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THE BOOK OF HEBREWS |
James Deering, AncientPath.net
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The Commentar based on the Q & A |
THE VISUALIZED TEXT (NASB) (conjunctions
& prepositions underlined,
words not in original text in italics)
(alternate text in purple)
11:1
Now faith is
the assurance of things
hoped for,
the conviction
of things not seen.
2 For
by it
the men of old
gained approval.
3 By faith
we understand that
the worlds were prepared
by the word of God,
so that what is seen
was not made out of things which are visible.
4 By faith
Abel
offered to God
a better sacrifice than Cain,
through which he obtained
the testimony that he was righteous,
God testifying about his gifts, and
through faith,
though he is dead,
he still speaks.
5 By faith
Enoch
was taken up
so that he should not see death;
AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP;
for he
obtained the witness that before his being taken up
he was pleasing to God.
6 And
without faith
it is impossible
to please Him,
for he who comes to God
must believe that
He is, and that
He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
7 By faith
Noah,
being warned by God
about things not yet seen,
in reverence
prepared an ark
for the salvation of his household,
by which he condemned the world, and
became an heir of the righteousness
which is according to faith.
8 By faith
Abraham,
when he was called,
obeyed by going out to a place
which he was to receive for an inheritance; and
he went out,
not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith
he lived
as an alien in the land of promise,
as in a foreign land,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob,
fellow heirs of the same promise;
10 fo
he was looking for the city
which has foundations,
whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith even
Sarah herself
received ability to conceive,
even beyond the proper time of life,
since she considered Him faithful who had promised;
12 therefore, also,
there was born of one man,
and him as good as dead at that,
as many descendants
AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE
AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.
13 All these died in faith,
without receiving the promises,
but
having seen them and
having welcomed them from a distance, and
having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out,
they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But as it is,
they desire
a better country, that is
a heavenly one.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God;
for He has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith
Abraham,
when he was tested,
offered up Isaac; and
he who had received the promises
was offering up his only begotten son;
18 it was
he
to whom it was said,
"IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED."
19 He
considered that God is able to raise men even from the dead;
from which he also received him back as a type.
20 By faith
Isaac
blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.
21 By faith
Jacob,
as he was dying,
blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and
worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
22 By faith
Joseph,
when he was dying,
made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and
gave orders concerning his bones.
23 By faith
Moses,
when he was born,
was hidden for three months by his parents,
because they saw he was a beautiful child; and
they were not afraid of the king's edict.
24 By faith
Moses,
when he had grown up,
refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 choosing rather to endure ill - treatment with the people of God,
than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin;
26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt;
for he was looking to the reward.
27 By faith
he
left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king;
for
he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.
28 By faith
he
kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood,
so that he who destroyed the first - born might not touch them.
29 By faith
they
passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and
the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.
30 By faith
the walls of Jericho
fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days.
31 By faith
Rahab the harlot
did not perish along with those who were disobedient,
after she had welcomed the spies in peace.
32 And what more shall I say?
For time will fail me if I tell of
Gideon,
Barak,
Samson,
Jephthah, of
David and
Samuel and
the prophets,
33 who by faith
conquered kingdoms,
performed acts of righteousness,
obtained promises,
shut the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the power of fire,
escaped the edge of the sword,
from weakness were made strong,
became mighty in war,
put foreign armies to flight.
35
Women
received back their dead by resurrection; and
others
were tortured,
not accepting their release,
in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; and
36
others
experienced mockings and scourgings,
yes, also chains and imprisonment.
37
They were stoned,
they were sawn in two,
they were tempted,
they were put to death with the sword;
they went about
in sheepskins,
in goatskins,
being destitute,
afflicted,
ill - treated
38 (men of whom the world was not worthy),
wandering in
deserts and
mountains and
caves and
holes in the ground.
39 And all these,
having gained approval through their faith,
did not receive what was promised,
40 because
God had provided something better for us,
so that apart from us
they should not be made perfect.
THE COMMENTARY TEXT FROM THE VIDEO SERIES
VIII. Perseverance
and Faithful Endurance, 10:26 - 12:29
A. Embedded Warning
Against Apostasy and an Exhortation to Perseverance, 10:26 - 39
(1) Stern Warning,
10:26 - 31
(2) Encouragement to
Remember and Persevere, 10:32 - 39
We won't go into a
long summary of Chapter 10. Just a couple quick observations brought out by this
outline.
First there is the
warning against falling into apostasy. This warning is made to both the resident
Christian and the "thinking of going back to Judaism" members of this
congregation. But the warning has two completely different meanings for the two
groups. To those thinking of going back to Judaism it is a strong warning that
one's chances of leaving Christ and then returning again are, unfortunately,
unlikely. That by returning to Judaism they would no longer fall under the
influence of the true believers in the Christian group. Instead they would be in
the fellowship of those who reject the Christ and the teachings of mature
believers. The writer goes on to say that turning away from the grace of God in
His Son... the opportunity may never come their way again. The second meaning of
this warning is to the believing members of the congregation. We as called
believers need to do everything in our prayers and powers to help those who are
at risk of turning away from the claims of Christ. You, believer, are to be
warned that people who are searching for Christ may be apt to turn away from Him
by other influences. Do what you can do to prevent that. Care for them, teach
them, council them, love them for they are at risk for a Christless eternity.
The second warning is
to "Remember and Persevere." This is obviously mostly aimed at the believers.
While we may rest in the knowledge that "Once in Christ, always in Christ," how
often it is that some are carried away into unproductive Christian false
doctrines, lies, or just foolishness. What a pity to be In Christ and to spend
years in fruitless and "unproductive for Christ" lives. We all should be aware
of those dangers and do what we can for ourselves and other believers to keep on
learning, keep on growing, keep on reaching out to each other to keep us from
falling away into unproductivity.
CHAPTER 11 - Carson's
Outline
VIII.
Perseverance and Faithful Endurance,
10:26 - 12:29
A.
Embedded Warning
against Apostasy, and an Exhortation to Perseverance, 10:26 - 39
B. A Catalog of Old
Testament Faithful Endurance, 11:1 - 40
a.
Faith in the
Unseen: The Anti - diluvians, 11:1 - 7
b.
The Patriarchal
Period: 11:8 - 22
c.
The Exodus,
11:23 - 29
d.
The Conquest of
Canaan and the Period of the Judges, 11:30 - 32
e.
The Exercise of
Faith in Victors, 11:33 - 35a
f.
The Exercise of
Faith in Victims, 1:35b - 38
g.
The Expectation of
Faith, 11:39 - 40
Our major topic, which was
introduced in Chapter 10:26 and runs through Chapter 12:29, is
Perseverance and Faithful Endurance.
And in that light Chapter 11 introduces us to six lists of men and women who
will serve as thought provoking definitions of faith.
