*****hebrews 11:4-6

without faith

Hebrews 11:4–6 (NRSV)

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.” 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

I recently watched the National Football League Hall of Fame induction of the 2011 Hall of Fame recipients. Each year in Canton, Ohio the NFL inducts seven new former players into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. These players have to be some of the best at their positions. They have had to play the game well and represented the league well, and be retired from football for at least five years. Each recipient had someone they knew introduce them, and tell others why they are worthy of this honor. Each recipient has a bust fashioned in their likeness unveiled before the audience. Each recipient is given the platform to speak about his life and career. The Pro Football Hall of Fame has a place where all the busts of all the players that have been inducted are enshrined. They have memorabilia from teams, players, archives, and many other things praising the players who made it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. God has a better and more lasting Hall of Fame than that!

It is known as the “Hall of Faith!” Only those who have lived by faith, made a difference by faith, and allowed God to work are in this Hall of Faith! These saints of old made a difference for the Kingdom of God. We learn in the last lesson in Hebrews 11:2 the Bible says, “For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.” By their faith in God they were inducted into the “Hall of Faith.”

In the last study we learned about the definition of faith. Hebrews 11:1 gives us the concise Biblical definition of faith. We learned in verse one what is revealed as faith. In verse two we noted what is received by faith. In verse three we studied what is recognized by faith. The writer of Hebrews gives us the explanation of faith, gives us some examples of faith, and makes an exclamation about faith. Are we living examples of faith in Jesus Christ? Are we living by faith? Do we have Biblical faith in the One True God? This passage gives us some specifics about what the Bible says about faith. After giving the definition of faith the writer of Hebrews shows us:

II. The demonstrations of faith. (4–5)

A. The righteous Abel. (4)

1. The sacrifice of Abel. (4a)

“By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain”

The writer of Hebrews gives some godly examples from the Old Testament of those who lived by faith, honored God with their faith, and were remembered because of their faith in God! The writer of Hebrews goes all the way back to the first family and the first children born. Abel is known as “righteous Abel” because he had faith in God. Genesis 4:2 tells us that Abel was a tender of the flock. He was a keeper of sheep. Being a shepherd he knew his sheep and he knew the very best that he had to offer to the Lord. Abel’s heart was right with God because he acted by faith in God. Jimmy Draper wrote, “Abel was not approved of God because he brought the right kind of sacrifice. He brought the right kind of sacrifice because he was approved of God.” Offered: prosphero, pros-fer’-o; to bear towards, i.e. lead to, tender (especially to God), treat, bring (to, unto) deal with, do, offer (unto, up), present unto, put to.

Obviously Adam and Eve had instructed Cain and Abel on Who to worship and the way to worship. Both of the men knew to bring an offering and who to present the offering to. Abel obeyed the voice of the Lord and offered a faithful sacrifice which God respected. Genesis 4:4 says, “And the Lord respected Abel and his offering.” James Montgomery Boice wrote, “Abel’s sacrifice involved blood and therefore testified to the death of a substitute. He was coming to God as God had shown He must be approached. When God killed animals in the Garden of Eden and then clothed Adam and Eve with their skins, God was showing that, because sin means death, innocent victims must die in order that sinners might be pardoned. The sacrifices pointed forward to Christ. When Abel came with the offering of blood, he was believing God and was looking forward to the provision of the Deliverer. When Cain brought his fruit he was rejecting that provision.” The writer of Hebrews tells us that Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. Excellent: pleion, pli-own; more in quantity, number, or quality; also (in plural) the major portion, above, exceed, more excellent, further, (very) greater. The writer takes the Hebrew Christians back to the time of worship for Cain and Abel.

◾ He makes a comparison between the righteous sacrifice of Abel and the wrong sacrifice of Cain.

◾ He makes a distinction between Abel’s sacrifice that was received and Cain’s sacrifice that was rejected.

In Genesis 4:2 the Bible tells us that “Cain was a tiller of the ground.” He was a farmer.

◾ Abel brought the faithful sacrifice: the firstborn of the flock.

◾ Cain brought the faulty sacrifice: the fruit of the field.

Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Cain wasn’t rejected because of his offering, but his offering was rejected because of Cain: his heart wasn’t right with God.” There are only two ways to approach God:

→ The way of the cross or the way of Cain!

