Feb 1977 - Q & A

"We may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us" (Heb. 6:18). Does this hope refer to the coming again of the Lord Jesus Christ?

(a)The hope set before the people of God in Hebrews is described in chapters 3 and 4. Today, as in Moses' day, the hope was of entering into the rest of God's house (3:11,18; 4:1,3-11). To enter into this promised rest requires a holding fast, boldness and diligence, in spite of trials and difficulties. If we should succumb to unbelief and be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin we shall forfeit the hope set before us and lose our place in God's house. Perhaps the difficulty in chapter 6 is the unusual thought of our hope entering into the holies, but on reflection is it not most reassuring that the One who Himself has gone into the holies in heaven with His own blood is the One in whom our hope resides? When therefore we enter the holies to worship God the highest aspiration of our being is realized, we enjoy to the full the rest of God's house, our hope is rewarded.

(b)I had not thought of the hope in Hebrews 6:18 as being the hope of entering into the rest of God's house, but rather the hope which can be enjoyed by those who today are in God's house. In the past the hope of the children of Israel was their high priest. He entered the holies as the representative of the people. He carried them symbolically on his shoulders and on his breast. The hope of the people was pinned on their high priest. His acceptance meant their acceptance before God. He bore the judgement of the children of Israel and he bore "the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts, and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before

LORD".

Those who are in God's house today have as their Hope the glorious Person of the Son of God in all the value of His Person, work and office. He as the Forerunner has entered into that which is within the veil. He is there for us and in His acceptance we are assured of our acceptance before God. Our hope is better than that enjoyed by the Israel people because of the infinite superiority of the Son of God. The hope of Hebrews 6:18 is not the blessed hope of the Lord's return to take to Himself all who are in the Church the Body.

unknown | Feb 1977
Question And Answer