INTRODUCTION:
FAITH: Not a full definition of faith in its whole nature, but a description of its great characteristics in relation to the subject of the writer's exhortation here to perseverance (Ch - 10). By faith alone we are sure of eternal things... that they exist; but by hope we are confident that we shall have them.
All hope presupposes faith
(Romans 8:25; "But if we hope for what we do
not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it").
"The Lord has gone away so as
not to be seen: He is hidden that He may be believed,"
[Jamieson - Fausset - Brown Bible Commentary, Hebrews Ch - 11, 1871].
Faith believes what it does not see; for if you see...
there is no faith: "The Lord has gone away so as not to be seen: He is hidden
that He may be believed," [Jamieson - Fausset - Brown Bible Commentary, Hebrews
Ch - 11, 1871].
A.
Faith in the
Unseen: The Anti - diluvians, 11:1 - 7 (those who lived
before the Flood)
11 Now
faith is the title - deed of things hoped for, the conviction of things
which are not being seen.
Kenneth Wuest says, "the word faith, without an article preceding it,
indicates that it is treated as an abstract conception - not particularly as a
New Testament faith. Our writer will present a definite New Testament definition
through the use of Old Testament examples which demonstrate the meaning
of the word Faith.
All of us are people of faith. Our lives are full of that truth. When we climb out of bed in the morning we step down as to a floor that will hold us up - by faith. My favorite example is when I fly on an airplane... it takes an enormous amount of faith, in so many things, to sit comfortably and take a nap on the way to my destination - by faith.
Faith
brings forth truths which are not revealed to the senses.
Yes, Faith
brings forth truths which are not revealed to the senses. If I believe, or rest
upon, an idea that I can't see, touch, smell, taste or hear, then I do so on
faith.
Faith is the cornerstone of belief in God, The Bible, the Holy Spirit,
and Jesus the Christ and Son of God.
If God is going to call a people to be His own, then He needs a plan whereby He
can separate those who really believe from those who profess to believe. His
plan makes use of Faith to accomplish that. He provides His true and accurate
word, the experience of His prophets and Fathers of the faith as evidence for
those who follow. His Holy Spirit provides personal experience of His power and
love - still without tangible physical evidence.
Faith
is the cornerstone of belief in God, The Bible, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus the
Christ and Son of God.
Belief is a matter of each individual
evaluating the presented evidence and deciding whether or not to place their
"faith" in God... or not.
The individual is asked to place their "faith" in the Word of God, based
entirely upon what their heart tells them - based upon the evidences brought
forth from that Word.
In Chapter 11 the book of Hebrews brings to us a "short - list" of the Old
Testament saints and their experiences of faith."
The list includes not only those who have exhibited great faith, but also
includes some of the Old Testament's greatest sinners - saved by grace through
faith.
Hebrews 11:26 (Moses) considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt,
not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.
Based upon this idea, our key verse for the chapter will be found as
verse 27...
Hebrews 11:26 (Moses) considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt,
not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is
unseen.
The book of Hebrews is all about motivating the two divisions of people within
this congregation. Those who believe and have faith in God's Messiah, the Son of
God, the God/man Jesus as the New Covenant mediator and High Priest... and those
who have not and wish to return to the Old symbolic covenant and a symbolic
faith and high priest.
The writer's appeal will crest at these two verses concerning Moses. As we look
at faith as the topic of this chapter, we must look at Christ as Moses saw him
in the future, as the fulfillment of the promises of God - and
"seeing Him who is unseen."
So as we move along with the verses of Chapter 11, keep in mind that the point
of them is to have faith and have it in abundance - because of the
demonstration of faith by those whose names and references are brought forth in
the remainder of the chapter. Their demonstration of faith proves beyond any
shadow of doubt that their faith was justified. We will also see that their
faith, under the Old Mosaic Covenant, while valid, would not be complete
without us in the New Covenant, and without the Christ of the New Covenant.
11:1 Now
faith is the title - deed (assurance) of things hoped for, the conviction
of things which are not being seen.
The word "assurance" (substance) in the original is a combination of two ideas.
First, a preposition meaning "to be under" and second is the idea of a
foundation: That which a foundation rests upon. It is the ground on which you
build your Hope. Substance is also a legal term: The evidence of ownership.
Under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit moves in the believer putting the Lord
Jesus as the substance, the "deed," the evidence of ownership, guarantying the
Hope of the believer. Under the Old Covenant, faith in the High Priest (as the
Messiah was prophesied) was his "deed" of ownership of salvation by God - and
was his assurance, and based upon the High Priest's office of Mediator between
God and man, man and God.
11:1 Now
faith is the title - deed (assurance) of things hoped for, the conviction
of things which are not being seen.
Years ago, too many years ago, while I was in bible college, Dr. George Slavin
spoke on hope. I had been saved only a short time and in his message his first
point was about how biblical hope has nothing to do with ideas like, "Oh, I do
hope so," or "I hope I will pass this course." No...
Biblical hope
is the "confident expectation that what God has promised to do - will come to
pass, and the strength of that hope is based upon God's proven faithfulness."
It's also essential to understand that God's proven faithfulness is based upon
the reports of His faithfulness throughout the scriptures.
The list of "authorities" in Hebrews chapter 11 is a vast resource when studying
the faithfulness of God. Taking God's word as true will lead you to the
evidence, the substance, the conviction, the tested proof of God's faithfulness.
This evidence leads us to put our hope in Him.
11:1 Now
faith is the title - deed (assurance) of things hoped for,
the conviction of things which are not being seen.
A conviction, a firmly
held belief, is based upon the testing of evidence. That testing brings our
conviction into terms of our reality.
The
more evidence - the deeper the conviction. That's why it is important,
especially for the new believer, to study God's Word and be always on the
lookout for evidence that proves who God is and that He is faithful to His word
and His people.
It's also important to
understand that all people, no matter how educated or accomplished, have the
same underlying problem that is often singerly pointed at Christians... "OK,
prove to me that God exists." Well, then, prove to me that He doesn't. Prove to
me that electricity really exists, prove to me that anything really exists
- we,
all of us, live by faith. We see, hear, taste, touch, and smell evidence, not
proof. Even humanity's "proofs" are just a collection of pointed evidences. We
are bound by our senses in a state of faith.
2 For by means of it the elders had witness borne to
them.
Verse 2... The preposition "For" has multiple purposes. Dictonary.com lists 32
different uses. In this case it indicates agency, and serves to introduce us to
how faith (believing in the unseen) led the ancient fathers (elders) to
understand and believe God and His word.
Just recently I was watching a YouTube channel called, The Slow - Mo Guys (this
bit is full of techy stuff, please bear with me). They make videos based upon
some of the most up - to - date video recording devices. In this particular episode
they visited the California Institute of Technology where they have developed a
camera that can capture, frame by frame, the speed of light. The camera they
used was capable of recording 10 Trillion individual frames of video per second.
