Our Confidence in His Promise


Walter Henegar | Mar 17, 2024

Hebrews 6:13-20 (ESV)

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.

Sermon Summary

Why should we trust the promises of God? Hebrews 6 gives us three reasons: a compelling example, a proven principle, and a satisfying metaphor. The compelling example is Abraham, patiently (and sometimes impatiently) waited for God to fulfill his promises. The proven principle is God swearing by his own self. Though oaths like this are less relied on today, they expose the personal acts of trust at the heart of all knowing. The satisfying metaphor has three parts: an anchor, the holy place behind the veil, and a forerunner—Jesus himself. Altogether, these reasons provide those who have fled for refuge with strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

Discussion Questions

  1. What stood out or stuck with you from the sermon?
  2. How does the story of Abraham and Sarah encourage you in your own attempts to trust the promises of God? Who else encourages you by their example, whether biblical characters, historical figures, or people you know personally?
  3. Describe a time when you felt like God broke a promise to you, either partly or completely. Has God actually promised it? If not, what has he promised you?
  4. When you go through suffering and disappointment, which specific here-and-now promises of God give you comfort and feed your hope?
  5. Think of a vow or oath or promise you have made. How does the promise-keeping character of God help you to keep it, even if it is “to your own hurt” (Psalm 15:4)


Resources Consulted

  • Africa Bible Commentary, ed. Tokunboh Adeyowo
  • African-American Bible Commentary, ed. Brian K. Blount
  • ESV Study Bible, ed. Lane T. Dennis
  • The Message of Hebrews, Raymond Brown
  • Hebrews for Everyone, NT Wright
  • Hebrews Crossway Classic Commentary, John Owen
  • Hebrews Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, Mary Healey
  • NIGTC Commentary on Hebrews, Paul Ellingworth
  • NIC Commentary on Hebrews, Philip Edgecombe Hughes
  • Hope Ain’t a Hustle, Irwyn Ince
  • Hoping for Something Better, Nancy Guthrie
  • Loving to Know, Esther Meek
  • Biblical Critical Theory, Christopher Watkin
  • The Second Mountain, David Brooks

Bonus: The Westminster Confession of Faith

Chapter 22—Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

1. A lawful oath is part of religious worship, (Deut. 10:20) wherein, upon just occasion, the person swearing solemnly calleth God to witness what he asserteth, or promiseth, and to judge him according to the truth or falsehood of what he sweareth. (Exod. 20:7, Lev. 19:12, 2 Cor. 1:23, 2 Chron. 6:22–23)

2. The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear, and therein it is to be used with all holy fear and reverence. (Deut. 6:13) Therefore, to swear vainly, or rashly, by that glorious and dreadful Name; or, to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred. (Exod. 20:7, Jer. 5:7, Matt. 5:34, 37, James 5:12) Yet, as in matters of weight and moment, an oath is warranted by the Word of God, under the new testament as well as under the old; (Heb. 6:16, 2 Cor. 1:23, Isa. 65:16) so a lawful oath, being imposed by lawful authority, in such matters, ought to be taken. (1 Kings 8:31, Neh. 13:25, Ezra 10:5)

3. Whosoever taketh an oath ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act, and therein to avouch nothing but what he is fully persuaded is the truth: (Exod. 20:7, Jer. 4:2) neither may any man bind himself by oath to any thing but what is good and just, and what he believeth so to be, and what he is able and resolved to perform. (Gen. 24:2–3, 5–6, 8–9)

4. An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation, or mental reservation. (Jer. 4:2, Ps. 24:4) It cannot oblige to sin; but in any thing not sinful, being taken, it binds to performance, although to a man’s own hurt. (1 Sam. 25:22, 32–34, Ps. 15:4) Nor is it to be violated, although made to heretics, or infidels. (Ezek. 17:16, 18–19, Josh. 9:18–19, 2 Sam. 21:1)

5. A vow is of the like nature with a promissory oath, and ought to be made with the like religious care, and to be performed with the like faithfulness. (Isa. 19:21, Eccl. 5:4–6, Ps. 61:8, Ps. 66:13–14)

6. It is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone: (Ps. 76:11, Jer. 44:25–26) and, that it may be accepted, it is to be made voluntarily, out of faith, and conscience of duty, in way of thankfulness for mercy received, or for the obtaining of what we want, whereby we more strictly bind ourselves to necessary duties: or, to other things, so far and so long as they may fitly conduce thereunto. (Deut. 23:21–23, Ps. 50:14, Gen. 28:20–22, 1 Sam. 1:11, Ps. 66:13–14, Ps. 132:2–5)

7. No man may vow to do any thing forbidden in the Word of God, or what would hinder any duty therein commanded, or which is not in his own power, and for the performance whereof he hath no promise of ability from God. (Acts 23:12, 14, Mark 6:26, Numb. 30:5, 8, 12–13) In which respects, popish monastical vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself. (Matt. 19:11–12, 1 Cor. 7:2, 9, Eph. 4:28, 1 Pet. 4:2, 1 Cor. 7:23)