Sun, Jul 20, 2025 – “Hold Fast to the Hope Set Before Us” (Hebrews 6:13–20)
Bob Radank

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  • Our preachers don’t always follow word for word, (especially Scott, Lead Pastor), but it will help you follow the train of thought and prepare for your study below.
  • Bob’s Manuscript
Hebrews: The Supremacy of Christ
Overview Outline of Hebrews:

(1) The Exalted Son and a Rest for the People of God (Hebrews 1:1–4:13)
(2) Our Great High Priest and His Ministry (4:14–10:31)
(3) Follow and Serve the Pioneer of Our Faith through Endurance and Faith (10:32-13:25)
Sermon Notes
“Hold Fast to the Hope Set Before Us” (Hebrews 6:13–20)

Memory Verse – Hebrews 9:11-12 – 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

Hebrews 6:13-20 – 13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 6:11-12 – 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

God’s Faithfulness is Validated in His Oath with Abraham.

Hebrews 6:13-17 – 13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath,

Genesis 22:15-17 - 15 And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies.

Romans 4:13 – For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.

People swear by something greater than themselves.


God’s Purpose is Demonstrated through His Unchangeable Character.

Hebrews 6:18-19a – 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul

Isaiah 40:8 – “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”

God’s Promised Hope is Celebrated in the Work of Christ.

Hebrews 6:19b-10 – 19a a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

John 14:3 – “Where I am, you may be also.”

Application Points
1. Rest in God’s faithfulness—He does not change, and neither does His promise.

2. Anchor your soul in Christ—your hope is secure beyond the veil.

“Faith is nothing but depending on God to do for us what we cannot do—what He has undertaken to do.” –Andrew Murray

3. Worship with confidence—your standing before God is sealed by His oath and Christ’s priesthood.

Takeaway Question
Since Christ has guaranteed our hope through His redemptive work and opened the way to God, what’s stopping you from trusting Him fully—and holding fast to all He has accomplished?
Life Group Discussion Questions
(See fccgreene.org/discuss for intro info.)

    1. Read Hebrews 6:13-20 aloud once or twice. What ideas in the text strengthen your trust in Jesus?

    2. In vv. 13-14, how does God demonstrate His commitment to Abraham?

    3. According to verse 16, how do oaths function in human society, and how does God use this practice?

    4. What are the “two unchangeable things” referenced in this passage? How can it help believers to know that “it is impossible for God to lie”?

    5. What metaphors are used in verses 18–20 to describe Christian hope? What is the significance of calling Jesus a “forerunner” in verse 20?

    6. What would it look like in your life this week to live as someone whose hope is already “behind the curtain”?

For further study: Inductive Bible Study Notes/Questions

For Further Study: Some Mostly Trusted & Mostly Free Resources

  • ESV Study Bible – Our #1 recommendation. The English Standard Version, which we use for preaching, has really good Study Notes, maps, introductions, mini-systematic theology, etc. Available in hardcopy at cost in The Hub at every campus (or for Logos Bible Software below.) The ESV Bible text is free on our app under “Bible” or at ESV.org, where the Global Study Bible Notes are also free.
  • Logos Bible Software – Download 40+ free resources here to get started, incl 6 Bible versions, ESV Audio Bible, Faithlife Study Notes, Lexham Bible Dictionary, and Easton’s Bible Dictionary, as well as some classics like Charles Hodge’s Systematic Theology, JFB Commentary (Critical/Explanatory on Whole Bible), Matthew Henry Concise Commentary, Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions, Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Augustine’s Confessions. ESV Bible and Study Notes available for purchase at logos.com, along with basically any other important biblical and theological resource you could possibly imagine. (Scott’s favorite resource. He says, “I’m in and out of Logos dozens of times a day.”)
  • NETbible.org – Free Bible (various versions, incl ESV with lots of helpful textual notes and a few decent resources and commentaries.
  • IVP New Bible Commentary – Good basic one-volume commentary. Available in The Hub at any campus.
  • Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem – Good overall and highly readable introduction to Christian doctrine. Available at cost in The Hub and also for Logos Bible Software. Though there are a few places where Scott and Mark Liebert would disagree with Grudem, we often use it as a guide on our Brown Bags & Bibles podcast.
  • Free Online Whole Bible Commentaries (by dead people, who are usually more reliable than living people) – Albert Barnes, John Calvin (missing some books), Adam Clarke, Matthew Henry (Concise), Matthew Henry (Complete), Alexander MacLaren, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
  • Free Online Dictionaries/Encyclopedias – Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Holman Bible Dictionary, International Standard Bible Encyclopedia