Hebrews 6:11-20 The Anchor of Hope
Remember: The fruit of living under the Royal Law of Love is an assurance of Eternal Hope. Living in bitterness toward, or isolation from the redeemed people of God leads to a lack of assurance of hope or a delusion of it possessing it. This is the message of 1 Joh4:17)
I. Heb 6:11-12 This hope that leads to assurance, leads to a faithful and enduring behavior.
A. What is this Hope?
1. Hope always has an Eternal focus. Titus 1:1-2—"in hope of Eternal Life."
Titus 2:11-14 "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."
I Peter 1:3-4 "A living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you."
I Cor 15:19 "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of most men most miserable."
B. Where does it come from?
1. I Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Who according to His abundant Mercy has begotten us again to a living hope."
Romans 15:13 "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Galatians 5:5 "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of Righteousness by faith."
Colossians 1:27 "…To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
C. What is the fruit of this hope? Is it just pie in the sky or does it have visible benefit?
1. I John 3:2-3 "And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, even as He is pure."
II Peter 1:2-11 "……Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the Divine Nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust……."
II Peter 3:10-15 "… Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found in Him in peace, without spot, and blameless……"
Note: The condition of the church and the lack of serious faith in it may be traced to two things. #1 Paying no attention to our Lord's parable of the soils in its evangelism, and #2, its preoccupation with focusing on the here and now to the appalling ignorance of the hereafter. Scripture nowhere implies the fixing or improving of this fallen earth. The focus of scripture is the strengthening the saints of God in the treacherous journey here below, and the increasing the anticipation of their Lord in the new world to come! (II Peter 3:10-13)
II. This hope is built on the Promise of God!
A. Heb 6:13-16 The Old Testament example.
1. Gen 22 The sacrifice of Isaac. Vs 15-16 "by Myself I have sworn says the Lord."
Gen 15:1-18 Note the sacrifice Abraham brings. As with all sacrifice that we bring, we have to drive away the "vultures of the flesh". Perhaps the smoking oven and a burning torch was the very shekinah that later appeared to Israel in the wilderness, a manifestation of the Presence of the Lord.
2. Heb 6:15 Notice God's "forgetfulness" of Abraham's sin. All He "remembers" is Abraham's faith. Such is the Way of the God whose Name is Mercy, Whose Grace is ever poured out upon sinners.
B. Heb 6:18-20 The New Covenant reality!
1. Vs 18 "that by two immutable (unchangeable) "things" in which it is impossible for God to lie." Here is the guarantee of the future reality of this hope, "two unchangeable things."
a. Things--#4229 Pragma—Thayer "that which has been done, a deed or an accomplished fact. Luke 1:1—"things most surely believed among us." Acts 5:4 "Why have you conceived this thing in your heart.? (to lie to the Holy Spirit)
b. What are the things?
Clue #1 Remember 6:13? He swore by Himself!
Clue #2 Previous mentions in this book:
1:2 "has in these last days spoken to us by His Son."
3:2 "therefore, as the Holy Spirit says."
What deeds, accomplished facts fulfill these clues?
Thing #1 John 1:1, 14, 18, 6:29 He gave us His Word!!!! The Incarnation!
Thing #2 John 14:15-17 The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of TRUTH!(15:26, 16:13)
II Thess 2:13 Sanctification of the Spirit is manifested by truth.
I Peter 1:22 We obey the truth through the Spirit.
I John 5:6 "It is the Spirit Who bears witness, because the Spirit is Truth."
God sent the Spirit of Truth at Pentecost. Remember, "hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured our in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us."
(Romans 5:5)
God has given us two "things" in which it is impossible for Him to lie. He has given us His Son, the One Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life in the glorious incarnation when he took upon Himself our flesh. He has given us His Sprit of Truth at Pentecost, whose very presence is the Truth of God itself. He has given us His Word.
2. This hope that is set before us is a refuge. As the death that defines this world surrounds us, this hope of eternal life, rooted in the Eternal One Who cannot lie, enables us to endure.
