“The Hope Set Before Us” Hebrews 6:10-20

Hebrews 6:10-15 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. The Hope Set Before Us

Hebrews 6:16-20 16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. The Hope Set Before Us

Introduction The Christian’s hope is the anchor of the soul! “Sure and Steadfast” - vs. 19 “Full assurance” - vs. 11 This hope transcends this life - 1 Corinthians 15:19 Hope of the resurrection - Acts 2:25-27; Psalms 16:8-11 Hope of eternal life - Titus 3:7; Romans 8:17-28 This hope is not a subjective dream It is revealed in the scriptures The text gives us a three fold basis for this hope Vs. 19 - Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Vs. 11 - And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 1 Cor. 15:19 - If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. Acts 2:25-27 - For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Psa. 16:8-11 - I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Titus 3:7 - That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Rom. 8:17-28 - READ The Hope Set Before Us

The Certainty Of God’s Promise vss. 13-18 God’s proven record - vss. 13-15 His two “immutable things” The promise & oath Are unchangeable God’s very nature Immutable (unchanging) nature - Hebrews 13:8 James 1:17 Cannot Lie - Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19 Ametathetos - unchangeable, unchangeability - Strong “unchangeable” - RSV Vss. 13-15 - For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise (cf. Gen 12:1-3). Barnes “…if God had sworn by any thing finite, that thing might fail, and then the obligation would be at an end, but he has sworn by what is infinite, and cannot fail; therefore his oath is of eternal obligation.” Truth Commentary - P 189, By Dan King - The oath sets its seal upon the promise and makes it binding and secure. When once the oath has been taken, it means that God has been called in as a party to the transaction, and that assurance has been made doubly sure, since any breach of the contract would now involve a breach of faith not only with man but also with God. Now, God in making this promise to Abraham had no higher power that he could call in as a witness. He therefore “interposed with an oath” (v. 17), and swore by himself. His point is that the Christian hope is doubly attested: in the first place by the solemn promise, and then by the oath which God himself added to the promise to make it still more secure. Both promise and oath alike are immutable and inviolable, and “these two immutable things” (v. 18) guarantee this precious hope and make it absolutely and irrevocably secure. Heb. 13:8 - Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Jas. 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Titus 1:2 - In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; Num. 23:19 - God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? The Hope Set Before Us

The Redemptive Work of Jesus vss. 13-18 He entered with His own blood - Hebrews 9:12 His blood shed on the cross The blood shed “for the remission of sins” - Matthew 26:28 He entered after he was “raised for our justification” Romans 4:25; 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 14 He continues His redemptive work as our High Priest Hebrews 4:14-16 Heb. 9:12 - Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Matt. 26:28 - For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Rom. 4:25 - Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 1 Thess. 4:13, 14 - But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. Heb. 4:14-16 - Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. The Hope Set Before Us

The Diligence of Our Service vss. 10-12 Diligent Service Requires: Work & Labor - vs. 10 Showing diligence to the end - vs. 11 (Rev. 2:10) Not being slothful - vs. 12 Faith coupled with patience - vs. 12 Vs. 10 - For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. Vs. 11 - And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: Rev. 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Vs. 12 - That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. The Hope Set Before Us

The Benefits of this Hope Encourages us to be bold - 2 Corinthians 3:12 Encourages us to live godly lives - Hebrews 6:10-12 Encourages us to spread the gospel - 1 Peter 3:15 Encourages us to rejoice in all circumstances Romans 12:12 Equips us to fight the devil - 1 Thessalonians 5:8 Enables us to confidently face suffering & death Romans 5:1-5 Assures us of an eternal inheritance with God 1 Peter 1:3-5 2 Cor. 3:12 - Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech. Heb. 6:10-12 - For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. 1 Pet. 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Rom. 12:12 - Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 1 Thess. 5:8 - But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. Rom. 5:1-5 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 1 Pet. 1:3-5 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. The Hope Set Before Us

The Basis of This Hope The Certainty of God’s Promise The Redemptive Work of Jesus The Diligence of Our Service 1 Corinthians 15:58 Based on: The Certainty of God’s Promise The Redemptive work of Jesus The Diligence of Our Service 1 Cor. 15:58 - Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. The Hope Set Before Us

Conclusion What a wonderful hope Christians have! Do you have the right hope? Ephesians 4:4 Are your sins washed away in obedience to the gospel? Acts 22:16 Are you serving God with the “one hope”? Eph. 4:4 - There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; Acts 22:16 - And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Based on: The Certainty of God’s Promise The Redemptive work of Jesus The Diligence of Our Service The Hope Set Before Us

Hebrews 6:16-19 16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. 17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; The Hope Set Before Us