Anchored Hope: The Assurance of Salvation in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Dual Nature of Our Hope

Our hope in Christ is both heavenly and personal, providing a steadfast assurance that transcends our circumstances. This hope is anchored in the holy of holies in heaven and within our souls, rooted in the eternal promises of God. It is not a passive expectation but an active, living connection to the divine promises secured by the blood of Christ. This dual anchoring challenges us to understand that our hope is not dependent on our strength but on the unbreakable chain of God's promises and the indestructible life of Christ. As we navigate life's storms, this hope offers us a firm foundation, reminding us that our salvation is not a fragile hope left to our weak hands but a robust assurance secured by God's sovereign hand. [04:01]

Hebrews 10:19-23 (ESV): "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."

Reflection: In what ways can you actively connect with the promises of God today, allowing His hope to anchor your soul amidst your current circumstances?

Day 2: The Unbreakable Chain of God's Promises

The security of our hope is not dependent on our strength but on the unbreakable chain of God's promises and the indestructible life of Christ. This assurance is a divine work within us, fulfilling God's promises to keep us from falling away. Our salvation is not a fragile hope left to our weak hands but a robust assurance secured by God's sovereign hand. The New Covenant promises, sealed by Christ's blood, ensure that our hearts are transformed, enabling us to hold fast to our hope. This transformation is not a result of our efforts but a divine work within us, fulfilling God's promises. [06:54]

2 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."

Reflection: Identify a promise of God that you find difficult to trust fully. How can you begin to rely on His strength rather than your own to embrace this promise today?

Day 3: The Transformative Power of the New Covenant

The New Covenant promises, sealed by Christ's blood, ensure that our hearts are transformed, enabling us to hold fast to our hope. This transformation is not a result of our efforts but a divine work within us, fulfilling God's promises. Our hope is not a passive expectation but an active, living connection to the promises of God. We are called to actively hold on, not in our strength, but in the strength provided by Christ, who has taken hold of us. This transformation empowers us to live out our faith with confidence, knowing that our salvation is secured by God's sovereign hand. [17:44]

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you have experienced transformation through Christ. How can you continue to nurture this transformation in your daily walk with God?

Day 4: Active Participation in Our Hope

Our hope is not a passive expectation but an active, living connection to the promises of God. We are called to actively hold on, not in our strength, but in the strength provided by Christ, who has taken hold of us. This active participation in our hope requires us to engage with God's promises daily, allowing His strength to sustain us. As we hold fast to our hope, we are reminded that our salvation is not a fragile hope left to our weak hands but a robust assurance secured by God's sovereign hand. This assurance impacts our daily lives, providing us with a steadfast assurance amidst life's storms. [23:01]

Colossians 1:11-12 (ESV): "May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to actively engage with God's promises and allow His strength to sustain you in your current situation?

Day 5: The Assurance of Salvation

Our salvation is not a fragile hope left to our weak hands but a robust assurance secured by God's sovereign hand. This assurance is a reality that impacts our daily lives, providing us with a steadfast assurance amidst life's storms. The anchor of our soul is a unique and powerful symbol of our hope in Christ. It is a hope that is both heavenly and personal, secured by the eternal covenant and the indwelling presence of God. This hope calls us to actively hold on, not in our strength, but in the strength provided by Christ, who has taken hold of us. [25:47]

1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

Reflection: How does the assurance of your salvation impact the way you face challenges and uncertainties in your life today? What can you do to remind yourself of this assurance daily?

Sermon Summary

The anchor of the soul is a profound metaphor that illustrates the dual nature of our hope in Christ. This hope is not only anchored in the holy of holies in heaven but is also firmly rooted within our souls. The passage from Hebrews 6:19-20 describes this hope as both sure and steadfast, entering within the veil where Jesus, our forerunner, has gone as a high priest forever. This imagery challenges us to understand that our hope is not a passive expectation but an active, living connection to the promises of God, secured by the blood of Christ.