Now I know that the speed of light is 186,282 miles per second or 670,616,629
miles per hour. I know that is fast - but just a little difficult to comprehend
in my everyday life. During their demonstration they showed, on a video screen,
played back at a very slow rate of 24 video frames per second, the speed a movie
is projected in a theater, a single photon of light moving across the screen and
it took about 3 seconds.
Let's see, recorded at 10 Trillion frames per second for 3 seconds would be 30
Trillion frames. They took 72 of those 30 Trillion frames and projected them at
24 frames per second, and the photon took 3 seconds to cross the screen.
Now you could never even comprehend (see) a single photon of light traveling at
light speed. Your eyes and your brain just don't work at those speeds. Then they
said that the blink of an eye recorded at that speed would take 19 years to play
back. And suddenly I got it. In my mind's eye I could imagine the speed of
light. I could see, understand, something that was impossible for me to
literally see or experience in any way.
So it is with faith. "For by means of it the elders had witness borne to them."
By faith you read the Word of God, see the evidence of God, His word, His
actions, His attributes, and picture them in your mind... leading you to belief.
And don't forget the power and influence of God's Holy Spirit that enables you
to understand and calls you to believe.
3 By
means of faith
we perceive that the worlds were framed by God's word, and it follows,
therefore, that that which we see did not come into being out of that which is
visible.
I love Ken Wuest's (my favorite Greek scholar) ability to express the New
Testament Greek language in precise English terms. "By means of faith," leads us
to understand that faith enables us to "perceive" God's word. Faith is the key
to opening up the Word of God in order to know Him intimately.
It was an early revelation to me... God, the God of the Bible, wants me to know
Him. He does not hide Himself from me, He does not want to confound me. His
desire is that I know Him and love Him - because I want to. His method is to
reveal Himself to me through His word. He calls me to have faith in Him... and "by means of faith" I come to love Him and believe Him.
3 By
means of faith we perceive that the worlds
were framed by God's word, and it follows,
therefore, that that which we see did not come into being out of that which is
visible.
The very first words of the Bible tell us that "In the beginning God created the
heavens and the earth." As a Bible believing Christian, I believe that. When I
was a new Christian, I was astounded by John's gospel Chapter 1, verse 3,
speaking about the Word of God - Jesus, the Christ - "All things came into being
through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into
being." Jesus spoke... and all of creation came into existence because it was
framed by God's word. God's word made it so. Before He spoke it... it didn't
exist. It had no substance, no matter. When He spoke... it came into being out
of that which was not able to be seen.
The word here for perceive (understand) is never used as physical sight. We
perceive God's creative work when we read of it in the Scriptures. We "see" with
our minds the creation, we understand that matter, time, space, and energy all
only exist as God's creation (framed by God's word). We also perceive that God
exists apart from His creation. He is an invisible source that we perceive by
faith - which is "the evidence of things not seen."
In this verse God's "Word" is not the Greek term logos that we relate to Jesus
the Son of God. It is instead the very normal term for "articulate utterance."
That when God spoke His creative word, it was articulate and His actual "utterance." He literally spoke creation into existence.
Able - Enoch - Noah
First, we are introduced to three men from before the flood: Able, Enoch, and
Noah. Each of these men obtained a righteous relationship with God through their
faith in Him.
4 By
faith Abel
offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which (sacrifice)
it was testified that he was righteous, God bearing witness to his gifts, and
through it (the sacrifice), though he is dead, yet he speaks.
Our first person of faith is Abel, Adam's second son, the third male human on
the planet. I too am a second son of my father. I don't know the trials and
tribulations of being a first (older) son, but I do know the trials and
tribulations of being the second (younger) son. I've experienced first hand the
jealousies of being the "more loved" son (from the perspective of the older "more responsible" son), and so have many of you. Most of those things wear off
as you both grow and gain more experience.
The Genesis story (Genesis Chapter 4) seems to indicate that Cain was never able
to get beyond sibling rivalries. The story tells us that Cain was a "tiller of
the ground," a farmer and that Abel was a "keeper of flocks." I don't know about
you but my mind immediately goes back to the early years of our country and the
"range wars" of the west. Where great portions of land were divided up and
fought over between the "tillers of the ground" and the "keepers of flocks."
Profit from the land that animals are raised upon, VS profit from the land that
grows the grain. A probable source of much rivalry.
Genesis tells us that the time came when both sons brought an offering to the
Lord from their occupations. It is interesting to me that it is recorded of both
Cain and Able that God's regard was for 1. The person, and 2. For their
offering. I point this out because God is a personal God. He values people. His
value of their offerings would be secondary. I would that you would see that
God's evaluation of the two men and their two offerings are just that. Two
different things.
Verse 4 states that "the Lord had regard 1. for Abel and 2. For his offering.
Verse 5 states that "but 1. for Cain and 2. For his offering He had no regard."
So, God's regard, or lack of it, is not just about the appropriateness of their
offerings. The Lord had regard for Able and had no regard for Cain. This is a
matter of their hearts toward God. Cain's heart was not after God's, his
offering would have had no regard regardless of its kind. God had regard for
Able, his offering would have had regard regardless of its kind.
Cain's offering showed, regardless of his occupation, that he had no knowledge,
or no desire, to honor God through the blood of animal sacrifice. This manner of
sacrifice most likely would have been prevalent in God's relationship to Adam
and Eve and then over the years of Cain and Able becoming independent adults. It
was part of God's plan for the ages culminating in the sacrifice of His Son for
the guilt and penalty of sin to free humanity from it. In all the generations
that follow - blood sacrifice to God upon an altar was the norm of the faithful.
On the other hand, there is Abel. God had regard for Him - his life, his
actions, his relationship. Hebrews 11:4 testifies that Abel was righteous in his
person and in his sacrificial gift.
There is also the fact that both sons were aware of God's feelings toward them.
Had He walked with them, talked with them, like He had with their parents?
- Apparently so. Cain's sibling rivalry had festered and become violent hatred
toward his brother Able.
God spoke to Cain,
"Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will
not your countenance be lifted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at
the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."
Then, back to those American West range wars... two brothers in the field, Cain
angry because Abel's flocks were eating his grain, Able defending himself and
aroused because Cain was fencing off his fields where Abel's flocks ate.
Suddenly, "Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him."
4 By
faith Abel
offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which (sacrifice)
it was testified that he was righteous, God bearing witness to his gifts, and
through it (the sacrifice), though he is dead, yet he speaks.
So, the verse's point... Abel and his sacrifice was righteous, Cain killed him
because of it. Abel's righteous faith can be seen in the story, and that story
has continued, even till now, as one of the first in the book, telling of Abel's
righteous faith.
