Hebrews 6:11, 18, 19 – Hope

HOPE

Hebrews 6:11, 18, 19

And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: (Hebrews 6:11)

 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: (Hebrews 6:18)

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; (Hebrews 6:19)

   There are two definitions in the word of God on hope. One is for the hypocrite: Job 8:13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:. According to the Spirit of God, in the book of Job, there are those who claim hope who have no hope. I will give you an example in our day-to-day life: many people say to me, Have a nice day. I very politely reply, have a nice eternity; hoping to stir a conversation concerning the true hope and salvation in Jesus Christ. Most of the time they look at me and say, I hope so; or, how can anyone know? That’s it, any further conversation is done. Not on my part, but their eyes tell me the sad truth it is because they have no hope.

The Mystery of Hope

   In Hebrews Chapter 6 we have the sure hope of Christ that all that is committed to Him will never perish, therefore, hope becomes the surety of everlasting life. Hope becomes immutable because it is centered in the One, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is hope Himself. In Hebrews 6, hope is mentioned 3 times; consequently, we should give this marvelous word a look, and look into its mystery.

The First Mention of Hope

Naomi and Ruth

   The first mention of hope in the KJV is in Ruth Chapter 1, verse 12. The second mention of hope is in Ezra 10:2, why go there? line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little there a little.

 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; (Ruth 1:12)

 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. (Ezra 10:2)

    At first these Scriptures appear to have a dark haze over them, but as we remove the haze, and we allow the Spirit of God to shed light on these two verses our hearts will be filled and set on the path that the Spirit of God has set before us.

   In Ruth 1:12, Naomi is confronted with her situation, her husband has died, her sons are dead, and she has no heir. The two women with her are her daughters-in-law. One is named Orpha, and the other is named Ruth. Naomi shares her feelings with them that there is no hope for a son from her to wed with them because of her age and because of the situation that they are in. Orpah (encouraged by Naomi to leave) returns to her own people, now the Spirit of God gives us hope in Ruth.

   Ruth would not leave Naomi’s side. She stated in verse 16, And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. Ruth is determined to follow Naomi wherever she goes, and not only to follow her, but to embrace Naomi’s God as her God, and she would hold her hope in Naomi’s God. So why is this first mention of hope important? Turn to Matthew 1:5 and 6, And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias. Notice in these two verses we have three women mentioned. Two by name, and the other one in relationship to Urias the Hittite which was Bathsheba. Rachab (Rahab: a harlot, Joshua Chapter 2) is the first women mentioned, she was brought into the fold of Israel because of her faith concerning the spies. And we find this pagan woman of Jericho mentioned in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ. The third in the list is the wife of Uriah, Bethsheba: her that had been the wife of Urias. Her name was not mentioned, but she is mentioned through the relationship of her husband Urias/Uriah because he was a man of honor and loyalty to king David. The Holy Spirit placed this man’s name in the genealogy to honor his actions, and the name of Bathsheba was not mentioned because of her dishonorable actions.

Hope of Israel

Mother in Israel — Ruth

   Then we have Ruth, and this is where hope comes in. The Spirit of God is leading Ruth in hope, although she cannot see it. The fulfillment of that hope is in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ; for Ruth became part of the promise given by God to Abraham. Ruth became hope for Israel, not knowing that she was hope. This is the work of the Spirit of God. Ruth would not leave the side of Naomi and claimed Naomi’s God as ‘my God.’ Although Naomi expressed herself as having no hope, the Spirit of God saw everything according to the determinate counsels of God. Ruth would make up for the lack of Naomi’s hope. Even though she was a Moabitess, God would bring her into Israel in hope through Boaz. The name of Boaz means ‘in him is strength.’ Boaz returned the inheritance that Naomi had lost, and thus, drew Ruth into the genealogy of the promised seed, the Lord Jesus Christ. She would become a mother in Israel.

    In Matthew Chapter 1, verse 5, we have the confirmation of Ruth’s hope, and the declaration of the Spirit of God of the reality of that hope. And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse. Paul seems to give us Ruth’s situation compared to our own in Romans, Chapter 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. As faith is the substance of things hoped for, faith is the tangible element given by the Spirit of God for the surety of one’s salvation. And this evidence of salvation is the evidence of things not seen. This brings hope, and hope brings life everlasting. The reality is that we have (in the word of God) a sure word of hope. So, in Ruth, we have the kingly line, does this does not exercise our spirit, that out of Ruth would come the Redeemer of all men. That hope would come forth in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Consequently, we see Ruth in relationship to the Lord Jesus as the King of Israel.

