The Anchor Holds
Text: Hebrews 6: 16-20
Intro:As born again children of God, we live our lives in three
realms, each secured by the Anchor of God. This anchor
resembles a treble hook (three hooks in one):

1) The Past is settled by an operating Faith
this is faith toward a finished work. The blood has been
applied, names written down in heaven, The gift of grace
has been accepted and applied through faith.

2) The Present is stabilized by an ongoing Love
This love has been shed abroad in our hearts. This love
constrains us in our daily lives. Faith is the foundation,
and love is the function.

3) The Future is secured by an overcoming hope
This is the priceless knowledge that our future is secured
by the divine decree of God. The Bible word for "hope"
is drastically different from the english word "hope". We
might say "I hope she gets well". This is a hope based on
desire, but no certainty can be attached. A Biblical hope
means "based upon a certainty, that results in desire".
This continues in:

a) a divine certainty (called the "blessed hope")
b) a divine contract (the old account was settled long ago)
c) a divine contact (coming before the throne with boldness)
d) a divine conclusion (the anchor holds)

I. We have an Anchor of Covenant
(vs 16-18 "for men verily swear the greater and an oath for confirm-
ation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein, God, willing more
abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutable things"
This covenant is secured by two elements:

A) God confirms it by His Word
We can take God at His word. This is the promise of God. The
Psalmist said, "Forever, o Lord, is thy word settled in heaven".
The word "immutable" means "unchangeable".

1) settled in position in Heaven
2) settled in performance on the Hill
3) settled in possession in your heart

B) God certifies it by His Worth
This is the pledge of God. Verse 17 "swore by Himself". This
means that God has placed His name on the line. If God were
to break one promise, He would lose his holy character. He
would lose His right to be God. God said "I am, that I am".
The "I am" gives "everlasting life". He is an "ever God". This
is the collateral of the contract.

II. We have an Anchor of Comfort
Verse 18-19 "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"

A) We have found a Refuge in Heaven
those who have "fled to take refuge" are the lost sinners who
have come to Christ in salvation. We have fled the wrath of God,
the slave market of sin, the death sentence imposed because
of our sin nature. We have entered the refuge of God by faith.
We are safe as long as the High Priest of our salvation lives.
"I've anchored my soul in the haven of rest"

B) We are fixed to a Rock in Heaven
vs 19 "we have an anchor, both sure and stedfast"
an anchor serves to secure the ship. The anchor digs deep
and holds firmly to rocks on the bottom. When we got saved,
we cast our anchor toward the finished work of Jesus Christ.
It became lodged in the rock of ages. But we have to remember
that Jesus Christ is now in heaven, seated on the right hand of
the Father, having finished the work of salvation. The word "sure"
means "can be counted on" and the word "stedfast" means
"unmovable". We are not anchored "down", we are anchored
"up", and everyday the rope gets a little shorter.

III. We have an Anchor of Contact
Verse 20 "whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus,
made an high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec"
if all we had is an anchor of covenant and comfort, that would be
more than enough to shout, but we have on more precious thing:

A) A Contact that Performs (vs19 "forerunner")
a forerunner was used in ancient times as a scout, or one who
went ahead of the main group to prepare the way and the arrival
of the main group. A literal interpretation is "one who comes in
advance of the main body to the place where the rest are to
follow". In Vietnam, we called this "a point man". He often gave
his life for the safety of the group. There was a time when Jesus
said, "they can't get here, unless I go there". Jesus was our
"point man" in death, grave and hell. He is also our "point man"
that has gone back to heaven to prepare a place for us.

B) A Contact that is Positioned ("high priest")
This means "a mediator between God and man". The one to
qualify for this position had to be both God and man. His finished
work on Calvary was the sacrifice for our sins. However, that
sacrifice had to be offered and accepted. When Jesus ascended
back to heaven, he offered that sacrifice to God, it was accepted,
and Jesus sat down on the right hand of God the father, signifying
it work was completed. This means "we are saved to the utter-
most. Out anchor is firmly planted in the rock of ages that is seated
in heaven, and is serving as our high priest