→ One leads to heaven and the other leads to hell!

Cain wanted to come to God, but he chose to try to come to God on his own terms and not on God’s terms. John MacArthur wrote, “Cain believed in God, else he would not have brought Him a sacrifice. He acknowledged a supreme being and even that he owed Him some sort of worship. He recognized God, but he did not obey God. He believed in God, but he did not believe God. He thought he could approach God in whatever way he wanted, and expected Him to be impressed and satisfied. In so doing, Cain became the father of all false religion. False religion is trying to come to God by any other way than the way God has prescribed.” He tried to approach God his way and not God’s way! Cain, like Abel, probably brought the best that he had to offer. He had:

◾ worked the fields and planted

◾ weeded, watered and waited

◾ and then, harvested!

→ FACTS: We are reminded through the sacrifice of Cain that our best was never, is never, and will never be good enough!

◾ We are not going to heaven by our goodness, work, toil, sacrifice, or offerings! The sacrifice of Abel was a more excellent sacrifice than Cain’s. The Bible tells us about the sacrifice of Abel. We also note:

2. The speaking of Abel. (4b)

“through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.”

Abel, through his faith in God, obtained a witness that he was right with God. He was one of the forefathers of the faith that obtained a good testimony. Abel didn’t just talk about faith, but he walked by faith. He demonstrated his faith in God by his offering to God. He worshiped God in the right way. He approached God on the Lord’s terms. David Jeremiah wrote, “We have no record of anything Abel said, only a record of what he did. And his life speaks volumes to us.” Abel didn’t speak with his lips, but with his life. He didn’t talk with words, but with his walk.

Abel received witness that he was righteous. Because of his faith in God he received testimony that he was right with God. Righteous: dikaios, dik’-ah-yos; equitable (in character or act); innocent, holy (absolute or relative) -just, meet, right (-eous). The writer of Hebrews puts emphasis on the testimony of Abel. It wasn’t stories passed down by men that might have been altered or changed, or blown up or forgotten. The testimony of Abel’s righteousness is by God Himself. God testified of Abel’s gifts. God was well pleased with the life, love, work, walk, and worship of Abel! Can that be said of us? Would God be able to testify of our faith like Abel? Do we demonstrate our faith in God by what we do for God?

In 1893, engineer George Ferris built a machine that bears his name—the Ferris Wheel. When it was finished, he invited a newspaper reporter to accompany him and his wife for the inaugural ride. It was a windy July day, so a stiff breeze struck the wheel with great force as it slowly began its rotation. Despite the wind, the wheel turned flawlessly. After one revolution, Ferris called for the machine to be stopped so that he, his wife, and the reporter could step out. In braving that one revolution on the windblown Ferris wheel, each occupant demonstrated genuine faith. Mr. Ferris began with the scientific knowledge that the machine would work and that it would be safe. Mrs. Ferris and the reporter believed the machine would work on the basis of what the inventor had said. But only after the ride could it be said of all three that they had personal, experiential faith. Abel had that type of faith in God! He is known as the righteous Abel.

In Matthew 23:35 the Lord Jesus says to the wicked scribes and Pharisees, “that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.” The Lord Jesus testified about the righteousness of Abel. I pray that when I die that someone would have some good testimony to say about me. I pray that others would be able to testify that I loved Jesus, served Jesus, and knew Jesus by faith.

The fact is that it really doesn’t matter what men say about us if God’s testimony is not favorable towards us. When God testifies that we are righteous we are indeed righteous!

→ Abel was counted as righteous before God because of his faith in God!

→ You and I are counted as righteous before God only when we have faith in Jesus Christ! Christ is our righteousness!

What did God testify of? The Bible says God testified of his gifts. Gifts: doron, do’-ron; a present; specially a sacrifice-gift, offering. God was pleased with Abel because he offered up a burnt sacrifice to God. Abel offered the best he had. Abel did what God wanted him to do. What gifts are we offering up to God? What sacrifice are we bringing to God by faith? What offering are we giving to God? Abel came before God and was received by God! If we are not careful we can bring a right offering to God with the wrong heart! We can give with a wrong attitude! We can serve in the wrong spirit. We can teach without faith! The writer of Hebrews tells us that the testimony of Abel still lives on.

