Hebrews 6:13-20The Certainty of God's Promise

GOD SWEARS!GOD SWEARS!

● ● Oath-taking is of utmost importance to God. He Oath-taking is of utmost importance to God. He expects me to swear allegiance through oath-taking expects me to swear allegiance through oath-taking too.too.

● ● These wonderful promises of forgiveness, These wonderful promises of forgiveness, partnership and eternal life come to me by means of partnership and eternal life come to me by means of a promise signed in precious blood.a promise signed in precious blood.

● ● God signed some big contracts with human God signed some big contracts with human beings. I’ll need to read the small print of the Latest beings. I’ll need to read the small print of the Latest Contract.Contract.

WORSHIP THROUGH SONGWORSHIP THROUGH SONG

PROMISES, PROMISES!PROMISES, PROMISES!

PROMISES, PROMISES!PROMISES, PROMISES!

PROMISE MAKING AND OATH TAKING …PROMISE MAKING AND OATH TAKING …PART OF OUR AMAZING GODPART OF OUR AMAZING GOD

● ● We don’t know why God chose that man, We don’t know why God chose that man, Abraham, to begin a long string of promises…or Abraham, to begin a long string of promises…or why he wasn’t offended when Abraham asked for why he wasn’t offended when Abraham asked for God’s signature on the dotted line.God’s signature on the dotted line.

● ● You’ll be the father of a great nation. Your name You’ll be the father of a great nation. Your name will be great. Someday I’ll bless all of the world’s will be great. Someday I’ll bless all of the world’s people groups through you. Let’s shake hands on people groups through you. Let’s shake hands on it. (Paraphrase of God’s words…Genesis 15)it. (Paraphrase of God’s words…Genesis 15)

PROMISE MAKING AND OATH TAKING …PROMISE MAKING AND OATH TAKING …PART OF OUR AMAZING GODPART OF OUR AMAZING GOD

● ● The animal’s body was cut in two…then God The animal’s body was cut in two…then God moved between the parts. That was how moved between the parts. That was how Abraham’s neighbors made treaties in those days.Abraham’s neighbors made treaties in those days.

● ● Walking between the parts represented two Walking between the parts represented two groups become one. Looking back at the parts groups become one. Looking back at the parts reminded the participants that they agreed to be reminded the participants that they agreed to be treated that way (chopped in two) if they ever broke treated that way (chopped in two) if they ever broke the contract.the contract.

● ● And God enters into a pact like that?! And God enters into a pact like that?!

Remembering the Greatest Remembering the Greatest Promise Keeper even to the Promise Keeper even to the death on a cross.death on a cross.

I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. I have chosen to follow Jesus as my Lord and trust Him as my Savior.

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Returning to God out of our Returning to God out of our abundance. A gift of thanks.abundance. A gift of thanks.

THAT EARLY COVENANT CEREMONY WOULD THAT EARLY COVENANT CEREMONY WOULD BE RE-ENACTED 1500 YEARS LATERBE RE-ENACTED 1500 YEARS LATER

● ● The Hebrews made another treaty with God at Mt. The Hebrews made another treaty with God at Mt. Sinai.Sinai.

● ● Fellowship bulls were cut in two, with all of the Fellowship bulls were cut in two, with all of the people required to sign the covenant by walking people required to sign the covenant by walking between the parts. Moses sprinkled blood on the between the parts. Moses sprinkled blood on the altar as if God was signing the agreement. altar as if God was signing the agreement.

● ● Oath taking was a way of promising certain Oath taking was a way of promising certain behavior…and negative consequences if the behavior…and negative consequences if the participants failed to living up to their pledge. Even participants failed to living up to their pledge. Even God promised to behave himself.God promised to behave himself.

THE FINAL CONTRACT: New Parties, New THE FINAL CONTRACT: New Parties, New Terms and New PromisesTerms and New Promises

● ● Old Covenant Parties have become obsolete… Old Covenant Parties have become obsolete… previously only blood relatives of Abraham were previously only blood relatives of Abraham were eligible.eligible.

● ● The Terms are new. (No longer a matter of The Terms are new. (No longer a matter of keeping 613 laws)keeping 613 laws)

● ● The Promises are startling: Eternal Life, God’s The Promises are startling: Eternal Life, God’s participation in our lives, our sin list erased and participation in our lives, our sin list erased and more.more.

GOD SIGNED THIS NEW, GLOBAL GOD SIGNED THIS NEW, GLOBAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BLOOD OF JESUSAGREEMENT WITH THE BLOOD OF JESUS

WE SIGN ON BY GETTING BAPTIZEDWE SIGN ON BY GETTING BAPTIZED

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CHRISTMASCHRISTMAS IS THE IS THE CHRIST-MASSCHRIST-MASSCHRIST IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASONCHRIST IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

You cannot even say “Christ-mas” without honoring You cannot even say “Christ-mas” without honoring Christ. Christ.

Even the secular world honors Christ, without even Even the secular world honors Christ, without even realizing it. realizing it.

Take advantage of the “holiday season”. It is an Take advantage of the “holiday season”. It is an incredible opportunity to share the reason for the incredible opportunity to share the reason for the season.season.

Take Take advantage of advantage of the “holiday the “holiday season”. It is season”. It is an incredible an incredible opportunity to opportunity to share the share the reason for the reason for the season.season.

● ● I know I know oath-taking is of utmost importance to God. oath-taking is of utmost importance to God. Therefore, I swear allegiance through oath-taking too.Therefore, I swear allegiance through oath-taking too.

● ● I praise God I praise God for the wonderful promises of for the wonderful promises of forgiveness, partnership and eternal life that came forgiveness, partnership and eternal life that came come to me by means of a promise signed in his come to me by means of a promise signed in his precious blood.precious blood.

● ● I am blessed I am blessed by the big contract God signed with all by the big contract God signed with all of us. In response, of us. In response, I have decided I have decided to faithfully keep to faithfully keep my keep my end of the Latest Contract my keep my end of the Latest Contract –to follow –to follow Jesus.Jesus.

Go! And Plant Go! And Plant Rainbows!Rainbows!