If the one who did so was found not guilty of murder, then he could flee to one of the cities of refuge. 17 What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to invalidate the promise. 13-20 The Preacher's Homiletical Commentary Hebrews 6:13-20 CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES Hebrews 6:13 .The connection of thought may be thus given: "Follow the godly, I say. 14 You must give three towns on this side of the Jordan, and you must give three towns in the land of Canaan; they must be towns of refuge. 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Because of this, the author lays out his approach, which is to leave behind the elementary teachings and to press on to teach those things which lead to maturity (6:1-3). They believed, by faith, in what they could not see, but in what God had promised. I read of a Christian man who made a trip to Russia in 1993. He commanded Abram to leave his relatives and that city and go to a place that God would show him (Acts 7:2-3). No wonder the author of Hebrews places so much emphasis on the Word of God, and on the attention we must pay to what it says. Against the connection (comp. It is to Him that the Christian can flee for safety. Repentance becomes impossible when a person has been fully exposed to the blessings of God's people, but falls away through deliberate unbelief and denial of Christ. For example, there was the warning that Jonah proclaimed to the Ninevites: When Jonah began to enter the city one days walk, he announced, At the end of forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown! (Jonah 3:4). Thus, I believe that the two unchangeable things which the author of Hebrews has in mind are the Abrahamic Covenant (chapter 6), and His oath by which He appointed the Lord Jesus a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek (chapter 7). Hebrews 6:13-20 is the conclusion of the authors digression. His name, Abram, meant, exalted father, but his wife Sarah was barren. 8 The towns you will give must be from the possession of the Israelites. It is available on the Internet at: net.bible.org. How do we balance the tension between examine yourself to see if you are in the faith (2 Cor. 11 But we passionately want each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of your hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises. In verse 20 of our text, the author mentions Jesus as our high priest, within the veil, where Gods holy presence meant instant death to any sinner who dared to go there. The birth of Isaac was Gods doing, for which Abraham can receive little credit. If God has said that Jesus has made purification for our sins (Heb. 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,[ a]having patiently waited, obtained the promise. And now God commands Abraham to offer this son up as a sacrifice. It was only Gods divine intervention that spared Abrams life and Sarais virtue (12:10-20). Hebrews 5:116:20 is a bit of a digression, and much of this section emphasizes the believers responsibility to be diligent to enter rest (5:11), to hold fast their confession (5:14), and to draw near to Jesus . 1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. This will remedy the problem of sluggishness and will be evident as they imitate others (such as Abraham) in patiently enduring to the end, and thus inheriting Gods promises (6:12). And so, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. And you must give them forty-two other towns. He goes back to Genesis 22:16-17, where after Abraham displayed his faith in God by his willingness to sacrifice Isaac, God swore by Himself surely to bless Abraham and to multiply his descendants. The particular promises we are dealing with here in this lesson are those which God has sworn to uphold as unchanging. He has become our high priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek. For now, I believe that he is indicating to the reader that Jesus, the object of our hope, has entered into the holy of holies as our forerunner. , , , For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. In particular, their lives have demonstrated service to the saints, manifesting the love which should characterize those who are followers of Jesus: Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples if you have love for one another (John 13:35). Third, promises are given when their fulfillment will come after a period of delay.Promises are given to those who must wait, those who do not expect or demand that God give them freedom from tests and trials, or provide them with prosperity now. (See Psalms 42 & 43. God even gave Abram the name of that child Isaac. 13 When God made me wander from my fathers house, I told her, This is what you can do to show your loyalty to me: Every place we go, say about me, He is my brother (Genesis 20:11-13, emphasis mine). Hebrews 6:13. Let me illustrate how this works. The author desires for his readers to continue to manifest the same eagerness and diligence they have demonstrated in the pursuit of their hope to the very end (see 6:10). What are the two unchangeable things in which God cannot lie? He gives four reasons why our hope of salvation in Christ is certain: Abraham is Exhibit A of a man who trusted God against all odds and found Him to be faithful. . 