The Second Mention of Hope

Ezra, the Priest

   I also mentioned Ezra 10:2, this is the second time that the word hope is mentioned in the Bible. And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. Why is this section in Ezra so important? Ezra was the priest that was picked by God and sent by Cyrus back into the land of Judaea to build again the temple of God. However, while in the land of captivity, the Levites had taken strange wives (these were the women of the pagan land of Babylon). The word of God declared that a priest or Levite must only marry a woman of Israel. Therefore, they had to give up their wives, and dedicate themselves to the Lord.

 And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives. Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do. (Ezra 10:10-12)

   They had come back into the land (Israel) to restore the glory of the Lord’s house. In their hope unknowingly they were preparing for the consolation of Israel. For they had a future hope of the restoration of Israel under the anointed of God, the Messiah of Israel. Ezra used the word of God to restore a oneness to the people. Now why bother with a poor widow (Naomi) and a priest (Ezra), a man with hope, in Israel. It all moves forward in the word of God. Let’s look forward in time to Herod’s temple. Israel was under the power of Rome and Hope suddenly came to His Temple.

Hope

Through the Eyes of Simeon and Anna

    We have a woman (Anna, a widow) who dedicated her life in prayer and fasting waiting for the Savior of God, and a man (Simeon) with hope in Israel. Turn to Luke 2:25-27) And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law. 

 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. (Luke 2:36-38)　

Hope

Flows from Old to New

    In Anna we see the fulfillment of Ruth’s hope, in Simeon we see the fulfillment of Ezra ‘s hope. In Boaz we have the genealogy of the king, in Ezra we have the priesthood; in the temple with Anna and Simeon we have the King and Priest of eternity revealed to man. The consolation of Israel had come. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation. Turn to Luke Chapter 2, verses 28 through 31. Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Hope Has Come into His Temple

   Their long years of waiting had come to an end, for Hope had come into the temple. The hope of Ruth’s day, the hope of Ezra’s day, and now Simeon and Anna saw Hope Himself. (Psalm 22:9) But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts. At this point I am so impatient, but to calm my spirit, let’s just read again from Hebrews Chapter 6, verses 18 and 19. 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. Why am I so impatient? Because by joining all these Scriptures together we see a glorious picture of who our hope is: the Lord Jesus Christ.

   Anna was a widow indeed, she had denied herself another husband, for she was waiting to meet the Hope of Israel. When she met Him, her spirit was gathered under His wings of hope; for she had looked upon the face of the Hope of Israel. The Lord Jesus came forth as Hope, and He is Hope, and He forever will be Hope, and of His hope there is no end. We now see the path of hope in Scripture through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hope Enters Inside the Veil

    Let’s turn back to Hebrews 6:11, 18, 19. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: (Hebrews 6:11)

    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: (Hebrews 6:18) Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; (Hebrews 6:19) Here the Spirit of God gives us three aspects of our hope in our Lord Jesus Christ: 1, we have the full assurance of hope; 2, (verse 18) we have laid hold of that hope, showing possession; and 3, (verse 19) and this hope is both sure and steadfast. His hope is to the end of our course. We have been given this hope by the Spirit of God to encourage us through the darkness of this world. This hope is a living hope, and this hope is set before us as a lively or living hope in the Man in heaven for us, the Lord Jesus Christ. To acquire this hope Christ was obedient unto God the Father. He fulfilled all the counsels of God as God’s Hope for mankind. He has entered inside the veil as Hope, and as an Anchor for our souls. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; (Hebrews 6:19) This leaves no ifs about our hope. The apostle Paul stated in Romans and in Hebrews the surety of our hope.

Hope

The Number 5

    In Romans we have the word hope mentioned 15 times in 10 verses. In Hebrews we have the word hope mentioned 5 times in 5 verses. The number 5, the number of grace, is connected to all of these verses in the same preeminence that Christ had in the work of our salvation in these two books of Romans and Hebrews. In the book of Romans hope is mentioned 15 times (15 is divided by 5 three (3) times) also, the 15 mentions are in 10 verses. The number 5, the number of grace, divides into 10, 2 times. You have both the number of grace, and the number of witness. Five is 3 times into 15; the number 3 is the witness of the Godhead, the one God and the fullness of the Godhead as He displays His grace in His Son, Jesus Christ.

