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Sunday Worship 23 April 2023 : “An anchor to the soul”

Text: Hebrews 6:1-20
23 April 2023

INTRODUCTION

1. Literal Storms

a) Man laboured hard to travel the high seas
b) But Storms can be powerful and deadly
c) Many ships have been broken by storms

2. Storms as a Figure of speech

a) The trials of life may be called “storms”
b) Squalls have been known to destroy many lives

THE CHALLENGE TO GROW IN OUR FAITH

1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

3 And this we will do if God permits.

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,

5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,

6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;

8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

Hebrews 6:1-8

1. The Basic Doctrines of Christianity

a) Repentance
b) Faith toward God
c) Baptisms
d) Laying on of hands
e) Resurrection of the dead
f) Eternal Judgment

2. Moving on to Maturity (“Perfection”)

a) To grow
b) To be fruitful
c) To beware the danger of being barren!

STRONG WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.

10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labour of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,

12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Hebrews 6:9-12

1. Things that accompany salvation

a) Labour of love

b) Ministering to the saints

c) These reflect true salvation

2. A needed word of admonition

a) To be diligent

b) To have full assurance of hope until the end

c) Do not become sluggish

d) Imitate those who have significant faith and patience (perseverance)

AN ANCHOR TO THE SOUL

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,

14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”

15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them
an end of all dispute.

17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath,

18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,

20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 6:13-20

1. The Promises of God to the heirs of salvation

a) They are everlasting

b) They continue to be relevant

2. The immutable Promises of God

a) The nature of His counsel is “Immutable”

b) The oath of God is “Immutable”

3. The Anchor of our Soul

a) Our Hope in God

b) It is sure and steadfast

CONCLUSION

1. To grow in our Faith

a) Knowledge

b) Understanding

2. To have Hope as the anchor of our soul

a) Trust in God

b) Trust in the Word of Promise

3. Holding Fast in the storms of life

a) The Lord will keep us safe in our journey to heaven

b) This Anchor of Hope will not fail us