Back in chapter five the author began to speak about the priest Melchizedek found in the Genesis account. But at verse 11 he digressed into an excursus about the danger of spiritual immaturity. You do know what an excursus is, don’t you? It’s a planned rabbit trail. Well probably the hardest thing about a rabbit trail is how to get back onto the main point again. Usually when I do it I end up saying, “Now where was I?” or “How did we get here?” But for the author, verses 13-20 are the means he uses to get back to the point of the priesthood of Christ and its relationship to this man Melchizedek. He does this by transitioning between the promises of God he mentioned in verse 12 and the promise of the oath he quoted in 5:6 in which God made Jesus a priest according to the order of Melchizedek. So by next week he will be full force into describing the priesthood of Christ.
Now the key idea of this section is God’s promise to us as believers in Christ are the bedrock of our stability in this life. In reality, nothing else to which we can cling is lasting or sure. We see this displayed in two ways:
I. God’s Promise to Abraham
First we see the contrast between the firmness of God’s promises and the instability of what the world has to offer in God’s promise to Abraham. The author of Hebrews describes for us in this passage two characteristics of God’s promise to Abraham.
A. It was certain
The first characteristic of God’s promise to Abraham is it was certain. The event the author refers to is found in Genesis 22 when God calls Abraham to offer Isaac, his special son, as a sacrifice. Abraham obeys the Lord and is about to kill his son but God keeps him from doing so. From this, God promises to multiply Abraham’s descendants and make his offspring a blessing to all the nations of the earth through the Messiah.
We know the promise to Abraham was certain not because we are 4000 years in the future and have seen the promise fulfilled but because of the way in which God spoke to Abraham. The certainty of the promise was seen in how God said it. In this passage we read the quotation from Genesis 22; “I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.” The most certain way to say something in Hebrew was to repeat the verb twice. This is what God does in speaking to Abraham and this is what it sounds like, “Blessing, I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” He gave His word in the strongest way possible to Abraham to certify the promise. We see the same structure God used in Genesis 2 to speak about the tree of life. In verse 18 he said literally, “in the day that you eat from it dying you will die” or as the NAS has it, “You will surely die” or “you will certainly die.” There was no question in the mind of God that when Adam and Eve partook of the fruit they would be cut off from the life of God at that moment. They would certainly die.
Now the promise God made to Abraham was certain. Because God is trans-time, because He is above time he knows the beginning from the end and brings to pass what He wills. And so when He promises Abraham He would bless him by multiplying his descendants and making his descendants a blessing to the whole earth He was not speaking an empty boast. He was declaring Abraham would receive such a promise.
B. It was obtained by patience
The second characteristic of God’s promise to Abraham was it was obtained by patience. Think about the event in which God made this promise to Abraham. The author says in verse 15, “And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.” How had Abraham received the promise by patiently waiting in faith? There were two ways. First, He waited more than 25 years for the first aspect of God’s promise to be fulfilled. God had told him a number of years earlier he would have a son through Sarah. He believed God and by His faith in God’s promise received the strength to carry out His word. But there was another period of waiting in faith. It came about at this juncture found in Genesis 22. God calls Abraham to offer up his son Isaac. Abraham had rejoiced in this promised son. The boy was 12-15 years old now. But then came the test. Would Abraham love God more than his cherished son? Would he continue in faith, patiently endure and trust in God even in such a hard situation? For three agonizing days Abraham patiently carried out God’s command to sacrifice his own son, the son through whom God had promised all the blessings would come. And so Abraham by his faith patiently endured waiting for God to intervene and once again come to the rescue. And what happened? God did hold true to His word. At the very last moment He provided a way to save Isaac. God was true to His word and Abraham received the promises by patiently waiting. Had Abraham not decided to trust God and had selfishly withheld his son he would have not only lost His son but he would also have lost the promises God was going to make to him.
But there is even one more aspect of the promises for which Abraham had to wait patiently. And that was the promise by God to bless the entire earth through his offspring. He had to wait more than 2000 years to see this when the world was blessed by the coming of Jesus the Messiah. But in waiting he saw it. Jesus said, “Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” The promises of God call for patient waiting in faith.
