2007 Book of Hebrews Series – “I
Swear”
Hebrews 6:13-20
Sermon preached at Curwensville Presbyterian Church – April 22, 2007
Prayer Introduction: Congratulations, we’ve made it. We’ve made it through the really tough chapters of Hebrews. These opening chapters are filled with warnings. The last 3 sermons especially have fleshed out the warning against falling away – thus the need to keep making progress toward spiritual maturity. These opening chapters, especially those last three sections (Hebrews 5:11 – 6:12). can leave you feeling guilty and wondering, “Is there any hope? What if I’m not making as much progress as others? Is it up to me?”
There is good news for you this morning. There is hope. There is help. There is Jesus – our great High Priest. These opening chapters are meant to bring us to this point of seeing what we’re not doing – forcing us to realize that we cannot make it on our own.
In fact, the next 5 chapters (through chapter 11) are filled with encouragements of God’s grace and help through Jesus – the High Priest, through the new covenant, fulfilled by his sacrifice, so that we might have faith.
If you, or anyone you know, are feeling discouraged, alone, hopeless, overwhelmed…the sermons from now – throughout the spring and summer – are for you. The sermons will be loaded with affirmations of God’s grace, because the passages we are looking at are loaded with affirmations of God’s grace. Beginning with this morning’s passage – Hebrews 6:13-20. Before we read it, let’s go before the God of grace in prayer…We pray now for the preacher in the pulpit. He is not worthy, but by your grace he is able. And so it is through Jesus Christ that we pray – Amen!
Sermon Introduction: There was a woman, named Mrs. Smith, who arrived at a friend’s house with a marvelous 5-Carat Diamond ring. And the friend remarked how beautiful it was. And Mrs. Smith said, “Yes it is beautiful, but it comes with a curse.” The friend asked, “What’s the curse?” “Mr. Smith.” The 5-Carat diamond is grace – and there is no curse that comes with it – but too often we attach a curse to it. Either making ourselves and others feel they aren’t good enough; or saying that since we know grace, we don’t have to be good at all.
We must look at God’s provision AND our responsibility and see that acts of faith and repentance flow from God’s grace. “I believe…therefore I do.” God’s grace and forgiveness does not release you from responsibility, it releases you for responsibility.
One night Mike's parents overheard this prayer: "Now I lay me down to rest, and hope to pass tomorrow's test. If I should die before I wake, that's one less test I have to take."
We love to get out of responsibilities; but God gives us grace equips us for responsibilities. Grace doesn’t get me out of it; rather, I can do it because of God’s provision. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 – KJV). God’s goodness should cause you to pursue faithfulness.
Imagine someone being given a million dollars, but they still don’t pay their heating bill. It’s why the Deacons and Ministerium, when we help someone with a bill, pay the company directly; rather than giving the person cash – because they may not use the money for its intended use. That’s the rebellious heart.
Jesus paid sins’ debt – directly to the one we owed – not so that we can go sin more. Romans 6 begins – “What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (6:1-4). You have been forgiven. You can live a new life, so do.
Our passage from Hebrews shows us that we can live a new life, because of the certainty of God’s promise – seen through the Promise to Abraham, the Nature of Oaths, and the Anchor for the Soul. Let’s get to it – beginning with Hebrews 6:13-15 and the Promise to Abraham.
I. Promise to Abraham (vv.13-15)
READ Hebrews 6:13-15
There’s an old saying, “God is never in a hurry, but he’s always on time.” God’s promise means two things: the first is patience; and Abraham knew all about patience.
Abraham was 75 years old (Genesis 12:4) when God first called him and then said that he would have a son (Genesis 15:4). It was 25 years after this call before Abraham and Sarah finally were given this son (Genesis 17:1; 21:5) – Isaac.
25 years?! I get upset with God when he doesn’t answer my prayers within the next 25 seconds. Abraham had to wait 25 years to receive God’s promise – but he received it. God kept his word.
Why does God take so long? Because God is trying to do a great work within you, along with the great work for you.
We call them spoiled brats – kids who are given everything they want, whenever they want it. They have no appreciation for it; and so they misuse it and soon disregard it, wanting something else.
God is trying to help you. God is longing to conform you into the image of His Son. God is patiently enduring your slow spiritual growth. You think you have to be patient waiting on God? Consider how patient God is, waiting on you.
