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Hebrews Chapter Eleven
Faith That Pleases God (11:1-7)
INTRODUCTION
1. A key concern in this epistle is that Christians remain strong in "faith"... a. There is the danger of developing "a heart of unbelief" - He 3:12 b. It was the lack of faith that destroyed Israel - He 3:16-19 2. In chapter ten, we saw... a. An exhortation to "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" - He 10:22 b. An admonition to have that faith which endures to the end - He 10:35-39; cf. 6:11-12
3. But one might ask... a. What is this "faith" which leads "to the saving of the soul"? b. How does this faith manifest itself in the lives of those who possess it? 4. In chapter eleven, we find the answer to such questions... a. With a definition of faith - He 11:1 b. With a mention of how necessary faith is to please God - He 11:6 c. With examples of Old Testament saints who demonstrated saving faith - He 11:3-40 [In this lesson, we shall focus our attention on the first seven versesas we examine the "Faith That Pleases God". In verses 1-3, we see...] I. FAITH EXPLAINED (1-3)
A. FAITH IS "CONFIDENCE" AND "CONVICTION"... 1. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for..." (NKJV) a. The Greek word translated "substance" is hupostasis {hoop-os'-tas-is} b. Literally, it means "to stand under", i.e., to be a foundation c. As translated in He 3:14, it means "confidence"; i.e., firm trust, assurance d. Other translations illustrate that the main idea is "confidence"... 1) "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for..." (NIV) 2) "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for..." (NRSV, NASB) 2. "...the evidence of things not seen." (NKJV) a. The Greek word translated "evidence" is elegchos {el'-eng-khos} b. It means "conviction" c. How other versions translate this phrase... 1) "certain of what we do not see." (NIV) 2) "the conviction of things not seen." (NRSV, NASB) B. PERTAINING TO THINGS "HOPED FOR" AND "NOT SEEN"... 1. Faith is confidence about things hoped for, such as... a. The coming of our Lord - Ti 2:13 b. The resurrection of the dead - Ac 24:15 -- It was this kind of confidence possessed by the OT saints that pleased God - He 11:2 2. Faith is conviction about things we have not seen, such as... a. The existence of God: "whom no man has seen or can see," - 1 Ti 6:16 b. How the world began: "the worlds were framed by the word of God" - He 11:3 -- Yet faith is that strong conviction that such matters are true [As expressed in verse 2, the "elders obtained a good testimony"because of their faith. The rest of the chapter is filled with illustrations of the faith possessed by these "elders". The first threementioned were "antediluvians" (living before the flood), and in them we see...] II. FAITH EXEMPLIFIED (4-5,7)
A. THE TESTIMONY OF ABEL ("FAITH WORSHIPPING")... 1. By faith he "offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain" - He 11:4 a. The reference is to Gen 4:3-5 1) Cain's offering was "of the fruit of the ground" 2) Abel's offering was "of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat." 3) It is said the Lord "respected" Abel's offering, but not Cain's b. Why did God respect Abel's offering, but not Cain's? 1) It may have been that God had specified an animal sacrifice 2) It may be Cain offered "left-overs", while Abel offered his best (the firstborn) 3) Cain's attitude may have been wrong; he certainly showed himself prone to display envy and hatred, capable of murder! 4) Perhaps most likely, Abel offered his with "faith" while Cain did not 2. Through faith Abel "obtained witness that he was righteous" - He 11:4 a. God certainly testified of his righteousness in showing respect to his offering b. Jesus also bore witness to the righteousness of Abel - Mt 23:35
c. The apostle John also - 1 Jn 3:12 3. Through his faith, "he being dead still speaks" - He 11:4 a. His example of faith was written for our learning - Ro 15:4 b. His example of faith continues to warn us in regards to worshipping God B. THE TESTIMONY OF ENOCH ("FAITH WALKING")... 1. By his faith, Enoch "was translated so that he did not see death" - He 11:5 a. The historical reference alluded to is Gen 5:21-24 b. Like Elijah, he did not experience death - cf. 2 Ki 2:1-11 2. His faith was such that "he pleased God" - He 11:5 a. What God found pleasing is that he "walked with God" - Gen5:21,24
b. His example of faith illustrates the value of walking with God throughout life C. THE TESTIMONY OF NOAH ("FAITH WORKING")... 1. By faith Noah. "moved with godly fear" - He 11:7 a. The scriptural background is Gen 6:1-22 b. God warned him about "things not seen" (cf. He 11:1); i.e., the coming flood c. His confidence (faith) in what God said would happen prompted him to act with reverence toward God 2. By faith Noah "prepared an ark for the saving of his household" - He 11:7 a. His faith moved him to do "according to all that God commanded him" - Gen 6:22; 7:5 b. Through such faith working, Noah... 1) "condemned the world" a) His own example of faithfulness stood in stark contrast to others b) His obedience magnified the lack of obedience in others -- Just as Nineveh to Jesus - Mt 12:41 2) "became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith" a) He received the standing of being right in God's eyes b) It was his faith that so pleased God! 3) Demonstrated that faith and works are not necessarily contrary to one another - cf. Ga 5:6; Ja 2:14-26 [From the examples of these "antediluvian" saints we learn that thefaith is a strong conviction that "worships" God properly, "walks" withHim in life, and "works" as He directs. That such faith is necessary to please God is evident as we go back to verse six and notice...]