Before I explain our response this passage I must describe for you what faith is, because many people, including many Christians misunderstand what faith is. Simply put, faith is trust or reliance upon the promises of God found in His Word. Faith is not trust in premonitions, feelings or any other such thing. People think, I have faith God will heal me, or I have faith God will give me this money, or I have faith my father will be saved. But these promises are not found in the word of God. They are presumptions people make and they lose faith in God when the things they think are going to happen don’t turn out their way. Can God heal us? Oh yes. But he doesn’t say I will be healed for God might have another purpose in my sickness or death (as in the case of Lazarus’ death or Paul’s thorn in the flesh) Can God save friends and family? Oh yes and He wants us to pray according to His Word because He desires all men to be saved and we can pray this in our desire to see friends and family saved. But did God say in His Word specifically He would save my father or sister or cousin? No. Can God provide money for us? Yes. But does He promise it in His word? No. Not directly. He says he will supply all our needs. But sometimes God will supply our need by selling something we have instead giving us money out of the blue. Can He do it? Sure. He owns everything there is. But don’t lose faith in God because you didn’t get a check. This is where health and wealth people go wrong. You didn’t have faith they will say. But faith in what? Your own word that you conceive in your mind? That is not faith in God’s word. This is trusting in man and that is doomed to failure. We can trust God’s promises. We mentioned a few last week. We who are in Christ will have a resurrection body. We can count on that. If we desire to be godly we will suffer persecution. We can rejoice in that. God promises us His peace. We can rely on that because it is in God’s Word. This is biblical faith. We can trust that without fail. But remember God’s promises can have conditions attached. Like the promise I just mentioned. We can have peace in the midst of our trials but the condition is we give Him thanks in the midst of it.
But let’s get to the fact that we inherit the promises by patience. Abraham waited years for God’s promises to be fulfilled. God’s timetable for His promises is not our timetable. Think about our instant gratification society. We want answers now. We get frustrated if we have to leave a message and can’t get an instant response. We can’t wait in line patiently and think on the Lord while waiting. All we can think about in line is how many ways the person in front of us could have gone faster.
Think about Abraham in his struggle with Isaac. God did not answer until the last minute. How many times do we fail to see God come through because we try to take things into our own hands before the time God was going to answer? There is a patience that is characteristic of faith. And it is this patience that receives the promises. If we have our eyes set on the right promises and trust them in patience God will bring them to pass. After all if we believe God’s Word that He works all things together for good to them that love Him and are the called according to His purpose then how can we see what God is doing in our lives and claim it to be bad for us (unless we don’t love Him or are not the called according to His purpose). Let us be patient in the trials God has placed in our lives to see what beautiful thing He is doing in us. O ye of little faith.
II. God’s Promise to Us
Next we see the contrast between the firmness of God’s promise and the instability of what the world has to offer in God’s promise to us. What is the promise the author notes? It is the oath God swears so as to put an end to any argument against His own faithfulness. What is the oath about, to which the author refers? When he had begun his discussion of Melchizedek in chapter 5 he mentioned the oath in verse 6 of that chapter. The oath (or promise) is, “”You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Psalm 110:4 is the verse from which the author quotes. There it says, “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind.” The promise of God the author describes revolves around the priesthood of Christ. And the promise of the priesthood of Christ is of such significance for us as Christians the author takes the next four chapters to describe it in detail. I hope you will grasp how important the priesthood of Christ is. If Christ is not who God says He is then we are in deep trouble. The coming material sets the stage for everything we believe as Christians. It is of such importance that we can say if an individual or group does not firmly hold to this teaching about the priesthood of Christ and all its implications they are not Christian. Now the author of Hebrews describes the firmness of God’s promise concerning the priesthood of Christ in three ways.
A. It portrays courtroom surety
The first way he describes the firmness of God’s promise is seen in the fact that His promise portrays courtroom surety. God uses courtroom terminology to show the promise of eternal life in Christ is secure. Look at verses 16-18. He says, “For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.”
The author describes a courtroom setting in these verses. He notes the disputes of men are settled by taking oaths. And they swear, take an oath, or make a promise upon the name of one greater than both parties taking upon themselves the wrath of the greater individual in the event of non-compliance for the agreement. And God Himself, to show the firmness of the promise made concerning the eternal inheritance promised to those who will receive it, made an oath. And He swore by Himself because no one greater could be found than God.