Abraham could not receive God’s promise, until God had made Abraham ready to receive the promise. You will not receive God’s promise, until He has made you ready to receive the promise. God gives you his grace, his forgiveness, his Holy Spirit – to make you ready.
And so we see that God’s promise means patience; it also means hope. Let’s look at verses 16-18 and the nature of oaths.
II. Nature of Oaths (vv.16-18)
READ Hebrews 6:16-18
Do you ever swear? I don’t mean swearwords; I’m talking about swearing an oath – making a solemn promise. In a courtroom oath the witness stands, places his hand on the Bible and says, “I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth; so help me God.”
Swearing an oath is done in God’s name. What if you’re God, whose name do you swear by? In verse 14 we read, “since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself.” We swear oaths in his name – to guarantee that what we are saying is true.
Verse 16 says that doing this puts an end to all argument. I was sitting in a restaurant in Pittsburgh while studying this verse, and in the corner I could hear two waiters getting snippy with each other – they apparently had been at it a bit. Finally she said, “I had a fresh pot of coffee right here.” And he said, “I swear I did not take it.” And she walked away. That was it. End of the argument. I looked back down at this verse and laughed.
The end of verse 18 tells us that God swore by himself in order that we could be sure of his promise – “take hold of the hope offered to us” and so “be greatly encouraged.”
God’s promise means patience, and it means hope – sure hope. We know God can fulfill his promise, but will he? Yes. We know for sure that he will. Not only did God promise it, but he also swore it on oath – the two unchangeable things mentioned in verse 18. God promised it – that should be enough, but he also swore it on oath. That’s as sure as you can get.
God is different than humans in this isn’t he? Have you ever had someone promise you something, even swear to keep their promise; but then not do it. If you’re a parent you’ve had you kid swear that they will clean up their room, get their homework done, pick up their toys when their done…I’ll believe it when I see it.
We’ve had co-workers promise to do something, but not do it. We’ve had family members swear to take care of something, but not do it. We live in a world of failed promises.
God is different. Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” No. God always keeps his promises; and if you weren’t sure enough, by the mere fact that he promised it, he guarantees it by swearing an oath.
Our hope in God is based on His integrity. We are sure of what he says, because God can be trusted. What about you, Christian? How is your integrity? Does it reflect God in you, or sin in you? Can you be trusted?
This is the point that Jesus is making in the Sermon on the Mount – that we read earlier in the service (Matthew 6:33-37). Jesus is railing against those who make elaborate promises – swearing oaths with all kinds of flowery language – but still fail to keep their promises. Jesus is calling for integrity. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Be a man of your word!
Praise be to God who never fails to keep his word. His promise is sure. God’s promise means patience and hope; but what is God’s promise? Let’s look at verse 19-20 and the Anchor for the Soul.
III. Anchor for the Soul (vv.19-20)
READ Hebrews 6:19-20
Where is your hope? There is a great deal of misplaced hope in this world. In fact, the word hope has changed meaning because it has become worldly. Worldly hope is no more than wishful thinking. I hope I get a job. I hope I get a raise. I hope my kids grow up all right. I hope I pass this test. I hope nothing bad happens today.
We have seen a huge increase in cases of depression. Over 11 million patients and some 250,000 who attempt to take their own lives. It is our misplaced hope – looking for worldly solutions – that leaves many feeling hopeless.
The Christian is reminded again and again that their hope is in Christ – the hope who is an anchor for the soul. Christ – our hope who went behind the curtain, entering the holy of holies to intercede for us as our great high priest.
Christ is our hope. He stands, right now, at the right hand of God the Father – interceding for you.
You are forgiven Do you deserve His forgiveness? Of course not, but He has chosen to forgive you because he loves you. Not only does God forgive you, but he has declared you perfect in his sight. Christ has given you the credit for his righteousness.
“Jesus, my only hope, my only plea. My righteousness, my great High Priest, who intercedes for me before the throne. Jesus, I trust in you alone.” How good it was to sing those words at the start of this morning’s worship service.
You are forgiven. You are loved. You are declared perfect. You will receive eternal life in God’s Kingdom. Because God says so!
This week we have been saddened by the shootings at Virginia Tech; but we are also saddened by the misplaced hope being lifted up by the media. “If we just had tighter gun control…If the school had better security…If there had been faster communication.” No. The only thing that could have stopped this tragedy was if the shooter had known Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord.
Where is your hope? Place it in Christ. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
MAY THE TRUTH SET YOU FREE – AMEN!