Ascension: Anchor of Our Hope

Minister:
Date: PM (Ascension Day)
Text: Hebrews 6:19,20
Psalters: 58, 162, 183, 363
  1. The anchor.
    1. The history of Jesus’ ascension.
    2. “Hope” is a part of the Christian life, for we are born again unto a living hope (I Peter 1:3-5).
      1. To live forever in heavenly glory is “set before us” (18) as a future objective reality.
      2. The believers’ hope is certain and sure for God Himself promised and He accompanied His promise with an oath (18).
      3. And it is an earnest desire that our expectation will be realized.
    3. By the act of hoping (part of faith) in our hope the Christian is fastened to the object.
  2. Our anchor of hope holds.
    1. The object of our hope is absolutely certain (because God promised and swore).
      1. It is “sure,” i.e., certain and safe, reliable, it will not fail or deceive; can be safely trusted.
      2. It is “stedfast,” i.e., stable and firm; it cannot be broken no matter how violent the winds of the storms.
    2. Our hope is objectively certain because Jesus’ ascension is His entering “into that within the veil.”
      1. The veil (high, heavy, and thick) concealed the ark of the covenant (God) from His people.
      2. Jesus, the perfect High Priest, opened and realized the way to God, veil torn, never closed again.
    3. This makes Jesus “the forerunner” when His ascension brought Him into the glory we will share with Him.
  3. Assurance that our hope will be realized is because God Himself promised and coupled it with His oath.
    1. The storms of life seem to destroy us.
    2. God makes sure that the anchor is firmly attached in the souls of every elect, regenerated child of His (3:6).