AN ANCHOR OF THE SOUL

Heb 6:17-20 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his
counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we
might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which
hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the
veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of
Melchisedec.

I. WE HAVE HOPE! Cf. the miners in Chile at first hoped blindly, but then had actual hope.
A. A definite promise of something not yet seen
1. Titus 1:1-3 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's
elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God,
that cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested his word
through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

2. Rom 8:24-25 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth,
why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

B. We can live our lives with joy, even in tribulation, – because we have hope.
1. Rom 5:1-11
1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory
of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost
which is given unto us.
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being
reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received
the atonement.

2. Rom 12:12-13 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

3. Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may
abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

C. Reassured by God’s word.

1. Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we
through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

2. Col 1:3-6 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, For the
hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the
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gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you,
since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
II. WE HAVE A HOPE BOTH SURE AND STEADFAST.
A. A comfort in times of sorrow.
1. 1 Thess 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are
asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and
rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by
the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent
them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice
of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we
which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord
in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these
words.

2. 1 Thess 5:8-11 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love;
and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain
salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live
together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye
do.

B. Because Christ lives, we know that we will also live.

1. 1 Cor 15:19-22 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But
now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man
came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ
shall all be made alive.

III. WE HAVE A HOPE THAT ANCHORS US TO JESUS CHRIST AND HEAVEN.

A. No matter where or when.
1. Heb 7:24-27 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore
he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to
make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled,
separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests,
to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he
offered up himself.

B. We have a high priest who sits on the right hand of God.

1. Heb 1:1-4 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the
prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all
things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express
image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself
purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than
the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

2. Heb 8:1-2 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest,
who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the
sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

3. Heb 12:1-4 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us
lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race
that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that
was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the
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throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be
wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
 C. Christ, our High Priest, is also our mediator with God.
1. Heb 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the
Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched
with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us
therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help
in time of need.

2. Heb 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator
of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

D. Christ is our mediator who also shed his blood for us.
1. Heb 9:11-15 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more
perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats
and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the
unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead
works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by
means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which
are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

E. Christ is entered into heaven itself to appear in the presence of God for us!
1. Heb 9:24-26 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the
figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that
he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of
others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end
of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

IV. WE HAVE AN ANCHOR THAT FILLS US WITH CONFIDENCE.

A. Based on the One Who is our hope.
1. 1 Tim 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus
Christ, which is our hope;

B. Our obedience grants us assurance.

1. Heb 10:19-22 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By
a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And
having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of
faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure
water.

2. Heb 12:22-24 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the
heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and
church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits
of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of
sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

3. Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace,
whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
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4. Heb 13:20-21 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great
shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good
work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to
whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

5. 1 John 3:1-3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be
called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are
we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear,
we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him
purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

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