Hebrews 6:9-20
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure..."
(HEBREWS 6:19)
Generally, when people use the word "hope," they mean "desire or wish," as in "I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow for the game." I thought a lot about hope while imprisoned, and I can assure you my thoughts ran much deeper than "I hope we get some good food today." Just as the biblical writers had something else in mind regarding "hope," so did I. What I knew to be my hope, the anchor for my soul, is the only One I could count on: Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews 6 uses the word "hope" not expressing mere desire, but an assured expectation.
We who hope in Christ mustn't look at our salvation as something we only wish will end in eternity with Him. Rather, we should be secure in our belief, confidently living in that hope now and looking toward the day when the promise will be fully realized. Fanny Crosby expressed it in the words of her 1873 hymn: "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood."
INSIGHT
THE CHRISTIAN'S HOPE IS A CONFIDENT EXPECTATION BASED ON THE UNFAILING PROMISES OF GOD.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Exodus 21-22
Psalm 36
Mark 16
Hebrews 6:9-20
New International Version (NIV)
9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, 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. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
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, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”[a] 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.
Footnotes:
a. Hebrews 6:14 Gen. 22:17
LEARNING TO LOVE [PART 2]
with Gary Chapman
The Apostle John said, "We love God because He first loved us." God loves us unconditionally and we reciprocate His love through faith. But how do we mirror God's love in our own relationships?
No comments:
Post a Comment