III. FAITH EMPHASIZED (6)
A. WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD... 1. We have seen how Abel, Enoch, and Noah "obtained a good testimony" by their faith 2. Of Enoch in particular it is said "he pleased God" - He 11:5 3. Whether we are "worshipping", "walking", or "working", faith must be the motivating factor behind it all -- Without faith, then, there is nothing we can do that will please God! B. THE FAITH WHICH PLEASES GOD... 1. Includes conviction "that believes that God is" a. We must believe there is a God, and He is the God of the Bible b. Though we do not see Him, we have conviction in "things not seen" - He 11:1b 2. Includes confidence "that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" a. We must believe that God acts on the part of those seek after Him - cf. 1 Chr 28:9; 2 Chr 16:9 b. It is regarding such "things hoped for", that we must have confidence - He 11:1a -- Such was the faith seen in the lives of Abel, Enoch, and Noah; one might ask, how do we develop such faith today...? C. HOW SAVING FAITH IS DEVELOPED... 1. It is not the result of "credulity" a. A common misconception is that faith is "blind" b. That there is no logic or reason to faith, one simply "believes" 2. But faith as described in the Bible is the result of "evidence"! a. Faith in God is the result of evidence provided via creation - Ro 1:20; Psa 19:1 b. Faith in Jesus is the result of evidence provided via revelation - Jn 20:30-31 -- Certainly the "antediluvian" saints had such evidence, including God speaking to them directly! 3. Today, faith comes "by hearing the word of God" - Ro 10:17 a. The word of God presents evidence to believe in God and Jesus b. Such as fulfilled prophecy, eyewitness testimony, etc. -- Through God's word, we can develop the kind of faith (conviction) which pleases God! - cf. Ro 15:4 CONCLUSION
1. The faith which leads "to the saving of the soul" is one that includes... a. A strong conviction that God is b. A strong confidence that He will reward those who diligently seek Him 2. It is the same kind of faith that we see in... a. Abel, in how he worshipped God b. Enoch, in how he walked with God c. Noah, in how he worked for God 3. Do you have that same kind of faith today? a. If you don't, let the Word of God create such faith in you... 1) It can produce faith in the existence of God! 2) It can produce faith in Jesus as His Son who died for you! b. If you do, then let it affect the manner in which you... 1) Worship God 2) Walk with God 3) Work for God -- As revealed through His Son Jesus Christ With the right kind of faith, we can have the assurance that... * God is pleased * We are heirs "of the righteousness which is according to faith" * We too will one day "obtain a good testimony"!
