Paul's Epistles – Hebrews – Part 10:
The Certainty of God’s Promise
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org
| www.TruthDigest.org | Online Audio Files
SERMON INTRODUCTION
The “official” writer of this epistle is unknown.
However, I obviously believe it is Paul since I have included it in the “Paul’s
Epistles” Sermon Series.
I believe there is enough evidence from early scholars
to agree this was more than likely Paul’s work.
Last week we examined Jesus the Great High Priest.
This week, Paul will show Jesus is also the Perfect
High Priest.
We have already seen in Hebrews so far;
·
Jesus is greater than angels
·
And that we are to pay the most careful attention to
Jesus and His way so we do not stray
·
And how Jesus (New Covenant) is greater than Moses
(Old Covenant)
·
Paul’s warning about unbelief
·
A Sabbath Rest for the People of God
·
Jesus the Great High Priest
·
Jesus the Perfect High Priest
·
Therefore, It is Time to Grow Up
TODAY’S SERMON
“The Certainty of God’s Promise”
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Hebrews 6:13-20
When God made his promise to
Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by
himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give
you many descendants.” 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham
received what was promised.
16 People swear by someone greater than
themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the
unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was
promised, 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, we who have
fled to take hold of the hope 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, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus,
has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in
the order of Melchizedek.
The overall message of this
epistle to the church is;
“The Cure for Lacking Boldness or Courage in your Christian Faith and
Backsliding is a Right beginning for the Glory and Work of Christ”
I. GOD’S PROMISE
a. God swore a promise to
Abraham
i. since
there is none greater to swear by, God swore by Himself
ii. one of the most well known examples of someone receiving the promises
of God through inheritance (John 8:58)
b. “I will surely bless you
and give you many descendants.”
i. This
refers to justification by faith shown in Genesis
22:17
ii. God promised that because of Abrahams faith, God would bless him
through his seed
iii. Abrahams seed would become a nation, and through that nation will come
the promise (Jesus) through whom every believer becomes a “child of promise” (Galatians 4:28)
c. and so, after “waiting
patiently”, Abraham received what was promised
i. There
is always time between PROMISE and POSSESSION
1. this is where faith GROWS!
ii. Immediate meaning was Abraham received Isaac
1. The eternal meaning though is justification by faith
iii. This justification by faith would come by Isaac’s seed, which was
Christ (Galatians 3:16)
II.
A PROMISE BY GOD ENDS ALL DEBATE
a. People swear by someone
greater than themselves
i. an
oath confirms what is said and puts an end to argument
ii. This is why we;
1. Swear to God
2. Swear on the Holy Bible (in courts)
3. Swear by “all that is Holy”, etc...
iii. We also swear “oaths” to put an end to questions about our commitment
1. Boy scouts Oath
a. On my
honor, I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.
2. Pledge of allegiance
a. "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of
America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
3. Police officers swear an oath, military
branches swear oaths, etc...
iv. This promise and swearing of an oath is an oral contract
1. By the way, oral contracts are still legal
contract in the United States
b. Because God wanted to make
the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the
heirs of what was promised
i. God
confirmed it with an oath
c. God did this so that by two
unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie;
i. One
- The promise to Abraham of a coming redeemer (Christ)
ii. Two - and the oath given that Christ is a Priest forever after the
Order of Melchizedek
iii. It is impossible for God to lie, therefore, Abraham WILL receive Isaac,
Isaac WILL give birth to a nation, from that nation Christ WILL be born, and
Christ IS and ALWAYS WILL BE the High Priest forever in the Order of
Melchizedek
III.
JESUS ENTERS THE INNER SANCTUARY ON OUR BEHALF
a. we have this hope as an anchor
for our soul, firm and secure
i. Paul
making reference to a ship in a safe harbor
ii. Our souls need not wander, but coming to Christ we have safe harbor,
refuge, protection, firm and secure
b. It (hope) enters the inner
sanctuary behind the curtain (where God resides)
i. Jesus
enters the Holy of Holies to be face to face with God on our behalf!
c. This hope is Jesus who
enters on our behalf
i. This
is a picture of the Great Day of Atonement
ii. When the High Priest was to enter the Holy of Holies on behalf of the
people
iii. Which represents what Christ is going to do for those who belong to Him
on Judgment Day
1. When Jesus will stand before God on our behalf!
CONCLUSION
– he (jesus) has become a high priest
forever
in the order of Melchizedek
This presents Christ, not in the line of Aaron from which all earthly
priests come, but another Order all together.
The old Levitical Order had an ending, This Order has no ending, Christ
is an Eternal High Priest!
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