Full Assurance of Hope by Means of Faith in the Promises of God’s Word

God’s revealed Word, the Bible, is a book of promises (amongst other things) that gives the heirs of promise full assurance of hope, with Jesus Christ as our only hope (1 Tim 1:1). Christians place their trust in Him to accomplish what concerns us (Ps 57:2; 138:8).

In Hebrews 6:13–20, the pastor/author employs Abraham as an illustration of one given promises by Yahweh. After patiently waiting for God’s Word to be fulfilled regarding Isaac, Abraham witnessed the miracle birth of his son to Sarah at her ripe old age of 91 years.

The chosen people of God are adopted as children of God by predestination and by receipt of the Spirit of adoption (Rom 8:15, 23; Eph 1:4–5). The Spirit is given as a token of God’s love (2 Cor 5:5) and as a pledge to assure them that all of God’s promises to His children are “yes” and “amen” in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 1:20, 22).

Humans are ever making and ever breaking promises. A promise made is a new debt yet to be paid. God is not a man who does not keep the promises He makes to people. Both the righteous and the wicked can be sure that God will perform what He has promised to both groups (Eph 1:11). We have His eternal Word on it. In fact, we have an oath and a covenant that give us great confidence that God will do what He says He will do.

God’s purpose is eternal because God is eternal; and He does not change nor does His purpose (Heb 6:17). The glory due Him points us to God’s purpose in saving His people from their sins (Mt 1:21). He saves those He has chosen to give eternal life (Jn 10:28), exclusively by His grace (Eph 2:8–9). Grace is every work God does to save His people from beginning to end (Ps 3:8; Jon 2:9; Rev 19:1).

For a person to hear the gracious promises of God is a grace in itself. It is also the grace of God for one to believe what he or she hears regarding the Word of Christ (Rom 10:17; Phil 1:29). For many hear the same words of promise from God but who never believe them. Of course, to not believe the Words of promise means that the unbeliever never places his or her hope in the promises nor faith in the promise-Giver. There is no love to cling to the Person of Christ Jesus.

The seriousness of God, in keeping His promises, is visible at the cross of Christ. Ethnic Israel was an unfaithful covenant partner/keeper; but the true Israel (Is 49:1–6), Jesus Christ, proved 100% faithful to do everything God required of Him. As the federal head of His holy nation of people, given to Him by the Father (Jn 6:37; 17:2, 6, 24; 2 Tim 1:1; 1 Pet 2:9), Jesus perfectly performed His work in both life and death. He kept the Law of God (Rom 5:17); and He died as the substitute sacrifice on behalf of His beloved (Lev 16; 1 Pet 2:24), a required atonement to secure righteousness with God. Jesus paid the full penalty price for our sins and cancelled out debt of sin (Col 2:14). This led to the full forgiveness of our sins and the removal of the fear of death, fear of judgment, and fear of eternal punishment (Rom 8:1; 1 Cor 15:54–55; Eph 1:7).

With those barriers to God removed by our Redeemer (Eph 2:14; Col 1:14); we have peace with God, and also His promise of eternal life in His everlasting kingdom (Rom 5:1; 1 Jn 5:11–13). Jesus Christ served as our high priest in His offering Himself as the Lamb of God who takes away all our sins (Jn 1:29; Eph 5:2; Heb 7:27; 9:14, 25). He continues to serve as our great high priest (Heb 4:14), having entered the holiest place of heaven (Heb 9:24).

Serving as both king and priest at the right hand of majesty, at the right hand of the Father (Heb 1:3; 8:1), He always lives to make intercession with the Father for us (Heb 7:25). Jesus is the one Mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5); and God has accepted His atoning blood sacrifice — the death of Christ — as the fulfillment of the covenant of grace (Heb 13:20).

Jesus, as our forerunner, now occupies the place we are sojourning toward through life in this world (Heb 6:20). Since Jesus did exactly what was needed to enter the very presence of God — as a man — we have confidence in the promise that where He is we shall also be (Jn 17:24). In fact, Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us in glory (Jn 14:2–3). He has also promised to come again to take us home to glory. We look and we live expectant of His soon return in glory (Is 66:18; Mt 24:30; Mk 13:26; Lk 21:27).

Jesus Christ is the Word of God enfleshed (Jn 1:14). Our faith and our hope is in His person and work — both promised and fulfilled. We know about these matters of salvation from the written Word of God brought to us and illumined by the Spirit of God (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20–21). The Spirit of truth employs the Word of truth to assure us that God cannot lie (Heb 6:18); for God is true and Jesus Christ is truth (Jn 14:6; Rom 3:4).

The promises are only as reliable as the promise-Giver; therefore, we trust Christ (Prv 3:5–6). Our faith is in Him and in nothing nor anyone else. Christians are therefore ascribed the title “heirs of promise” which means God has reserved an eternal inheritance for us in heaven (Gal 3:29; Eph 3:6; Heb 6:17; 9:15; 1 Jn 4:4). We are given eternal life in Christ, who is seated in the heavenlies (Eph 2:6).

Having learned from the Gospel our identity in so great a salvation (Heb 2:3), we are free to rejoice always because nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:35, 39; 1 Thess 5:16). Hope abounds, being both blessed and steadfast in the One who daily renews it by the means of grace (2 Cor 4:16). In other words, the Spirit refreshes our hope in Christ every time we receive Word or sacrament.

It is amazing grace that transfers us into Christ (Col 1:13); and it is amazing grace that keeps faith, hope, and love vibrant until the full realization of the promises of God. This, of course, tells us much about the love of God for us (1 Jn 4:19). Therefore, be assured the anchor holds within the veil (Heb 6:19); so, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord with all diligence (1 Cor 15:58).

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

November 26, 2023

Hebrews 6:13–20