Hebrews 6:9-20 #20
The Certainty Of God’s Promise

Now lets look back once again and see where we are in Hebrews.

We need to keep in mind the context, the overall message of this book. We know it was written to Hebrews, Jews somewhere outside of Jerusalem, And though the human author isn't listed, we do know that the Holy Spirit is the author of all scripture, so is the true author of this book.

There are three groups of people in view here. 1. True believers, people drawn by the Holy spirit, convicted of their sinfulness, who have surrendered to Jesus as their Lord. The author offers comfort to them.

2. There are those who know about Jesus, heave been enlightened about the gospel, but haven't come to faith in Christ. There are warnings to them.

3. There are those who do not believe anything in regard to Jesus Christ.

We saw in chapter one that Jesus is superior as God’s final revelation. Everything you ever wanted to know about God id revealed in Jesus Christ. Christ is greater than any one and any thing. He is creator, sustainer, administrator, and sin bearer. We saw Christ as greater than angels and recently as greater than Moses the lawgiver.

Now we are in a discussion of Christ as our high priest. The author had begun to compare Christ to Melchisedek but had to stop because many of them knew so little, were still spiritual babies when they should have been mature.

He then exhorts in chapter 5:11-6:8, exhorts or urges then to grow up. Then he points out that some of them can’t grow up because they have never been born. He then says that some will never come to salvation because they have, after being enlightened fully concerning Christ they have deliberately and fully rejected him and become apostates. Hearts hard to God and his call.

Now the writer continues and addresses the true believers in the audience. He offers comfort in verses 9-20.

Lets look at The certainty of God’s promise.

In verses 9-12 we see The Exhortation to continue.

13-15 The Example of Abraham

16-20 The Encouragement of God’s Oath.

Look first at 9-12 and see the Exhortation to Continue.

BUT Beloved, verse 9 begins, “BUT we are persuaded of better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, even thought we speak as we just did.”

BUT…a contrast. In verses 4-8 he had warned unbelievers, recognized as such because they had no fruit, had not matured because they weren’t born into God’s family. But here he speaks to people who Had fruit “Things that accompany salvation.” He is encouraged in them because the fruits of righteousness are visible in them. Those fruits, the natural out showings of salvation bore witness that they were true heirs of salvation. His desire to reassure them and his concern that they don’t get discouraged may be what brought on his affectionate language here. This is the only place in the book they are called “Beloved.”

Now in verse 10 “We are persuaded that you are saved because your works indicate your faith and God will not forget that you have served his saints. Showing here that care for Christians is an indication of salvation. In fact the fruits of righteousness are referred to as just that. Later on in chapter 10:32-34 we’ll see more details of that service.

In 1st John we learn that deeds of kindness done to his people are reckoned by God as done to himself. And these acts of kindness will receive a reward from God.

In verses 112-12 we see the key to this section; continue, be steadfast in your good works. Don’t stop doing loving things, don’t stop showing love to the family of God.

This we desire (epithumia lust,) This is a strong desire in a good sense.

We STRONGLY desire that you don’t become sluggish. Follow the example of those who have gone before (Ch.11) Show the same diligence as verse 10 and continue to do so until the end. Progress toward full assurance your OWN assurance of hope. The more you obey God, serve God the more joy you have, the more confidence you have, so continue until the end. Discouragement and quitting are forbidden…no High or Low but be diligent, hang in there. Verse 12 says to follow the example of OT saints as we will see in Chapter 11. Do not be slothful in serving God, but follow the example of those who have received their promises that God made to them and to all saints.

And to Illustrate the Exhortation to continue he now shows us in vv 13-15 THE EXAMPLE OF ABRAHAM.

As he has exhorted them to be patient and endure, he now gives them an Old Testament example of someone who patiently endured and obtained the promise God had made.

FOR- introduces the example of Abraham who Is the father of all who have faith in God. Even before Christ came, John the Baptist pointed out that something more than physical descent from Abraham was needed to be accepted by God.

