Through the Book of Hebrews—Exploration and Discussion 6:13-20

v. 13 The writer is continuing to encourage and appeal to genuine Christians to persevere in our living faith. He assures us by reminding of the “absolute validity of the divine promise” (F.F. Bruce (1979). Let’s explore a few questions:

What promise did God make to Abraham?

Gen 12:1-3 God said he would make Abram into a great __________, make his _____________ great, …and all peoples on earth will be _______________ through Abram.

Gen 15:4-6; 17:1-9

Is obedience/perseverance required in order to obtain the fulfillment of the promise? Then? Now? Gen 17:1,9. Josh 23:14-16. It appears that God initiates the covenant and we are to live our lives in obedience BY faith.

Greg Johnson in his writings titled: Salvation in the Old Testament said,

What's so striking about all of this is that God did it all—it's salvation by grace alone. Certainly Abram responded to this call—which was a major endeavor, leaving his people and traveling through the desert to a far-off land. But God made the choice. God gave the call. God made all the promises. Salvation was from the Lord.

When Abram believed, God saw his faith and credited righteousness to his account, even though Abraham continued to be a sinner (...doubting God's promise of a son, committing adultery with his servant, lying about his wife—almost causing her to end up in an adulterous relationship with a foreign king, etc). Though faith was required and outward signs were taken very seriously—remember how God came after Moses to kill him when Moses failed to circumcise his sons— still, salvation was by grace through faith, according to God's calling.

In regards to the Mosaic Law he said,

But even this law was given in the context of an already-established covenantal relationship. God begins, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt..." (Ex 20:2)—and THEN makes his demands. God didn't claim to belong to any other people on earth, but he had given himself to the family of Abraham, to be their God. The whole Mosaic code needs to be understood in this relational context of covenant grace. Though there were blessings for obedience and cursings for disobedience (what we call fatherly discipline), the commandments were not a means of earning salvation. It's interesting to compare Hebrews 12 and its discussion of God's loving discipline, which follows his discussion of Old Testament saints who lived by faith (chapter 11). (Online Ref; Johnson)

Why did God swear by Himself? “… since there was no one_____________for him to swear by, he swore by himself…”

In the Talmud (Rabbinic writings)
“Thou has sworn to them by Thy great name: just as Thy great name endures for ever and ever, so Thy oath is established for ever and ever…” (Morris 1981)

v. 14 Gen 22: 15-18

v. 15 Abraham was confident of God’s promise and waited patiently. He was content to await God’s time for the fulfillment of the promise. Morris (1981) quoting Wescott said, “…the oath in itself implies delay in fulfilling the promise.” It was 25 years after the promise was first given (Gen 12) that Isaac was born. Abraham’s grandchildren were not born for another sixty years (Gen 25) only 15 years before his death. Obviously, the complete fulfillment of the promise could not take place within his lifetime. But enough happened for the writer to say, “Abraham received what was promised.”

Do we have the faith of Abraham today? How are we supposed to wait patiently today? Do we believe that God does not go back on his promises? Is God completely reliable? Do we trust God completely with everything? How do we demonstrate this trust? How do we become mature in faith and allow God to work in his own way and time?

Romans 4:16-25

v. 16 The use of an oath put an end to all arguments. For a person to swear on oath was considered a legal guarantee. Morris (1981) refers to, “Egyptian legal formula, persistent through hundreds of years…”

v. 17 God did not have to swear an oath. However, he did it to make absolutely clear to his servant that his promise would be fulfilled. With this oath: God is the giver of the promise and then its guarantor. God’s will does not change. He has his purpose and he works it out.

What did God want to make very clear? Who did he want to make this very clear to? Does “heirs” mean you and me too? (Gal 3:7) Are we along with the readers of the letter supposed to consider ourselves among those to whom the oath referred?

v. 18 This oath gives us two unchangeable things: the promise and the oath. It is impossible for God to __________. Genuine believers who have taken hold of the__________ offered to us may be greatly__________________.

v. 19 Hope is the stabilizing force for genuine believers. Hope forms an anchor for our whole life. It allows us to enter into the very presence of God!

v. 20 Imagery of the Day of Atonement when the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place on behalf of the people as representative. Jesus Christ penetrated the veil separating the holy from the most holy place. Jesus was our forerunner—a word that implies that others are to follow.

We too are to be brought into that same sacred area through Christ. The high priest was never a forerunner. Our new high priest according to Melchizedek guarantees to every true believer the privilege of confident access into this most holy place—the very presence of the living God!

How do we enter the most holy place today? Are you confident that when you pray you are in the presence of God? Do you understand why we can approach the throne of grace with confidence? (Heb 4:16).

REFERENCES:
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary (1981) Frank Gaebelein (ed) The International Bible Commentary (1979) F. F. Bruce (ed)
New International Version Study Bible (1985) http://gregscouch.homestead.com/files/otsalvation.htm