise is to bless and multiple Abraham’s line, but how? God promised to be the God of Abraham’s line and that he would multiply them and through them, God would bless the whole world.
God established the truth of his promise by swearing on himself (v. 13b). God was not obligated to swear an oath. He is not a liar. God granted this oath as a proof or surety that he would fulfill everything even though Abraham would not live to see it all. God obligated himself to fulfill the promise. There are none greater or more truthful than God and so he swore on himself.
Abraham’s patience and assurance is to be commended and imitated (v. 15). Abraham is one we should imitate just like 6:11-12 commands. Abraham had faith and hope in all God had said even before Isaac was born. His patience was based in his faith and hope in God and God’s word. Even though the nation of Israel was not born during Abraham’s life, Isaac was born of Sarah. The son of promise and the oath of God made the outcome so certain that Abraham did obtain the promise.
Illustration:
Promises, though they be for a time seemingly delayed, cannot be finally frustrated.... the heart of God is not turned though His face be hid; and prayers are not flung back, though they be not instantly answered. —Timothy Cruso
Application:
The promises of God are our hope. There are specifics aspects of the promises found here. The promises of God are to bless the whole world through Abraham’s seed. The pinnacle of that blessing is the salvation found in Jesus Christ, descendant of Abraham, alone. Writing to the Hebrews, the author emphasizes the blessings and multiplying of Israel. For those of us not of Israel, we have the promised Messiah and every other promise and spoken will of God.
Sure Oath vv. 16-18
For… the author connects this certain oath to how one swears. The idea of swearing oaths was based in the culture of Abraham’s time and the time the author writes this letter. God did not need to prove himself to Abraham. He graciously granted Abraham an absolute guarantee in his oath.
What is swearing and should we do it (v. 16a)? The swearing here is an appeal to a greater authority to hold the promise maker accountable. Jesus taught that we should be marked so well by truth, that our “yes” and “no” would be trustworthy (Matthew 5:33-37). We should live up to our word and guarantee our actions by living according to God’s word.
How does an oath confirm a dispute (v. 16b)? The language means that God’s oath is an absolute guarantee. It is proof. It is so real in its oath form that the outcome is as good as finished. God’s word is absolute truth. Any other truth claim stands or falls by the absolute reality of what God has said.
God provided a surety to the fulfilment of his promises (v. 17-18). His word is more than is required and yet he gave insurance of a sort that all would be fulfilled.
1. God established the unchangeable character of his purpose (17a). God is the ultimate embodiment of truth and reality. His person, purpose and word are by definition, changeless and eternal.
2. God guaranteed his purpose with his oath (17b). He guarantees it by placing the burden on himself to fulfill it. When he promises anything, he personally fulfills that promise.
3. God’s promise and his oath are unchangeable (v. 18a). We are hitting this unchangeable thing pretty hard. Because of God’s eternal and changeless person – everything he says is likewise of eternal worth and utterly irrevocable.
4. Our encouragement to hope are based in the unchangeable nature of God (v. 18b). God cannot let us down, because God is the one being whose actions and nature are always in agreement. We are only let down when we expect something of God that is contrary to his nature and promises.
The promises of God are not for Abraham alone (v. 18c). The fleeing has been to God for the refuge he alone provides from a sinful world and our sinful state. Because of the nature of his promises, as refugees, we have a hope that we can cling to that has been set before us by God that can deliver us.
Illustration:
The permanence of God's character guarantees the fulfillment of his promises. Arthur W. Pink
Application:
The person of God is our guarantee. He does not lie. He cannot be thwarted. He fulfills every promise. He empowers his children to obey. He provides forgiveness, grace and mercy to our needy lives. The only way to know him and his promises is to read and study his word. Knowing what he has said, we avoid being disappointed when we place our own ideas or expectations on him. No promise of God has ever broken by being leaned upon by God’s child.
Steadfast Anchor vv. 19-20
We have a sure and steadfast anchor for our souls (v. 19a). Sure means immovable, or intractable; steadfast means built upon an immovable foundation, or implacable. The person of God and all he has said are the only true and righteous anchors for our lives here and the hereafter.
