Full Assurance

June 23, 2024 Background Scripture: Hebrews 6:9 - 20 Lesson Passage: Hebrews 6:9 - 20 There are many unanswered questions about the Epistle to the Hebrews. It is not critically clear who the author is or to whom it was addressed. There are not enough clues within it to support or eliminate any specific person or group. Many of the subjects addressed in it are similar to those addressed by the Apostle Paul in the epistles credited to him. Assuming most congregations at that time faced similar situations, that would place the time of the writing around the middle of the first century. The initial evangelistic work was to Jewish communities. Therefore, the Christian church began as congregations of Jews with Jewish leaders. Much of the presentation in this epistle uses the Old Testament writings as the basis. That certainly supports the thought that the letter was addressed to Jewish Christians who would have been familiar with the Old Testament writings. Furthermore, the author encouraged the recipients to continue to mature as Christians without becoming discouraged by the challenges they faced in their society. Two of the teachings of the Old Testament were used to persuade them. First was the matter of how debates were settled by the patriarchs—or at least how they reached a point of agreement. It occurred when one of them took an oath. That solemn act of basing their commitment on something greater than themselves satisfied the other party. Secondly, the writer used the example of Abraham waiting for God to fulfill His promise to him. God vowed an oath to Abraham based on Himself. God's word and His being became the assurance that He would perform that He had promised Abraham. Because of God's oath, Abraham waited patiently for twenty-five years for the fulfillment of God's promise. Abraham had no reason to doubt the promise would be fulfilled because God vowed an oath that was based on His very person. God's oath is His guarantee. Christians also have God's oath concerning our salvation in Jesus. God has placed all hope of salvation in Jesus to all who put their faith in Him. Despite the challenges a Christian might face, God's oath gives an undying hope that anchors our souls. It was important that the first century Christians understood this. Many of the Hebrew Christians in the first centi11Y faced persecution from their community as well as from the Gentile political leaders. They needed something to help them survive those challenges without them giving up. Our challenges of today are often pacified by the hope we have for a future that is free of such challenges. Where there is hope, there is a clear determination to get through, or beyond the present difficulties. Our topic today is derived from Verse 1 1 of our Lesson Passage that mentions "full assurance of hope". A person without hope can be liken to a ship on a stormy sea without a rudder or sail. The conditions of the sea will toss the ship in seemingly random directions while the storm lasts. The ship's last resort of self-control is its anchor. The anchor provided enough drag to stabilize it. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews refers to the hope in Christians as an anchor of the soul. The unfriendly environment that Christians faced in the first century' became the storms they had to endure. The writer of this epistle reminded them of the anchor God had provided to give them full assurance of the hope that was within them. They couldn't adjust their sails or steer a rudder, but they could drop their anchor, which is the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. This hope allowed them to survive those storms. Robert C, Hudson June 6, 2024