13 These towns that you must give shall be your six towns for refuge. See how graciously God met his steadfast goodness." But how does this illustrate the point? These two things make our hope of future salvation both sure and steadfast (6:19). 6:11-20 The hope here meant, is a sure looking for good things promised, through those promises, with love, desire, and valuing of them. If a man were found to be guilty of murder, he would not be protected and would be killed by the avenger. The Danger of Dull Hearing Apr 10, 1988 Scripture: Hebrews John Piper Sermon The Doctrine of Perseverance The Earnest Pursuit of Assurance Apr 17, 1988 Scripture: Hebrews 5:11-6:12 John Piper Sermon The Doctrine of Perseverance: The Future of a Fruitless Field Apr 24, 1988 Scripture: Hebrews 5:11-6:12 John Piper Sermon Let Us Press On to Maturity It means that God purposed to show the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, which here refers specifically to installing His Son as a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek (6:20). Perhaps your prosperity will be prolonged (Daniel 4:24-27, emphasis mine). And these would be the two promises which were confirmed by an oath: Now when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore by himself . 12 And they must stand as your towns of refuge from the avenger in order that the killer may not die until he has stood trial before the community. Our hope of future salvation is certain because Gods person is incapable of lying. He is the Great High Priest to whom we must draw near for help in time of need. As if that were not enough, he adds a fourth: Gods bare word should be sufficient, since His word is always true. Were all prone to bend the truth when it suits our purposes. Who knows? How can this be? This is the same word used in the word "parapet," which is a steeply sloped mound of dirt in front of a fox hole that is designed to protect a soldier. What steps should we take to recover our hope in God? These words reminded me of several Old Testament texts: 12 Whoever strikes someone so that he dies must surely be put to death. namely, by virtue of the promise and the oath. Hebrews 6:4-8 is the thorny portion of this digression, with various interpretations, as we have previously noted. 24 By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter, 25 choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to enjoy sins fleeting pleasure. 9 And there are times when I promise to build up and establish a nation or kingdom. To move hundreds of miles away meant permanent separation from family and friends. He uses Abraham as an example of one who through faith and patience inherited the promises (6:12). As Christians living in a world that Paul describes as having no hope and without God (Eph. 6 Now from these towns that you will give to the Levites you must select six towns of refuge to which a person who has killed someone may flee. He said, Ive read the last book of the Bible, so I know how the story ends. Verse 19 begins, which we have (Greek text). Would the people of the new land be hostile or friendly? In chapter 18, the Lord specified that Isaac would be born at the same time the following year. 5 Now this secret was not disclosed to people in former generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, 6 namely, that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:5-6). 16 But if he hits someone with an iron tool so that he dies, he is a murderer. Then one, speaking for the group, answered politely, It is your face., My face! he laughed. 3:10-18). In Genesis 12, shortly after the first recording of the Abrahamic Covenant (12:1-3), Abram leaves the Promised Land and sojourns in Egypt because of a famine. For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. The NEW ENGLISH TRANSLATION, also known as THE NET BIBLE, is a completely new translation of the Bible, not a revision or an update of a previous English version. Therefore, eternal standing of those written of in Hebrews 6:4-6 is a question with two answers. How much more secure could our salvation be? Hebrews 13:1-2 Commentary. All of this is Gods way of showing us that His promises are the basis for our perseverance. Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. Yesterday, I got the same result in only three hours" ( Reader's Digest [8/87], p. 80). Weve seen this already in verses 11 and 12, as well as from Romans 5:1-8. But you may wonder, Why then does the writer encourage us to take hold of the hope set before us? He had received the promises, yet he was ready to offer up his only son. It is not all about us; it is all about Jesus. Fifth, the confirmation of Gods promises to Abraham was not just for Abrahams benefit, but for his descendants as well. 5 Incidentally, this is a very important point to bear in mind when speaking with those who say that God changes his mind. It may appear that way, but Jonah knew better. When we doubt His promises, and especially His promise of salvation to the one who believes in Jesus Christ, we are in effect calling Him a liar! In Christ, the believer finds safety, as the manslayer found safety in the city of refuge. As the king of Nineveh hoped, and as Jonah assumed, God was merciful and compassionate, and thus in response to Ninevehs repentance, He suspended the judgment5 Jonah proclaimed was coming in forty days. Scripture does not say, and to the descendants, referring to many, but , Fifth, if Gods covenant promises are fulfilled in Christ, and these are the basis for our faith, hope, and endurance, then to reject Christ is to reject faith, hope, and endurance. Some form of the word promise occurs 17 times in Hebrews, more frequently than in any other book of the Bible.7. They must do what they have sworn to do, or they will pay a stiff penalty. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of Gods truth to confirm the promises made to the fathers (Romans 15:8). Fourth, Gods oath assured Abraham because he had not yet seen the complete fulfillment of Gods covenant promises, nor would he before his death. Lets begin with the account in Genesis. Third, Gods oath was His confirmation of His promises. And so the authors analysis of the situation is recorded in 5:11-14: the readers of Hebrews are used to Dairy Queen teaching, rather than Steak and Ale teaching. We can weather them by coming back to the truth of the resurrection of Jesus, which is the bedrock of the entire faith (1 Cor. This was done so that Abraham (and his descendants) would be assured that His promises to him would most certainly be fulfilled. Hebrews 13:3-4 Commentary. How many children do you have? None yet. Right! As the author comes to the end of this section, he very neatly returns to the subject of Melchizedek, his point of departure in 5:11. This further confirmation came after the offering of Isaac, by means of Gods promise being confirmed by an oath. Hebrews 13:22-25 Commentary. Fifth, if Gods covenant promises are fulfilled in Christ, and these are the basis for our faith, hope, and endurance, then to reject Christ is to reject faith, hope, and endurance. Wh y does Gods oath come so late in Abrahams life (Genesis 22)? The promise that God made in Genesis 22 was not something new. Daniel understood this as well, and this is why he appealed to Nebuchadnezzar to repent, in order to avoid (or at least forestall) Gods judgment: 24 This is the interpretation, O king! This manifestation of love has continued to the present, and the author hopes that it will continue. 21 He was fully convinced that what God promised he was also able to do (Romans 4:13-21). If He lied, He would deny His very nature as the God of truth, whose very word is truth (Isa. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo More, http://www.soundofgrace.com/piper96/11-17-96.htm. Nate Holdridge Hebrews 6:18 says we can "have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us." You might immediately think of a hope or a dream. And thus, Abraham had an even greater hope set before him. When God made His promise to Abraham He sealed it by an oath. 15 Brothers and sisters, I offer an example from everyday life: When a covenant has been ratified, even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it. They will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. 13-20 Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible Hebrews 6:13-20 The mention of God's promise suggests the thought that it is absolutely sure, so that we may hold to it without misgiving. And if you protest, Thats not fair, you need to read Romans 9:11-23, where Paul anticipates and answers that response by saying, in effect, How dare you even raise the question that God is unfair! A promise implies a delay; otherwise, a promise is not necessary. But the author is determined to deal with this meaty topic (6:1-3), and these concluding verses of his digression take us right back to where he left off in 5:10. Gods promises inspired Abrahams faith and thus his endurance. Gods promise and His oath are two strong motivating forces to encourage us to grab onto the hope set before us and dont let go. A digression is required by the condition of the original recipients of this epistle. Hebrews 6:13-20 completes the transition from dire warning, to encouragement, back to the prior topic. He knew that warnings of coming judgment may be given in order to prompt men and women to repent, thus avoiding that judgment, just as God said in Jeremiah 18. 27 Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you. Nevertheless, from the perspective of God's perfect wisdom it is impossible to say on this side of eternity. We discover that suffering actually strengthens our faith because God is faithful to sustain us. He has never lied in all of eternity. Fourth, Gods covenant promises (specifically the Abrahamic Covenant and the covenant regarding a priest after the order of Melchizedek) are fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. The lesson for us is: There has never been anyone who trusted in Gods promises and was finally disappointed. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for . Why does God need to swear at all, when He cannot lie (Numbers 23:19), and we are commanded not to (Matthew 5:33-37; James 5:12)? Having issued a solemn warning to those outside the faith, the author is quick in 6:9-12 to reassure his readers that he is assured of better things concerning their salvation. One was when Abram, at his wifes suggestion, took Hagar (Sarais handmaid) as his concubine and produced an offspring (Ishmael) through her (Genesis 16). . He uses a metaphor used only here in the Bible, of an anchor. in 1971. It is Gods faithfulness that prompts the believer to cling to Him. But here is the God for whom it is impossible to lie. It seems as though I have heard a lot of promises lately. 