One final note on this verse. Abel's righteous faith, demonstrated through his
life and his sacrificial gift, cost him his life. The book of Hebrews was
written just about 3 years before violent persecution took either the lives, or
displacement, of millions of Christians and Jews. So too, this chapter touches
the nerves of all who heard it. Persecution was near and rushing toward them.
This lesson was being written in October of 2020 - when the persecution of
Christians and Jews, because of their Faith in the One God, is becoming violent
and perhaps rushing toward us. Let us look to these great men and women of faith
as our reminder, and our guides, that God is righteous and the very center of
our faith and hope.
At the end of each of the groups of faithful people here in Chapter 11 I'll add
a few statistics.
(In the Bible, Abel is mentioned (22 times) [Genesis 4:1 - Hebrews 12:24])
2nd
born son of Adam & Eve
Abel - Name: breathed out, breath, son
Abel's heart - "God had regard for Able
- and his
offering," offered the best of what he had - his heart made him righteous before
God.
And, as noted,
the Blood offering may be a factor.
5 By
faith Enoch was translated, with the result that he did not have a glimpse of
death, and he was not found because God translated him. For before his
translation, he had witness borne (to him), that testimony still being on
record, to the effect that he pleased God. 6 But
without faith it is impossible to please Him at all. For he who comes to God
must of necessity in the nature of the case believe that He exists, and that He
becomes a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him out.
From the book of Jude we have this testimony
concerning Enoch:
14
It was also about these men (for whom the black darkness has been reserved
forever V. 13) that Enoch,
in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came
with many thousands of His holy ones, 15 to execute judgment upon all, and to
convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an
ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken
against Him."
In Gen. 4 we're introduced to the son of Cain, Enoch,
however he is not the Enoch of which Hebrews speaks. This
Enoch is in Genesis
5:18. He is the 7th
from Adam not the 3rd
(Cain's son), this Enoch is the father of Methuselah.
"Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him." Enoch ministered for
365 years to "convict the ungodly," [Jude 15].
Enoch makes his way into our list of Great People of Faith and like Abel we have
not a lot of verses concerning him. But what we do have is God's care and reward
for them written down in the word of God. Of most importance to our study is
verse 6.
Wuest, who's translation we are using, uses the word "Translated" in verse 5.
The normal historical rendering of God's word concerning the end of the Church
age leads to a point in time when the living and dead members of the Church age
body of Christ will be either resurrected or "raptured" and transformed for life
in the heavenly spheres with Christ. Enoch would have had that very experience.
At one moment alive and the next taken by God, without experiencing death, to
live in His presence - he would have had to be "transformed," "translated,"
changed from living in his earthly physical body to a body adapted for living in
the heavenlies. Another good word for the taking of Enoch would be "Transposed,"
taken from one place and placed to another.
(Enoch is mentioned in the Bible 12 times from Genesis 5:18 to Jude 1:14.)
Hebrews 11:6 But
without faith it is impossible to please Him at all. For he who comes to God
must of necessity in the nature of the case believe that He exists, and that He
becomes a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him out.
"Herein is a great truth:
Hebrews 11:6 But
without faith it is impossible to please Him at all.
For he who comes to God must of necessity in the nature of the case believe that
He exists, and that He becomes a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him out.
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him... at all."
The verse extends and gives us some definition of that faith.
Hebrews 11:6 But
without faith it is impossible to please Him at all. For he who comes to God
must of necessity in the nature of the case
believe that He exists, and that He becomes a
rewarder of those who diligently seek Him out.
1) Believe that He exists;
Hebrews 11:6 But
without faith it is impossible to please Him at all. For he who comes to God
must of necessity in the nature of the case
believe that He exists, and that He becomes a
rewarder of those who diligently seek Him out.
2) believe that He is a rewarder;
Hebrews 11:6 But
without faith it is impossible to please Him at all. For he who comes to God
must of necessity in the nature of the case
believe that He exists, and that He becomes a rewarder of those who diligently
seek Him out.
3) Faith requires a heart that diligently seeks Him out.
What do we mean seeks Him out? In good times, seek
Him out, In hard times, seek Him out, in times of sorrow and loss, in times of
joy, in times of depression, in times when it seems that He is just not there...
seek Him by faith. Always knowing
He is there - even when you may FEEL He's not. By Faith, always seek Him out.
And if you find yourself in the place of denying His existence... because
without faith it is impossible to please Him at all... seek Him out!
7 By
faith Noah,
having been warned concerning things not seen, with reverential care prepared an
ark to save his household; by means of which (faith) he condemned the world, and
became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Genesis 6:8, "but Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord."
Genesis 6:9, "Noah was a righteous man, blameless
in his time, Noah walked with God."
Genesis 6:22, "Thus Noah did; according to
all that God had commanded him, so he did."
Genesis 7:1, "Then the Lord said to Noah, "Enter the
ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous
before Me in this time."
Genesis 7:5,
"Noah did according to all that the Lord had commanded him."
Genesis 8:20, "Then Noah built an altar to
the Lord, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered
burnt offerings on the altar."
Genesis 9:1,
"And
God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and
fill the earth."
Consider these verse examples. By
faith Noah - who
God had warned "concerning things not seen"....
Hebrews 11:7, "concerning things not seen" would seem to
indicate that #3 in our list would be at the top of the list in our writer's
mind. We need to consider Noah's time and position in his story. Some say that
it had never rained before the flood but the plain reading of scripture doesn't
seem to bear that out. Genesis chapter 2 does speak to "no rain" but that was
before the creation of man and his responsibilities to care for the land.
However, from Noah's point of view, it has never rained enough to require a ship
and the collection of animals to be saved from a cataclysmic rain water event.
God also asked Noah to build that ship - with 3 stories, 440 feet in length, 72
feet high, and 43 feet wide. God warned Noah that this vehicle was absolutely
necessary to survive this event - and Noah did as God asked, believing God "by
faith."
Long ago (when I was a young man) it was really hard
when reading Noah's story to imagine a time when the whole world had lost faith
in the One God. Recently it has become much easier to imagine such things.
During Noah's lifetime the entire world population either would not entertain
such a God, or if they had... they directly refused Him. Only Noah was left (Gen
6:8). "You alone I have seen to be righteous before me in this time" (Gen 7:1).
I can only imagine living as the only person who had faith in Him. How tragic is
a world where righteousness, love, and grace, had become non - existent. Noah was
living in a time that would have been very much like Hell. Yet, Noah persevered
- against all odds and against all those who were against Him because of his
faith. But that's the lesson that's coming from this book. In the face of these
extremes... Noah persevered, Noah continued to be a man of faith, Noah did not
turn his heart away from His God - even when sitting alone with just his family
amidst a boat load of frightened animals in a raging sea.
