Letter to the Hebrews Volume 55

 God the Father's Foolproof Purpose & Promise in Christ Part 2

Hebrews 6:16-18 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, 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: KJV

God being all-powerful and all-knowing (as we declared in the last study/commentary) swore this promise to Abraham by Himself, seeing that there is none above Him, for He is the One True and Only God who made the Universe, the stars, the planets, and all the galaxies out there far beyond the reach of man here on the earth (which also He made). The writer of Hebrews with this next verse affirms humanities understanding of swearing by someone greater than themselves with an oath and we humans define this word 'oath' as being a solemn promise, usually invoking a divine witness, regarding your future acts or behavior (Note: This is even done by people who don't even believe God exist). God the Father could not swear by some other Divine witness outside of Himself, for He is THE Divine witness only. The passage of Scripture as it is written in Hebrews 6:16, "For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife." (Hebrews 6:16) (KJV).

Men and women swear an oath to one another to put an end to all dispute, differences, and disagreements which is why the writer of Hebrews used this language that could be understood by human beings to communicate how serious He (God) was and is about keeping His promise to then Abram (later Abraham) of how Great Abraham's seed of Isaac would become upon the earth for many generations and for all eternity. The Messiah our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ came into the earth realm through the seed of Abraham, as it is written, "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." (Matthew 1:1) (KJV), read the rest of this geneology in (Matthew 1:2-17). Here is what the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary had to say of Hebrews 6:16, "This passage shows: (1) An oath is sanctioned even in the Christian dispensation as lawful; (2) That the limits to its use are, that it only be employed where it can put an end to contradiction in disputes, and for confirmation of a solemn promise."

The writer of Hebrews now shows how God wanted Abram (later Abraham) to be so sure that what was promised to him and through would come to pass he declares these words, "Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath:" (Hebrews 6:17) (KJV). The English word 'immutability' is translated by the Greek word ametathetos which means unchangeable, or (neuter as abstract) unchangeability: - immutablility. In other words, God wanted so much that Abram believe and trust His promise to him that He swore it by Himself who is the 'Unchangeable One'. Here is what John Wesley had to say of this oath God made to Abram, "God interposed by an oath - Amazing condescension! He who is greatest of all acts as if He were a middle person; as if while He swears, He were less than Himself, by whom He swears! Thou that hearest the promise, dost thou not yet believe?" God in some way lowered Himself before , below, and beneath Himself that He would then make an oath to Abram by Himself. Yes, I know this sounds complex, confusing, and even crazy to some, but God could not swear by anybody greater than Himself, so He did just that.

Next we find the writer of Hebrews setting forth for us the solid foundation on which those Hebrew converts to Christ were standing and on which each and every one of us stands who have come to the Cross of Jesus Christ for safety, sanctuary, and security, as it is written, "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:24-27) (KJV). So, the writer of Hebrews with this premise in mind declares these words to us in Hebrews 6:18, "That by two immutable things, 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:" (Hebrews 6:18) (KJV). The two immutable or unchanging things are God's promise to Abraham and the oath He made to Abraham.

God cannot lie it is not possible because of His Nature, for only truth can flow from Him who is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Therefore, our, that is, all true believers in Christ Jesus can have 'strong consolation', that is, we can have powerful comfort in our resurrection from the dead and our eternal glory with Jesus Christ our Lord, as it is written by the Apostle Paul with these words, "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:50-57) (KJV). Here is what John Wesley had to say of Hebrews 6:18, "That by two unchangeable things - His promise and His oath, in either, much more in both of which, it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation - Swallowing up all doubt and fear. Who have fled - After having been tossed by many storms. To lay hold on the hope set before us - On Christ, the object of our hope, and the glory we hope for through Him."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…