The anchor, unlike traditional anchors that descend into the depths, ascends into heaven, symbolizing our connection to the divine promises and the eternal covenant established through Christ's sacrifice. This anchor is not merely a theological concept but a reality that impacts our daily lives, providing us with a steadfast assurance amidst life's storms. The security of this anchor is not dependent on our strength but on the unbreakable chain of God's promises and the indestructible life of Christ.

The sermon emphasizes that our salvation is not a fragile hope left to our weak hands but a robust assurance secured by God's sovereign hand. The New Covenant promises, sealed by Christ's blood, ensure that our hearts are transformed, enabling us to hold fast to our hope. This transformation is not a result of our efforts but a divine work within us, fulfilling God's promises to keep us from falling away.

In conclusion, the anchor of our soul is a unique and powerful symbol of our hope in Christ. It is a hope that is both heavenly and personal, secured by the eternal covenant and the indwelling presence of God. This hope calls us to actively hold on, not in our strength, but in the strength provided by Christ, who has taken hold of us.

Key Takeaways

1. The Dual Nature of Our Hope: Our hope in Christ is both heavenly and personal, anchored in the holy of holies and within our souls. This dual anchoring provides a steadfast assurance that transcends our circumstances, rooted in the eternal promises of God. [04:01]
2. The Unbreakable Chain of God's Promises: The security of our hope is not dependent on our strength but on the unbreakable chain of God's promises and the indestructible life of Christ. This assurance is a divine work within us, fulfilling God's promises to keep us from falling away. [06:54]
3. The Transformative Power of the New Covenant: The New Covenant promises, sealed by Christ's blood, ensure that our hearts are transformed, enabling us to hold fast to our hope. This transformation is not a result of our efforts but a divine work within us, fulfilling God's promises. [17:44]
4. Active Participation in Our Hope: Our hope is not a passive expectation but an active, living connection to the promises of God. We are called to actively hold on, not in our strength, but in the strength provided by Christ, who has taken hold of us. [23:01]
5. The Assurance of Salvation: Our salvation is not a fragile hope left to our weak hands but a robust assurance secured by God's sovereign hand. This assurance is a reality that impacts our daily lives, providing us with a steadfast assurance amidst life's storms. [25:47]
** [25:47]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:18] - The Unusual Anchor
[01:09] - Exploring Hebrews 6:19-20
[02:19] - The Image of the Anchor
[03:39] - The Objective Hope
[04:27] - The Anchor in Heaven
[05:39] - Christ as Our High Priest
[06:54] - The Ground of Our Anchor
[07:15] - The Anchor in Our Soul
[08:18] - The Security of Our Hope
[09:50] - The Firmly Hooked Anchor
[10:42] - Four Reasons for Belief
[12:59] - The Better Things of Salvation
[14:32] - Partakers of Christ
[16:24] - The House of Christ
[19:35] - The New Covenant Fulfillment
[23:01] - The Enabling Power to Hold On
[25:47] - The Assurance of Salvation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading
- Hebrews 6:19-20
- Hebrews 3:6
- Hebrews 3:14

---

Observation Questions

According to Hebrews 6:19-20, what are the three characteristics of the hope we have as an anchor of the soul? How does this hope relate to Jesus as our high priest? [01:35]
In the sermon, how is the anchor described as being different from traditional anchors? What is the significance of its direction? [04:27]
What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between the anchor and the promises of God? How is this illustrated through the imagery of the anchor being hooked in the holy of holies? [05:39]
How does the sermon describe the role of Christ's blood in securing our hope and salvation? [06:39]

---

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean for our hope to be both "sure and steadfast" as described in Hebrews 6:19-20? How does this impact our understanding of the security of our salvation? [02:42]
The sermon mentions that our hope is not a passive expectation but an active connection to God's promises. How does this perspective change the way we live out our faith daily? [23:01]
How does the concept of the New Covenant, as discussed in the sermon, transform our understanding of God's promises and our role in holding onto hope? [17:44]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that our salvation is not dependent on our strength but on God's sovereign hand? How does this assurance affect our spiritual journey? [25:47]