We have a hope that enters into the most holy place (v. 19b). In Temple/Tabernacle worship, there was a place for the Ark of the Covenant called the holy of holies, or most holy place. Only the high priest was allowed to enter and only once each year. In Christ, we have a perfect and sinless high priest that can enter the most holy place and go before the very throne of God.
We have these things in Jesus Christ who cut the path (v. 20a).
1. Jesus made the way. He went where others could not go. He forged the way to a permanent sacrifice for sin. He paid the price for salvation.
2. Jesus made the way on our behalf. He made the way for us to go before God in his righteousness. Because of Christ paying our sin debt, we can approach the Father and be forgiven without additional sacrifice and we can receive mercy and grace and forgiveness.
3. Jesus has become our high priest forever. There is expiration date on Christ’s sacrifice and no term limit to his office of high priest. He is the perfect priest who is both the offer-er and the offering for sin now and forever.
And again, we have this order of Melchizedek (v. 20b). Melchizedek’s name means king of righteousness. He is king of Salem which makes him the king of peace and wholeness (of salvation). He is both a high priest to the Most High God, he is also a king. The Scriptures do not report his beginning or his ending. And so, Melchizedek is a person whose life is used to teach us about the Son of God, the eternal high priest and the king of kings. And we will look a bit more at that when we return to Hebrews in August…
Illustration:
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27
Application:
The person of God is the standard and steadfast anchor for our own lives. We dare not be moved from the rock and fortress and shield of our salvation. We should love what and who God loves. We should hate and be angry at those things God hates and is angry. We should define truth and righteousness and holiness by God’s character. As image bearers, we should strive to bring our lives into accord with the steadfast and sure anchor of our souls. And when we falter and sin, we trust that same anchor for grace and forgiveness because his promises are eternal and our salvation is secure in God through Christ, the one who fulfills the promises made to Abraham and who is our great high priest.
So What Now?
Our hope has a solid foundation. We do not hope in hope itself. We hope in the person of God. That kind of hope is not in what might happen, but in what will happen because God has given us his will and promises in his word.
Our hope in God is guaranteed by God. He does not promise and then leave it to us to fulfill his promises. For that, let us give thanks. We know how faithless we are. Instead, God guarantees his promise by backing them with his power and will.
Our solid foundation for hope and the steadfast anchor for our souls is God himself. He cannot slip. He cannot stumble. He cannot be moved. He is the only certain foundation for our life of faith and practice. His Son, Jesus Christ, is our only high priest to display the Father to us and to go before us and make the way. Our salvation in Christ is not merely fire insurance or an escape from hell. By the power of the Holy Spirit, our salvation is making us into the image of Christ who is the perfect image of God.
The prominent display in the text today has been the unchangeable nature of God and the certain hope found in his promises. How then is this conspicuous in our lives? When we live lives that glorify God by showing his attributes in how we live and how we are forgiven, when we hope in his promises patiently even when others mock us – then we will obtain the blessings God gives and our lives become a witness to one another and to the whole world that God’s promises are the certain hope for mankind.
Benediction
"Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 7:1 NRSV)
We may be certain that whatever God has made prominent in his word, he intended to be conspicuous in our lives (Charles Spurgeon). What prominent idea is found in this morning’s text? The author to this letter prominently displays the changeless nature of God’s person and purpose. He offers for our understanding and application, the reality that God’s promises are certain. I contend that when God has given us such a steadfast, sure and certain foundation as the revelation of himself and his will in his word, then by no means should we ever permit ourselves to be displaced from that foundation. Let us then turn to the teaching from the letter to the Hebrews where the promises of God are so prominently displayed…
Context:
The author of the letter to the Hebrews has started developing his message of Christ as a high priest, after the order of Melchizedek. Last week, we took a brief, but related side trip into the spiritual state of the audience. Some among them may be false converts who cannot handle such teaching, but the author is certain that there are maturing believers in their midst. So, the author of Hebrews returns to the high priesthood of Christ, beginning with God’s promise to Abraham before looking at the role Melchizedek played in Abraham’s life and God’s promises…
Body – Hebrews 6:13-20 – ESV
The Certainty of God's Promise
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 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, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Sworn Blessing vv. 13-15
For… the author is building on the last section. He desires earnestness and assurance of the hope of salvation for the recipients of the letter. He wants them to imitate others who had hope and faith and patience in regards to God’s promises. So he takes these Jewish folks back in the Scripture to the father of Israel, Abraham.
