Better Promises : WK 3 - WED
(Hebrews 6:13-20)
For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:
“I will certainly bless you,
and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.”
Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.
Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Do you remember when you were a kid and you wanted to make a promise? The reason you made that promise is you wanted to make sure that the person to whom you were making the promise believed you. If you were making the promise to a good friend, the promise was enough. But if you were making the promise to someone who didn't know you very well you had to ramp it up. You would say something like, “I promise on my..” and you would fill in the blank with something or someone that was valuable. How many times did I promise something “on my mother’s life?” The silly things children say.
When you make a promise on something or someone, you've elevated that promise to the level of an oath. An oath is a promise you make that is guaranteed by something or someone greater. On August 17th 1997, I made an oath to my wife that we would live together forever. The reason it's an oath is that I made it in front of many witnesses including God. An oath is like a promise on steroids.
The author of Hebrews is telling us that God not only made a promise but he made an oath as well. And God being the biggest strongest most powerful being in all of the universe made that oath on himself. God is basically saying I promise on my own name that you are my child.
You are the fulfillment of the promise God made to Abraham and Jesus is now standing before God as our high priest interceding for us because of that oath, because of that promise. That reality should give us confidence to approach God in every situation. We can claim that promise today and live as children of God.
For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying:
“I will certainly bless you,
and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.”
Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.
Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Do you remember when you were a kid and you wanted to make a promise? The reason you made that promise is you wanted to make sure that the person to whom you were making the promise believed you. If you were making the promise to a good friend, the promise was enough. But if you were making the promise to someone who didn't know you very well you had to ramp it up. You would say something like, “I promise on my..” and you would fill in the blank with something or someone that was valuable. How many times did I promise something “on my mother’s life?” The silly things children say.
When you make a promise on something or someone, you've elevated that promise to the level of an oath. An oath is a promise you make that is guaranteed by something or someone greater. On August 17th 1997, I made an oath to my wife that we would live together forever. The reason it's an oath is that I made it in front of many witnesses including God. An oath is like a promise on steroids.
The author of Hebrews is telling us that God not only made a promise but he made an oath as well. And God being the biggest strongest most powerful being in all of the universe made that oath on himself. God is basically saying I promise on my own name that you are my child.
You are the fulfillment of the promise God made to Abraham and Jesus is now standing before God as our high priest interceding for us because of that oath, because of that promise. That reality should give us confidence to approach God in every situation. We can claim that promise today and live as children of God.
- How do you understand the difference between a promise and an oath?
- Has anyone ever broken a promise to you? Have you ever broken a promise to someone? How did that feel?
- What is a promise of God that is meaningful to you?
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