Heb. 6:11-20, Our Anchor for the Soul

The Hebrew believers needed to show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises (6:11-12).  The first of these faithful people is Abraham; and the “end” is when God fulfills the promise He made to Abraham, the promise to make him into a great nation and to bless all the families of the earth (Gen. 12:1-3).

This promise comes up in Hebrews 6:13-14 in a quote from Gen. 22:15-18.  Abraham had taken Isaac to offer him to the Lord on Mt. Moriah.  Abraham demonstrated his faith to God, willingly offering his son through whom all the descendants were supposed to come.  He knew that if God told him to sacrifice his son, God would raise Isaac from the dead (Heb. 11:17-19).  He trusted God! 

Why was this promise raised at this point in Hebrews?  It is because God was about to pour out His judgment upon Israel.  The nation was about to be destroyed.  The people would be dispersed from the land.  Jerusalem would be destroyed.  And the temple that was to be God’s resting place would be no more. 

Now consider these Hebrew believers.  They were being sorely persecuted as Christians.  Their beloved nation was about to be destroyed.  Do you not think this might have created a sense of hopelessness in their hearts?  Yet, they were being encouraged to be faithful to Christ, with the promise that God would not forget their faithfulness (6:10).  Where was the hope that would give them strength to forge ahead?

God gives them two great assurances of “hope.” 

·       6:16-18: The first has to do with Abraham and God’s covenant with him.  God didn’t need to confirm His word in any way.  Yet, that is what He did for Abraham.  Note the quote: “Surely” I will bless you.  This “oath” is added to the fact that God, who is “immutable” (unchangeable), cannot lie.  God did this as an encouragement.  70AD was not the end.  God would keep His word to Abraham.

·       6:19-20: Here is an even greater assurance.  The coming judgment on Israel was because she rejected her Messiah.  Yet, this rejection resulted in the cross where Christ died for the sins of the world.  Through their rejection there is a Savior who “enters the Presence behind the veil.”  Again, this will be explained in the coming chapters.  What is important is that Jesus is our “forerunner” (6:20).  He was not the “forerunner” like John the Baptist who “ran before” Christ to announce His coming. Jesus is the “forerunner” who has run the race “before us” and finished the race successfully.  Christians are running the same race of life, and must finish that race successfully.  In Heb. 12:1-2, we will be challenged to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who finished the race successfully.  This is the hope we have, hope that is the anchor of our soul.

This is strong assurance for those who need to “stand fast.”  They can trust God’s word, and set their eyes on the One who has already finished the race.