Faith that prevails - that's the message, being a man or
woman of faith in the One God - a faith that continues to be sustained against
all the odds.
Hebrews 10:39 reminded us,
"But we are not of those
who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of
the soul."
Our faith story of Noah is only one verse, but that
verse ends showing the true division between evil and righteousness. Noah, his
family, and all the animals were finally on board this great ship and God closed
the door sealing out willful unrighteousness.
B.
Faith in The
Patriarchal Period: 11:8 - 22
8
By faith, Abraham while he was being called, obeyed to go out into a place which
he was about to receive as an inheritance, and he went out, not troubling his
mind as to where he was going.
In Genesis Chapter 12 we find the call of the Lord upon Abram, "Go forth from
your country, and from your relatives and from your father's house, To the land
which I will show you;". The Lord said, "Go," [verse 1] and Abram went [verse
4]. There you have it... the short version of the meaning of faith. God said it,
Abram believed it, that settled it. Abram was then 75 years old.
9
By faith he dwelt as a foreigner without rights of citizenship in the land of
the promise as in a land not his own, having settled down to live in tents,
which Isaac and Jacob, joint - heirs with him of the promise, the same one.
So, Abram left Haran with Sarai his wife, Lot his nephew, some possessions, and
a small group of people (specifically not family) and went to Canaan, which of
course was full of Canaanites.
Using standard bible times and calculated dates we can back track from a
reasonably known dated event, like the Hebrew people's exodus from Egypt at
about 1445 BC. Going backwards, that puts Joseph about 1700 BC, and Abram at
about 1950 BC. Going back further to the Flood at about 2300 BC (give or take).
That's significant, because after Noah and his family landed the Ark on dry
ground, he had a little party and got drunk. There was some kind of an
unrighteous incident on behalf of Noah's youngest son Shem and he was sent away
from the rest of the family to occupy the land of Canaan. This group, tainted by
unrighteousness, became the Canaanites. Now, some 2000 years later...
Abram arrives in Canaan... apparently a land founded upon unrighteousness and
rebellion against God. One of the first acts of the Lord was that He gave Canaan
to Abram and his descendants. (Genesis 12:7). In Genesis chapter 15 the Lord
sets the perimeters of Abram's inheritance, "To your descendants I have given
this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river
Euphrates."
At 99 years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and re - affirmed His covenant and
changed Abram's name to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah upon the promise of a son to
be named Isaac. Genesis chapter 17 and verse 8 states: "I will give to you and
your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of
Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."
We'll hear more about Sarah, Isaac and Jacob in a moment.
10
For he was constantly waiting for and expecting the city having the foundations,
the architect and builder of which is God.
Aside from Abraham's righteousness. He also had a lot of sin and difficulties
during his years ... but, sin was/is not the issue, but love and faith toward
God. What made Abraham so valuable to God that He made this everlasting covenant
with Him? Just the very contents of this verse...
10
For he was constantly waiting for and expecting the city having the foundations,
the architect and builder of which is God.
Is that where you stand in your faith? Are you like Abraham (a child of
Abraham), Constantly waiting, and constantly expecting the arrival of the city
of God and the King of Kings who reigns there?
11
By faith Sarah herself received power as regards the deposition of seed, and
that when she was past age, because she considered Him faithful who promised.
Both Abraham and Sarah laughed when God announced to them that in their old age
(Sarah 90 and Abraham 99) they would have yet another son who would fulfill the
Promises of God. Have you ever laughed at a promise of God - perhaps not
- but I
know in my own life, especially in my youth, I found God's desire for
righteousness in my life laughable when it seemed my sins seemed more rewarding.
And yet... God's promise has become more real every day and His righteousness
more real every day of my journey. Sarah believed God and His promise of another
son who would continue the blessings of God's covenant with Abraham. The verse
states clearly that Sarah conceived her son by Abraham because she considered
God to be faithful - and He, God, promised He would do this.
12
And therefore there sprang from one, and that a dead man, even as the stars of
the heaven in multitude and as the sand beside the lip of the sea (seashore)
innumerable.
So, by the faith of Abraham and Sarah - even at their great age, both considered
"dead" to having children - because of his faith a people were born that will
number as the stars of the heaven - they would be innumerable, and they would
become God's chosen people. Specifically, a people set aside by God as a nation
where He would place His throne on earth.
But Wait... 13 verses into the chapter our writer gets to his main point.
13 These
all died dominated by faith, not having received the promises,
The list leading up to this point begins with Abel, the second son of Adam, and
has brought us through the flood to Abraham. Our text says that each of them was
"dominated by faith," and yet... not having received the promises. Some who date
the biblical past would make that better than two thousand years of faithful men
and women - who, although dominated by faith, did not receive what God had
promised. It's now been a little over 2000 years since Christ died on the Cross
too.
But Wait...
Perhaps we missed something in verse 13.
"These all died dominated by faith." "Now faith is
the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
For by it the men (and women) of old gained
approval."
but
(they) having seen
them (the promises)
afar off and greeted them, also confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims
upon the earth.
These people of faith were so "dominated" by their faith in the promises that
they understood that they would therefore have to be living their lives here as
strangers and pilgrims - those traveling through one land to get to their
"promised" land and kingdom.
14 For
they who say such things as these declare plainly that they are seeking a
fatherland, 15 And
if indeed they had been remembering that country from which they had gone out,
in that case they would have had constant opportunity to bend their way back
again.
Looking for His promised land - if you were a righteous, believing, Jew/Hebrew.
I as a post - Cross Christian am looking towards my King and His kingdom. The book
of Hebrews is addressing a basic Hebrew problem. Some in the congregation wish
to return to Judaism and walk away from the Christ. And we're looking at things
from a Hebrew point of view. The further point of this verse is reminding all of
us that, like driving an automobile... you will go where you point the car
towards. If you call yourself a believer, but are always looking back at your
old life and desiring it, you will return there.
16 But
now as the case stands, they are reaching out in their desires for a better
(country), that is, a heavenly one, because of which God is not ashamed of them
to be surnamed their God, for He prepared for them a city.
Our writer continues his thought... "But now as the case stands," bringing us
back to "Those who live by faith," are, instead of looking back at what they
left - are looking forward, reaching out, in their desires for a better country
and more importantly a heavenly one.
God calls, believers respond in faith (believing Him and His word) and God is
"not ashamed of them," and has "surnamed" them... "John Doe, Child of God,"
insert your name here.
And God is pleased with those who live a life of faith in Him. How pleased?
Well, He has prepared FOR THEM a HEAVENLY CITY. He see them as a Holy and
righteous people, living in a Holy home, in a Holy city, in God's heaven - forever, prepared explicitly for them
- and they have made the journey by faith.