The author uses two words, in this section, to clearly annotate the earnestness of God’s promise and oath to us. The first word he uses is found in verse 17. There he notes, “God desiring even more to show to the heirs of promise.” The verb “show” designates an evidence or giving of proof in a court of law to demonstrate the truthfulness of the individual’s case. Here the author says God so desires to give evidence to the truthfulness of His promise that He does so by making an oath. To prove to everyone the surety of what He says will take place He takes an oath. He doesn’t want anyone to doubt what He will do.
Secondly, in verse 17 he says, he wants to show, “the unchangeableness of His purpose.” The word “unchangeable” was a term used in wills to denote conditions that could not be annulled or altered. And so God says His oath concerning Christ could not be changed nor annulled. The author is using some strong language to demonstrate how seriously God took His promise of the effectiveness of Christ’s priesthood. So the author takes us into the solemn courtroom and in tones describing unchangeable conditions he lays out for us how firm God’s promises are.
B. It contains two foundational aspects
The second way he describes the firmness of God’s promise to us is in the fact it contains two foundational aspects.
1. The eternal priesthood of Christ
The first foundational aspect of the promise of God to us is the eternal nature of the priesthood of Christ. In verse 20 he says, “Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever.” The benefit of Christ’s eternal priesthood will be seen more clearly in chapter 7. But now let us note again the purpose of the priest. The priest in the Old Testament context was a mediator for the people. He would intercede for them and offer the prescribed sacrifices so they would be able to come to God.
Christ, in His eternal office as priest is able to bring us into the presence of God because He offered up one sacrifice for our sin that was effective for all time. His eternal nature of His priesthood means we will never lack someone to bring us to God. We should find great assurance in this truth.
2. The Melchizedekian priesthood of Christ
The second foundational aspect of the promise of God to us is the Melchizedekian priesthood of Christ. Again in verse 20 the author notes God’s oath as Christ being made “a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Also in the coming chapter the importance of Melchizedek will be discussed but the fact is Christ was not descended from the priestly line of Aaron. He could not have become a priest under the law. But God did something special in Christ. He made Him a priest from another line not derived from the law. And because of His special priesthood He was able to free people from the law of the Old Testament.
We will see in the coming chapters how foundational this priesthood of Christ is but hopefully you can at least glimpse now the great importance of this oath God made concerning Christ and His eternal Melchizedekian priesthood.
C. It provides unparalleled security
The third way the author describes the firmness of God’s promise to us is found in the fact that it provides unparalleled security. And this is where this passage gets very exciting. As Christians we must understand there is a remarkable security in the promises of God He gives to us concerning our salvation. In real Christianity we do not find God offering Himself to us only if we’ve been on our best behavior. We do not find a capricious, or unpredictable, God who one day loves us and the next day hates us. In real Christianity we can see we are secure in Him. And in these verses the author notes three ways it provides unparalleled security to the believer.
1. It gives safety
First we see it gives safety. In verses 19-20 the author says, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us.” The author describes the hope we have as Christians as sure. Literally the word means safety. One commentator says this word denotes a security that no outward disturbance can hinder. Nothing in the world can touch the hope we have as an anchor for our life. Our anchor reaches into the next world and no force can dislodge it from there. There is a safety found in our hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Isn’t this what Jesus Himself said? “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” What stronger hold can we find than the double grip of the Father and the Son? There is safety in the hand of God.
2. It gives confirmation
Secondly, we see it gives confirmation. The anchor of our life is describes as both sure and steadfast. The noun form of the word steadfast is found in v. 16 translated as confirmation. The author says, “For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. This is the authentication of the promised oath. In verse 19 we see the anchor of our life is the confirmation or authentication of our eternal life. The hope we have in Christ as our great high priest is the verification of our life with God in Him. We have a safe and confirming hope in Christ that is our unmovable anchor.
