GOD'S UNCHANGING PURPOSE

Passage: Hebrews 6:9-20

Key verse: 19

NIV

9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends,(A) we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.(B) 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope(C) for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate(D) those who through faith and patience(E) inherit what has been promised.(F)

The Certainty of God’s Promise

13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,(G) 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”[a](H) 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.(I)

16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.(J) 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging(K) nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised,(L) he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,(M) we who have fled to take hold of the hope(N) set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,(O) 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.(P) He has become a high priest(Q) forever, in the order of Melchizedek.(R)

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Footnotes
  1. Hebrews 6:14 Gen. 22:17
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For (A)God is not unjust so as to overlook (B)your work and the love that you have shown for his name in (C)serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance (D)of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but (E)imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The Certainty of God's Promise

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, (F)he swore by himself, 14 saying, (G)“Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham,[a] (H)having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes (I)an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to (J)the heirs of the promise (K)the unchangeable character of his purpose, (L)he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which (M)it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope (N)set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into (O)the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone (P)as a forerunner on our behalf, (Q)having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

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Footnotes
  1. Hebrews 6:15 Greek he
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Showing diligence to the end (9-12) Though he gave stern warnings to the church, the author of Hebrews was confident that God's people had borne fruit of salvation. We need to be encouraged to be diligent to the end, so that our hope can be fully realized. We can have the strength to show faith and patience because we rely not on ourselves but on God's promise. 2. An unshakable hope (13-2 ) When God promised to bless Abraham and give him many descendants, he swore by himself, because he had no one greater to swear by. This is to make us understand the absolute certainty of God's promises. God's good purpose cannot be changed. This is our source of hope. The assurance of God's faithfulness has spiritual power to anchor our soul and lead us into the very presence of God, now that Jesus our high priest has opened the way.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the unchangeable nature of your promise to us in Jesus. Help me anchor my soul in it and persevere.

One Word: An anchor for the soul