Sunday Service

Hebrews 6:13–20 (ESV) — 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.

Psalm 119:89 (ESV) — 89 Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.

I. HOPE SUSTAINS US

A. Hebrews 6:9–12 (ESV) — 9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 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.

C. “Therefore our pastor expresses his strong desire that “each one of you” would “show” (endeiknymi again) in faithful conduct “the same earnestness” (spoudē, strenuous action) that had distinguished the beginning of their life in Christ, that each would endure all the way “until the end” (echoing 3:14). Such endurance is sustained not by self-reliant willpower but by the “full assurance of hope” drawn from “considering” and “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (3:1; 12:2).”[1]

II. ABRAHAM IS AN EXAMPLE

A. Hebrews 6:13–16 (ESV) — 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.

C. Genesis 22:15–17 (ESV) — 15 And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “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…

D. “In antiquity, an oath was an appeal to “something greater” (6:16)—often a deity—to witness the veracity of a statement or the commitment expressed in a promise, and to impose punishment if the witness perjured himself or if the promise maker failed to follow through.”[2]

III. GOD’S PURPOSE GUARANTEED

A. Hebrews 6:17–20 (ESV) — 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.

C. He does not lie (vs. 18; Titus 1:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began…”).

E. Psalm 110:4 (ESV) — 4 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (see also Heb. 5:6)

F. Two oaths sworn by God, who cannot lie, are unchangeable. The oath to Abraham and the oath concerning Jesus.

[1] Johnson, D. E. (2018). Hebrews. In I. M. Duguid, J. M. Hamilton Jr., & J. Sklar (Eds.), Hebrews–Revelation: Vol. XII (p. 88). Crossway. [2] Johnson, D. E. (2018). Hebrews. In I. M. Duguid, J. M. Hamilton Jr., & J. Sklar (Eds.), Hebrews–Revelation: Vol. XII (p. 91). Crossway.

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