Faith That Embraces The Promises (11:8-22)
INTRODUCTION
1. In the first seven verses of the eleventh chapter, we saw... a. Faith explained... 1) As confidence of things hoped for 2) As conviction of things not seen b. Faith exemplified... 1) In Abel (faith worshipping) 2) In Enoch (faith walking) 3) In Noah (faith working) c. Faith emphasized... 1) Without which it is impossible to please God 2) We must believe He exists, and rewards those who diligently seek Him 2. Another aspect of our faith pertains to "the promises" in which we hope... a. We are warned not to fall short of what's been promised - He 4:1 b. Faith (along with patience) is necessary to inherit the promises - He 6:11-12 3. The faith which pleases God, then, is one that "embraces" God's promises... a. In verses 8-22, we learn of the faith of those who "embraced the promises" b. Because of their faith, "God is not ashamed to be called their God" [Do we have the sort of faith that makes God unashamed to be called ourGod? To answer this question, let's use the text of our study to review...] I. THE FAITH OF THE PATRIARCHS (8-12,17-22)
A. THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM... 1. By faith he "obeyed" - He 11:8 a. When God called him to leave his country, he obeyed the voice of the Lord 1) Even though at first he did not know where he was going 2) This is an example of conviction in "things not seen"! b. Here we see that faith and obedience are not contradictory terms 1) Indeed, Jesus is the "author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" - He 5:9 2) Is our faith an "obedient faith" like Abraham's? - cf. Lk 6:46 2. By faith he "sojourned" - He 11:9-10 a. His faith required him to live "as in a foreign country" 1) Even though it was the "land of promise", he and his descendants could not have it for four hundred years - cf. Gen 13:14-17; 15:13-21 2) He therefore patiently waited for the city "whose builder and maker is God" a) This suggests that the promises he embraced were more than just those pertaining to the land of Canaan b) Later, we will see he had a heavenly hope as well! b. Our faith requires us to live "as in a foreign country" 1) For we too are "sojourners and pilgrims" - 1 Pe 2:11 2) Is our faith a "sojourning faith" like Abraham's? - cf. He 13:14 3. By faith he "offered up Isaac" - He 11:17-19 a. His faith required him to be willing to offer that which was closest to him 1) His son, Isaac - Gen 22:1-19 a) Through whom the promises he embraced were to be fulfilled b) He assumed that God would raise Isaac from the dead, if need be, in order to keep His promises 2) Thus he illustrated that confidence "in things hoped for"! b. Our faith often requires forsaking things closest to us 1) Our loved ones, even our own life! - cf. Lk 14:26-33 2) Is our faith an "offering faith" like Abraham's? - cf. Ro 12:1-2 B. THE FAITH OF SARAH... 1. By faith she received strength to conceive a child - He 11:11-12
a. Though beyond the normal age of child-bearing - Gen 18:1-3;21:1-7
b. Though she laughed when she first heard of God's promise, she later "judged Him faithful who had promised" c. Through her faith, the promises of a great nation were fulfilled! 2. Our faith requires looking to God for strength, and trusting He will provide a. We must look to God to "find grace to help in time of need" - He 4:16 b. Is our faith a "receiving faith" like Sarah's? - Ph 4:13 C. THE FAITH OF ISAAC... 1. He blessed Jacob and Esau regarding things to come - He 11:20; cf. Gen 27:1-40 2. This illustrates how Isaac by faith "embraced" the promises D. THE FAITH OF JACOB... 1. Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph when he was dying - He 11:21; cf. Gen 48:14-20 2. His blessing involved the promises of God, showing how he embraced them also E. THE FAITH OF JOSEPH... 1. When he was dying, Joseph: a. Made mention of the departure of Israel out of Egypt b. Gave instructions concerning his bones - He 11:22; cf. Gen50:24-26
2. In so doing, he demonstrated that he had "embraced the promises"! [Such was the faith of the patriarchs. I purposely skipped verses 13-16, for what is said there not only applies to Abraham and Sarah, but
to Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. As we now turn to those verses, we learn in particular...] II. HOW THEIR FAITH PLEASED GOD (13-16)
A. THEY EMBRACED THE PROMISES... - He 11:13-16a 1. They did not receive the promises during their lifetime a. Yet with faith they could see them afar off b. They freely confessed to be strangers and pilgrims on the earth 1) This implies that they sought a homeland 2) But what they desired was a better one, indeed a heavenly country 2. They died "in faith" (i.e., holding fast to the promises) B. THEREFORE GOD IS NOT ASHAMED OF THEM... - He 11:16b 1. He is not ashamed to be called their God a. He is well pleased with them b. It was their faith embracing the promises that pleased Him 2. He has prepared a city for them a. What they waited for, He has prepared - cf. He 11:10 b. That which He has prepared is what we look for, too - cf. He 13:14 1) I.e., the new heavens and new earth - cf. 2 Pe 3:13 2) In which will be the "New Jerusalem," that "great city...descending out of heaven" - cf. Re 21:1-3,10ff 3) Indeed, even now in a sense we have "come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem CONCLUSION
1. What kind of faith pleases God? Certainly a... a. "Worshipping faith" like that of Abel b. "Walking faith" like that of Enoch c. "Working faith" like that of Noah ...but also a "waiting faith" seen in the patriarchs (Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph)! 2. The faith that pleases God is one that "embraces the promises" made by God... a. Patiently waiting for their ultimate fulfillment, even if it doesn't happen in one's lifetime b. But with conviction and confidence of "things hoped for" and "things of unseen"... 1) We will "obey" His calling 2) We will "sojourn" here on earth 3) We will "offer" up whatever He asks of us 4) We will "receive strength" to do whatever He bids us 5) And we will "make mention" of His promises from generation to generation! 3. This is the kind of faith... a. In those "who believe to the saving of the soul" - He 10:39 b. In those of whom "God is not ashamed to be called their God" - He 11:16 May the Lord grant us grace and mercy to develop this kind of saving faith!
