PROMISES: TRUSTING

HEBREWS 6:13-20

Reading: Heb 7:24–25

Song: Whiter Than Snow

Theme: trusting in God’s promises

           A.        There was a time in this country when people could purchase things of value with a hand shake or by giving one’s word. However, over time people, and for good reason, began less and less to trust just the word of another person in important business matters.

           B.        Has any one ever made a promise to you and you wondered if the person would keep hi promise?

           C.        God has promised salvation to the faithful but even so some people for whatever reason have had doubts about that promises. In chapter six of the Book of Hebrews, the writer dealt with the subject of hope and promises. The writer declared why we can trust God’s word.

Discussion

I.         THE ILLUSTRATION OF THE SURETY OF GOD’S WORD (6:13-18).

           A.        ... God made promise to Abraham ... (6:13-15).

13              For <1063> when God <2316> made promise <1861> (5666) to Abraham <11>, because <1893> he could <2192> (5707) swear <3660> (5658) by <2596> no <3762> greater <3187>, he sware <3660> (5656) by <2596> himself <1438>,

14              Saying <3004> (5723), Surely <2229> <3375> blessing <2127> (5723) I will bless <2127> (5692) thee <4571>, and <2532> multiplying <4129> (5723) I will multiply <4129> (5692) thee <4571>.

13              tw <3588> {T-DSM} gar <1063> {CONJ} abraam <11> {N-PRI} epaggeilamenov <1861> (5666) {V-ADP-NSM} o <3588> {T-NSM} yeov <2316> {N-NSM} epei <1893> {CONJ} kat <2596> {PREP} oudenov <3762> {A-GSM} eicen <2192> (5707) {V-IAI-3S} meizonov <3173> {A-GSM-C} omosai <3660> (5658) {V-AAN} wmosen <3660> (5656) {V-AAI-3S} kay <2596> {PREP} eautou <1438> {F-3GSM}

14              legwn <3004> (5723) {V-PAP-NSM} h <2229> {PRT} mhn <3375> {PRT} eulogwn <2127> (5723) {V-PAP-NSM} euloghsw <2127> (5692) {V-FAI-1S} se <4571> {P-2AS} kai <2532> {CONJ} plhyunwn <4129> (5723) {V-PAP-NSM} plhyunw <4129> (5692) {V-FAI-1S} se <4571> {P-2AS}

                       1.        The writer held Abraham up as an example

                       2.        God had commanded Abraham to leave his homeland.

                                   a.        In leaving, Abraham left behind generally, all with which he had been familiar, his family, friends and perhaps fortune, to go to what was unfamiliar to him (Gen 12:1-3).

                                   b.        He was also given the promise that he would be the father of nations (Gen 22:15-18).

                                   c.         God gave an oath that he would fulfill his promises to Abraham.

                                               (1)       Abraham lived to see the birth of his heir Isaac, by his wife Sarah.

                                                          (a)       Isaac had a son named Jacob whose twelve sons became the nation of Israel.

                                                          (b)       Before Isaac, Abraham had a son Ishmael by Hagar.

                                                          (c)       After Abraham’s wife Sarah died, Abraham married Katurah, and had more sons were born to him by her.

                                               (2)       The Hebrew Christians to whom the writer of Hebrews had written were descendants of Abraham proving God had blessed Abraham according to the flesh, as promised (Exo 1:7; Deu 1:10; Isa 51:1).

                                               (3)       The promise that all nations (including the Gentiles) were to have been blessed through Abraham’s seed was fulfilled in Christ (Gal 3:16; Rom 4:11-56).

15              And <2532> so <3779>, after he had patiently endured <3114> (5660), he obtained <2013> (5627) the promise <1860>.

15              kai <2532> {CONJ} outwv <3779> {ADV} makroyumhsav <3114> (5660) {V-AAP-NSM} epetucen <2013> (5627) {V-2AAI-3S} thv <3588> {T-GSF} epaggeliav <1860> {N-GSF}

                       3.        Abraham believed the promises of God; and therefore, having regulated his life according to them, Abraham received the promise.

                                   a.        Abraham certainly had to exercise patience before he received the promise.

                                   b.        We are to follow his example of belief and endurance to the end, in trusting God.

           B.        So we realize from the illustration that God makes credible promises.

Credible Promises

           C.        ... God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel confirmed it by an oath ... (6:16-18).

16              For <1063> men <444> verily <3303> swear <3660> (5719) by <2596> the greater <3187>: and <2532> an oath <3727> for <1519> confirmation <951> is to them <846> an end <4009> of all <3956> strife <485>.

17              Wherein <1722> <3739> God <2316>, willing <1014> (5740) more abundantly <4054> to shew <1925> (5658) unto the heirs <2818> of promise <1860> the immutability <276> of his <846> counsel <1012>, confirmed <3315> (5656) it by an oath <3727>: {confirmed…: Gr. interposed himself by}

16              anyrwpoi <444> {N-NPM} men <3303> {PRT} gar <1063> {CONJ} kata <2596> {PREP} tou <3588> {T-GSM} meizonov <3173> {A-GSM-C} omnuousin <3660> (5719) {V-PAI-3P} kai <2532> {CONJ} pashv <3956> {A-GSF} autoiv <846> {P-DPM} antilogiav <485> {N-GSF} perav <4009> {N-NSN} eiv <1519> {PREP} bebaiwsin <951> {N-ASF} o <3588> {T-NSM} orkov <3727> {N-NSM}

17              en <1722> {PREP} w <3739> {R-DSM} perissoteron <4054> {A-NSN-C} boulomenov <1014> (5740) {V-PNP-NSM} o <3588> {T-NSM} yeov <2316> {N-NSM} epideixai <1925> (5658) {V-AAN} toiv <3588> {T-DPM} klhronomoiv <2818> {N-DPM} thv <3588> {T-GSF} epaggeliav <1860> {N-GSF} to <3588> {T-ASN} ametayeton <276> {A-ASN} thv <3588> {T-GSF} boulhv <1012> {N-GSF} autou <846> {P-GSM} emesiteusen <3315> (5656) {V-AAI-3S} orkw <3727> {N-DSM}

                       1.        Oaths are made as verification that a statement made is true or a promise made will be kept.

                                   a.        As the writer pointed out, oaths were a standard policy in ending disputes.

