Romans 1:17 (NIV) 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Hebrews 6:17-19 (NIV) 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
Two things:
- (1) Gods Word;
- (2) His sworn Oath.
Visible world vs Gods invisible unchanging promise. (Intangible vs Tangible)
God loves us, however, we rely on the visible world and struggle with the necessity of trusting Gods invisible unchanging promise.
The Lord has given us a line of rescue from the earthly reliance instead of depending on our fellow human beings.
We are looking for worldly validation. We desire and want to believe what we see because we believe we can reach it or manipulate it.
- 1 Samuel 8:1-9 (NIV) Israel Asks for a King
8 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. 2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. 3 But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead[b] us, such as all the other nations have.”
6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”
The people who are God's people rejected the anchor of invisible promises and demanded for a “visible human being. Because they were not anchored “Like other nations” they wanted a ruler whom they could see. Loosing the anchor.
True rest vs earthly burden. A King who will tax you and make you cry. Seeking worldly validation.
Righteousness before God doesn’t come from following rules or laws, but through faith in Jesus Christ. It’s a cornerstone of Paul’s teaching on grace — salvation is a gift, not something earned.
Romans 3:20 (NIV):
"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin."
Paul emphasized in Galatians 2:16 — the law cannot justify us, it only reveals our shortcomings. The law acts like a mirror, showing humanity’s inability to meet God’s perfect standard, and pointing us to the need for grace through Jesus Christ. Laws make us see clearly that we are sinners.
Examples: external rituals and regulations—circumcision, sacrifices, food laws, Sabbath rules—that were good in their time but never justified anyone before God. Paul contrasts them with faith in Christ, which brings true righteousness.
Galatians 2:16 (NIV):
"know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified."
We all want to be legally righteous by God
When God justifies a person, he does not physically change their character into perfection, instead, He changes their legal standing before Him from “Guilty” to “Not Gulity”.
All criminal charges are dropped and Jesus Christs perfect righteousness is credited to your account. God treats you as righteous because He treated Christ unrighteousness on the Cross.
- Romans 3:24–28 (NIV) in summary:
- Romans 3:24: “and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
- Romans 3:25: God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, received by faith, showing His justice and patience in dealing with sins.
- Romans 3:26: This demonstrates God’s righteousness — He is both just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
- Romans 3:27: “Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires faith.”
- Romans 3:28: “For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.”
A free gift earned through faith in Jesus Christ.
Trusting in Gods promises even most when situations are bleak:
- Abraham
- Moses (God called him from the burning bush)
- Davids Faith
- Shadrach, Mesach and Abednego
- Mary the Mother of Jesus Faith.
- The Roman Centurion
- Paul's Faith (From Saul)
Hebrews 6:19 describes hope in Christ as a firm and secure anchor for the soul, providing spiritual stability and assurance of access to God.
- Hebrews 6:19 states: "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain" (NIV) . The Hope is steadfast and reliable it is an anchor that cannot slip or fail, and its a direct connection to the heavenly sanctuary where God’s presence dwells.
Meaning: An anchor creates stability and security. Just as an anchor keeps a ship steady during storms, hope in Christ provides spiritual steadiness amid life’s trials . This hope is not mere wishful thinking but a confident assurance based on God’s promises and faithfulness, particularly the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ.
The inner sanctuary behind the curtain is similar to the Jewish temple. In the Old Testament, the Holy of Holies was separated by a curtain, and only the high priest could enter once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). Jesus is the ultimate high priest who has entered the heavenly sanctuary on our behalf, granting believers direct access to God. Our hope as believers is secure and grounded in Christ’s finished work.
Hebrews 6:19 reassures believers that our faith is anchored in something unshakable. It follows warnings against shallow or immature faith, showing that true hope in Christ provides confidence, perseverance, and spiritual growth even under persecution or uncertainty.
Anchor your soul in this hope by:
- Trusting in God’s promises and faithfulness.
- Reflecting on the assurance of salvation through Jesus.
- Drawing strength during trials, knowing their spiritual stability is secure.
- Encouraging others to find confidence and steadfastness in Christ .
Hebrews 6:19 Christ is a reliable, unshakable anchor that secures the soul and assures believers of God’s presence and eternal promises.
Hebrews 6:19-20 states:
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a
high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek."
The Anchor of Hope
- The hope: a confident expectation based on God's unchanging promises and His faithfulness (Hebrews 6:18).
- The term "anchor": stability and security amidst uncertainty just as an anchor keeps a ship steady in a storm, hope in Christ steadies the believer’s soul (Hebrews 6:19, Psalm 62:5-6, Romans 8:38-39).
2. "Behind the Veil" – Entering the Holy of Holies
- The immediate dwelling place of God’s presence, from the rest of the temple. Only the high priest could enter once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16).
- Christ, enters heaven itself (Hebrews 9:24) on our behalf, accessing God.
- Christ's Jesus remains permanently in the heavenly Holy Place.
4. Outcomes
- Hope Anchored in Christ: Believers’ hope is directly linked to Christ’s finished work, not our own efforts, ensuring stability (Hebrews 10:23, John 14:3).
- Access to God: Because Christ has entered the inner sanctuary, believers can confidently approach God (Hebrews 10:19-22), enjoying immediate fellowship and intercession.
- Assurance of Resurrection: Hebrews repeatedly links Christ as the firstfruits of resurrection, affirming that believers will follow Him into eternal life (Hebrews 2:14-15, 6:19-20, 9:28).
- Spiritual Perseverance: Encourages believers to remain steadfast amidst trials, grounded in the immutable promise of God (Ephesians 4:14, Colossians 1:23).
- Hope = confident expectation based on God’s oath.
- Anchor = spiritual security, unshakable and reliable.
- Behind the veil = Christ’s entrance into Holy of Holies, direct access to God.
- Forerunner = Christ secured and guaranteed believers’ eternal destiny.
- High Priest forever = Christ’s eternal, ensures unending intercession for us.
Mr. Edward Muwanga Barlow.