Anchored up
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Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so.
9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
The Certainty of God’s Promise
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.”[d] 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
16 People 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 set before 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 our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
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What Jesus is like
What Jesus asks
What he does -
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur (provoke, KJV) one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians experiencing persecution at the time. Some were tempted to return to the Jewish religion, some tempted to give up, backslide, do nothing. Being anchored as a source of hope has been our theme for this weekend.
Hebrew pastor writes to urge them to stay anchored (10:23) - phrases like Hold fast (3:6), strive (4:11), go on to maturity (6:1), seize hope (6:18).
But there is an aspect of the picture we have still to explore. It has to do with the Holiest place. In this short sermon, we will get an explanation and three practical rules of life which I trust will bring the theme to a conclusion.
An Explanation
Three Practical Rules of Life
An Explanation
Normally, an anchor is used to keep a boat secure in the ocean. This anchor is hooked not somewhere in the deep sea but to someone (Jesus) who has entered into the Holy of Holies on our behalf.
Hebrews 6:19, We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Our anchor is different to the sailing anchor we have been thinking about. We are anchored UPWARDS, not downwards, the anchor is inside the veil, the Holiest place. Steadfast and sure on Christ our ‘forerunner’ who is within the veil. The imagery is of an anchor flung into the heavens landing within the holiest place beyond the torn curtain. Rather than thinking of a deep sea anchor drop, think of El Capital in Yosemite in California! Think of a climber slinging his anchor high into the very presence of God and held fast onto Christ the solid rock.
Remember on that first Good Friday when our Lord Jesus died on the cross. The Bible tells us that the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom. God tore that curtain not the quake, inviting us into his holy presence any time any where and one day we will be with him in heaven for all eternity. Jesus is the rock that we are anchored to. But the picture goes further……After Jesus rose again and ascended to heaven, our anchor was still hooked to Him. We are forever in Christ, body and head, bride and groom. For all of God’s people there is an eternal anchor that stretches, as it were, from Jesus to our souls, it can’t be severed or broken. This is the image the writer wants us to see.
The scene is that of the high priest who could only enter the Holy of Holies once a year with the sacrifice for the sins of Israel. Once the duty was done, he walked out, he did not hang about - the awesome presence of Almighty God was a frightening place before the cross. But that is not the case with our anchor! It is firmly anchored in heaven, to our great priest on one end (Hebrews 10:21), and firmly to the believer’s soul on the other. Eternally secure in the presence of the Lord.
Jesus is described as our “forerunner” (v20) The term, as it is used here, is one that describes army scouts who went ahead of the troops - to prepare the way for the regiment to follow. Christ has gone on ahead. And here is what he wants you to understand: we will be where Christ is, in that Holy place. Hear his message in John 14:2-3 “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (v3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Gloria and Robin’s story: ‘Can you teach me to pray that prayer you taught my mum, Gloria?’
I feel safe now. He was eternally secure, anchored to his rock and Saviour Jesus Christ.
There is hope when natural hope (longevity) is taken away? There is hope when the situation is hopeless. That hope is our anchor, steadfast and sure. Held fast to our forerunner Jesus Christ within the veil in the holiest place being true to the promises and the mercy and protection you may need for the storms of life.
Three Rules of Life
Hebrews 10 explains that our Lord has sacrificed himself so we can have direct access to God’s presence by faith and forgiveness. Then the writer seems to change his tone, it’s as if he realises that all the spiritual theory about Christ the high priest and the perfect sacrifice will not touch our lives unless translates it into practical rules of life. The Lord is not calling us to an intellectual process so he (pastor) moves from doctrine to deeds in Hebrews 10:19-25.
When I was on the South of France, I was short of money so I ordered the cheapest item on the menu - Salade verte. I expected something more appetising than a plate full of lettuce! There is a reason for my digression to a salad. It is this, the Hebrews Pastor gives them a plate full of lettuce!
These are the three rules of life I would like us to think about.
Lettuce (Let us) Draw near to God by faith 10:22
Lettuce (Let us) Hold Fast to the profession of Hope 10:23
Lettuce (Let us) Consider how we may provoke one another towards love and good deeds 10:24
Lettuce (Let us) Draw near to God by faith 10:22
The writer was trying to encourage the people who are faced with difficult times to draw near, to fellowship with God. This is an invitation to be up close and personal with our heavenly Father.
A practical mnemonic I use to balance my prayer times with God goes like this. A sorry prayer, a time of thanks. Tender words of adoration followed by requests that we wish to ask about. It spells S.T.A.R. I hope that helps you to be practical about quiet times of drawing near to God.
The message is simple, we can only be encouraged to anchor up to God in difficult times if we draw near to God. It’s a bit like looking down when you’re going up a ladder. If you focus on yourself: can lead to self pity or the world will say mindfulness, a process of emptying but if you see Jesus (Gt H.Priest) [look up (ladder eg)] you see we are anchored within the veil and he petitions at the RH of the father (Heb 6:20) To be in your presence, not rushing away…this is my desire
Lettuce (Let us) Hold Fast to the profession of Hope 10:23
Notice that this practical rule of life invites us to profess the hope we have. That is different to Hold fast to the hope, which is more passive. We are called to profess it, proclaim it. Pricilla Owen’s hymn gets this just right - ‘We have an anchor that keeps the soul, steadfast and sure, while the billows roll.’ That is our proclamation.
Finally…
Lettuce (Let us) Consider how we may provoke one another towards love and good deeds 10:24
Let us …spur (or) provoke one another to Love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together … but encouraging one another…’ (Hebrews 10:24,25). Notice that word provoke normally a negative word but in this context it’s as if the writer here is giving us permission to bug each other to love each other and to come together in doing good deeds. Love each other in words of encouragement. In a world full of discouragement we should be offering to each other encouraging words that’s the stuff that the glue is made up of that will help us to ‘stick together.’
In saying let us spur one another he is also saying not to be content with a personal Salvation (I’m saved I’m all right, Jack type of spirituality)… John Wesley said “The bible says nothing about solitary religion.” Our Christianity should not be for our own sakes but for others, those around us in our fellowships, communities, churches. We can learn from the way Lee Abbey functions as a community and a fellowship of believers. It is easy after years of being a Christian to drift into a kind of selfish Christianity. It is a kind of Air Fryer type of Christian. We get hot air blown on us each Sunday and that gives us a warm glow until the next Sunday’s blast of air. We are called to fellowship and within that to be encouragers to provoke each other to love. Our fellowships are to be more like microwave people! Micro particles agitate together and that vibration heats up the foodstuff. Scientists tell me, if it was possible to isolate one particle and microwave it, there would be no warmth. The particle needs others to glow.
Here in the last verses of today’s reading we are being urged to look out for eachother … not to neglect meeting together (Hebrews 10:25)… to be encouragers... provoking each other to love and do good deeds and to encourage each other- drawing near to the Lord and professing the hope we have because we are anchored safe and secure for today and forever.
We are going to close with that wonderful song by Reuben Morgan, Eric Liljero, and Jonas Myrin - Cornerstone
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name
[Chorus] Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Saviour's love
Through the storm, He is Lord, Lord of all
When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
My anchor holds within the veil