3. It gives entrance to God Himself
Thirdly we see it gives us entrance to God Himself. This is a hope, the author says, “which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us.” What does the author mean that it enters within the veil? In the Old Testament the most holy place was cordoned off by a large curtain of heavy animal skins. No one was allowed to enter there without being instantly killed because the presence of God dwelt past the veil. No one, that is, except the high priest and him only once per year. No one had open and direct access to God except this man and he only briefly. And yet now the author tells us the hope we have in Christ is one that allows us to enter within the veil. We have direct access to God. No one else need intercede for us. We can come before the throne of God and we can come boldly.
Why is this? He says it is because Jesus has entered into the presence of God for us as a forerunner. He has opened the gate for us and has given us entrance. And it is on the basis of His eternal priesthood we have free and open access into the presence of God.
This is the anchor of our life. Our living hope in Jesus Christ gives us safety and the confirmation of our salvation; and it gives us entrance into the presence of God Himself.
Mark, in his Gospel account of Jesus’ crucifixion, he says this, “Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last. And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” At last the way into the most holy place was opened for all. Jesus left a great rift in the wall that had for so long separated God and man so all who would come through Him could enter God’s presence. The veil was torn from top to bottom because God opened the way. It wasn’t by man’s efforts to get to God that the veil was torn and admittance into the most holy place was allowed. God tore the veil. And today we have access into the presence of God because Jesus entered in before us. He provided the way through the offering of Himself for us.
But let me ask you a question. If God has given you this great privilege of access in His presence are you taking advantage of it and coming before Him often? You don’t even have to pound at the door because Jesus has opened the door. Go into the throne room. Speak to the King of Kings! Cry before Him with your difficulties and trials. Enter His presence with praise. Call unto Him for help. We have direct entrance to the King shall we not ply Him for aid? How many who would have direct access to an earthly king would fail to use it and yet we as Christians do not make enough of it. How many of us would say we would be too busy to visit President Bush. It is not the President but the King Himself who beckons us and yet we have too much else to do to spend but one hour with Him a day? Don’t waste such a privilege.
Let me close by noting verse 18. Here the author says, “we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.” It is probably better to understand the passage more literally this way, “we who have taken refuge to take hold of the hope set before would have strong encouragement.” In other words we who have taken refuge under the shadow of the blood of Jesus Christ and have grabbed hold of the hope set before us would have great encouragement in this one fact. God cannot lie and has even sworn an oath above His usual truthfulness to give us an even greater confidence in His promises concerning Jesus.
However, there are people who have not taken hold of the hope set before us because they have never fled for refuge under the blood of Christ. They have never repented of their sin, they have never fled for safety from them and so are still stuck in them. They have never counted their deeds as sin but justify them as something else.
As I was sharing the Gospel with three individuals this week I asked them after I had finished speaking what it takes to receive eternal life. One man responded, “You have to want to be saved.” I told him there are a lot of people who want to be saved but are unwilling to repent of their sin. They may want Jesus but they want their sin also. But you cannot have both.
Those who love their sin more than they love the sacrifice of Christ will not be saved. The apostle Paul described the salvation of the Thessalonians in this way; “They turned to God from idols.” There must be a turning away from sin as one turns to Christ. Otherwise there is no salvation.
Some people who name the name of Christ have not received Christ. They have an AA view of sin. They see their sin as a disease not a transgression. It is something to be treated for sure but not something that bring the wrath of God. It is something that can be treated by a doctor but not the Word of God and repentance.
Let me ask you today: Do you need to take refuge from your sin in the Son of God. He promises He will save you. He promises if you call out to Him He will give you eternal life. But you must come to Him in a faith that works itself out in godly sorrow over the sin that crucified our Lord Jesus. Do you need to come to Him today?
And to the believer in Christ, are you rejoicing in the security we have in Him? Can you truly see how God has given you everything you need for life and godliness because of the priesthood of Jesus Christ? Do you need to see this passage in all its glory of the God who cannot lie? Will you commit yourself to memorizing this passage this week? Or can you at least memorize vv17-20 and let the Word encourage you in our God who cannot lie? Can you trust Him patiently in looking for the promises of God? God wants you to experience strong encouragement through His truthfulness. Will you trust Him to help you overcome your sin or will you allow this message to pass through your heart without any response? Do not allow Satan to lie to you that you cannot overcome your sin. Make your decision to allow God’s firm promise of our access before the throne encourage you to seek His face this week. Don’t neglect our great privilege.