So Abraham is a significant figure, not only because of his faith in God’s promise, but also for the part that he plays in the story of Melchisedek. The promise in view here is the one made by God to Abraham after He offered up Isaac In Genesis 22:16, and it is a sure promise. In Hebrew I am told it is an absolute infinitive, showing certainty, “certainly I will surely bless you.” And Abraham saw the promise. Now he didn't see thousands of descendants, but face it, he saw the HARDEST PART- Isaac.

Sometime we may waver or falter in our perseverance. Sometimes we may wonder at God’s promises. IS God’s promise to us valid?

And Abraham is used as an example to us to keep on in good works because God’s promise is true.

Paul said to the Galatians ( Gal 6:9 -10 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. )

In fact in verses 16-20 God brings that very fact to light as we see The Encouragement of God’s Oath. Verse 16 has Two general principles:

1. You take an oath by the greater thing so God could only swear by Himself.

2. An oath is binding so God will carry it out.

The point is this: In Psalm 110:4 God used the strongest possible language to impress us with the certainty of forgiveness through the priesthood of Christ and not through the law.

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Verse 17 By swearing an oath to show that God’s desire is for us to be assured that Christ’s priesthood will save us without the law.

WHO are the heirs of the promise?

The promise of Psalm 110:4 is forgiveness and WE have inherited it. With the certainty of forgiveness through the priesthood of Christ and not through the law.

IT Is by God and his counsel and His will cannot change and it was confirmed or guaranteed by an oath. And verse 18 says by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie:

1. God’s word; “You are a priest forever/”

2. An Oath, “God has sworn and won’t recant.”

And because of this we have a strong consolation, we who have fled for refuge. That is we who have come for salvation, have received this priestly aspect of Christ, have had our sins forgiven and can be comforted knowing that God’s forgiveness is certain and we have hope, not wistful thinking, but confident expectation. And this hope is an anchor hard and firmly planted. Christ has given us this hope by going to God for us because he is our high priest. We come in on Jesus merit and we can come boldly to God’s throne because (v.20) our forerunner, Jesus Christ has entered there for us. And Jesus is our high priest made after the order of Melchisedek. And with that he brings us back to the main point of 5:10, Melchisedek.

(1) In chapter 4&5 he has shown us teaching or doctrinal points and picks on the word “HI PRIEST” of Psalm 110.

(2) In chapter 6 he is he is expositional picks on the word “Oath” of Psalm 110.

(3) Chapter 7 he will pick up on explanation of the phrase “according to Melchisedek.”

(4) In Chapter 7 part 2 he will pick on the word “forever” showing that the sacrifices of Christ do not have to be repeated.

And that is why we know our salvation, freely given, is secure, eternal, bought by God’s Son who CAN NOT LIE and we can be confident and continue. Continue in good works especially in loving action toward our brothers and sisters.

Maturity, real Christian maturity is founded in Christian love and that is what this passage exhorts them and us by principle, to continue in.

Don’t be smug because you have done something loving, just continue showing your love. And what is Christian love?

1 Corinthians 13 lists that for us, and aside from the fact that we always point to love as being patient (it waits ) gentle, kind etc. We need something else. Love “vaunteth not itself” doesn't put itself and it’s ideas first, is not puffed up.

Beware lest in your move toward holiness you think you have arrived. Love, real love isn’t smug or self satisfied. It is confident only in Jesus, and this passage points out:

1. Comfort to those who are encouragers, who are continuing in the faith and shows :

2. That we who continue in the faith can be confident that our sins are forgiven because God’s promise is sure.

Do your works back up your profession? Are you living according to God’s word in this old world? To be “friends with the world is to be an enemy of God” Is that you? As this writer wrote to this church he said : “I have seen your fruit. Your good works which prove to me that you belong to Christ. Continue in confidence for God will not forget you.

Is that you? Can it be said of you by people around you that “so and so” really is sold out to God, noting stands in the way, all his or her life is lived to bring honor to God, all is surrendered to Jesus Christ as Lord. He or she is a fruitful Christian.