Faith That Overcomes The World (11:23-40)
INTRODUCTION
1. What kind of faith leads "to the saving of the soul" (He 10:39)? a. It is "Faith That Pleases God" - He 11:1-7 1) That has confidence and conviction in things hoped for, in things unseen 2) That believes God is, and that He rewards those who seek Him 3) That worships like Abel, walks like Enoch, and works like Noah b. It is "Faith That Embraces The Promises" - He 11:8-22 1) Obeying God when He calls, even it means sojourning as a pilgrim, or sacrificing that which is most precious to you (Abraham) 2) Receiving strength from God to do His will (Sarah) 3) Declaring the promises of God from generation to generation (Isaac, Jacob, Joseph) 2. Saving faith is also "Faith That Overcomes The World", concerning which... a. The apostle John wrote in 1 Jn 5:4-5 b. We have many examples in He 11:23-40 [In the last half of chapter eleven, then, we are reminded how in theOld Testament those with faith were able to "overcome the world". Howsuch faith overcame the world may vary. To see how, let's begin by noticing...] I. FAITH IN THE GENERATION OF THE EXODUS (23-31)
A. THE FAITH OF MOSES' PARENTS... (23) 1. They hid Moses for three months - cf. Exo 2:1-3; Ac 7:20 a. They saw he was a "beautiful" ("good", "proper", "not ordinary") child b. They were not afraid of Pharaoh's command - cf. Exo 1:22 2. It was their faith that gave them courage to withstand the king's edict -- With such a small beginning, by faith they "overcame the world" of Egypt B. THE FAITH OF MOSES... (24-28) 1. He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter - He 11:24-26
a. He chose to suffer affliction with God's people rather than enjoy sin's temporary pleasures b. He esteemed the reproaches of Christ more valuable than the treasures of Egypt -- Through faith "he looked to the reward" (he had confidence in "things hoped for", i.e., that heavenly reward) 2. He forsook Egypt a. It was not the wrath of the king that he feared b. It was the invisible God he feared - cf. Mt 10:28 -- Through faith "he endured" (he had conviction in "things unseen", i.e., God) 3. He kept the Passover and sprinkling of blood - He 11:28 a. He believed in God's warning regarding the death of the firstborn- Exo 12:1-30 b. He had Israel and door posts -- By faith, Moses "overcame the world" of Egyptian bondage! C. THE FAITH OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL 1. They passed through the Red Sea - He 11:29 a. They walked through it on dry land - Exo 14:21-22 b. The Egyptians who followed them perished in the sea - Exo 14:23-28
2. They destroyed the city of Jericho a. They walked around the city for seven days - Josh 6:1-20 b. Thirteen times they encircled the city, showing their faith in God rather than in their own military might -- By faith, Israel "overcame the world" of Egypt and Palestine D. THE FAITH OF RAHAB THE HARLOT... (31) 1. She had received the two spies from Israel 2:1-24
2. Therefore she did not perish with the unbelievers - cf. Josh 6:22-25
-- By faith, Rahab "overcame the world" of sin and unbelief! [Through faith, Israel Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Josh 21:43-45). In the process, by faith they overcame what obstacles the world placed before them. Even a Gentile sinner like Rahab became a recipient of the promise by her faith. But the need for faith did not stop there. As we continue, we seeexamples of...] II. FAITH IN THE LAND OF PROMISE (32-40)
A. A SAMPLE LIST OF HEROES OF FAITH... (32) 1. There is not enough time for the author to describe the faith of others in detail 2. Such as: a. Judges like Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah b. A king like David c. A prophet like Samuel, and the rest of the prophets -- But what the author does provide is that which follows... B. A SUMMARY LIST OF WHAT FAITH ACCOMPLISHED... (33-37) 1. Through faith, people such as these... a. "Subdued kingdoms" 1) Joshua, in conquering Palestine - Josh 12:7-24 2) David, in conquering neighboring nations - 2 Sam 5:4-25;8:1-14
b. "Worked righteousness" (administered justice) 1) Samuel, as judge - 1 Sam 12:4 2) David, as king - 2 Sam 8:15 3) Solomon, as king - 1 Kin 3:28 c. "Obtained promises" -- The nation of Israel, receiving the promised land - Josh21:43-45; 23:14