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. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the NET Bible. My point in emphasizing Abrahams failures is to show that God was faithful to fulfill His promises to Abraham, even though this mans faith was not without its failures. 2 He prayed to the Lord and said, Oh, Lord, this is just what I thought would happen when I was in my own country. For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure; calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of My purpose from a far country. Sixth, the confirmation of Gods promise to Abraham made it clear that this covenant was unconditional, and thus unchangeable. The promise of blessedness God has made to believers, is from God's eternal . Moses did not promise God that the Israelites would try harder and do better. Perhaps your prosperity will be prolonged, Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel your servants, to whom you swore by yourself and told them, I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken about I will give to your descendants, and they will inherit it forever, The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us, I will appoint for you a place where he may flee, you will take him even from my altar that he may die, you must select six towns of refuge to which a person who has killed someone may flee, so that anyone who kills any person accidentally may flee there, Through Isaac descendants will carry on your name. Hebrews 6:13-20 New International Version The Certainty of God's Promise 13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants."[ a] 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. The murderer must surely be put to death (Numbers 35:6-16, emphasis mine). . 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since he became a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 6:9-20).1. 51 Solomon was told, Look, Adonijah fears you; see, he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, May King Solomon solemnly promise me today that he will not kill his servant with the sword (1 Kings 1:49-51, emphasis mine). Abraham - the ancestor of the Hebrews, the first recipient of the promises, the father of the faithful - is now appropriately adduced as an . If He is not risen, our faith is in vain. 1 From Paul, a slave of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, to further the faith of Gods chosen ones and the knowledge of the truth that is in keeping with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the ages began (Titus 1:1-2). We can weather even these storms if we realize that our High Priest is praying for us, that our faith may not fail, and that by His grace, we can be restored (Luke 22:32). Eighth, Gods promises are the basis and the incentive for cleansing ourselves from sin and its defilement: Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that could defile the body and the spirit, and thus accomplish holiness out of reverence for God (2 Corinthians 7:1). It is fascinating to me how our author describes the security of those who put their trust in Christ for salvation: So that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us (Hebrews 6:18, NASB95; emphasis mine). 8 Every person and animal must put on sackcloth and must cry earnestly to God, and everyone must turn from their evil way of living and from the violence that they do. If its up to mans will, lots of luck! But if our hope of salvation is based on Gods purpose to the heirs of His promise, then your hope is certain and secure! What about learning the new language? We know that God established cities of refuge where a man who unintentionally killed another could flee to avoid being killed by an avenger. 11:10). And, incidentally, since our High Priest lives forever, we find refuge and safety in Him forever. 14 But I will execute judgment on the nation that they will serve. The passage immediately prior encouraged the readers that their good works proved sincerity. This 75-year-old man says, Hello, my name is Abram [exalted father]. The Canaanite responds, Nice to meet you. This points to His purpose to be glorified by sending His Son to save a people, the heirs of the promise, for His name. In truth, they persisted in their unbelief and rebellion, so that this generation would die in the wilderness, and the second generation would possess the Promised Land under Joshua. 7 (For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die.) He owned no real estate in Canaan, except for the cave that he bought to bury Sarah. 35:11-12). There is no other solution for our sin, and its eternal punishment (hell). What he bought was not the nullification of our wills as though we didnt have to hold fast, but the empowering of our wills because we want to hold fast. It is his prerogative to choose one person and overlook another, because it is his estate and he has the right to dispense it as he chooses. Now this is the promise that he himself made to us: eternal life (1 John 2:25). But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess (1 Peter 3:15). It was administered through angels by an intermediary. Moses interceded with God on the basis of His (Abrahamic) covenant promises, His character, and His glory. There may be storms of defeat, where we fall into sin and dishonor our Lord and Savior. What is our hope, and why is it an anchor for our soul? When Abraham died at 175, he had fathered several nations through Ishmaels descendants and through the sons that he had with Keturah (Gen. 25:1-4, 12-16). 