God Promised It…That Settles It!
We are in election season, and that means there are all manner of campaign promises being made. Most of us know enough not to put too much faith in those promises. Instead, those who have wisdom will look behind the promises and examine the character of the person making them before trusting them with our vote. But what about when the God who created everything with all power and is from everlasting to everlasting has promised salvation? In Hebrews 6:9-20, the writer of the epistle points us to the character of God, who can not lie and has sworn an oath, to let us know that we can be assured of salvation through our faith in Jesus. Therefore, we do not lose hope, but we persevere in our faith to the end so that we can inherit God’s promise. May God strengthen you and keep you to persevere in your faith and inherit His promise of salvation. Amen
Click here to listen as CeCe Winans sings “Believe For It”
Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. (Hebrews 6:9-12) The writer of Hebrews, having previously warned the church, comes back beginning in verse 9 to assure them that he believed they would not succumb to those things he warned them of and would indeed hold on to their faith and realize their inheritance of salvation. In this pursuit, he exhorted them not to become lazy in their faith, but instead to imitate those who had already gone before them and persevered to realize their salvation. He also commended these Christians for their help and support of other churches and urged them to continue In their good work, for a loving God saw their works of aid and would not forget them.
When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. (Hebrews 6:13-15) Hebrews’ writer used the example of Abraham to illustrate the model of faith and patience we should have in order to receive what God has promised (God’s promise of salvation to Christians). Despite his age and lack of any offspring at the time of God’s promise, Abraham believed God and patiently waited many years to receive what was promised. Certainly, this illustration would resonate with the Christians who this epistle was written to (born of Hebrew/Jewish lineage). They would be well aware that God’s promise had been fulfilled and Abraham had indeed become the father of many descendants. This was an assurance to them, that the God who was faithful to His promise to Abraham could be trusted to be faithful to them. The Christian’s hope would not be in vain, so they were to persevere and keep their faith.
People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:16-20) By oath, an argument is ended. God made an oath that believers would receive salvation and eternal life through Jesus. Therefore any doubt or disagreement about our salvation is ended because of God’s oath. But we have additional assurance because inherent in God’s character is the fact that He cannot lie (see Numbers 23:19)! Therefore the writer of Hebrews said that we can be greatly encouraged in our hope in Jesus for our salvation. It is firm and secure. Jesus is our refuge (see cities of refuge in Joshua 20:1-6) that we can run to and be safe from the consequences of sin, as long as we remain in Him. The safety of refuge and salvation that we have in Jesus is forever, as He is the High Priest forever. (Jesus is both our King and High Priest. Reference was to Melchizedek who was both a king and priest, whereas Jewish kings were never priests and vice versa).
The book of Hebrews is a message of encouragement to believers that their faith and hope in Jesus for salvation is not misplaced. Our salvation through Jesus is assured and certain. Therefore, the writer of Hebrews tells us that whatever you may be going through…. hold on to your faith! God has promised our salvation through our faith in Jesus by oath and it is impossible for Him to lie. Jesus our High Priest has gone behind the temple veil on our behalf. He is the atonement for our sins and He is our permanent refuge of safety from the consequences of sin. Therefore trust God, through all of your doubts, fears and trials. Hold on to your faith and persevere to the end! God has promised our salvation through faith in Christ, we believe Him…. and that settles it!
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