When and what promise did God make to Abraham (v. 13a; 14)? The Scripture referenced is Genesis 22:17 and occurred just after Abraham offered Isaac. But this was a restatement of the original promise that occurred 25 years before. The promise is to bless and multiple Abraham’s line, but how? God promised to be the God of Abraham’s line and that he would multiply them and through them, God would bless the whole world.
God established the truth of his promise by swearing on himself (v. 13b). God was not obligated to swear an oath. He is not a liar. God granted this oath as a proof or surety that he would fulfill everything even though Abraham would not live to see it all. God obligated himself to fulfill the promise. There are none greater or more truthful than God and so he swore on himself.
Abraham’s patience and assurance is to be commended and imitated (v. 15). Abraham is one we should imitate just like 6:11-12 commands. Abraham had faith and hope in all God had said even before Isaac was born. His patience was based in his faith and hope in God and God’s word. Even though the nation of Israel was not born during Abraham’s life, Isaac was born of Sarah. The son of promise and the oath of God made the outcome so certain that Abraham did obtain the promise.
Illustration:
Promises, though they be for a time seemingly delayed, cannot be finally frustrated.... the heart of God is not turned though His face be hid; and prayers are not flung back, though they be not instantly answered. —Timothy Cruso
Application:
The promises of God are our hope. There are specifics aspects of the promises found here. The promises of God are to bless the whole world through Abraham’s seed. The pinnacle of that blessing is the salvation found in Jesus Christ, descendant of Abraham, alone. Writing to the Hebrews, the author emphasizes the blessings and multiplying of Israel. For those of us not of Israel, we have the promised Messiah and every other promise and spoken will of God.
Sure Oath vv. 16-18
For… the author connects this certain oath to how one swears. The idea of swearing oaths was based in the culture of Abraham’s time and the time the author writes this letter. God did not need to prove himself to Abraham. He graciously granted Abraham an absolute guarantee in his oath.
What is swearing and should we do it (v. 16a)? The swearing here is an appeal to a greater authority to hold the promise maker accountable. Jesus taught that we should be marked so well by truth, that our “yes” and “no” would be trustworthy (Matthew 5:33-37). We should live up to our word and guarantee our actions by living according to God’s word.
How does an oath confirm a dispute (v. 16b)? The language means that God’s oath is an absolute guarantee. It is proof. It is so real in its oath form that the outcome is as good as finished. God’s word is absolute truth. Any other truth claim stands or falls by the absolute reality of what God has said.
God provided a surety to the fulfilment of his promises (v. 17-18). His word is more than is required and yet he gave insurance of a sort that all would be fulfilled.
1. God established the unchangeable character of his purpose (17a). God is the ultimate embodiment of truth and reality. His person, purpose and word are by definition, changeless and eternal.
2. God guaranteed his purpose with his oath (17b). He guarantees it by placing the burden on himself to fulfill it. When he promises anything, he personally fulfills that promise.
3. God’s promise and his oath are unchangeable (v. 18a). We are hitting this unchangeable thing pretty hard. Because of God’s eternal and changeless person – everything he says is likewise of eternal worth and utterly irrevocable.
4. Our encouragement to hope are based in the unchangeable nature of God (v. 18b). God cannot let us down, because God is the one being whose actions and nature are always in agreement. We are only let down when we expect something of God that is contrary to his nature and promises.