12 Why should the Egyptians say, For evil he led them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth? Where would you live? All of these views are somewhat overlapping and complementary. Whether in the storms of life or in the harbor during the calm times of life, we all need an anchor for our souls so that we do not destroy our lives. Matthew Henry's Commentary on Hebrews 6:13-20 Commentary on Hebrews 6:11-20 (Read Hebrews 6:11-20) The hope here meant, is a sure looking for good things promised, through those promises, with love, desire, and valuing of them. In chapter 17, God affirmed his covenant with Abram and gave him the sign of circumcision. Even in a safe harbor, a ship needs an anchor so that it will not drift, hit something, and sink. . 37.). He now sits at the Fathers right hand in heaven to mediate on our behalf and to help us in our time of need. And in the end, these are the folks who more actively reject and oppose the gospel. In 6:15, the author uses a human illustration. Moses makes it clear that the assurance is based upon Gods character and His covenant, and not upon Abrahams perfect performance. I hope that all of us have figured out that almost all of the promises we hear from political candidates (whatever their political party) are empty words. To show the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, God interposed with an oath (6:17). Though Abraham didnt see it, history has validated Gods promise, that his descendants, both physically and spiritually (Gal. Those things that we hope for, yet do not see, are things regarding which God has given His promise. It was repeated in chapter 13 after Abram and Lot separated (13:14-17). Hebrews 6:13-20 serves as the conclusion to a digression which began in chapter 5 at verse 11. He will show that as we persevere God provides further confidence in His promises, which enhances our hope. 10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints. 18 Because you have obeyed me, all the nations of the earth will pronounce blessings on one another using the name of your descendants (Genesis 22:15-18, emphasis mine). His promises are our certain ground for faith and endurance. In response to Abrams faith, God sealed this promise by making it a covenant with him (15:7-21). It was the authors teaching concerning the relationship of our Lord to Melchizedek that necessitated the digression of 5:116:20. He does not specify what they have taken refuge from, but his Hebrew readers would have immediately thought of the cities of refuge in the Old Testament, where the man guilty of manslaughter could flee from the avenger of blood (Num. He did so by means of the example of the first generation of Israelites to leave Egypt, and by the lessons the author of Psalm 95 drew from their failures. Our salvation is secure because it rests on the promise and unchangeable purpose of God. The author hammers home the absolute certainty of our salvation. Have you trusted in Christ alone to save you from your sins? 4 For it is i. Hebrews 13:17-19 Commentary. to receive mercy and grace in their time of need (5:16). My friend, if you have never trusted in Jesus Christ, I urge you to do so today. b. How much do you owe Him? Seventh, we can count on Gods promises because He can be trusted. Resource by John Piper Scripture: Hebrews 6:4-8 Topic: Perseverance of the Saints Subscribe Apple Spotify Although peoples eyes are blinded so that they do not see their sin and Gods holiness, every sinner needs a refuge from Gods coming judgment. 17. Overall, the purpose of the author is to undergird the Hebrew Christians assurance and confidence in their confession of faith in Christ. As Jeremiah indicated, the impending judgment that God threatened was stayed, because He had indicated that repentance may forestall divine judgment. Several lapses in Abrahams faith are recorded in the period between the initial promise and the offering of Isaac. But instead of going down into the ocean, this anchor goes up into the heavens, behind the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us. Could you provide adequately for your family there? Tenth, Gentiles believers become full heirs of the promises of God. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmat. I believe these two things are matters in which God has confirmed His promise with an oath, matters which are found nearby in Hebrews. She became my wife. d. No wonder scholars cant agree among themselves as to how often the author refers (or alludes) to the Old Testament (though they all agree it is very often). But He is utterly trustworthy to keep His Word. 8:28-39). 40 For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us (Hebrews 11:13-15, 39-40). Successful suffering gives us greater confidence in God, and thus it produces hope by assuring us that, with Gods enablement, we will endure to the end and thus experience the full revelation of Gods glory in the future. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 14 For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. These promises are fulfilled by the person and work of Jesus as our Great High Priest. 13 Then the Lord said to Abram, Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign country. "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants." By saying that God "swore" by himself, he is not saying that God "cussed" or "uttered rude words." He is saying that God is guaranteeing that his promise would come about by saying that it is as certain as he is certain. Because our hope is secure in Christ, due to Gods oath and His character, we need only to cling to Him as our Great High Priest, whose substitutionary death on the cross of Calvary paid the penalty for our sins, and whose mediatory high priestly ministry at the Fathers right hand gives us access to draw near for help in our time of need. But if he was found innocent, he could flee to one of the six Levite cities of refuge. But then God added insult to injury. Hope has its degrees, as faith also. 4. But it seems to me that the anchor is the certain hope of salvation that God has provided in Christ. Gods sure promises give us strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. Trust in Him. 3:7), are as many as the stars of heaven, and as innumerable as the sand of the seashore (Heb. Many confuse optimism and biblical hope. 15 But as for you, you will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. Abraham was promised descendants that were as numerous as the sand of the sea, or as the stars in the heavens, and yet at this point in time he had but one son, Isaac. And lest we think that he only did this on these two occasions, Abrahams confession to Abimelech seems to indicate that this kind of deception was their usual practice: 11 Abraham replied, Because I thought, Surely no one fears God in this place. The author has presented a powerful demonstration of the sufficiency of God the Son in chapters 1 and 2, and then drew our attention to the deficiency of men in chapters 3 and 4. . 14 For if they become heirs by the law, faith is empty and the promise is nullified. Not laying again the foundation: Many people regard this as a Biblical list of important elementary principles for the Christian life. The certain hope of our future salvation is the anchor that God has given to us to steady our souls, even in times of storm. 6:11-20 The hope here meant, is a sure looking for good things promised, through those promises, with love, desire, and valuing of them. Our text has been about Gods promises, so lets conclude by focusing on some of the truths we have seen and what impact these have on us. Thus, we dare not neglect Gods final Word, revealed in the person of His Son (2:1-4). Yesterday, I got the same result in only three hours (Readers Digest [8/87], p. 80). Why is the doctrine of election essential for having proper assurance of salvation? He wanted to blend in, but it was obvious that people knew he was not Russian. This is why the author reminds them several times of their faith and devotion to God which they had shown in the beginning ( Hebrews 6:10 ; Hebrews 10:32 ; Hebrews 13:7 ). I believe we can find this sequence elsewhere in Scripture. There is a three-fold progression of thought here: The author identifies those to whom he is writing, along with himself, as we who have taken refuge (6:18). In order to be protected, the man must stay in the city of refuge and not go outside it, or the avenger could kill him. 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 endured, obtained the promise. 20 He did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. And these things not seen are the things which are spoken in Gods Word. But if He is risen, then our future salvation is certain and our hope can rest confidently in Him. If your hope is in your good works, you are not saved. Thus, they still await the full inheritance of the promised blessings. Ninth, the promises of God and the hope they produce are an opportunity for us to proclaim the gospel. Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. In a few instances, the candidates may actually think that they can deliver, but chances are they will not. His descendants would include Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and David, but they would also include those Gentiles like us who share Abrahams faith in God: 13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. He has accomplished the cleansing of our sins, once for all. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and the oath serves as a confirmation to end all dispute. 2:12), we should stand out as people of hope. Abrams obedience was not easy. 18 Against hope Abraham believed in hope with the result that he became thefather of many nations according to the pronouncement, so will your descendants be. 19 Without being weak in faith, he considered his own body as dead (because he was about one hundred years old) and the deadness of Sarahs womb. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. 