17 - 19 By
faith Abraham
offered up Isaac while being put to the test; even he who received the promises,
offered up his only begotten, which reference to whom it was said, In Isaac
shall your seed be called, counting upon the fact that God also was able to
raise him out from amongst the dead, because of which fact (namely, that Isaac
only passed through the likeness of death) he also received him back in a
figure.
We pick up our list of Faith heroes with Abraham.
Bible gateway.com states, "He stands out as a landmark in the spiritual history
of the world. Chosen of God to become the father of a new spiritual race, the
file leader of a mighty host, the revelation of God found in him one of its most
important epochs. In himself, there was not much to make him worthy of such a
distinction. His choice was all of grace.
He uttered no prophecy, wrote no book, sang no song, gave no laws. Yet in the
long list of Bible saints he alone is spoken of as "the father of the faithful"
and as "the friend of God (Isaiah 41:8).
Why? There are many types of Jesus Christ throughout the Old Testament, but in
all of scripture Abraham is the only type of God the Father. Abraham mirrors his
heavenly father when he believed God, by faith, by bringing forth his promised
son - whom he had waited 100 years to be born - and by faith offered him on the
altar of sacrifice - Just like God would have to do with His only begotten son
-
right to the moment where God had to send the Angel of the Lord to stop
Abraham's hand from slaying the young man. One man in about 2,000 years of Bible
history, since the flood, would do that by faith, believing God.
Verse 17 tells us that Abraham was "put to the test". A test for Abraham's sake.
There's no question as to God knowing the result; the test was so that both
Abraham and Isaac would eternally have that confidence in their faith in God.
For the rest of their lives they would have that knowledge of God's perfect
grace at work in their lives.
And there's more, according to these verses. If we go
back to Genesis chapter 22 and verse 5, Abraham was bringing his son to the
mount for the sacrifice, and he turned to the group of young men who went with
them and said, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there;
and we will worship and return to you."
So, our verses say, Abraham, "counting upon the fact that God also was able to
raise him out from amongst the dead." God had promised Abraham that out of this
son a people would be born who would number greater than the sands of the sea.
If God required the life sacrifice of Isaac - then God would have to resurrect
him from the dead in order for God not to be a liar. Abraham believed God, by
faith in Him.
This set of verses ends with a statement that may sound a little fuzzy. "because
of which fact (namely, that Isaac only passed through the likeness of death) he
also received him back in a figure." Our writer tells us that the whole
mountain - top sacrificial experience was pointing to the coming sacrifice of
God's Son. Not just the sacrifice, but the resurrection from the dead, in type
and picture. God the Father would receive back His once dead Son through
resurrection, just as Abraham received Isaac back from the dead "in likeness of
death," "in a figure."
20 By
faith, and that concerning things to come,
Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.
Verse 20 speaks of Isaac pronouncing blessings of "things to come," things after
the time of Jacob and Esau. The future of God's promises (blessings) belongs to
the generations and generations that "come after." Once again, our writer is
focusing upon the long - term fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham
- and the
generations of the Hebrew people that, even now, are still to come.
21 By
faith, Jacob
when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped upon his staff.
Through Jacob the promises are passed along.
22 By
faith Joseph,
when near his end, remembered the exodus of the sons of Israel and so gave a
command concerning his bones.
Genesis 50:24 - 25
24 And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to
die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that
he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." 25 Then Joseph made the sons of
Israel swear, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my
bones from here."
Three things show themselves in this passage. First,
Joseph, knowing he was about to die, was absolutely convinced (by faith) that
God was going to do what he promised - He was going to deliver the families of
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob to the land of Canaan and it was to be theirs for the
founding of their nation. Second,
Joseph made "the Sons of Israel" - the tribes
that came out of Jacob - He made them repeat that God would visit them and
deliver them. And third, Joseph made sure, because his heart was set upon the
Promised Land, that however long, or however far, they would carry his bones
until they could be buried in Canaan - the Promised land. A life of faith, that
ended with the faith that God would do what He promised.
Some more interesting facts...
Abram, Abraham (282 times) [Genesis 11:26 - 1 Peter
3:6],
Isaac (128
times) [Genesis 17:9 - James 2:21],
Jacob (353 times) (Israel 47 times as the man, 2,314
as the nation)
Sarai,
Sarah (49) [Genesis 11:29 - 1 Peter 3:6]
C.
Faith in The
Exodus, 11:23 - 29
23 By
faith, Moses
having been born was hid three months by his parents, because they saw that he
was a comely child. And they did not fear the mandate of the king.
At the time of Moses birth pharaoh, afraid of the rapidly growing population of
the Hebrew people, was forcing the Hebrew and Egyptian midwives to put all newly
born Hebrew male children to death and only let the females live. By Faith,
Moses' mom hid him for three months and then set a plan in motion for the
daughter of the pharaoh to "find" the baby in a basket in the reeds of the river
- and then (unknowingly) to allow his mother to become the baby's nurse. The
wording indicates that Moses' family seemed to know that God would have a
special plan for this baby.
Coinciding with the preparation of these studies in Hebrews I have been reading
and studying A. W. Pink's volume, "Gleanings in Exodus." His book is a most
excellent resource for understanding the depths of the book of Exodus. The
Exodus story is, of course, jam packed with the works of God through Moses, but
most of all is Pink's emphasis upon Moses as the "Mediator" between God and His
people, and His people and God as a type of Christ. Studying Moses in this
context really helps to understand Christ's position as "Mediator" between His
heavenly Father and God's people, God's people and their heavenly Father.
It is also interesting to me that our writer of the book of Hebrews writes of
Moses, but only from the years of his birth to the crossing of the Red Sea (the
Exodus), but not His works under the Old Covenant established at Sinai. I expect
that this is because that while Moses' faith was strong and consistent during
the wilderness wanderings - that of Israel's was not - and therefore not fitting
to the theme of this chapter.
24 - 26 By
faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh's
daughter, having chosen for himself rather to be suffering affliction with the
people of God than to be having sin's enjoyments temporarily, since after
weighting and comparing the facts in the case, he considered the reproach of the
Messiah (in Greek: The Christ), greater wealth than Egypt's treasures, for he
looked away (from the treasures of Egypt) to the recompense.
By Faith, Moses chose his people over Egypt. By faith, Moses chose affliction
over enjoyment. By faith, Moses considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth
than all that Egypt had to offer... he considered the "recompense of the reward"
for belonging to and serving His Messiah.
27 By
faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he was staunch
and steadfast, as seeing the Invisible One.
By Faith, Moses spent 40 years
in the wilderness learning of and seeing his invisible God. This was after Moses
struck one of
pharaoh's men and killed
him.
28 By
faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, in order that
the destroyer of the first born should not touch them.
Under God's righteousness all of mankind was and is sinful and worthy of death.