C. Vs 19 We have this hope as and anchor that is "sure and steadfast".
1. This hope is not merely "wishful thinking!
Hebrews 7:19 "For the law made nothing perfect, bu the bringing in of a better hope did; by which we draw near to God."
Romans 5:5-11 Hope does not disappoint because it depends upon a God Who demonstrates His love to sinners and places His demonstration in their hearts! (Holy Spirit)
Hebrews 8:6 Our High Priest is "Mediator of a better covenant based on better promises."
2. This hope "makes real" our living in the "Presence", our living in communion with the unseeable God . This hope establishes a "heavenly living" for us on this fallen earth. The veil is most likely the veil of human flesh which, apart from the hope given to us in Christ Jesus, anchors us to this earth and its' fallenness. Heb 10:20 veil=Jesus flesh.
D. Vs 20 Here is the glorious "How and Why" of this hope.
1. The Word of Truth of the Most High God is the Word of the Promise manifested on the earth. He sealed the Covenant document in the blood of His son, Jesus Christ, and has written that very Covenant upon the "fleshy tablets" of our hearts by His Spirit. (II Cor 3:1-6 Instead of OC tablets of stone).
2. The very "signer" of the covenant, the God who was made like us, Jesus Christ the Righteous, the Firstborn among many brethren, is now our risen and ascended Forerunner. Because He is at the Right hand of the Father as our Covenant surety, we have "reserved seating" in the Eternal Home of our Father. (John 14:1-4)
a. He is our Eternal High Priest. He lives eternally that He might make eternal intercession for us that He might "save us to the uttermost"! His "work" as the Righteous Man, our Living Right to be in the Presence of the Father, is for Eternity! It has no end.
3. Romans 8:18-27 The "second signer" of the Covenant, the Holy Spirit completes the "anchoring" of our hope, uniting His intercessory work (Vs26-27) with that of our Great High Priest. Our Anchor, our ascended God/Man, is in the Presence of the Loving Father as our High Priest, but the "connecting Cable" the interceding Spirit is in our hearts. That's why Romans 8:28 is true! We are saved in this hope. Romans 8:24
Remember: The fruit of living under the Royal Law of Love is an assurance of Eternal Hope. Living in bitterness toward, or isolation from the redeemed people of God leads to a lack of assurance of hope or a delusion of it possessing it. This is the message of 1 Joh4:17)
I. Heb 6:11-12 This hope that leads to assurance, leads to a faithful and enduring behavior.
A. What is this Hope?
1. Hope always has an Eternal focus. Titus 1:1-2—"in hope of Eternal Life."
Titus 2:11-14 "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."
I Peter 1:3-4 "A living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you."
I Cor 15:19 "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of most men most miserable."
B. Where does it come from?
1. I Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Who according to His abundant Mercy has begotten us again to a living hope."
Romans 15:13 "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Galatians 5:5 "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of Righteousness by faith."
Colossians 1:27 "…To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
C. What is the fruit of this hope? Is it just pie in the sky or does it have visible benefit?
1. I John 3:2-3 "And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, even as He is pure."
II Peter 1:2-11 "……Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the Divine Nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust……."
II Peter 3:10-15 "… Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found in Him in peace, without spot, and blameless……"
Note: The condition of the church and the lack of serious faith in it may be traced to two things. #1 Paying no attention to our Lord's parable of the soils in its evangelism, and #2, its preoccupation with focusing on the here and now to the appalling ignorance of the hereafter. Scripture nowhere implies the fixing or improving of this fallen earth. The focus of scripture is the strengthening the saints of God in the treacherous journey here below, and the increasing the anticipation of their Lord in the new world to come! (II Peter 3:10-13)
II. This hope is built on the Promise of God!
A. Heb 6:13-16 The Old Testament example.
1. Gen 22 The sacrifice of Isaac. Vs 15-16 "by Myself I have sworn says the Lord."
Gen 15:1-18 Note the sacrifice Abraham brings. As with all sacrifice that we bring, we have to drive away the "vultures of the flesh". Perhaps the smoking oven and a burning torch was the very shekinah that later appeared to Israel in the wilderness, a manifestation of the Presence of the Lord.