11 When birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 19 Why then was the law given? If God had left salvation up to the will of fallen sinners, none would be saved, because there is none who seeks for God (Rom. We shall not drift if we cling to Christ. 1:4), and that He has entered within the veil as our forerunner as a high priest after the order of Melchizedek (6:20), then it is true and we dare not question Him! First, hope is the basis for endurance.Hope inspires and encourages endurance. The author changes to different imagery to describe the safety and security of the Christian. Second, hope is also a reward for perseverance and trusting in Gods promises. The promise of blessedness God has made to believers, is from God's eternal purpose, settled between the eternal Father, Son, and Spirit. God may delay the visible answers to His promises, because He always answers in his time, not in ours. The question is, have you fled to that refuge? To protect himself, Abram passes off Sarai as his sister, resulting in her being added, for a time, to the Pharaohs harem. Near to the Heart of God A Study of the Book of Hebrews, Near to the Heart of God: A Study of the Book of Hebrews. There were further failures as well. When the Israelites sinned in worshipping the golden calf, God threatened to wipe out the nation and to start a new nation through Moses. No, its not your clothes, they replied. He rejected Ishmael and chose Isaac. 16 Men indeed swear by a greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 9 Then the Lord spoke to Moses: 10 Speak to the Israelites and tell them, When you cross over the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, 11 you must then designate some towns as towns of refuge for you, to which a person who has killed someone unintentionally may flee. (1-3) General love among believers: express brotherly love. He is our father in the presence of God whom he believed the God who makes the dead alive and summons the things that do not yet exist as though they already do. But when God says it with an oath or pledge, He wants us to know that it is a done deal! Lets consider some important factors in the answer to this question. The Greek word translated desiring (6:17) is cognate with the noun purpose (same verse), and points to the deliberate exercise of volition (G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament [Charles Scribners Sons], p. 84). As a result, Paul pressed on to lay hold of the hope of all that his salvation promised. Hebrews 13. 16 For this reason it is by faith so that it may be by grace, with the result that the promise may be certain to all the descendants not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (Romans 4:13-16, emphasis mine). 1 John 5:10 says, The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. Do you believe Gods promise concerning His Son, or are you calling God a liar? 16 For this reason it is by faith so that it may be by grace, with the result that the promise may be certain to all the descendants not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who have the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all 17 (as it is written, I have made you the father of many nations). 14 But if a man willfully attacks his neighbor to kill him cunningly, you will take him even from my altar that he may die (Exodus 21:12-14, emphasis mine). Our trust is in God, not in our efforts. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since he became a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 6:19-20). The promise which God affirmed by His oath is found in Genesis 22. We may have falsely sought security in the very things which are now being removed or reduced. Second, hope is also a reward for perseverance and trusting in Gods promises. If He has promised eternal salvation to the one who has faith in Jesus, you can count on it as absolutely true! The writer has warned them that they must be moving from the basics and the milk and grow in their spiritual maturity or else they will fall away. We dont want to look bad, and so we tell little white lies. We overlook reporting things on our income tax forms that would cost us more in taxes. I believe that this man is so saturated with the Old Testament that he virtually drips with Old Testament words and imagery. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abrahams descendants, heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:29). Such choices are Gods right as the Sovereign Lord. In chapter 15, God assured Abram that the promised seed would not be the child of one of his servants, but his own offspring. EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE) Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (15) And so, after he had patiently endured. But that view robs God of His sovereignty. If hope rests on mere fantasy, it is worthless. It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the descendant to whom the promise had been made. Your hope of salvation must be in Christ alone. But as far as sons through Isaac, Abraham died with twin, 15-year-old grandsons, Esau and Jacob. