GROUP STUDY QUESTIONS Hebrews: The Supremacy of Christ
GROUP STUDY QUESTIONS Hebrews: The Supremacy of Christ Does G od Ever Swear? – Hebrews 6:13-20 Read the text. Overview of this passage: There is a heavy focus here on God’s promise to His people in these verses. I think the author is making this his focus here for 2 reasons: one is because the verses that came before this could have caused even the sincere Christian to possibly be filled with some anxiety, and two because this church is deeply discouraged. They are discouraged for a few reasons. One of the reasons it implies the reality of their situation. They are suffering. Intensely suffering. And it’s not the nd first time. This is the 2 horrific wave of persecution this group has experienced, and it’s going to get worse. The author tells them later in this letter that they “are not YET suffering to the point of death.” In other words, I know it’s bad, but it’s going to get worse! As a result of all they have gone through already, and their present situation they are tired, worn out, beat down, barely hanging on, and deeply discouraged. Another reason for their discouragement is doubt. They doubt God’s goodness and faithfulness towards them because of all they are suffering. They are beginning to wonder if God will ever fulfill the promises He has made to them. They do not feel like victors, but victims. They are not prospering. They are suffering. Jesus has not yet returned like He said He would, to right every wrong, and they are beginning to wonder if He ever will. It “appears” to them as though God is not keeping His promise. Have you ever been discouraged because of life’s circumstances? Have you ever felt as though God made you a promise that still hasn’t come to pass? If so, how did it affect you? How did it affect your relationship with God? Have you ever been deeply discouraged in your walk with God as a result of difficult circumstances in life that God wasn’t changing? How do you think God responds to us when we are in places like this? Is He angry with us for being discouraged? What does He do? The beautiful message of this text is that God doesn’t get angry with us when we are discouraged, but rather He desires to encourage us (v18)! And that’s what these verses are meant by God to do. Read vv13-15 again. What was the promise God made to Abraham? (See Gen 12) According to v15 how did Abraham inherit the promise? Abraham had to wait 25 years to receive the promise from God. Why do you think God made him wait so long? What does that mean for us? These verses are referencing Gen. 22:16-17. Now read v16. This is referring back to the oath God made to Abraham. Why did God swear by His own name?
WHY did God swear an oath to Abraham? The answer is in v17! So, whom did God really swear an oath for? WHY did God do this for us? The answer is in v18! So that we would be greatly encouraged! This promise – and the oath God took – is really to make it very clear to us that unchangeable nature of His purpose for us is just that, unchangeable! What is God’s purpose for us as the heirs of promise? How does this greatly encourage you? It says in v18 that God wants to encourage “those who have fled to take hold of the hope offered.” Literally translated it says, “those who have fled to take refuge in Him.” What does this mean, and how do we know that’s us? Read vv19-20. What does this hope serve as? Why do you think he uses an anchor as the illustration for the hope that we have in Christ? According to these verses, is this anchor securely attached to our souls, or is up to us to hold the other end with our strength? Where is this anchor that is attached to our soul tethered? What do you think the author means when he tells us that this anchor is tethered in “the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus who went before us has entered on our behalf?” It would appear to be that our take away from all this is that if we are those who have fled to take refuge in Christ then we are heirs of the promise. God has taken an oath and made a promise that His promise towards us will come to pass. That promise is ultimately that He will bring us home when this life is over. This is how God desires to bring us great encouragement during the trials of this life. God seems to think this is enough for us to be able to wait with faith and patience while we are here – even if life is hard. Do you think it’s enough to get us through the painful trials of life? Why or why not?
WHY did God swear an oath to Abraham? The answer is in v17! So, whom did God really swear an oath for? WHY did God do this for us? The answer is in v18! So that we would be greatly encouraged! This promise – and the oath God took – is really to make it very clear to us that unchangeable nature of His purpose for us is just that, unchangeable! What is God’s purpose for us as the heirs of promise? How does this greatly encourage you? It says in v18 that God wants to encourage “those who have fled to take hold of the hope offered.” Literally translated it says, “those who have fled to take refuge in Him.” What does this mean, and how do we know that’s us? Read vv19-20. What does this hope serve as? Why do you think he uses an anchor as the illustration for the hope that we have in Christ? According to these verses, is this anchor securely attached to our souls, or is up to us to hold the other end with our strength? Where is this anchor that is attached to our soul tethered? What do you think the author means when he tells us that this anchor is tethered in “the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus who went before us has entered on our behalf?” It would appear to be that our take away from all this is that if we are those who have fled to take refuge in Christ then we are heirs of the promise. God has taken an oath and made a promise that His promise towards us will come to pass. That promise is ultimately that He will bring us home when this life is over. This is how God desires to bring us great encouragement during the trials of this life. God seems to think this is enough for us to be able to wait with faith and patience while we are here – even if life is hard. Do you think it’s enough to get us through the painful trials of life? Why or why not?
