The Promise
The author of Hebrews closes chapter 6 with a focus on the importance of divine promise. The integrity of a promise is verified by the character of the source claiming that promise. God is purely God—he is the highest of all high and the most perfect of perfection (Gen. 17:1; Lev. 19:2; Phil. 3:15; Col. 4:12; Jam. 1:4; 1Pet. 1:15), therefore he is holy and his character cannot change (immutable). God told Abraham he would bless him—it came by way of a promise God made to him (Gen. 21:5; 22:16–17; Luke 1:73),
Hebrews 6:14–16 (CSB)
14 I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you., 15 And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute.
The author states the promise is immutable, in other words “unchanging”…
Hebrews 6:17–18 (CSB)
17 Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.
The author of Hebrews highlights two “unchangeable things” of God—his words and his promises (John Calvin)—and these two “things” become the anchor and foundation of hope for the believer (Heb. 6:18). Simply, God promised he would create a “people group” of his own and then he supplied the means to create that group. The Son of God came as the One incarnate man Jesus to go before the Christian to secure salvation and sanctify hope in his people—it was the fulfillment of the promise he made.
When you struggle to find an understanding of the power of God that will help you recover (Principle 2), struggle no further. The Triune God has the power and it exists in the hope that is sewn into the promise he made and the promise he kept; to save and sanctify through the grace of this Jesus who went to the cross and was resurrected after death. Power to make change in creation is sourced to the promises of the unchangeable God who fulfills them.
Our Principle 4 teaching continues on Monday Nights into June, come join us on any one of those Monday’s for grace and hope.