2. Heb 6:15 Notice God's "forgetfulness" of Abraham's sin. All He "remembers" is Abraham's faith. Such is the Way of the God whose Name is Mercy, Whose Grace is ever poured out upon sinners.
B. Heb 6:18-20 The New Covenant reality!
1. Vs 18 "that by two immutable (unchangeable) "things" in which it is impossible for God to lie." Here is the guarantee of the future reality of this hope, "two unchangeable things."
a. Things--#4229 Pragma—Thayer "that which has been done, a deed or an accomplished fact. Luke 1:1—"things most surely believed among us." Acts 5:4 "Why have you conceived this thing in your heart.? (to lie to the Holy Spirit)
b. What are the things?
Clue #1 Remember 6:13? He swore by Himself!
Clue #2 Previous mentions in this book:
1:2 "has in these last days spoken to us by His Son."
3:2 "therefore, as the Holy Spirit says."
What deeds, accomplished facts fulfill these clues?
Thing #1 John 1:1, 14, 18, 6:29 He gave us His Word!!!! The Incarnation!
Thing #2 John 14:15-17 The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of TRUTH!(15:26, 16:13)
II Thess 2:13 Sanctification of the Spirit is manifested by truth.
I Peter 1:22 We obey the truth through the Spirit.
I John 5:6 "It is the Spirit Who bears witness, because the Spirit is Truth."
God sent the Spirit of Truth at Pentecost. Remember, "hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured our in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us."
(Romans 5:5)
God has given us two "things" in which it is impossible for Him to lie. He has given us His Son, the One Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life in the glorious incarnation when he took upon Himself our flesh. He has given us His Sprit of Truth at Pentecost, whose very presence is the Truth of God itself. He has given us His Word.
2. This hope that is set before us is a refuge. As the death that defines this world surrounds us, this hope of eternal life, rooted in the Eternal One Who cannot lie, enables us to endure.
C. Vs 19 We have this hope as and anchor that is "sure and steadfast".
1. This hope is not merely "wishful thinking!
Hebrews 7:19 "For the law made nothing perfect, bu the bringing in of a better hope did; by which we draw near to God."
Romans 5:5-11 Hope does not disappoint because it depends upon a God Who demonstrates His love to sinners and places His demonstration in their hearts! (Holy Spirit)
Hebrews 8:6 Our High Priest is "Mediator of a better covenant based on better promises."
2. This hope "makes real" our living in the "Presence", our living in communion with the unseeable God . This hope establishes a "heavenly living" for us on this fallen earth. The veil is most likely the veil of human flesh which, apart from the hope given to us in Christ Jesus, anchors us to this earth and its' fallenness. Heb 10:20 veil=Jesus flesh.
D. Vs 20 Here is the glorious "How and Why" of this hope.
1. The Word of Truth of the Most High God is the Word of the Promise manifested on the earth. He sealed the Covenant document in the blood of His son, Jesus Christ, and has written that very Covenant upon the "fleshy tablets" of our hearts by His Spirit. (II Cor 3:1-6 Instead of OC tablets of stone).
2. The very "signer" of the covenant, the God who was made like us, Jesus Christ the Righteous, the Firstborn among many brethren, is now our risen and ascended Forerunner. Because He is at the Right hand of the Father as our Covenant surety, we have "reserved seating" in the Eternal Home of our Father. (John 14:1-4)
a. He is our Eternal High Priest. He lives eternally that He might make eternal intercession for us that He might "save us to the uttermost"! His "work" as the Righteous Man, our Living Right to be in the Presence of the Father, is for Eternity! It has no end.
3. Romans 8:18-27 The "second signer" of the Covenant, the Holy Spirit completes the "anchoring" of our hope, uniting His intercessory work (Vs26-27) with that of our Great High Priest. Our Anchor, our ascended God/Man, is in the Presence of the Loving Father as our High Priest, but the "connecting Cable" the interceding Spirit is in our hearts. That's why Romans 8:28 is true! We are saved in this hope. Romans 8:24