Through the Bible - Jeremiah 49 - Lamentations 1, Hebrews 7
Good morning,
In the months that followed our son Jeff's accident I spent a lot of time in, you might say that I was driven to the books of Romans and Hebrews. In Romans, a lot of it had to do with coming to grips and better understanding Romans 8:28 "all things work together for good to those who love God". In the book of Hebrews it was learning more about faith and hope, the anchor of our soul.
In reading through Hebrews so far this past week I've read several sermons from John Piper. For today's verse we'll pick up where we ended yesterday with Hebrews 6:19.
Heb 6:19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. 20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. NLT
In preparing for worship this weekend I thought I'd post a few portions of this sermon for you.
Piper states, " the writer's point is that what we are hoping for is absolutely sure. He uses three descriptions of the anchor to stress this. In verse 19b he calls the anchor (the hope), "both (1) sure and (2) steadfast and (3) one which enters within the veil." The anchor is sure, certain and safe. The anchor is steadfast, firm and reliable. The anchor is lodged within the veil. This is a reference to the veil that hung across the inner sanctuary of the tabernacle and concealed the arc of the covenant where God in his glory met with the high priest once a year as he brought a blood sacrifice to atone for the sins of the people. "
"Salvation is not merely an anchored rope dangling from heaven for us to hold on to with our own strength. Better things belong to salvation, including, the holding on. That too is a work of our salvation. The anchor of our souls is bound to us as well as to heaven. "
"So holding fast is not the cause of our being Christ's house, but the proof of it. Belonging to his as his new creation, and being owned by him because of his purchase and being indwelt by him as his home—all this secures our perseverance. It is not created by perseverance. The anchor of our souls is not a rope hanging in the air waiting for our weak hands to grasp and hold. That would be no security. The anchor of our soul is as solidly bound to us as it is to heaven."
I'm reminded of the old hymn, "The Solid Rock", read it, sing it in your heart or out loud. May your hope be built on nothing less.
My Hope Is Built (The Solid Rock)
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus' Name.
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus' Name.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
So our anchor—our promised future—is sure; it is steadfast; and it is the finished and purchased work of Jesus our High Priest. - John Piper
You can read or listen to John Piper's sermon on Hebrews 6:19-20 at http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByScripture/26/976_Hope_Anchored_in_Heaven/
God's Promises Bring Hope
13 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:
14 "I will certainly bless you,
and I will multiply your descendants beyond number."
and I will multiply your descendants beyond number."
15 Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised.
16 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. 17 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. 18 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. 19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. 20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. NLT
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