Anchor of the Soul
Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted
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· 8 viewsthe author is convinced that his audience will not be those who fall away into hopelessness, but will revive into hope, which is the anchor of the soul
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Transcript
Better things - 6:9-12
Better things - 6:9-12
“Better”, one of the key words for the book, applies not only to the covenant and promise, but also to its recipients and their future
These things concern their salvation (and ours), despite the warning about falling away
Their diligence in bearing fruit demonstrates their true heart, which gives the author confidence that they will be diligent to grow to maturity also - Mark 9:38-41
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
He wants them to imitate those who show faith and patience (two concepts that are closely connected - our faith gives us patience to endure anything and everything)
Those who have this patient faith inherit the promises of God, because they are conditioned on our faith, as we will see in the next section
God’s oath - 6:13-18
God’s oath - 6:13-18
The author now draws from the story of Abraham after previously using Moses and David to illustrate God’s design - Gen 22:16-18
and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 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, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”
God uses Himself as the object by which He swears to Abraham, since there is none greater to use as a guarantor - Num 14:28
Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the Lord, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you:
Abraham patiently waited for God to fulfill this promise (Gen 22 was about 40 years after God originally made the promise the first time) - Heb 11:39-40
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
God does not need to swear, but to accommodate the failings of man, He does so with this promise - Num 23:19
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
There are two unchangeable factors - God cannot lie, and He has sworn by the most powerful force that exists (Himself)
This gives us strong encouragement, because we have placed our hope on that promise
This hope is our refuge as we flee from the dangers all around us - Num 35:11-12
then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person without intent may flee there. The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment.
Jesus, our forerunner - 6:19-20
Jesus, our forerunner - 6:19-20
Hope is represented by an anchor on Greek and Roman coins and medals; Socrates said “a ship cannot depend on one anchor, or a life on one hope”
Yet, our author declares that the anchor for our soul is that one sure and steadfast hope
The hope enters through the veil (meaning the hope is Christ) - Heb 9:11-12; 10:19-20
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
Jesus entered as a forerunner - John 14:1-6
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
This strongly implies that we will join Him where He went before us
Questions for Next Week
Questions for Next Week
1- How many men were both high priest and king? What does that combination mean?
2- Why is Melchizedek called “great” by the author of Hebrews?
3- What is so important about the tribe from which Jesus is born?
4- How is Jesus qualified to be our High Priest?
5- Which is better - many or one?