Remaining Anchored in Hope

"In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." – Hebrews 6:17-20

If you serve God for a while, you will eventually experience the testing of your faith. Seasons of testing can reveal the true nature of our relationship with God. A mark of a maturing Christian is their ability to find refuge in God's unchanging attributes through every season of life.

The Book of Hebrews is believed to have been written sometime before 70 AD. During this time, Jewish people living in Rome who identified as Christians faced a growing tide of persecution. The believers addressed in this letter would have known the traditions of Judaism and the history of their ancestors. Their lives were rooted in the stories of Abraham, Moses, and David.

As Christians, they believed that Jesus fulfilled the law of Moses and Abraham's promises. Their salvation presented a glorious new beginning and promised a deeper relationship with Yahweh.

Yet, cultural pressure and political persecution caused some to shrink from their confidence in Christ. So, the author, aiming to encourage them to persevere in trial and press forward towards spiritual maturity, uncovers several unchangeable anchors of the Christian faith. 

One is the hope we have in Jesus' ministry, more specifically, in Jesus's high priestly role in the life of every believer.

In Hebrews 6:19 the author writes,

"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil...”

To understand this verse, we have to remember that in the Old Testament, once a year, on the day of atonement, the high priest entered the holy place of the temple or the Tabernacle and offered the blood of a lamb as a sacrifice for the people's sins. Other Biblical references tell us that this practice foreshadowed the future Messiah Jesus, the final spotless lamb.

The Gospel John 1:29 records the words of John the Baptist, who said of Jesus, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

As the sacrificial lamb, Jesus has gone before us as our forerunner to accomplish what God's justice required. Therefore, his atoning work on the cross is a refuge and can serve as an anchor of hope for every believer.  

The author uses the anchor metaphor to make an important spiritual point. Dr. Chuck Swindoll says,

“He doesn't envision the anchor as buried in the earth to help keep our feet on firm ground or dropped to the bottom of the sea to help a ship weather a storm. The spiritual anchor is different from the material anchors on ships. For one thing, we are anchored upward to heaven, not downward. We are anchored not to stand still but to move ahead.”

Secondly, this anchor is not of this world.

• For the believer, the anchor is Jesus, specifically his person and work.

• The more we learn about Jesus's person and work, the more hope arises.

As author J.I. Packer once wrote,

"The less you believe in the sufficiency of Christ’s work for you, the less assurance you will have."

Strong believers know when to seek refuge in God's unchangeable promises and how to move forward in difficult times by anchoring their hearts in Jesus' ministry.

The author gives us three benefits to anchoring ourselves in the work of Christ.

1.    We can take strong encouragement.  

"...So that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement..."– Hebrews 6:18a

The phrase "strong encouragement" comes from two Greek words, ἰσχυρά (ischyra) which means "strong" or "mighty," and παράκλησις (paraklēsis) means "encouragement," "comfort," or "exhortation."

Together, this phrase conveys God’s powerful comfort and urging to His people.

• In other words, God urges us to look at his unchangeable promises and the finished work of Jesus and take the strong encouragement these things can give us.

• This strong encouragement helps believers overcome obstacles to spiritual progress.

One of the enemy’s tactics is to discourage the saints. Daniel 7:25 states, “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High...”

When we take refuge in Jesus' ministry, we find encouragement strong enough to withstand the enemy's attack.

2.    We can take hold of the hope set before us

"…to take hold of the hope set before us." – Hebrews 6:18b

The phrase "take hold" comes from the Greek word κρατέω (krateō), which means "to seize," or "hold firmly."

• This imagery is similar to gripping a physical object with determination and strength.

• The author likens this to grasping, by faith, something that cannot be seen, much like the definition of faith found in Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

• It’s a firm grasp on hope that guards against despair, giving believers the strength to endure trials.

• We can take hold of hope because of the unchangeable nature of God.

• When we focus on what we see in the world, hope diminishes, but when we focus on what Christ has done and what God has promised to do, hope is within our grasp.

3.    We find the anchor for our souls.

"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil." – Hebrews 6:19

The term "anchor" comes from the Greek word ἄγκυρα (ankura), a metaphor for stability and security. In the ancient world, an anchor was crucial for keeping a ship stable amidst storms and preventing it from drifting. Here, the author uses this imagery to depict the hope that believers have as an anchor for their souls.

Notice the author's phrase: This hope is steadfast and reliable because it enters within the veil.

• Remember that Jesus presented his blood once and for all for us, so now we can come before God in peace forever.

• We can come boldly before the throne of grace and receive help and mercy in times of need.

The writer wanted his audience to continue progressing in their spiritual maturity, yet many were losing strength. Their season of testing exposed areas of spiritual vulnerability and exposed their need for a deeper understanding of the anchor of their souls.  

So, the author encourages them to take refuge in two unchangeable things: God’s promises and Jesus' ministry.

These truths are like anchors for our souls, and these anchors hold!

Just like John Calvin declared, let us remember:

"Faith does not promise us a calm voyage, but a safe arrival."

Until next time, stay strong in the Lord!

Pastor Bob

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About Pastor Bob Moya, DMin.

Pastor Bob Moya has served as the lead pastor with his wife Candace at City Chapel in Arlington, Texas for over 22+ years. He recently graduated with a doctorate degree in Spiritual Renewal and Leadership in the spring of 2024. When not serving at the church, you'll find Bob enjoying a good read at Barnes & Noble, sipping a nitro cold brew or black coffee from Starbucks, or spending time with his family.