Lesson 8 Hebrews 6:13-20 11-29-17 Anne Means God s Promise: An Anchor for Our Soul I. 6:12 Command: Don t be lazy but imitate those who through faith and patience inherited what was promised. A. Faith-not just faith in general but faith in what God promises B. Patience II. Example of faith and patience: Abraham A. Why Abraham? B. What was the occasion? Genesis 22:15-18 C. What did Abraham do? 1. He waited patiently. 2. Showed faith by obeying. III. What did God do? A. Made an oath. 1. God s oath is not like human oaths. 2. Why did He do this? 1. To make his promises clear to us. 2. To encourage us.
IV. What should be our response? 1. To flee-what? 1. Sin? 2. Works-righteousness? 3. Doubt that God is good, he loves us and his promises are true? 2. To take ahold-of what? A Hope Anchor. 3. We we have only one option-hope. What specifically do we hope for? 1. Heidelberg confession: What is my only comfort in life and death? That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for him. b. How do we know this? John 14:3 Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am c. 1 John 3:2 4. To be encouraged. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. V. Why is the hope anchor firm and secure? (Why should we cling to it?) A. It enters into the inner sanctuary-the Most Holy Place.
B. It is based on Jesus as our forerunner 1. Behind the curtain/curtain torn 2. Enters on our behalf 3. As our forerunner 4. Therefore he is a high priest forever. VI. Implications for us A. Patience If God weren t growing sons and daughters, things would not take nearly as long. But since He is more interested in our growth than He is in our getting, waiting becomes a very essential and useful means toward that end. Our posture toward God during times of waiting can make all the difference in the effect of such an experience on us. (Jack Hayford) Psalm 33:20-22. We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22 May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you. B. God s promises are assured Numbers 23:19. God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? C. We have the best of promises
Promises: Exodus 14:14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Isaiah 25: 6-8 On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feat of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine-the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces: he will remove his people s disgrace from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. Isaiah 40:29-31 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. John 3:36a Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life Romans 10:9 If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends al understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and jut and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Application Questions: 1. What promises has God made that you are doubting? 2. What promises do you need to be more patient in waiting for? 3. What promises do you need to claim? What Hope Anchor do you need to cling to? Bibliography Guthrie, George. The NIV Application Series: Hebrews. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998. Barclay, William. The Letter to the Hebrews, Rev. Ed. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1976. Bruce, FF. The Epistle to the Hebrews. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990. Hughes, PE. A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1977 Owen, John. Hebrews. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 1998.