Hebrews 6:17-18 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
God’s promise to Abraham affects us even today. We are “heirs of the promise” because we have joined the spiritual community stretching back all the way to Abraham. We are Abraham’s heirs through faith (see Romans 4). God’s unchangeable character confirms God’s unchangeable promise. If God makes a promise, we can count on it because of who God is. “It is impossible for God to lie” because God is holy and not human. God exists on an unimaginable higher level as the supreme Ruler of all things. There is nothing greater or higher than God. God sets the standard for all that exists. In the Old Testament, the word “holy” is used to described God’s transcendence and “otherness.” We should respond to God’s holiness in several ways. One is in worship. Another is in trust, which is the focus of the author. We can trust God’s words and use them to live by. God has made a promise of salvation in Jesus. This is a sure thing because it comes from the Almighty and Holy God. Knowing this should give us strong encouragement not to forsake Jesus but to hold fast to him. This faith supported by knowing the nature of God should give us hope. For the readers who were tempted to leave the faith in Jesus, this is a powerful argument. The logic is clear and simple: 1) We can trust in the promises of God because of who God is. 2) This promise is about Jesus. 3) Trusting in this promise with faith will give us hope and help us endure any trial or temptation.
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