God's last plague in Egypt was placed upon ALL first born male children, and all
would die - Egyptian or Hebrew. What they needed was the Grace of God. The
expression of the Grace of God for the sin of man was the offering and sacrifice
of God's Son.
Only one sacrifice was offered to the Lord in Egypt, namely, The Passover, and
that was to deliver the firstborn males from death in Egypt; all other
sacrifices were reserved for the tabernacle in the wilderness.
By Faith, Moses was given the honor of instituting the grace of God through the
Passover. Can you see the picture, the type? Just as Christ would be placed upon
the "cursed tree" and His blood shed there to provide the forgiveness of
sin/sins, the Lamb of God (God provided Himself a lamb - Genesis 22:8) was slain
and His blood placed upon the wooden door - posts. Anyone in a home that did that
- Hebrew or Egyptian - would be covered by the Grace of God and the first
- born
spared.
29 By
faith they passed through the Red Sea, of which the Egyptians having taken
trial, were drowned.
Can you picture the event? About two to three million Hebrews, and some Egyptian
proselytes and friends, fleeing North - East out of Egypt - knowingly with no
where to go except into the Red Sea. They had seen the plagues, they had seen
their leader, Moses. Now, they are racing away - expecting that God will rescue
them because of the promises He has made - right up to the edge of the Red Sea,
and as they see the armies of Pharaoh approaching - they panic and complain to
Moses that he is leading them to their deaths. Then God says to Moses, "Why are
you crying out to me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward." Moses, by faith,
believing what God has said, stretches out his arms toward the Red Sea... and
the Sea is divided right down to dry ground and the millions cross in the path
in safety to the other side, and the following Egyptian army behind them gets
swallowed up by the then closing sea.
More facts...
Moses (792 times) [Genesis 2:1 - Revelation 15:3]
"They" The family of Israel
D.
Faith in The Conquest of Canaan and the
Period of the Judges, 11:30 - 32a
30 By
faith the walls of Jericho fell, having been encircled seven days.
Joshua and the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6) is always a great story. Most modern
writers tend to emphasize that Jericho sits right on top of one of the world's
biggest fault lines. It runs from deep under the ocean between Madagascar and
Africa northward up through Africa's Rift Valley, up the Red Sea, northward
still up the Jordan river, the Sea of Galilee, on up to something called the
Tethyan Mobile Belt that runs across Southern Asia, Southern Europe and then
south along the West coast of Africa. Of course, there's lots of earthquakes
along such an expansive fault. But... make no doubt about the Jericho event...
It was the power and intention of God in performing this miracle. An army of
people blowing their horns and shouting their "Fall Down" command does not
trigger a massive earthquake. By Faith - Israel believed what God said, and by
faith Jericho's walls fell "flat."
31 By
faith Rahab
the harlot did not perish with those who were disobedient, having received the
spies with peace.
Continuing the Jericho story and the total collapse of the walls of Jericho
- in
which Rahab lived with her windows to the outside of the wall - she did not
perish with those who were disobedient - by faith.
Further it's very interesting that it's possible that one of the key figures in
the family of Judah, a man named Salmon, was in the raiding party that was
shielded by Rahab upon their visit before the fall of the city. Salmon marries
Rahab, and has a son named Obed, Obed has a son named Boaz who marries Ruth
(book of Ruth). They have a son named Obed who is the father of Jessie, whose
son is King David. Check out the first 6 verses of Matthew Chapter 1.
32 A And
what shall I say yet? For the time will fail me telling of
Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jepthae,
Gideon,
a mighty man of valor, military leader, judge and prophet - led the victory over
the Midianites in Canaan.
Barak,
at the request of Israel's prophetess Deborah, went into battle and freed their
people after they had been enslaved for 20 years by the then king Jabin of
Canaan.
Sampson,
is one of the most recognizable of the judges who ruled over Israel before the
time of the Kings. God gave him great strength, but his strength is lost by his
unfaithfulness. He is blinded and taken captive by the Philistines. By Faith,
Sampson cries out to God and He returns Sampson's power to him. At a large pagan
feast, where Sampson is used as entertainment, Sampson pulls down the supporting
pillars of the pagan temple and kills himself, the dignitaries, and the visitors
of the feast as the walls of the Temple fall in upon them all.
Jepthae,
a man expelled by his own family, and had surrounded himself with men of low
character. Recalled by his family into a leadership position he conquered the
Ammonites of Canaan. Jepthae is the man who vowed to God that if he could win
that battle he would kill whoever came out of the door of his home when he
returned from battle. He kept his vow... even though it would be his sister who
stepped through that door - and she allowed him to do that. Such a strange story
to place him in this list of the Faithful. But by Faith, Jepthae submitted
himself to God, fought and won over the Ammonites, and kept his vow to the Lord.
Jepthae was judge over Israel for six years until his death.
More quick facts...
The Walls of Jericho
(59 times) [Numbers 22:1 - Hebrews 11:30]
Rahab (15 times)
[Joshua 2:1 - James 2:25]
Gideon (45 times)
[Judges 6:11 - Hebrews 11:32]
Barak (14 times)
[Judges 4:1 - Hebrews 11:32]
Samson (38 times)
[Judges 13:24 - Hebrews 11:32]
Jephthae (26 times)
[Judges 11:1 - Hebrews 11:32]
E.
Faith in The
Exercise of Faith in Victors, 11:32b - 35a
32 B and
both David and Samuel and the prophets
33 Who
through faith overcame kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises,
stopped the mouths of lions.
34 quenched
the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made
strong, became mighty in war, turned to fight armies of aliens.
No real comment here - God's word explains why these two men and the prophets
are included in the list. Each of the men and women who belong to this list has
their own complete story in the Scriptures and would make excellent side studies
concerning "Living by Faith."
35 A Women
received by resurrection their dead,
Elisha raised a widow's son back to life (1 Kings 17:17 - 24 and a Shunammite
woman's child (2 Kings 4:18 - 37). This, of course, represents the ultimate
victory: a conquering of death itself.
This is our last set of additional facts..
David
(983 times) [Ruth 4:16 - Revelation 22:16]
Samuel (125
times) [1 Sam 1:19 - Hebrews 11:32]
The Prophets (26.8
% of the Bible)
F.
The Exercise of
Faith in Victims, 1:35b - 38
35 B and
others were tortured, not accepting the deliverance, in order that they might
obtain a better resurrection.
36 And
still others of a different nature, received a trial of mockings and scourgings,
yes, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment.
37 The
were stoned, tempted, sawn asunder; they died, slaughtered by the sword; they
wandered around in sheepskins and goat skins; being destitute, hard - pressed,
maltreated.
38 Men
of whom the world was not worthy, wandering over desserts and mountains, and in
caves and holes of the earth.
Again, no further comment is needed - such a wonderful list.
G.
