Hebrews 6:9-20 A Pledge & A Promise

Intro: In studying a book like Hebrews it is important to remember that this is a Letter /called an Epistle = Letter

A)Although we don’t study it in that way – ( Read thru it take it all in one setting ) – It is good to remember that is way it is written/a Letter

B) What I mean by that is – there were no Chapter. Breaks & there is a continuous flow or thought – to the writing

1) We can forget that by breaking it down so much

C) Before we continue on in Ch. 6 tonight – quick review so that you see the flow – which I believe is essential to understanding this current section

Purpose of Book : Writing …..going back – Exhorting to not go back but to go forward – Christ is the Real thing / Shadows

A)Seeks to Show the Superiority of Christ over the major elements in Judaism

B) So Ch.1,2 Superiority of Christ over the Prophets & the Angles

1) Ch.3 – This exhortation : Consider High Priest – Key thought mentioned here / Jesus is our H.P. – Theme he will build on !!!

C) Ch.3 Superiority of Christ over Moses – Moses brought them out of land of Bondage – type of salvation – but He didn’t bring them in …promise

1) Warning against hardening our hearts like Israel – Who although they were saved from Egypt didn’t enter into the land of Promise

D) Ch.4:1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it

⁹There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.

E) Spends Chapter 4 telling us about this Rest !!

In Ch.4 he deals w/ the Superiority of Christ over Joshua/ Christ provides a better Rest : Not in a day Sabbath / Place / Canaan –

A)But a person { Christ finished work – v.10 Those who have entered His rest have ceased from their works as God did

B) Christ gives us what the Sabbath / Nor Canaan could provide : INTIMACY W/ GOD !!! Unhindered Relationship

1) So Ch.4 ends w/ this encouragement v.14-16

¹⁴Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy & find grace to help in time of need.

C) Now this was a radical concept in the eyes of the Hebrews: Enter into the throne room – No Way !!!!! Priestly Privilege –

D) Christ opened the door – for all believers to have open access to approach the Father – Told to come boldly { RADICAL /UNBELIEVABLE

1) But that is the work of our High Priest – that is what He has done for us

Key Concept He will come back to in Ch.6

Then as we move into Ch.5 He begins to tell us about our H.P. / that He is a special H.P. – whole different order – Melch.

A)We noted 3 significant things about Melch order / 1^st priest /2^nd also a King / 3^rd – Forever – Perpetual priesthood

B) Now as He is telling us about Melch & Jesus being a H.P. after that order

1) He interrupts his train of thought in v.11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

C) In other words I want to talk more about this ( and He does in Ch.7,8 ) but there is a problem I need to deal w/ first you are dull of hearing

1) The rest of Ch.5 & most of Ch. 6 comprise this interruption where he is exhorting them to move on into maturity / Grow Up !!!!

Now when we pick up in v.9 of Ch.6 tonight – understand the writer is transitioning from his rebuke back to main thought of Melch

A)He is Getting ready to take us back to the subject of Melch in ch.7 / this section connects us back to Ch.4 / the land of promise / rest of Christ/

B) Entering Boldly into the Throne room of God Read v.9

Things that accompany Salvation : What Things ?

A)The Blessings of God that accompany salvation / this thought goes back to ch.4 God brought Israel out / also wanted to bring them in

B) Same is true for us – God doesn’t just want to save you / He wants you to experience all the blessings of Being a Child of God

1) Resources that He supplies / the gifts that He gives / the work of the H.S. leading you / empowering you / Major theme of New Covenant. / Ch.8

C) Also Service : Eph.2:8-10 ⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith,& that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

D) Workmanship = Poema – That is part of what accompanies Salvation

1) The Privilege we have of service : We know that is part of what the writer is referring to because he mentions it in v.10

For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

This was the focus of our Sunday study TWO weeks ago –

A)Ministry is work / but it is a labor of Love / Motivation …….

And our Manifestation

B) God forgets our Failures but remembers our Service / Rewards

Ch.10:32-35 Description of their service – turn

³²But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: ³³partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; ³⁴for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. ³⁵Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.

So here in v.10-12 He is encouraging them to keep up that same mentality not grow weary in well doing – God remembers their service

A)To be diligent & not slothful – Keep pressing on

B) Paul said a similar thing to the Galatians : Gal.6:9 ⁹And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

C) Diligence is a lost characteristic today as is patience : We have become a society that is so used to Fast Results / quick fixes

1) It has turned us into a people who don’t know how to preserve

We tend to run from problems rather than work thru them !!

