OceanSide church of Christ

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HEBREWS

 

Press on to Your Sure Hope

Hebrews 6:18-20

Victor M. Eskew

 

 

I.         THE ENCOURAGEMENT (Heb. 6:4-6)

 

II.       THE EXPECTATION (Heb. 6:7-12)

 

III.      THE ENSURED (Heb. 6:13-20)

 

A.  The Example of Abraham (Heb. 6:13-15)

 

B.   The Efficacy of Oaths (Heb. 6:16)

 

C.  The End of God (Heb. 6:17-18)

1.    The Confirmation (Heb. 6:17)

2.    The Consolation (Heb. 6:18)

 

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.

 

a.    The two immutable things are

1)     God’s promise

2)    God’s oath

3)     “And since both are ‘immutable,’ we are thus given double witness to His intentions.  It is the absolute holiness of our God which serves as a foundation for assurance” (Wacaster, 234).

b.    These two things give Christians a “strong consolation” as those who have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us.

1)     Strong consolation

a)    Strong (3874):  solace

b)    Thayer:  consolation, comfort, solace; that which affords comfort or refreshment

2)    Fled for refuge

a)    Strong (2703):  to flee down (away)

b)    Thayer:  to flee away, flee for refuge

3)     Lay hold

a)    Strong (2902):  to use strength, that is, to seize or retain

b)    Thayer:  to hold, to keep carefully, and faithfully, continue to hold

4)     Hope

a)    Strong (1680):  to anticipate, usually with pleasure, expectation or confidence

b)    Thayer:  expectation of good…joyful or confident expectation of eternal salvation

5)     Set before us

a)    Strong (4295):  to lie before the view

b)    Thayer:  to lie or place before…or in front of to set before…to be placed before the eyes, to lie in sight.

 

D.  The Expectation (Heb. 6:19-20)

1.    The Mooring (Heb. 6:19)

 

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the vail.

 

a.    The hope to which we are pressing is our anchor in this life.

1)     Strong (45):  an anchor (as crooked)

2)    Thayer:  an anchor, metaphorically any stay or safeguard.

3)     An anchor, when it is lowered into the water, enters the realms of the unseen; those standing of the deck might see the chain that connects the ship to the anchor, but the anchor they cannot see.  Hope is like that anchor – it is grounded in the unseen spiritual realms above, where our Lord is, seated at the right hand of God.

b.    This anchor is both sure and steadfast

1)     Sure

a)    Strong (804):  secure

b)    Thayer:  firm (that which can be relied upon), certain

2)    Steadfast

a)    Strong (949):  stable

b)    Thayer:  stable, fast firm.

2.    Our Master (Heb. 6:20)

 

Whither our forerunner is for us entered, even, Jesus, made a high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.

 

a.    Jesus now dwells in that place for which we hope.  He is our forerunner.

1)     Strong (4274):  a runner ahead, that is, a scout

2)    Thayer:  a forerunner, especially one who is sent before to take observations or act as a spy, a scout…one who comes in advance to a place the rest are to follow.

b.    This implies that the way has been opened for us to follow Him into the very presence of God Almighty!

1)     NOTE:  It was witnessed that Jesus was raised from the dead (I Cor. 15:5-8).

2)    Presently, He is not on the earth.

3)     Where is He?  He is in heaven (Acts 1:9-10).  He has made His way into that place that is still before us.

4)     While there, he occupies the position of high priest, after the order of Melchisedec.