Home Group Study - Sermon Date: 07 June 2019

Text: Hebrews 6:9-20

Opening Discussion: All of us can remember times when we promised to be somewhere at a certain time or do a certain thing or call someone on a certain day. And we didn’t. Making promise we cannot keep can be frustrating and sometimes hurtful to others. What are some of your clearest memories growing up of a friend or parent or teacher who broke their promise they made with you? Share your story.

Summary:

The preacher on Friday started with the worldly idiom “promises are made to be broken”. While this may be a quirky phrase used to make excuses for lack of integrity or too much ambition, we know this is not true when it comes to our covenant keeping God – Yahweh. The author of Hebrews in this text shows us how God’s covenant promises undergird and strengthen our hope, which then becomes the basis for perseverance and endurance in the midst of adversity. He shows us that as we persevere, God provides further confidence in His promises, which enhances our hope. All of this is God’s way of showing us that His promises are the basis for our hope and perseverance. 

This text is important because it puts the whole issue of perseverance into its proper perspective. Overall, the purpose of the author is to emphasize the Christians’ assurance and confidence in their confession of faith in Christ. Hebrews 5:11—6:20, and much of this section emphasizes the believers’ responsibility to “be diligent to enter rest” (5:11), to “hold fast their confession” (5:14), and to “draw near to Jesus . . . to receive mercy and grace in their time of need” (5:16). From Hebrews 6:4-8 the author of Hebrews gives a strong warning regarding falling away.

One might wrongly conclude that the author is telling the reader that the believer’s endurance is totally their own doing. This would be turning from grace to works, the very thing the author strongly opposes. The concluding verses of this section – our text – give us the proper perspective: our security, confidence, assurance and our endurance are rooted (anchored) in the promises of God and His faithfulness to fulfill them, not in our performance. It is not all about us; it is all about Jesus. He has accomplished the cleansing of our sins, once for all. He is the Great High Priest to whom we must draw near for help in time of need. The author of Hebrews is not seeking to get us to work harder, but to draw near to the Savior and cling to Him, looking to Him for help in our weakness.

Investigation & Interpretation:

• Read: Hebrews 6:9-20

1. Verse 9, says ‘we feel sure of better things’. Better things than what?
2. What kinds of things accompany salvation? v.9
3. What promise did God make to Abraham? v.13-18
4. What are your thoughts on the phrase in verse 18 “it is impossible for God to lie?”
5. What words which convey security are mentioned in verse 19? How does this concept balance with the admonition to be diligent back in verse 11?

Application - How must I change?

• Is there a Truth to be believed?

How do you feel about the fact that God’s purposes are unchangeable? What effect does this truth have on you? Are there any applications we can make based on this?

• Is there an Attitude to be fostered?

Verse 11 is yet another of the many warnings in the book of Hebrews to keep following God faithfully. These warnings take a number of forms including not drifting away, not falling away, holding firm, etc. Here it says to “show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end.” What does this mean and what are some practical implications?

•  Is there a Behavior to be changed?

Abraham saw the most difficult part of God’s promise come true. How about you? Do you believe in God’s promises to you? Are there times when you doubt? If so, what should you do? How can we learn to be patient? Is there something you have to learn to be patient about now? Perhaps marriage, job, career, children?

Conclusion

Christ our living hope is sure and steadfast – We don’t need to doubt. When we are weak and are tempted to doubt Gods’ promises and His faithfulness to fulfill them, we must go back to the scriptures to see the many times God has been faithful to keep His promises. If He kept His promises the last 1000 times, He will do it again. If God says it, we can believe it. He is the source of truth. He never makes mistakes. His omniscience guarantees He won’t be surprised by some unforeseen circumstances. His omnipotence guarantees that He has the power to carry out all His plans. His omnipresence guarantees He is always there to carry out His purposes.

Jesus Himself, upon whom we set our hope, has risen from the dead and sits at the right hand of God. Jesus is our forerunner. Jesus rose from the dead, showing that God does have the power over death. He received His glorified body already. If Jesus rose from the dead, we will too.

Prayer Points:  

1. Pray that our hope and perseverance will be based in the covenant promises of our Lord.
2. Pray that we would never turn from grace to works by trusting in our own endurance.
3. Pray that we will draw near to our Great High Priest in time of need.