D) Computers – Fast / Faster / wait 2 minutes to boot up - was ok / now wait – 30 sections / I am frustrated I want a New machine

I see this in Ministry as well – Calvary in So. Cal is not a Reality

Start a Church here – have 200 pp attending in a wk or two

A)Simply on Name recognition alone & Convenience – Not the same anywhere else in the country

B) Guys see that here : Leave here go somewhere else – Breaking New ground / it is tough & slower / Over seas – Even More so

1) Sometimes guys are shocked at how hard it is – because they weren’t used to seeing that here / Seen many give up too soon.

C) The writer of Hebrews exhorts us to be Diligent in our walks waiting for the promise & in ministry waiting for the Reward

1) Example of Diligence / Mom & Son story Life vest

D) Incredible because of this moms diligence made sure that her Shipwrecked son survived

1) Who Knows 20yrs from now what your diligence in the things of the Lord / impact it will have had - BE PATIENT / HANG IN THERE

E) Follow the example of those who thru Faith & Patience inherit the promises

1) Note Promises are inherited not earned !!!!!!

Example Abraham – Focus of our study Sunday v.13-16

A)Gen.12:1-4 Promise is made

B) Gen.15 after rescue of Lot / v.1-6 / Rest Abe it is going to be all me

1) You just receive it by faith – How long did it take ? Ch.21 / 25 yrs

C) Abe Patiently endured ? Ishmael –

1) God Doesn’t recognize our Works in the Flesh/ Ch.22 v.1,2

Summarize v.1-7 Climb / the question / where is the Sacrifice

Read 8-14 – Here we see God’s Provision

Read V.15-19 – God gives an Oath – SERIOUS / ONE GREATER

A) After Abe passes this test – God re affirms to Abe that He is serious about the Promise/ w/ men oath was end of dispute { Back to Hebrews }

B) So the writer uses Abe as an example of one who patiently endured

1) This side of Calvary God forgets our failings

Did God keep His promise to Abe – well when you consider there are more than 14 million physical descendants (Jews) in the world – Yes

A)And Spiritual Descendants – Gods Ultimate plan in blessing Abe was to have the Messiah come from his family line / the Savior of world

B) All the nations shall be blessed from your seed that is what He meant

1) Thru faith in Christ we the Church- become the spiritual descendants of Abe / Abe was Justified by faith / Father of all those Justified by faith

Notice v.17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise We are the Heirs of the Promise made to Abe / faith in J.C.

the immutability of His counsel,

A)Immutability = unchangeableness / Counsel = Purpose

B) God’s purpose of salvation for man – that He determined in the counsel of heaven before the earth was even formed / man was ever fashioned

The Father set a plan in motion that was not going to Change for any reason

C) And He v.17b confirmed it by an oath, ¹⁸that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

Strong Consolation – Parakaleo – Paraclete – One called alongside to help – Strong Consolation – Help that encourages

A)What are the two unchangeable things /that God has given to us in so that we would have strong encouragement ? His Promise & His Pledge or Oath

B) The Triune God gathered in the council chambers of Heaven & decided that they would provide a place of sure refuge for the soul of man

1) The troubled soul of man would Find His refuge in Christ

C) Idea of fleeing for refuge is taken from the O.T. where God provided cities of refuge for those who killed someone accidentally

They could flee to one of these cities & be protected from the family members who would be seeking revenge

D) Christ is our city of refuge / where sinners can flee / be protected / from the Judgment concerning sin –

1) Interestingly city of Refuge wasn’t available to one who deliberately killed someone – first degree murder – Stoned

E) In Christ we have a place of refuge – covers both are sins – accident ignorant / didn’t mean to / & Our trespasses willful acts of disobedience

1)We are forgiven / granted Access to God’s throne / Assurance of Heaven

That is the Hope that is set before us v.19 that Hope is an Anchor for the Soul

A)Hope = Absolute expectation of coming good – What is that absolute expectation of coming good that we have – All encompassing

B) It involves everything that he has been saying so far concerning the rest that we have in Christ- ceased from works / Access before the Father / Promise of Help from our H.P. / His spirit in us

1) It is the hope of Heaven – Col. 1:27 Christ in you is our hope of glory

1 Peter 1:3 ³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

That Hope is Our Anchor Awesome picture : This life is like an ocean / storms / winds / unpredictable - / can cause fear / doubt / lose focus

A)But in the midst of the storm we have an Anchor – that which holds us sure & steadfast / that which keeps us from sinking

B) Anchor Deep - Anchor is only good when placed into the sea – lodges on the bottom ( Anchored deep into the truth of God Word )

1) Anchored High in the courts of Heaven

C) ) Anchors TWO ARMS – Promise of God / Proven faithfulness of God

Abe / gap / but fulfilled

Forerunner – Enters behind the Veil – Idea of a Forerunner is one who goes in first makes the way so that others can follow / Football team

A)He entered behind the Veil & did away w/ it so that we