The promises of God are not for Abraham alone (v. 18c). The fleeing has been to God for the refuge he alone provides from a sinful world and our sinful state. Because of the nature of his promises, as refugees, we have a hope that we can cling to that has been set before us by God that can deliver us.
Illustration:
The permanence of God's character guarantees the fulfillment of his promises. Arthur W. Pink
Application:
The person of God is our guarantee. He does not lie. He cannot be thwarted. He fulfills every promise. He empowers his children to obey. He provides forgiveness, grace and mercy to our needy lives. The only way to know him and his promises is to read and study his word. Knowing what he has said, we avoid being disappointed when we place our own ideas or expectations on him. No promise of God has ever broken by being leaned upon by God’s child.
Steadfast Anchor vv. 19-20
We have a sure and steadfast anchor for our souls (v. 19a). Sure means immovable, or intractable; steadfast means built upon an immovable foundation, or implacable. The person of God and all he has said are the only true and righteous anchors for our lives here and the hereafter.
We have a hope that enters into the most holy place (v. 19b). In Temple/Tabernacle worship, there was a place for the Ark of the Covenant called the holy of holies, or most holy place. Only the high priest was allowed to enter and only once each year. In Christ, we have a perfect and sinless high priest that can enter the most holy place and go before the very throne of God.
We have these things in Jesus Christ who cut the path (v. 20a).
1. Jesus made the way. He went where others could not go. He forged the way to a permanent sacrifice for sin. He paid the price for salvation.
2. Jesus made the way on our behalf. He made the way for us to go before God in his righteousness. Because of Christ paying our sin debt, we can approach the Father and be forgiven without additional sacrifice and we can receive mercy and grace and forgiveness.
3. Jesus has become our high priest forever. There is expiration date on Christ’s sacrifice and no term limit to his office of high priest. He is the perfect priest who is both the offer-er and the offering for sin now and forever.
And again, we have this order of Melchizedek (v. 20b). Melchizedek’s name means king of righteousness. He is king of Salem which makes him the king of peace and wholeness (of salvation). He is both a high priest to the Most High God, he is also a king. The Scriptures do not report his beginning or his ending. And so, Melchizedek is a person whose life is used to teach us about the Son of God, the eternal high priest and the king of kings. And we will look a bit more at that when we return to Hebrews in August…
Illustration:
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27
Application:
The person of God is the standard and steadfast anchor for our own lives. We dare not be moved from the rock and fortress and shield of our salvation. We should love what and who God loves. We should hate and be angry at those things God hates and is angry. We should define truth and righteousness and holiness by God’s character. As image bearers, we should strive to bring our lives into accord with the steadfast and sure anchor of our souls. And when we falter and sin, we trust that same anchor for grace and forgiveness because his promises are eternal and our salvation is secure in God through Christ, the one who fulfills the promises made to Abraham and who is our great high priest.
So What Now?
Our hope has a solid foundation. We do not hope in hope itself. We hope in the person of God. That kind of hope is not in what might happen, but in what will happen because God has given us his will and promises in his word.
Our hope in God is guaranteed by God. He does not promise and then leave it to us to fulfill his promises. For that, let us give thanks. We know how faithless we are. Instead, God guarantees his promise by backing them with his power and will.
Our solid foundation for hope and the steadfast anchor for our souls is God himself. He cannot slip. He cannot stumble. He cannot be moved. He is the only certain foundation for our life of faith and practice. His Son, Jesus Christ, is our only high priest to display the Father to us and to go before us and make the way. Our salvation in Christ is not merely fire insurance or an escape from hell. By the power of the Holy Spirit, our salvation is making us into the image of Christ who is the perfect image of God.
The prominent display in the text today has been the unchangeable nature of God and the certain hope found in his promises. How then is this conspicuous in our lives? When we live lives that glorify God by showing his attributes in how we live and how we are forgiven, when we hope in his promises patiently even when others mock us – then we will obtain the blessings God gives and our lives become a witness to one another and to the whole world that God’s promises are the certain hope for mankind.
Benediction
"Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and of spirit, making holiness perfect in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 7:1 NRSV)