---

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt your hope was fragile. How can the understanding of hope as an anchor, both heavenly and personal, change your perspective in similar situations? [04:01]
The sermon emphasizes the unbreakable chain of God's promises. How can you remind yourself of these promises during challenging times? Is there a specific promise you need to hold onto right now? [06:54]
Consider the transformative power of the New Covenant in your life. How have you experienced heart transformation through Christ's work? What areas of your life still need transformation? [17:44]
The sermon calls us to actively hold onto our hope. What practical steps can you take this week to strengthen your connection to God's promises? [23:01]
How does the assurance of salvation, as described in the sermon, provide you with peace amidst life's storms? Can you identify a current storm where you need to rely more on this assurance? [25:47]
The sermon suggests that our hope is secured by Christ's strength, not our own. How can you shift your focus from your own efforts to relying more on Christ's strength in your daily life? [10:24]
How can you actively participate in your hope, as encouraged by the sermon, in your community or church? What specific actions can you take to live out this active hope? [23:01]

Sermon Clips

This hope we have as an anchor of the Soul, a hope both sure and steadfast, and one which enters within the veil where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchisedec. [00:01:21]

The anchor of our soul, it says, is this hope that he just referred to in verse 18. We have this hope as an anchor of the soul, but we got to be more precise than that. Verse 18 says we have strong encouragement who have fled for refuge and laying hold of the Hope set before us. [00:03:07]

The anchor is there, hooked on the Ark of the Covenant. That's my picture anyway. It doesn't say that it's there in there, and God, it's got this anchor hooked and all tied around with this massive chain around the Covenant Promises of God, and God's Almighty Sovereign hand is on it, so it's not going anywhere. [00:05:31]

Here's Christ taking his own blood by the power of an indestructible life, entering into the holy Place, spreading his own blood before the father on the Ark of the Covenant, making atonement for the sins of his people forever. That's the anchor or that's the ground of the anchor, and that secures for us a future that is bright. [00:06:37]

The soul is only as secure as both ends are secure, and if all Christ has done is secure one end and leave to these weak sinful hands the other end, there ain't no security. And so what I want to do is try to persuade you in the last part of the sermon that the image in this text is that the anchor of the soul is a really unusual anchor. [00:09:34]

Beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, things that accompany or literally belong to or are possessed by or had by salvation. Now get this, think very clearly here. What are the better things? Well, the bad things were falling away, committing apostasy, forsaking the Lord, and he says, but for you, there are going to be better things. [00:10:53]

We have become partakers of Christ. That's a great statement. We have become partakers, Partners, sharers In Christ. We're United to him. The Rope is in us. It's wound around us. We're United to Christ. If We Hold Fast the beginning of our Assurance firm to the end. [00:13:35]

Christ was faithful as a son over his house, whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and boast of Our Hope firm to the end. Now notice again what it does not say. It does not say we will become his house if we hold fast. Just get that clear. It's so important. [00:14:56]

The New Covenant promises are yours in Christ if you're covered with the blood, Justified by the blood. The New Covenant is yours. Now that means that the taking hold of the Rope on the deck and the being bound up with it was bought by Jesus. [00:18:21]

What Christ bought when he shed his blood for me and you was not freedom from having to hold on but the enabling power to hold on. What he bought for me was not the Nullification of my will to hold on but the empowering of my will to hold on, freeing of my will to hold on. [00:23:01]

When Christ died for you, he bought for you the capacity and the will to do what Paul did in Philippians 3:12. Paul said, not that I have already obtained nor am already perfect, but I take hold of that for which I have been taken hold of by Christ. [00:24:22]

I want you to feel an Impulse. I must reach out and take hold on Hope, and I want you to feel the impulse and what else can I do, for I have been taken hold of By An Almighty Christ. So here it is, not that I have already attained nor am already perfect, but I take hold of that for which I have been taken hold of by Christ. [00:25:17]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?

Anchored Hope: The Assurance of Salvation in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Dual Nature of Our Hope

Day 2: The Unbreakable Chain of God's Promises

Day 3: The Transformative Power of the New Covenant

Day 4: Active Participation in Our Hope

Day 5: The Assurance of Salvation

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Anchored Hope: The Assurance of Salvation in Christ

Share