d. "Stopped the mouths of lions" 1) Samson - Judg 14:6 2) David, protecting sheep - 1 Sam 17:34-37 3) Daniel, in the lions' den - Dan 6:21-22 e. "Quenched the violence of fire" -- Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-nego, in the fiery furnace - Dan3:23-25
f. "Escaped the edge of the sword" 1) David, fleeing King Saul - 1 Sam 23:19-29 2) Elijah, fleeing Jezebel - 1 Kin 19:8-10 3) Elisha, whom the King of Israel wanted murdered - 2 Kin6:31-32
h. "Out of weakness were made strong" 1) Samson, after his hair was cut - Judg 16:29-30 2) Hezekiah, who was given fifteen years of life - Isa 38:1-8
i. "Became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of aliens"
1) David, in defeating Goliath - 1 Sam 17:50 2) Jehoshaphat, in defeating Edom - 2 Chr 20:1-30 3) Hezekiah, whose faith led to the slaughter of 185,000 Assyrian soldiers - 2 Kin 19:1-36 2. Also through faith... a. "Women received their dead raised to life again" 1) The widow of Zarephath, via Elijah - 1 Kin 17:17-24 2) The Shunamite woman, via Elisha - 2 Kin 4:8-37 b. "Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, to obtaina better resurrection"
1) Eleazar, in the Maccabean period between the Testaments - 2 Macc 6:30 2) Also, seven brothers and their mother tortured by Antiochus Epiphanes - 2 Macc 7:9-36 -- Such events would have been well known by the Hebrew readers c. "Others had trials of mockings, scourgings, chains and imprisonment"
1) Micaiah, the prophet - 1 Kin 22:24-28 2) Jeremiah, the prophet - Jer 20:1-3; 37:11-21; 38:1-13 d. Some were: 1) "Stoned" - Zechariah, son of Jehoida the priest - 2 Chr24:20-22
2) "Sawn in two" - the prophet Isaiah, according to tradition 3) "Tempted" - Daniel, as a youth - Dan 1:8-21 4) "Slain with the sword" - Uriah the prophet - Jer 26:20-23
e. Some wandered about: 1) "In sheepskins and goatskins" - Elijah - 2 Kin 1:8 2) "Being destitute, afflicted, tormented" - Elijah - 2 Kin17:2-6; 18:9-10
C. WHAT THESE PEOPLE RECEIVED BY THEIR FAITH... (38-40) 1. Certainly not the praise of the world! - He 11:38 a. Many had to wander in deserts and mountains, live in dens and caves (Elijah) b. But in truth, the world is not worthy of them! 2. They did obtain a good testimony... - He 11:39a a. As stated regarding the elders in He 11:2 b. As stated regarding Enoch - He 11:5 3. Yet they did not obtain "the promise" during their lifetime - He 11:39b-40 a. They did receive some of the promises, such as the promised land - cf. He 11:33 b. But they did not receive "the" promise 1) They did not live to see the coming of the promised Deliverer (Christ) 2) Nor did they experience the "perfection" which Christ now offers a) The Law could not make them "perfect" - He 9:9-10; 10:1-4
b) But Christ can! - cf. He 9:11-14; 10:11-14 4. What they did not receive during their lifetime, they did with the coming of Christ! a. For Christ died to redeem them as well as us! - He 9:15 b. They are now made "perfect" just as we are - He 11:40; cf. 10:14; 12:22-24 1) Note the phrase "the spirits of just men made perfect" in He 12:23 2) Those who in the past "should not be made perfect apart from us" are in Christ "made perfect"! CONCLUSION
1. Through faith, they truly overcame the world... a. Sometimes their victory was miraculous; often it was not c. Their ultimate victory was that they "died in faith" - He 11:13-16
-- And now, they enjoy the fruit of faith: bliss in the presence of the Lamb! - cf. Re 7:9-17 2. Through faith, we can also overcome the world... a. Faith in Jesus as the Son of God will give us the victory! - 1 Jn5:4-5
1) Victory over the world's temptations 2) Victory over the world's persecutions b. The victories we win may not be as impressive as those listed in this chapter, but if we are "faithful until death", the reward will be the same! - cf. Re 2:10 May this great chapter with its heroes of faith, serve to motivate us to grow in the faith which... * Pleases God! * Embraces The Promises! * Overcomes The World! We may not win the praise the world, but we will receive the praise ofGod, for such is the faith which leads "to the saving of the soul"!