HOPE: AN ANCHOR FOR THE SOUL
Hebrews 6:13-20
Several years ago my parents and I lived on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Our neighbors had a beautiful 65’ yacht. His yacht was in process of being towed when a sudden violent storm came up. The neighbors entire family was on the boat. With the wind so fierce, the sailboat broke away from the tug boat and began heading toward the Pascagoula River bridge and a pile of huge rocks. They cast the anchor but it found no hold on the sandy river bottom. At last, just a very short distance from the rocks, and the pilings of the bridge, the anchor held and the family was safe.
Our text for today describes the believers "hope" as an "anchor for the soul, both sure and steadfast." Hope is a very precious Biblical word. Now “hope” in the Bible does not mean doubtful longing, as when one might say "I hope so." I hope it doesn’t rain; I hope to get rich, etc. which means things probably will not happen the way I hope they will happen.
New Testament hope is a confident certainty. Hope is related to the concept of assurance. Hebrews 6:11 says, “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end.” There are several descriptions of hope given in the Bible. It is called "a good hope," "the blessed hope," "a living hope," and "a better hope." In our text it is a hope that is both sure and steadfast.
As we look at these verses in Hebrews we can discover three tremendous truths about the believers hope.
I. THE BELIEVERS HOPE IS GROUNDED IN THE PROMISES OF GOD.(6:13-18a)
V. 18-speaks of two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie. The word “immutable” means “fixed, unalterable.” Examples of the use of this word from ancient writings show that “immutable” was used as a technical term in connection with wills. In other words, the will cannot be altered changed. What are those two immutable things that cannot be altered or changed?
A. GOD’S PROMISE CANNOT BE CHANGED. V.13. This speaks of God’s promise to Abraham, to bless him v.14 and to multiply, to make him great. That promise, though seemingly slow in coming, was fulfilled.
(1).There was the giving of the promise in Genesis 12:1-2. “Now the LORD had said to Abram: ‘Get our of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.“ According to Genesis 12:4, Abraham was 75 years young when he departed for the land of Canaan. That promise was renewed in Genesis 13:16. “And zI will make your descendants as the dust of the earth.” That promise was renewed again in Genesis 17:5. “No longer shall hyour name be called 3Abram, but your name shall be 4Abraham; ifor I have made you a father of 5many nations.” The promise was an immutable covenant for a land, a nation, a kingdom, and a Redeemer. We real these promises in the first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis. They are being fulfilled even in our life time. Remember, It was God who gave the promise, so they are certain to come to pass.
(2) The giving of the promise was followed by a time of waiting for the promise to be fulfilled. This, of course is the period of HOPE. The writer is not speaking of a “hope so salvation” but of a joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation. We who have been saved are now living in the period of hope, a hope that is laid up for us in heaven.
(3) Finally there came the realization of the promise. Hebrews 6:15 says, “And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” Abraham was 100 years old when he became the father of Isaac. He obtained the promise God had first made some 25 years earlier. One thing we discover in the Bible is that God’s promises are absolutely trustworthy. The day will come when our hope will be fully realized.
B. GOD’S OATH CANNOT BE CHANGED. (6:17-18a) Since God’s promise is trustworthy it was not necessary for God to make an oath. But for man his oath simply confirms and strengthens his promise. One generally makes an oath by a greater authority than himself. Who is greater than God? No one. Since no one is greater He swore by himself, confirming His promise. God’s swearing an oath was a condescension to human frailty, thus making His Word, which in it self is absolutely trustworthy, doubly dependable. The believers hope then is grounded in the absolute dependability of the promises of God as found in His Word.
II. THE BELIEVERS HOPE IS A COMFORT FOR THE SOUL.(6:18b)
“Be ready to give reason for the hope within you.” A doctor said “hope is the greatest medicine in the world. It can cure almost anything.” The Bible doesn’t teach us that life is fair but that there are valid reasons to hope.
What kind of hope do we have? Romans 8:24 speaks of a saving hope that brings salvation. In 1 Peter 1:3, it is called a living hope. In Titus 1:2, it is a secure hope. In 1 Thessalonians 1:3, it is a patient hope. In Colossians 1:27, it is a glorious hope. In Romans 15:13, it is a hope that abounds. In Titus 2:13, it is the blessed hope. Romans 12:12 speaks of a joyful hope. In 1 John 3:3, we find that it is a purifying hope.
V. 18b is a picture of the cities of refugee in Numbers 35 where people could flee from calamity or some fearful judgment. The law was basically "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." A kinsman was expected to avenge the death of a relative. However, if there were an accidental killing, one could flee to one of the cities of refugee where he would be safe until he could stand trial. To go outside the city of refugee could put him in grave danger from the avenger (Numbers 35:26-27).
The sinner in his sin is in grave danger because of his sin. The wages of sin is death, separation from God. Sin places us under the death penalty. "The soul that sinneth it shall die." We have all sinned. When we flee to Jesus we find in him a refugee. We lay hold of the hope, that brings forgiveness, salvation, cleansing. Hope, what an encouragement, what a comfort we have in Jesus!
III. THE BELIEVERS HOPE IS BOTH SURE AND STEADFAST. (6:19-20)
We have hope as an anchor of the soul which is sure and steadfast. It is grounded in the promise and oath of God. It comforts the soul, it is certain. That is why the Christian can sing "Blessed Assurance
Jesus is mine." He can say, "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness." It is a hope that is laid up in heaven. It is the blessed hope that one day Jesus will come again and take us to be with him forever.
Today some may say "I hope I am saved." This speaks of uncertainty and doubt. My hope is anchored, not to the on the ocean floor but in heaven itself.
ILL. Harry Ironside tells of an interesting custom in ancient seafaring. Sometimes sandbars across the entrance to a port made it impossible for large vessels to enter the port at low tide. So a sailor or forerunner in a small boat would take the anchor across the sandbar and let it down in the harbor. Thus the ship was held steady and safe. When the tide rose it would enter the harbor.
Jesus, the forerunner has entered into the harbor, the heavenly Holy of Holies (9:12). there he makes intercession for his people still on earth. His presence there is their assurance that the promise will be kept. He has taken the anchor within the veil. His people on earth, like a cargo laden ship, must stay in the open sea for a while. They may experience the fury of the wind and the waves, but they are held steadfast and sure as they go on bearing the precious cargo of God’s redemptive world-mission. In due time God’s tide will rise and they will enter into the heavenly harbor bringing a cargo of souls with them.
CONCLUSION:. We are living in difficult days. Sometimes the storms of life can almost take us under, and smash us to pieces on the rocky shore.
In times like these you need a Savior.
In times like these you need an anchor.
Be very sure, be very, very sure,
your anchor holds and grips the solid rock.
This Rock is Jesus, yes He’s the one.
This Rock is Jesus the Only one.
Be very sure, be very, very sure,
your anchor holds and grips the solid rock