Faith
in The Expectation of Faith, 11:39 - 40
39 And
these all, although they had witness borne to them through their faith, did not
receive the promise, God having provided some better thing for us, in order that
they without us should not be made perfect.
Barkley writes, "In the end our writer says a great thing. All these died before the final unfolding of God's promise, before the coming of God's Messiah into the world. It was as if God had so arranged things, that the full blaze of His glory and revelation should not be revealed until we and they can enjoy it together. The writer to the Hebrews is saying: "see! The glory of God has come. But see what it cost to enable it to come! That is the faith which gave you your faith. What can you do but be true to a heritage and a tradition like that?"
Thank you for joining us for this lesson from the book of Hebrews Chapter Eleven. We hope that you have enjoyed this time together and that you have learned much, but mostly that you have a greater understanding of the Old Testament relationship to the New Testament. The New is built on the Old.
If you're interested in the rest of the series, Chapters 5 - 10, the link to our YouTube Video Channel is in the comments below. Also, if you're interested in supporting documentation on our Website the link to it is available there as well.
Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old gained approval.
1. In order to understand this and the following verses, what are the evidences of a personal relationship to God?
A. A man or woman who Loves God according to God's requirements - a circumcised heart, a heart cut - out and separated unto God, and God alone.
2. According to this verse ... what are the two elements of Faith?
A. the Assurance of things hoped for
B. the Conviction of things not seen
3. Drawing from the last number of weeks (learning from the book of Hebrews) what items, persons, or events would a believing Hebrew be looking forward to? (and those who would come after the Hebrew)
A. Promises made by God
1. To Adam and Eve God offered the test of Innocence (they failed God's test, but the faithful were still the benefactors of God's promises), i.e., the garden and the world beyond, life, relationship with God.
2. From Cain and Abel to Noah God offered the test of Conscience (man failed, but the faithful were still the benefactors of God's promises).
3. From Noah to Babel God offered the test of self governance. (man failed, but the faithful were still the benefactors of God's promises).
4. From Babel to bondage in Egypt
5. From Egypt to the Cross
6. From the Cross to the Rapture
7. From the Rapture to The Throne of Judgment
4. Why would those items, persons, or events bring them Assurance?
A. They were the results of promises made to them by God.
B. They believed that God would make good on His promises.
5. How did the believing Hebrew gain the approval of God?
(How does a person today gain the approval of God?)
A. Summary of the above...
1. A person with a godly circumcised heart
2. Who Hoped in the Promises made by God, and
3. Who was Assured that God would fulfill those promises.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.
This verse is the KEY ELEMENT to understanding God's definition of FAITH.
Re - Translation:
"Those who are PEOPLE of FAITH understand that all of creation was planned and prepared beforehand by The Son of God SO THAT the visible things He created were made out of things that are invisible to us."
Hebrews 11:4 - 7 are all examples of such people in the Old Testament before the Covenant to the Nation of Israel.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.
Abel's sacrifice was better because Able met the requirement of being a man who Loved God. God thus proclaims Able righteous.
1. How is Able still speaking today?
A. The righteousness of Abel's heart, expressed through his gift, is recorded in the Word of God which is still used as an example of faith in the days of the writing of Hebrews and even still today.
5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he
would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he
obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.
1. What was the promise that Enoch placed his hope in?
A. That Enoch would not see death.
2. Can you think of a New Testament promise that would be fulfilled before the death of the one promised.
A. Luke 2:25 - 32, Simeon
6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
1. What are the requirements for Faith
A. He who comes to God
MUST Believe that He IS
MUST Believe that HE is a REWARDER (able)
of those who seek Him
7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about THINGS NOT YET SEEN, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Hebrews 11:8 - 38 are all examples of such people in the Old Testament with the Covenant to the Nation of Israel.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed (HOW?) by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; (WHY?) 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
Without Sara's faith - there would have been no Covenant Promise through Abraham. No Isaac, no Jacob, no Nation of Israel.
13 All these died in faith,
without receiving the promises,
but having seen them (the Promises) and having welcomed them (the Promises) from a distance, and having confessed that they (themselves) were strangers and exiles on the earth.
14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return (but they did not).
16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
Q. How does God feel about those who believe that He is the God who makes promises and keeps them?
A. 1 - He is not ashamed of them (confident, bold, honored, found graceful, found to be accredited).
2 - Resulting in making a city for them (a special place to live).
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;
A reflection of what God the Father would do with His Own Son - in order to bring salvation to those who act so - In Faith.
18 it was he to whom it was said, "In Isaac your descendants shall be called." 19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type (a type of Christ - the picture of what God would do through His Son).
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau (Esau blessed because he was a son of Isaac), even regarding things to come.
The meaning here is that each individual so believed God's promises that they passed that belief down to the next generation as a teaching about God.
21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones (Joseph believed God for the succeeding generations who would honor not only his bones, but the God who would be continually keeping His promises).
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful (God Graced) child; and they were not afraid of the king�s edict.
Moses' parents believed God's promise
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill - treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.
The KJV says this best: "for He considered the recompense of the reward."
Moses thought about, and then acted, based upon the repayment God would make to Him and His people as a reward for Faith.
27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen
Moses continued against all odds - for He could "see" God (considering God keeps all His promises).
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.
Moses believed that the Angel would bring death to not only Pharaoh's first born and the Egyptian first - born, but that if they were not covered by the Blood of the Lamb - all the Hebrew first - born as well.
29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.
The "closed their eyes and walked across the Red Sea" based upon their belief that God would SAVE them.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
Certainly not the faith of the walls of Jericho - but the faith of all those who walked the path around the walls - believing that the walls would fall, because their God had promised it.
31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.
One who believed that God would keep her safe, even during such a complete siege and battle - She becomes the Mother of Boaz, the Husband of Ruth, in the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah.
32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release,
All these loving God and believing His promises.
so that they might obtain a better resurrection;
36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill - treated 38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.
39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith,
did not receive what was promised,
God's plan for the ages did not include the Old Testament Saints receiving the Promises God had made - before His plan was complete. God's plan for the ages did not end with Israel being released from the Captivities of Assyria and Babylonia.
40 because God had provided something better for us,
so that apart from us
they would not be made perfect.
God's plan included the Life and Death, the Burial, Resurrection, and the Ascension of God's very own Son.
God's plan also included the creation of a New Covenant, administered by His New Royal High Priest, a Royal government led by the 12 Apostles, and a Royal Priesthood of Believers.
God's plan includes a great Tribulation whereby the Earth is cleansed of unrighteousness and a thousand years of God's Son sitting in the High Kingly Throne of David here on the Earth, a final Satanic rebellion, and an eternal victory.
For those who Love God, are called according to His purposes, and
who Believe that God is ABLE to keep every Promise He makes.
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The Commentary based upon the Q & A |
2020 - 11 - 01
2024-03-19 update