Hope as Our Anchor

by Pastor Chew Weng Chee

1 Corinthians as well as Hebrews 6
Hebrews 6:13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised. 16 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

The Christian Hope is based on a constant, eternal, everlasting God. Based on the cross of Jesus Christ. A certainty that it is impossible for God to lie and that God will fulfill His promises.

God’s guarantee :
There are 2 unchangeable things.
1. God swore with His oath.
2. God sent His Son.
To seal the promise of your salvation, God swore with His words and sent his Son to do His works.

How swearing and oath works. If someone swears by something less (such as your dog), they are not bound by that oath. But if you swear by someone greater, you are bound by that oath.
In Genesis 15:10-20. God swore to Abraham, and since there is nothing greater than God, God swear only by Himself.

Galatians 3:6 Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 7 Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.