Christ Is Our Refuge

Hebrews 6:18-20

Introduction:

Sometimes when we study God in the bible, at first glance we begin to believe there is a conflict between some of His characteristics and attributes.

We study the mercy of God and we study the justice of God, and we begin to think there is some kind of conflict there.

As we begin to stay in the word of God we see God in action we see that the attributes of God do not conflict each other, but they are in complete harmony.

I see this, when God set up Israel, and it’s form of government and the rules and regulations of the Old Testament.

We see a God of justice and the sanctity of life, and if you were to take another’s life that your life should be taken.

However God in His mercy also knew that there would be manslaughter. (Accidental death).

There would be court cases that would arise and there would have to be a proper trial.

And there would be mercy given to some individuals for what had happened.

So the Lord implemented something very unique in Israel’s society.

The tribe of Levi was not given a piece of property as their inheritance.

According to Joshua 13:33, their inheritance was God Himself.

By the way, people don’t look for physical blessings from God, so our inheritance as Christians is the Lord.

So all the tribes had their different areas in Israel, except the Leviticul tribe, they were given 48 cities.

And out of those 48 cities there were 6 that were called cities of refuge.

These cities of refuge, you could flee to if someone was after you.

For example: As a man was chopping wood with an axe his axe head came off and he accidentally killed his neighbor.

And his brother happened to see what happened and became angry and was ready to take the man’s life for taking his brothers.

So the man who killed the other would take off to one of the cities of refuge and wait there till, either the court case would occur, or until the high priest died.

This system of mercy, intertwined in the system of justice, is a great picture of God’s attributes all working together all of the time.

So as we read through the Old Testament we see the mercy of God in these cities of refuge.

In our text today in Hebrews 6:18-20, this reference to the cities of refuge is mentioned, and we find out who the high priest is who will never die.

So we will have a city of refuge, all the time in our troubles and sins.

Hebrews 6:18-20

18 that by two immutable things (meaning His oath and promises, once God makes an oath or promise it will never change), in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul (I am going to give you a refuge where you can put your soul on anchor something to put your soul on no matter what comes your way), both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,

20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

The first thing I want you to see about these cities of refuge:

1.) These were the only cities you could go to in time of trouble:

You could not go to the other 48 cities only the 6 cities of refuge.

If you went to the other 42 they would not have helped you, they were not cities of refuge.

This is a great picture of our salvation, because there is only one way to Christ.

You just can’t pick your city.

• I think I will go to the city of baptism,

• Maybe to the city of rehabilitation,

• Or the city of good works,

• Or of humanitarian.

Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the light, no man comes to the father but by me.”

It was only through the city of refuge they could find mercy, and protection, and only in Jesus Christ can you find that safety and protection for your lives.

If you have put your faith in anything else but Jesus Christ and him crucified, it will not be safe for you in eternity.

You will not, and cannot ,be secure in anything other than Jesus Christ and what he did for you at the cross.

There is no other name by which you can be saved.

Well maybe you are thinking that is not a very good point you are bringing pastor, since God gave the Israelites 6 cities of refuge.