                                   b.        When men make an oath they base it on someone or something greater then themselves (cp. Gen 14:22-23).

                                   c.         In court it is common for people to swear upon the Bible to “tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

                       2.        As with men when they make oaths, God based his promises to Abraham on someone or something superior but because no one is superior to God, he based his oath on himself (v 16).

                       3.        It was common for God to emphasize the trust worthiness of his promises by swearing by himself (cf. Gen 22:16; Isa 45:23; Jer 22:5; 33:20-21).

                       4.        The purpose of having made the oath was “to shew ... the immutability of his counsel.” (vs 16-17).

18              That <2443> by <1223> two <1417> immutable <276> things <4229>, in <1722> which <3739> it was impossible <102> for God <2316> to lie <5574> (5664), we might have <2192> (5725) a strong <2478> consolation <3874>, who <3588> have fled for refuge <2703> (5631) to lay hold <2902> (5658) upon the hope <1680> set before us <4295> (5740):

18              ina <2443> {CONJ} dia <1223> {PREP} duo <1417> {A-NUI} pragmatwn <4229> {N-GPN} ametayetwn <276> {A-GPN} en <1722> {PREP} oiv <3739> {R-DPN} adunaton <102> {A-NSN} qeusasyai <5574> (5664) {V-ADN} yeon <2316> {N-ASM} iscuran <2478> {A-ASF} paraklhsin <3874> {N-ASF} ecwmen <2192> (5725) {V-PAS-1P} oi <3588> {T-NPM} katafugontev <2703> (5631) {V-2AAP-NPM} krathsai <2902> (5658) {V-AAN} thv <3588> {T-GSF} prokeimenhv <4295> (5740) {V-PNP-GSF} elpidov <1680> {N-GSF}

                       5.        The“two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie” were:

                                   a.        his word of promise (Gen 12:3; 18:17-18).

                                   b.        his oath based on himself (Gen 22:18).

                                   c.         God’s word on any matter should be enough but an oath was given to emphasize the trusting ground upon which promise rested.

                                   d.        Therefore, God’s promises were reliable.

                                   e.        They are reliable because it is impossible for God to do anything inconsistent with his nature such as lie about his promises (Mat 5:18; 24: 35; 2Co 1:20; 2Ti 2:13; Ti 1:2).

                                   f.         Therefore we can have strong consultation () having fled for refuge through obedience to the gospel, to the hope set before us in it.

                                               (1)       In the Old Testament provision was made to set apart cities of refuge for those having committed certain acts to flee to (Num 35; Jos 20:7-9).

                                               (2)       In a very similar sense Christians flee for refuge to Christ through obedience to his gospel, seeking shelter from the promised wrath to come upon those outside of Christ.

                                                          (a)       We were guilty of sin (Rom 3:23).

                                                          (b)       We deserved to die spiritually (Rom 6:23a; Psa 9:17).

                                                          (c)       We flee to Jesus for protection from the penalty of our sins (Rom 5:9; Joh 5:24; Col 1:13-14; Heb 7:25).

Transition: This hope God has provided for us, illustrating it through the oath he gave Abraham, has become what holds us steadfast.

II.        THE ANCHOR OF THE SURETY OF GOD’S WORD (6:19-20).

           A.        Which hope we have as anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth that within the veil ... (6:19).

19              Which <3739> hope we have <2192> (5719) as <5613> an anchor <45> of the soul <5590>, both <5037> sure <804> and <2532> steadfast <949>, and <2532> which entereth <1525> (5740) into <1519> that within <2082> the veil <2665>;

19          hn <3739> {R-ASF} wv <5613> {ADV} agkuran <45> {N-ASF} ecomen <2192> (5719) {V-PAI-1P} thv <3588> {T-GSF} quchv <5590> {N-GSF} asfalh <804> {A-ASF} te <5037> {PRT} kai <2532> {CONJ} bebaian <949> {A-ASF} kai <2532> {CONJ} eisercomenhn <1525> (5740) {V-PNP-ASF} eiv <1519> {PREP} to <3588> {T-ASN} eswteron <2082> {A-ASN} tou <3588> {T-GSN} katapetasmatov <2665> {N-GSN}

                       1.        The “anchor of the soul” is the hope we have in Christ (Eph 2:11-13; Col 1:27).

                                   a.        Without him there is no eternal hope.

                                   b.        Like the anchor for a ship, our hope holds us “sure and steadfast.”

                                   c.         He is ever faithful to keep the promise of salvation to all who will come to him in faith (Joh 6:37; 47; Rom 10:9, 13; cp. Act 22:16).

                                   d.        The promise of the gospel is conditional and if we meet the conditions God has set in his written word, our hope will become a reality for us.

           B.        Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus ... (6:20).

20              Whither <3699> the forerunner <4274> is <1525> <0> for <5228> us <2257> entered <1525> (5627), even Jesus <2424>, made <1096> (5637) an high priest <749> for <1519> ever <165> after <2596> the order <5010> of Melchisedec <3198>.

20              opou <3699> {ADV} prodromov