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. Abraham had his storms as he waited on God. How can a believer keep trusting in God when He delays answers to prayers for years? Verses 13-15. He rejected Esau and chose Jacob. If it depends totally on God and His unchangeable purpose, why do we have to hope in Him?. Perhaps God might be willing to change his mind and relent and turn from his fierce anger so that we might not die (Jonah 3:7-9, emphasis mine). Gods promises assured Abraham in those years that he and Sarah were growing older and thus even less able to bear children. So the author has hit three hammer blows to show that the hope of our future salvation is certain: Gods promises have never failed; His purpose is unchangeable; and His person is incapable of lying. Scripture does not say, and to the descendants, referring to many, but and to your descendant, referring to one, who is Christ. Paul tells us that God uses suffering to enhance our hope and our endurance. God appeared to Abraham while he was still named Abram, living in Ur of the Chaldees. This means that we must battle discouragement by taking hold by faith of Gods promise to save all who take refuge in Christ. We may safely say that from a human perspective, they had all appearance of salvation. Thus, it really is all about God, and not about our performance. 22 But the scripture imprisoned everything and everyone under sin so that the promise could be given because of the faithfulness of Jesus Christ to those who believe (Galatians 3:15-22, emphasis mine). If we could choose to be heirs, wed all be waiting in line for the fortunes of the Kennedys or the Rockefellers. 15 These six towns will be places of refuge for the Israelites, and for the foreigner, and for the settler among them, so that anyone who kills any person accidentally may flee there. What is the "full assurance of hope" mentioned? A more certain hope is the fruit of (or reward for) endurance. 9 Who knows? Christians rejoice in the hope of seeing Gods glory (see Romans 8:18-25), and they do so in the midst of trials and tribulations. When we endure suffering by faith, we experience Gods sustaining strength. Can you imagine the encounters he had as he and Sarah moved into Canaan? Repentance and faith go together. Eleventh, it is the promises of God which are certain, and it is these promises which will sustain us in the difficult days ahead.In the past few weeks, we have seen our country enter into a kind of financial meltdown. 39 And these all were commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. In our text, we are told that men swear in order to confirm their statements and to remove any doubt about them. In spite of the difficulties, I believe that this interpretation best fits with the tenor of the warning, the context, and the other biblical warnings and examples of apostasy. Remember the prisoners as if chained with themthose who are mistreatedsince you yourselves are in the body also. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. . 2. He chose Abram from everyone else in Ur, and excluded Abrams immediate family members. But look at the basis on which Moses intercedes for the Israelites: 10 So now, leave me alone so that my anger can burn against them and I can destroy them, and I will make from you a great nation. 11 But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God and said, O Lord, why does your anger burn against your people, whom you have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? He asked the group of Russian educators with whom he was working whether it was his American clothes: jeans and a Chicago Bulls shirt. God had promised to multiply Abram, making him the father of a multitude. He is trying to instill in them biblical hopenot just a positive, cheerful dispositionbut a steady attitude of joy based on the promises of God, who cannot lie. The unchangeableness of this covenant gave Moses the courage to boldly intercede for the Israelites. Hebrews 6:16-20. 18 For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gave it to Abraham through the promise. The author has presented a powerful demonstration of the sufficiency of God the Son in chapters 1 and 2, and then drew our attention to the deficiency of men in chapters 3 and 4. 65:16; John 14:6; 17:17). This greatly angered Jonah, who did not share Gods compassion toward sinners: 1 This displeased Jonah terribly and he became very angry. In that day, you didnt just pack up a U-Haul and head out on the interstate, keeping in touch with the folks back home through frequent emails and phone calls. 5 And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. There are storms of false doctrine that can blow us off course (Eph. 15 For the law brings wrath, because where there is no law there is no transgression either. 13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not fulfilled through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. There werent real estate offices to help you get resettled into a new home. Hope has its degrees, as faith also. In many instances the candidates promise different things to different people, knowing that they cannot deliver. Hebrews 6:13; Hebrews 6:17) . 15 For the law brings wrath, because where there is no law there is no transgression either. They were getting up in years, but had no children in spite of Gods promise. Nothing would prevent His covenant promises from being fulfilled. What he bought was not the canceling of the commandment to hold fast but the fulfillment of the commandment to hold fast. 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