Two Immutable Things

Collins Concise Dictionary defines the word immutable as: (adj) unchanging through time; unalterable; ageless. 

Hebrews 6:13-20:
"(13) For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself,
(14) saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you."
(15) And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
(16) For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute.
(17) Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath,
(18) that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.
(19) This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
(20) where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." 

As we can see from the definition of the word immutable, God has shown us two unchangeable, unalterable, ageless tenets. These are His promise and His oath. In verse 13 when God made His promise to Abraham, because there was no one greater than Himself, He made the promise and confirmed it by His own oath. As it is impossible for God to lie the promise once made and confirmed became unalterable. Abraham did not see the full results of God's promise in his lifetime; yet God brought it to pass in later generations. 

Verse 18 tells us that these two immutable things enable us to have a strong consolation in God. Then there is a reference back to the Old Testament to the cities of refuge mentioned in Numbers chapter 35. If an Israelite accidently caused the death of another person he could flee to one of the cities of refuge for protection from the dead person's avenging family. As long as he stayed within the environs of the city of refuge and did not try to go anywhere else he was safe. If he did leave the city of refuge and the avenging family caught up with him - his death was on his own head - as he was no longer protected by the law.

In like manner we as sinners flee to Jesus Christ for refuge from the penalty of our sins. If we are not sheltering under the protection of His blood, shed for us at Calvary, we cannot escape the penalty of dying in our sins. If we die in our sins we will stand before the great White Throne and be judged for those sins. The end result is the Lake of Fire which is the second eternal death.

So what was the hope of the man slayer who fled to the city of refuge? Surely it was that he would be protected in that city from the avenging family. As it was written into the Law the avenging family could not legally enter the city of refuge to kill him. He was safe in the city of refuge.

The two immutable things, God's promise and His confirming oath, give us assurance and a strong hope in God. We are encouraged, "...to lay hold of the hope set before us." The Greek word krateo has the thought of to seize or hold on strongly. Our hope is centred in the Lord Jesus Christ and his work of salvation and redemption at Calvary. Heaven is open for me and heaven is open for you.

Let's look at the words of the Lord Jesus in John 14:1-3
(1) "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
(2) In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
(3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

In verse 19 we read, "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast...”. An anchor is used to grip and hold things steady. A boat uses an anchor to stop the boat drifting away from where it is moored. Sometimes you see awnings anchored by strong ropes or steel cables. Otherwise strong winds could blow them away.

Here are four useful anchors in Jude verses 20, 21.
"(20) But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
(21) keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." Use them to keep your hope "...both sure and steadfast..."

Hebrews 6:19 also informs us that, "This hope...enters the Presence behind the veil." This is a direct reference to the heavy, embroidered curtain which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies in both the Tabernacle and the Temple. The Holy of Holies was where God dwelt amongst the children of Israel. Only the high priest could go behind the heavy curtain and that was only once each year on the Day of Atonement.

Now let's look at Hebrews 6:20:
"where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." This verse is telling us that Jesus, the Son of God has through His work at Calvary gone behind the curtain separating us from God on our behalf.

Hebrews 10:19-23:
"(19) Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
(20) by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
(21) and having a High Priest over the house of God,
(22) let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
(23) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."

You and I can enter into God's presence at any time without fear and with holy boldness because the Lord Jesus has opened up the way for us. There is a place prepared for us in Heaven when we die. We will be ...well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:8)

The two immutable things, God's promise and God's confirming oath are real. The Holy Scriptures are full of our God's faithfulness and full of His wonderful miracles and interventions on behalf of His people. "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."

Jon Peasey

Biblical Perspectives blog www.jon-peasey.blogspot.com
Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

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