In the context of Paul’s epistle the two absolutely unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to do is to lie, are when he gives a promise (Genesis 17:2) and when he takes his oath (Genesis 22:16-17). In either case his integrity compels him to be true (Hebrews 6:18). Therefore, God took an oath and swore to Abraham for the sake of Abraham and his descendants, that they might have strong encouragement or comfort (G3874) in the thing the Lord had promised to do.
In a world where lies and dishonesty prevail, one might tend to believe God is either unwilling to do what he said he would do, or is simply unable to do it. Nevertheless, the Lord’s integrity wouldn’t allow him to make claims he couldn’t meet, nor would it permit him to purposefully hold back what he promised to do. Whether man is better or worse, richer or poorer, whether the one to whom God gave his oath is in sickness or in health, the Lord will perform what he promised he would do. It simply doesn’t matter what man does or in what condition he is in, the word of the Lord never fails. Therefore, believers in the first century AD were able to take strong encouragement in the promises of God.
Abraham is the father of the faithful (Romans 4:16), because the Scriptures say he believed God (Genesis 22:15-20; Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23), and his faith was reckoned to him for righteousness. What Paul was seeking to do at this point was to encourage his readers to remain faithful, because the word of God is true (Hebrews 6:18), and as the Scriptures say, if God’s people rebel against him, he would judge them after he made good his promise to them (Joshua 24:19-20). Therefore, for better or for worse, the Lord will do exactly as he said he would do despite man’s behavior.
Moses said that in the end of the age Israel would become corrupt and the Lord would judge them (Deuteronomy 31:29). The Lord’s integrity demanded that he judge his people for their rebellion. This is what is known as the wrath of God. Nevertheless, although the Lord judged their brethren, the faithful were able to take strong consolation in the Lord’s promises. During the very time of the wrath of God, the faithful had hope (Hebrews 6:18), and they would be able to flee to the Lord for refuge (Deuteronomy 4:42; 19:5). During the very time of the Lord’s judgment upon their brethren that made up that rebellious generation (Matthew 12:39; 16:27-28), the faithful would be able to find their refuge and safety with him (Hebrews 6:18; cf. Genesis 19:15-17; Jeremiah 6:1; 37:11-12; Luke 21:20-22).
What would heaven be like without Jesus? If there were no Jesus and men were in heaven, heaven would be just as this world is today, only worse, because it would be without any knowledge of Jesus.
The Temple in Jerusalem stood as a symbol of where heaven and earth met. Heaven is the dwelling place of God, which was symbolized by the Most Holy Place within the veil. On this side of the veil was the Holy Place and the outer courts of the Temple, and outside these was the world. Paul tells us that Jesus is our High Priest, not after the priesthood of Aaron, but after the priesthood of Melchizedek, and he, that is Jesus, has entered into the place beyond the veil. That is, he has entered heaven, the Most Holy Place. He is there as our Representative and High Priest. He is our one and only hope (Hebrews 6:18-20; cp. Titus 1:1-2). Elsewhere, Paul claims that the Gospel he preached pointed to this hope, which is ours in heaven (Colossians 1:5). In Christ, our hope, we are completely righteous before God, if we walk in faith and ground ourselves unmovable in this hope (Colossians 1:23), which is Christ in us (Colossians 1:27).
He has entered the veil, and we in him (Ephesians 2:6). He is our “Anchor …sure and steadfast” who lies beyond the veil (in heaven), and we, though the storm tosses our ship, cannot be moved from the hope we have in him, for this is what an anchor does. It secures the ship in the storm. Therefore, Paul encourages his readers to lay hold of “that hope set before us” (Hebrews 6:18), because that hope, our hope, is beyond the veil, in heaven.
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