In the book of Hebrews, we have 5 mentions of hope, 5 times, in 5 separate verses; again, the wonderful witness of the Spirit of God, for we believe that the Spirit of God was quite active in preparing the King James Version for God’s people. In Hebrews hope is mentioned 5 times, in 5 verses, (5 x 5 = 25), again we have the number of witness and 5 the number of grace.

Hope

The Multiplier of Faith — Christ

   In Romans, we have law versus grace, with grace having the preeminence through the word hope. Hope is the multiplier of faith, for faith leads to grace, and grace leads to hope. The last mention of the word hope in the Bible is found in 1^st John 3:3; this is monumental. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Now you do the math in this verse, and I’ll concentrate on the text. Once again, we have a living hope, for we see in the Person of Christ a purity of our hope. For we see Him as pure, without spot, without tarnish, without blemish, He is pure in every way, and in this hope the Spirit of God (working within us) causes us to purify ourselves in Him, for He is our Hope. But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts. (Psalm 22:9) And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. (Psalm 39:7) Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. (Jeremiah 17:7)

Hope

Immutable

    The psalmist and Jeremiah realized that hope was IN the Lord Himself. The psalmist declared his hope was in thee, not by thee. Jeremiah stated that the Lord Himself IS hope; therefore, hope becomes a tangible part of the work of Christ upon the cross for our salvation. The psalmist asks the question, what wait I for? I ask the question, What are you waiting for? The only answer is that my hope is in the Lord. Now in the book of Hebrews, this person who is Hope is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is an anchor for our souls, both sure and steadfast. And we cannot be moved because our anchor is the Lord of glory, and with all power He holds us in the most furious storms of life. I am also going to mention the word ‘immutability’ for we have this immutable proof in verse 18. This is the plurality of hope in one Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. The first aspect of our hope: it is impossible for God to lie; I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Then secondly, we have the aspect of the immutability of the Person who holds our hope. And the hope that is mentioned in this verse also encompasses the immutability of the written word of God, and the Living Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. These two immutable things can never be changed or altered. Hebrews 6:19 is still under the immutability of Christ, and the hope that is set before us (that is IN Jesus Christ). He is the anchor of our soul; when an anchor is cast out of a ship, the anchor drags till it clings to a rock below. The ship is held both sure and steadfast, thus, every Christian can lay hold of this hope as their anchor. This hope holds and grips the solid rock, and this rock is the Rock of Ages, the Rock that followed Israel in the wilderness providing the gushing water in the desert wilderness. The word immutability can also be applied to the will of God. For His will is immutable. And we have another truth in verse 19, Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; (Hebrews 6:19)  . . . .  we have the mention of the priesthood of Christ.

Hope

Beyond the Veil — In Heaven

   But you don’t see the word priest! Well, let’s put on our Old Testament thinking caps. Only the high priest out of the line of Aaron could enter in beyond the veil. Only this high priest could present the blood of the sacrifice to God on the mercy-seat. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil. This is confirmed of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ in verse 20 of Hebrews Chapter 6. Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. The veil that is mentioned is not the veil that was rent on earth. That was to declare the end of Israel’s priesthood, and the ordinances of sacrifice because a greater sacrifice had come and had given Himself the Son of God most precious. So which veil is this in verse 19 (and which entereth into that within the veil)? It is the veil which is in heaven, and only a Priest of the most high God under the oath and order of Melchisedec could enter in beyond that veil. As the resurrected Man, Christ (as Melchisedec) had to ascend into heaven to present His blood upon the mercy-seat. As Melchisedec He is the Priest forever. (Psalm 110)

 <<A Psalm of David.>> The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. (Psalm 110:1)

 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. (Psalm 110:2)

 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. (Psalm 110:3)

 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. (Psalm 110:4)

The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. (Psalm 110:5)

 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. (Psalm 110:6)

 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head. (Psalm 110:7)

    May I suggest whenever you read Psalm 110 to remember that it is not complete prophetical writing in its entirety, as Psalm 2 is not completely prophetical writing in its entirety; in both Psalms we have the past existence before the foundation of the world of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Psalm 2, He existed as both the Son and the King before the foundations of the world. In Psalm 110 His priesthood as Melchisedec is a self-existing priesthood which was proclaimed by an oath and by the order of the determinate counsels of God, which by the way, are also immutable.

