Hope Anchors Our Salvation

In Hebrew 6:17–19 of the text, Paul makes abundantly clear that to the heirs of Abraham, God’s commitment to fulfill the promises once given to Abraham and his progeny is established upon an oath sealed by God’s own Word. Furthermore, Paul compels the reader to understand that God’s Word is unchangeable because He cannot lie. He has given His Word, and it has been established by an oath to Abraham and his heirs.

The heirs of promise are all those who, by faith, are children of faithful Abraham. The promise referred to is the promise of eternal salvation to all who believe in Him. When God made a promise concerning a seed to Abraham, that promise found its full and ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Therefore, all the blessings that flow from union with Christ were included in that promise.

In Hebrews 6:18, the believer now has two unchangeable things on which to rely God’s Word and His oath. It is impossible to imagine anything more secure or certain. God promises to save all who believe in Christ, and then He confirms it with an oath. The conclusion is inevitable: the believer is eternally secure.

Let me demonstrate this hope we have, which is secured by God’s Word. The currency of the United States of America, the U.S. dollar, is not backed by physical commodities like gold, but rather by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. It is a fiat currency, guaranteed by the stability of the U.S. economy, the government’s ability to collect taxes, and trust in its legal obligation to pay its debts.

Therefore, it is sustained by confidence in its word and the trust people place in its ability to honor its obligations. However, the U.S. dollar is still subject to failure because it is of human origin. God’s Word, on the other hand, will never fail because it is eternally guaranteed by the character of God Himself.

This is a covenant in which the believer cannot lose, because it is guaranteed that all who are heirs of Abraham by faith will receive the benefit, the blessing, and the benediction of God’s promise and commitment given to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his seed. That blessing is eternal life and redemption.

Galatians 3:27–29 states,

“[27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Since we have this confidence in God regarding eternal salvation, Paul the Apostle declares in Hebrews 6:19, “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;”

Yes, hope is our anchor.

Paul compares hope to an anchor because a ship’s anchor, when deployed, keeps the vessel from drifting even when storms arise and gale-force winds blow. An anchor with sufficient chain and rode secures the ship in a fixed position despite the turbulence around it. In the same way, as recipients of God’s promises, we have hope and therefore are firmly positioned in God.

Our position is established. No matter what storms arise in life, we cannot be shaken, moved, deterred, or defeated because our hope is built upon Jesus Christ and His righteousness. As the hymn writer declared, “On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”

Yes, HOPE IS OUR ANCHOR!