The Book of  HEBREWS
James J. Barker

Lesson 16
STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD

Text: HEBREWS 6:13-20

INTRODUCTION:


  1. Hebrews 5:11—6:12 is parenthetical.  This is noted in the Scofield Study Bible.
  2. Therefore, Hebrews 6:13 picks up where Hebrews 5:10 leaves off – “Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec…For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself” (Heb. 5:10; 6:13).
  3. The author of the epistle is returning to the great theme of Christ, our great high priest (6:20; cf. 2:17; 3:1; 4:14, 15; 5:1, 5, 6, 10; 7:1; etc.).

 

I. THROUGH FAITH AND PATIENCE WE INHERIT THE PROMISES (6:12, 13).

  1. Through faith we believe God’s promises.  Through patience we wait for God’s promises.
  2. Abraham believed God’s promises (6:13-15).
  3. And after waiting patiently for a long time Abraham received God’s promises (6:15).  “Promise” (6:13, 15) is singular, referring specifically to the multiplying of Abraham’s seed (6:14; cf. Gen. 22:16, 17).

 

II. WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S PROMISES (6:17-19).

  1. The great Abrahamic Covenant is found in Genesis 12:1-3, and it is repeated many times throughout the Word of God (Gen. 13:14-18; 15:18-21; 17:1-9; 22:16, 17; 26:1-5; Acts 7:1-5; Hebrews 11:8-19;
  2. When a man takes an oath in court he places his hand upon the Bible and says, “I swear to tell the truth, so help me God.”
  3. There is no greater power higher than God, so God “sware by Himself” (Heb. 6:13).
  4. Abraham is given as our great example of a man who had confidence in the promises of God (6:13-15).
  5. When men come to a disagreement, an oath settles it – “an end of all strife” (6:16).
  6. God does not need to take an oath, but He did it to show “the immutability of his counsel” (6:17). “Immutability” means God never changes.  “For I am the LORD, I change not” (Mal. 3:6).
  7. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever” (Heb. 13:8).
  8. The “two immutable things” (Heb. 6:18) are God’s promise and God’s oath.
  9. “Strong consolation” (6:18) means strong “encouragement” (Scofield margin).
  10. The words “fled for refuge” (6:18) recall the cities of refuge (Numbers 35).  The cities of refuge were towns in Israel where the perpetrators of manslaughter could claim the right of asylum.
  11. The cities of refuge were accessible to all, and the Lord Jesus Christ is accessible to all.
  12. The cities of refuge were the only refuge for the guilty, and the Lord Jesus Christ is the only refuge for guilty sinners.
  13. The Lord Jesus Christ is the sinner’s only refuge from hell.

 

III. THE PROMISE OF CHRIST, OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST.

  1. After Christ ascended back to heaven, He assumed the office of High Priest (6:19, 20).
  2. He then entered “within the veil” (6:19) in the temple in heaven, and our anchor holds within the veil.
  3. The earthly tabernacle was patterned after the tabernacle in heaven (cf. Heb. 8:1-5; 9:8-12, 23, 24; Rev. 11:19; 15:5-8; 16:1, 17).
  4. The Lord Jesus Christ, our great high priest and “forerunner,” (6:20) has gone on before us.  Right now He is “within the veil” interceding for us (cf. 7:23-25).
  5. HA Ironside said, “It has been pointed out by others that the word translated ‘forerunner’ was a nautical term used to designate a small boat.  The mouths of many of the Greek harbors were not passable at low tide by ships of heavy draught on account of the sand bars, and so it was customary to place the anchor in the forerunner and, rowing over the bar, to cast it in the harbor, thus securing the ship until the tide should rise.  The figure is readily applied to the soul’s relation to our ascended Lord, who now ministers in the Holiest on our behalf, a High Priest according to the order of Melchisedec.  He has entered into the very presence of God as our representative, and His presence there is the pledge that we shall soon follow” (Hebrews).
  6. John Phillips said, “Life is the sea, the soul is the ship, hope is the anchor, Christ is the hidden rock within the veil” (Exploring Hebrews).

 

CONCLUSION:

  1. Two great hymns come to mind here,
  2. “We have an anchor that keeps the soul
    Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
    Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
    Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love”    — Priscilla Owens
  3. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
    Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
    What more can He say than to you He hath said,
    To you, who for refuge to Jesus have fled?”     –     John Rippon

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