 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 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: (Hebrews 9:23, 24)

 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. (Hebrews 8:2)

 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24)

 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. (Hebrews 9:15)

 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. (Hebrews 8:4, 5)

   The arrangement of these verses reveals to us more of the work of Christ. The Holy Spirit in His ministry takes these particular verses and shows us that the Lord’s ministry is an everlasting ministry. He is the only one qualified and the only one who could fill the office of a eternal priesthood in heaven, on earth, and in heaven now. As He was Light before the heavens and earth were created,

Moses was shown all the articles of the tabernacle that was in heaven. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (Exodus 25:1) And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. (Exodus 25:8) According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. (Exodus 25:9)

   Let us now reason together, since (in heaven) there IS a tabernacle, and Moses was shown this tabernacle, would not this tabernacle (which was and is in heaven) have a royal priesthood of the King and Priest under the oath and order of Melchisedec. Remember that Jehovah was not revealed by name to Abraham. His name Jehovah was revealed to the children of Israel, so therefore, cannot Melchisedec be simply the name of the glorified Priest in heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ.

    In the Old Testament this name was applied to only one king and to only one priest. Under the law (which was given to Moses) a man could not be both a king and priest, or a priest and king; would this not apply also to Abraham’s day? For he walked in the same faith given of God that Moses walked in; so only one, still only one can fill that place (King and Priest) upon His throne and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. The priesthood of Christ is the power of His righteousness. His righteousness is applied to His priesthood. The regal or kingly Man is the Man in heaven with all the majestic power of eternity, and power over heaven and earth. This is the Creator of all things, and remember, all things were created BY Him and FOR Him. When Christ was manifested upon the earth, He was manifested by the power that He maintained and maintains today over heaven and earth. It took more of God to humble Himself to the death of the cross then it took from all His creative power in forming the heaven and the earth; it was greater in God’s power to be manifested as a Man from heaven. It was a humbling thing for the Son of God to take His place among mankind to fulfill the counsels of God. And part of that fulfillment was to fulfill His offices of both King and Priest. The Lord Jesus told Pilate His kingdom was not of this earth, for if it was then His servants would fight for it.

 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (John 18:36-37)

 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. (John 19:10-11)

   The Lord Jesus, according to the Spirit of God did not reject His position as King, for He proclaimed, I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world. This was to take on the manly (human realm of mankind) and earthly realm of King. He also informed Pilate that He was already a King, for His kingdom was not of this world. He had already fulfilled His role as King and was fulfilling His position of King of righteousness. (Hebrews 1:8) But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. The Man in heaven for us now, the Lord Jesus Christ, fulfills this position of Hebrews 1:8. For all power has been given to Him in heaven and earth. As He was manifested on earth as a man, He is also manifested in heaven NOW as a Man, a Man for us, the Lord Jesus Christ. And He is the Sovereign over both heaven and earth.

 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:17-20)

   Remember that the Lord Jesus Christ stated that His kingdom was not of this world, showing a kingdom prior to His manifestation; this is the unseen things of faith. In His present position in the heavenlies, He adorns both the mitre (miter) of the Priest, and the crown of the King. He will one day fulfill both these positions on earth when He sits upon His throne as both King and Priest. Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. (Zechariah 6:13)

He Controls All

   But we live in the now, at least that’s what they tell us, so what about now? The Lord Jesus is over the dominions of man, they are subject under His control whether they be thrones, whether they be kings or kingdoms, or dominions; He not only controls the things that are seen but controls the unseen things of creation. He controls the dominion of Satan and has limited the power of Satan. He gives limited power to mankind, and to the principalities of man. He is the administrator of all forms of government under sinful man, that includes, all democracies, all the powers of dictators, even the tyrants, He controls the religious leaders of this world, and all the potentates that desire to enslave men and their souls. All these come under the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have verification of this even in the Old Testament.

