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Hope and Promise

By Scott Masson/ April 14, 2013

Series  Hebrews and the High Priesthood

Context  Westminster Chapel Toronto

Topic  Covenant

Scripture  Hebrews 6:9-20

The faithlessness of the church has brought about a curse upon our nation. But the situation can and will change because God Himself will accomplish His own work.

Scripture: Hebrews 6:9-20; Genesis 22:1-18

Sermon Notes:

  1. Our age is wholly secular: we cannot believe there’s another world; our churches are pragmatic; our focus is on our own salvation, ignoring God’s purposes in history.
  2. Last week we were urged to become mature in discerning truth and righteousness.
  3. The mature response of the people of God is to receive the Word (Isaiah 55:10-11) and Spirit of God (Isaiah 44:3-4) like rain bringing a fruitful crop.
  4. Christ and His Word is what we feed on, and we are then to apply it to all areas of life.
  5. The faithlessness of the church has brought about a curse upon our nation.  But the situation can and will change because God Himself will accomplish His own work.
  6. Hatred of God is to love death (Proverbs 8:36).
  7. God’s purpose in prodding us forward is to bring hope.  We gain a confidence knowing God works through us.
  8. Character is developed incrementally.  “Watch your thoughts for they become words; words become actions; actions become habits; habits become character; and character becomes destiny.”
  9. Because God is just, He is faithful to reward the work that He is doing in and through us (Hebrews 6:10).
  10. Our salvation is based only on the free mercy of God. Good works are evidence that we have been saved. 
  11. The Holy Spirit is working in us.  We gain our identity as the Holy Spirit unites us to Christ, the true Man.
  12. God is doing the work within us.  God is behind us, in us, with us, all around us.
  13. We need to keep on growing.  The only sure sign of past conversion is present convertedness.
  14. God promised that Abraham’s offspring would be named through Isaac (Gen. 21:12b). So Abraham knew God would fulfill the promise even if it meant raising Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:19).
  15. God always keeps His promises.  He swears based on His own Word and person, which are true and infallible.
  16. Those living by faith did not receive the completion of the promise. We are included in the promise given to Abraham (Hebrews 11:39-40).
  17. God has us in His everlasting arms. God through His fatherly grace in Christ has given Himself for us. Therefore we have hope.
  18. We have hope in the sure confidence of God raising His own Son from the dead.
  19. Christ is the one true sacrifice.  We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.

Application Questions:

  1. How has the church been affected by the secular thinking of our age?  
  2. What is the basis of our hope for restoration and revival? (Cf. Colossians 1:26-28)
  3. What is the evidence of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
  4. How is our character and destiny developed?
  5. How is our ardour for the faith?  How is our giving?
  6. How do we receive our identity as true humans?
  7. Have we stagnated in our faith, or is there evidence that God is still working within and converting us?

Sermon Notes