Inheriting the Promise<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nFor when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself: I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you.<\/em> And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBecause God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because he has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Closing Thoughts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIt sounded familiar there at the end, huh?\u00a0 Now you know who Melchizedek is and it makes this so much more understandable!\u00a0 I love reading Scripture when I know a little of the background.\u00a0 It\u2019s like the whole meaning just comes alive. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The author kinda picks up where he left off in chapter 5, explaining why it\u2019s important that we move on from elementary teaching. But he quickly morphs into a discussion of falling away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let me be clear. There is something that this is<\/strong><\/em> and there is something that this passage undoubtedly is not<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf a person has full revelation of who Christ is \u2013 full knowledge \u2013 and rejects Him anyway, he or she has no other option for eternal life. That\u2019s apostacy – abandonment, renunciation. A person stands as an enemy of Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, this is not<\/strong><\/em> referring to one losing one\u2019s salvation. Beautiful precious promises are our assurances. Passages such as John 10:27-29:<\/p>\n\n\n\nMy sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father\u2019s hand.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n