 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. (Daniel 2:47)

 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. (Daniel 4:25)

 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. (Daniel 4:34-37)

    The God of heaven and earth, the God of creation, the God of eternity, and the God of everlasting power has not changed. He rules in the dominions of men. For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16) We treat mankind in some ways as the height and the maximum power of intelligence; this has definitely been a down fall for Adam. For Adam is not the man that he pretends to be. In all of his intelligence there is one element that throws him over, that defeats him, even to the point of bringing forth his death: and that is sin. Ask a man, an intelligent man, to reason out sin, and he will be dumb founded; sin in itself can only be defined by God, and man can only hold the proof of sin in his death. The true intelligence, the true righteousness, the true eternal life comes from above; for all things were created by Jesus Christ, both those things that we see and those things that are unseen. In His creative power there were no restrictions, no limits to His power, by His infinite power He brought forth substance out of nothing. Therefore, by His great creatorial power could He not be able to control and keep the very elements that He created.

The Mystery of Godliness

    In all this mass of the power of creation, God created man as a weak vessel; man in his weakness is preserved by the mercies of God. If there were no mercies of God, then man would be consumed of himself. It is only divine intervention (by the One who created all things) that man is preserved. Now this is where the heart weakens, listen closely to the Holy Spirit in Colossians 1:17, And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. Your Savior, your Redeemer, your God is before all things. It is God’s eternity, it is God’s creation, and whether mankind likes it or not (in mankind’s rebellion against God) God has made man God’s servant. The worst of men have been made to move at God’s hand. Just one example was Ahab in the Old Testament.

    The Lord Jesus Christ was before all things, before the very dust of the cosmos. (Proverbs 8) Yes, before air, before there was a before, He existed with all His power, and all things have come from Him. For they (all creation) consist by His infinite power. Therefore, when we read Psalm 22, that He was made hope while He was on His mother’s breast, this is truly the mystery of godliness. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16) The world of Adam denies this wonderful mystery, and the truth of this mystery. We understand this from Adam, the sad and repugnant thing is that the Church has put these truths away like a divorcement of the truth which the Holy Spirit will not allow; for from the beginning, it was not so. The word of God is settled in heaven forever. (Psalm 119) Therefore, in the mystery of godliness in 1 Timothy 3:16, there is no exception, we have infallible proof, this mystery is without controversy. Look it up, and you will find that great is the mystery of godliness because mankind cannot reason or understand the love of God towards him. This whole mystery is because of God’s love, and this love shown through the Lord Jesus Christ. In this mystery Jesus Christ was manifested being both man and God Himself. For God was manifested in the flesh! Now reason this: to reconcile man unto Himself. Let us reason together, for man had been cast off by sin, and the penalty of sin was death, but you see, God cannot abide sin; and that is the reason that all men die. Death is the penalty and judgment of the sin of man, thus death reigned over mankind like a dark cloud. Christ, therefore, came into the world to put away sin, and Christ Himself would be justified in the Spirit, that is the Spirit of Christ. (Romans 8) The Spirit of Christ has freed us from the power of sin and death because Christ is justified. He is justified, and we are justified in Him. This is a lesson for the weak of heart. He justified Himself in Himself, and thereby He could look upon us with the mercies of God. He could complete His salvation plan for mankind and shed forth His love to those who would believe on Him. He was seen of angels, as the heavenly proof of His atonement, a witness that cannot be denied. He is not here, He is risen. He has been preached unto the Gentiles, for over two thousand years, the glorious message of salvation. What the law could not do in that it was weak in the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh Christ was manifested before all. God condemned sin in the flesh, and Christ made peace with God by the blood of His cross. Believed on, in the world, again is part of the mystery of godliness. The world can deny this all they want, but as long as there is one of us here in the world, just our presence alone condemns them. For if only by one, Christ is believed on in this world the condemnation of the world is brought before all men.

The Hope of the Redeemed

Higher — Deeper

    Thank God for the hope of the redeemed which gives us a great cloud of witnesses both in heaven and on earth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16) Received up into glory, the Spirit of God in this verse in 1^st Timothy 3:16, finalizes the verse with the final motion of redemption, the final act of the Son with the Father. He was received in all the righteousness of God, truly, the heavens must have resounded with, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hope, therefore, is deeper and higher; the vastness of hope fills all eternity. (Hebrews 6:11) The fullness of hope or the full assurance of hope is not just for today, or for tomorrow, but to the very end of no end. Eternity will always hold hope in His very Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. In Hebrews 6:18, we have two immutable things: God cannot lie, and the immutability of our hope in God’s word. We have an immutable Christ for He will not be denied. He has established His divine counsel of truth and will not be denied the outcome of His counsel. This hope is set before us in all its glory. The psalmist said, Hope thou in God. And our hope is in Him. He is the possessor of all hope. He is also the minister of hope. He is the divine author of hope. Jesus Christ, Himself, is the undisputed evidence of hope. And in Hope what do we find? We find a refuge from the wrath to come. Christ becomes our city of refuge for all our transgressions are outside the gate. (Joshua Chapter 21) He has gone to prepare a place of refuge where we, in hope, can find our rest today.

