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The Epistle to the Hebrews
Chapter 6
Christian Promise & Biblical Promise in the Bible Vow
The Promise of God Explained
Greetings once again! It's another great day to share some more Daily
Bread. Last time, we talked about Jesus as High Priest and we talked
a little bit about understanding and habits.
Today, Paul switches topics. In so many words, he tells the Hebrews:
Instead of repeating the same lessons of Christianity, let's move on
to perfection ... How to become mature, strong Christians, unwavering
in our faith because it is impossible for those who once understood
the Good News, experienced Heaven's gift, the Holy Spirit, the Word
of God and the mystery of eternal life, to repent again once they
have abandoned the faith. It is like crucifying Jesus again and
mocking Him openly.
Christian Promise / Biblical Promise in the Bible
The Promise of God to You
This is a very sensitive thing that Paul is talking about. There are
so many people who believe that they've ruined the hope of their
salvation because sin in their life continues, even after they've
been saved or reborn. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sin is
sin because you know you're doing something wrong. If you didn't, it
wouldn't be sin. When you sin, subconsciously you're saying, I know
this is wrong, and I'm gonna do it anyway. Yes, it's ugly and
shameful and very very hard to admit it, but it's the Truth. Somehow,
we don't want our sins to be "bad" sins, but we can live within our
own skin more comfortably if we think that we only commit "good" sins.
Friend, there's no such thing. Sin is sin. It's all bad. If you look
at sin in general, you could probably say that the majority of sins
are repeat offenses. Unfortunately, when you're saved, or reborn, sin
doesn't magically disappear from life. You don't become perfect. But
your attitude, and your determination to avoid and reject temptation
is what changes. You still have the sin "gene" from our earthy
ancestors Adam and Eve, but when you're saved, you decide to manage
your inheritance differently. Falling away, or going astray, as Paul
is speaking of it here, would have to be blasphemy of the Holy
Spirit, or in other words, permanently rejecting or renouncing the
Holy
Spirit. That is the only unforgivable sin. Everyone sins, and
I'll tell you one of my favorite things again, Your sin can't
possibly outdo God's Grace.
Don't ever forget that. (You can read more about the "falling
away"
that will happen near the End Times in 2
Thessalonians, Chapter 2.)
Christian Promise - Biblical Promise in the Bible
The Promise of God Today
Next Paul gives the Hebrews a little analogy to ponder on:
Hebrews 6:7-10
7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft
upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is
dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected,
and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and
things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and
labour of love, which ye have shewed toward His name, in that ye have
ministered to the saints, and do minister.
A moment ago, I reminded you that when you're saved, you don't become
perfect, but you change inside. Now, at the beginning of this
chapter, Paul said to the Hebrews, Let's talk about perfection. Even
Paul knew that nobody's perfect. Many times in the Bible, the word
perfect means complete, or mature. It's something that a Christian
strives for. It's a day to day goal to be like Jesus.
A major part of our maturity, or completeness, or quest for
perfection, is our hope of everlasting life with our Lord, through
the grace of God and the death of Christ. Paul describes below how
God knew that it would be tough on us in this ungodly world to
steadily pursue this hope, so He made us a Promise.
Christian Promise & Biblical Promise in the Bible
The Promise of God is Eternal
Paul expresses to the Hebrews that they hope that they keep their
enthusiasm and eagerness forever and that they never get lazy, but
like those who with strong faith and patience, inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:13-16
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could
swear by no greater [than Himself], He sware by Himself,
14 Saying,
Genesis 22:17
... That in blessing I will
bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars
of the heaven ...
Paul continues explaining that after Abraham had patiently waited
with hope and faith, he obtained the promise.
Christian Promise - Biblical Promise in the Bible
The Promise of God is a Blessing
Think of the truth of this. When someone assures you of something, if
they give you their "word," you're more likely to believe they'll
keep their promise. In Matthew
5:33-36, Jesus says not to swear (make promises) at all, but let
your word be only yes or no. Why is that? Because it's better not to
promise at all, than to break a promise, and if you "swear to God"
you are promising to God, which is truly a promise you never want to
break. Man's promises have been broken since the beginning of time,
but God's Word is never broken.
Hebrews 6:17-20
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the
heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an
oath:
18 That by two immutable things, in which it was
impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who
have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure
and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus,
made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
What is Paul saying here in plain English? The Living Bible says, He
has given us both His promise and His oath, two things we can
completely count on, for it is impossible for God to tell a lie. Now
all those who flee to Him to save them can take new courage when they
hear such assurances from God; now they can know without doubt that
He will give them the salvation He has promised them.
Christian Promise / Biblical Promise in the Bible
The Promise of God Summary
Let's talk about the "veil" for a moment. In the Old Testament,
inside the tabernacle, and behind the veil, was the most holy place
where the ark of the covenant was, upon which was the Lord's
presence. The most holy place, was God's private room, with the veil,
sort of like a door between God and the children of Israel. The
Hebrews, being passionately dedicated to all the ordinances of the
tabernacle, and sticklers for following rules, knew that nobody but
Moses and the high priest were allowed inside the veil, and then,
only when God said so. So Paul uses this to show how Jesus removes
the veil, or opens the door so that we can be with God. Also, in
Exodus
34:34, when the glory of the Lord was shown to Moses, his face
became so brilliant that the children of Israel could not look at
him, so he wore a veil. The veil is a symbol of man's separation from
God, but when a person turns to the Lord, their blindness is taken
away, the veil is done away with, and you can clearly see that Christ
is the New Way. You can read more about the veil in 2
Corinthians, Chapter 3. The title of that Daily Bread study is
Reflections.
To sum up our study today, you could say that our eagerness and our
hope to obtain God's promise to us is what makes us mature, complete,
perfect. Remember, this kind of perfection doesn't mean flawless, as
Jesus was, it means that we're striving to be like Him. Next time,
Paul tells us the story of Melchisedek and how Jesus is a priest
after the order of Melchisedek. Don't miss it, right here at Daily
Bread.
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