Why is it that witnesses in a court proceeding are always sworn in with the words: “Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?” It is because all mankind has the tendency to be devious and to outright lie. We simply cannot be trusted to always tell the truth. Therefore, under threat of imprisonment for perjury, it is a necessity for witnesses to agree to a solemn oath of truthfulness.

As the author of Hebrews refers to the promise of eternal life, he too refers to “an oath” (Hebrews 6:17). He was reminding his fellow Jews: “God made [a] promise to Abraham” (vs. 13). Specifically, God promised Abraham that He would make of him “a great nation,” bless him, “make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing; And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3). It is important for us to realize that inherent in the above promise was also the promise of eternal life. We learn from Titus 1:2 that the “hope of eternal life…[was given] before the world began.” Paul explained to the Jews that God had promised a resurrection from the dead “unto [all] the fathers” (of Israel–Acts 13:28-34). It was primarily this promise of a resurrection to eternal life that the author of Hebrews referred to when he pointed back to Abraham as an example of God always fulfilling all of His promises. This promise of eternal life served as “an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:19). But the rock into which the anchor of confidence rested was God’s oath. What was this oath? It was His steadfast promise that “it was impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18). Man can and does lie. In contrast, because God is righteous and holy, He gave us His oath that He cannot lie. That means His promise of resurrection to eternal life, to those who receive it by faith alone, is steadfast and sure. Moses wrote saying, Jehovah is a “God of truth.” David sang to God: “thy words be true” and the Lord “keepeth truth forever” (II Samuel 7:28; Psalm 146:6).

If you’ve trusted in Christ alone, never waver in your confidence of eternal life. “God, that cannot lie” promised it (Titus 1:2).