   Christ is the Testator of the new covenant, and He has verified this covenant by His death and His blood. He has now entered within the veil. He could only do this as the High Priest of God. The earthly high priest under Aaron could only attend the things of earth and not the things of heaven, Aaron’s priesthood was a similitude of the real priesthood in heaven who is our Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ. The actions of Aaron in all his duties were merely a shadow of the actions in heaven by the true High Priest, Jesus Christ, as Melchisedec. Christ could only enter in with the blood under the oath of Melchisedec for He is the High Priest of heaven. For while He was on earth, He was denied both His kingdom and His priesthood. His priesthood is heavenly, not earthly. His kingdom is a heavenly kingdom.

   Today many can only see Him as the King of His millennial kingdom. They cannot conceive this heavenly King, or this heavenly Priest because they are of the earth, earthy. Why so shallow? They have not been translated into His kingdom. They do not have the divine nature. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:4) Once again, we bring forth the manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ upon the earth. The Son of God, Christ, was manifested as the son of man: one and the same. He was manifested to bring in the fullness of time.

 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:4-6)

   As God’s Christ, and the High Priest of God, He presented Himself for a sacrifice. Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. A Lamb without spot, within or without. He washed at the laver of death, the Jordan, then proceeded to glorify God the Father in all that He did. In John 17, we have the high priest of heaven presenting Himself to God the Father. Notice, that He spoke with all purity, there was nothing to defile Him, nothing to diminish this purity. He presented Himself as both Priest and Lamb to be slain. All that was before Him was to fulfill the counsels of God. He had to take the blood of the covenant inside the veil. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil. This is the divine veil in heaven. This would take place as Christ fulfilled His order of Melchisedec in His first ascension. Then He returned to be shown unto the world His indisputable proof and hope of godliness. Hope is a key element in the promises of God. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. (Romans 4:18) The promises of God are also immutable for He will not deny Himself. Abraham was given the promises of God, in Abraham’s own person there was no hope. Hope had to come from without. Abraham’s hope had to come from God. God declared that Abraham would have a seed, yet Abraham was 99 years old. Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Romans 4:3) In Romans 4:18 we are linked back to Genesis 17, for God (who cannot lie) gave Abraham the divine promise of an everlasting covenant, which we will deal with in our next article. Abraham found his hope in God Himself. In Hebrews Chapter 11, the Holy Spirit brings out the age of Abraham to show us that in the natural realm (both with Abraham and Sarah) they were both past the age of childbearing. (Hebrews 11:11-12) Can an heir to the promise come from the dead? as both Abraham and Sarah could only hope in God Himself. The God that cannot lie, who has promised in His word that He Himself is immutable. His promises become fact, for they are given in His everlasting truth. In the book of Hebrews that last mention of hope is in Chapter 7, verse 19. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. The Spirit of God holds the law in contrast with hope, and hope wins every time. For the better hope was Christ. He, the perfection of God brought in a new day, a better and living (or lively) hope. For hope was in Himself, and this is our hope.

 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Peter 1:3)

 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (1 Peter 1:21)

 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15)

The world treats the word hope as fictional. God treats the word hope as steadfast and immutable. For God’s hope is in Christ Himself, and Christ will not be denied of His hope. 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. (1 John 3:2, 3)

   Our immutable hope gives us hope unto the end. (Hebrews 6:11) We lay hold on this hope because God has set it before us in His beloved Son. (Hebrews 6:18) We have this hope as an anchor of the soul, and this hope is both sure and steadfast. (Hebrews 6:19) All contained in the One who is Hope, the Lord Jesus Christ, who has taken the blood of the covenant into that within the veil. (Hebrews 6:19) We have considered the immensity of our Hope, and we have concluded that our everlasting hope is in our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our Hope.

 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother’s breasts. (Psalm 22:9)

Amen

 © Copyright 2018, Michael Haigh

Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.

All Scripture references are from the  King James Bible. (KJB)