→ Those in a pro football hall of fame will not always be remembered, but those in the Hall of Faith will never be forgotten.

→ Though Abel died his life and testimony still declare.

Though Abel was murdered by his brother, the message of his faith is still remembered today. Abel is still preaching his message of faith.

John MacArthur tells us how Abel is still speaking. He wrote, “He says three things:

◾ man comes to God by faith, not works

◾ man must accept and obey God’s revelation above his own reason and self-will

◾ and sin is severely punished

◾ “This is Abel’s timeless three point sermon to the world, which he has been preaching for thousands of years to those who will hear.”

If we are men and women who live by faith in Jesus Christ, then God can use us to make a difference in the lives of the people of other generations. James Moffatt said of Abel, “Death is never the last word in the life of a righteous man. When a man leaves this world, be he righteous or unrighteous, he leaves something in the world. He may leave something that will grow and spread like a cancer or a poison, or he may leave something like the fragrance of perfume or a blossom of beauty that permeates the atmosphere with blessing.” The righteous Abel still speaks and God makes sure of that! Abel was a man of faith. He demonstrated his faith in God. The writer of Hebrews moves now to another Old Testament hero of the faith. We’ve learned about the righteous Abel. In verse five we learn about:

B. The rapture of Enoch. (5)

1. The taking of Enoch. (5a)

“By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ‘and was not found, because God had taken him”

The writer of Hebrews gives another shining example of faith. By faith Enoch was taken to heaven by God without ever dying. Taken away: (KJV: Translated) metatithemi, met-at-ith’-ay-mee; to transfer, i.e. (literal) transport, (by implication) exchange, (reflexive) change sides, or (figurative) carry over, change, remove, translate, turn. Enoch was the first person ever raptured! Enoch is found in Genesis chapter five. The Bible says he lived sixty-five years and had a son named Methuselah. Enoch was the first person ever taken from the earth that did not die. He is a picture of the New Testament Church that will be taken one day to meet the Lord in the clouds.

The writer of Hebrews tells us specifically that God took Enoch before death. He did not see death. The grim reaper never came knocking on Enoch’s door! The Bible tells us that Enoch was taken by God and not found by man. Genesis 5:24 is quoted here saying, “and was not found, because God had taken him.” Somebody went looking for Enoch. Family, friends, neighbors sent a search party out for him. He lived in such a way that he was missed when he was gone! By faith Enoch made a great impact on the world. Lamoyne Sharpe wrote, “The phrase, ‘and was not found’ indicates that he was missed by those around him, because they searched for him. He had an impact upon other people.” Enoch was taken by God to heaven! Those who couldn’t find Enoch would never find Enoch.

→ They could have searched every day of their life and they were not going to find him

→ Heaven was, and is, and will forever be Enoch’s home!

Is heaven your eternal home? Enoch lived by faith and because of his faith in God he was taken to heaven by God! The Bible tells of us the taking of Enoch. We also learn in verse five about:

2. The testimony of Enoch. (5b)

“for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”

Enoch lived the life of faith. He had a great testimony in the world that he knew God and served God, and walked with God. Genesis 5:22 says, “Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters.” Enoch’s first son, Methuselah, was born when he was sixty-five years old and after that he lived three hundred years and he bore the testimony that he walked with God. Enoch lived a life pleasing to God. John Phillips wrote, “When the Bible says that Enoch walked with God, it means that he and God were in agreement—in agreement about the way he spent his time, about the way he spent his money, about the way he ran his business, about the way he treated his family, about the way he supported his place of worship.” Enoch was faithful to the Lord! He walked with the Lord three hundred years! Is our life in agreement with God? Are we walking with the Lord Jesus? Are we under the Lordship of Jesus Christ? If He came for us would it be a big surprise to us? What kind of testimony do we have in our homes, in our neighborhood, on our jobs, with our families, in the church, in the community?

Enoch by faith walked with God! How about you and I? Warren Wiersbe wrote, “Our faith in God grows as we fellowship with God. We must have both the desire to please Him and the diligence to seek Him. Prayer, meditating on the Word, worship, discipline—all of these help us in our walk with God.” The Bible tells us of the rapture of Enoch. He was a godly man that walked with the Lord. One day he set out walking with the Lord and the Lord didn’t let him return to his earthly home, but He took him to his heavenly home. The Bible gives us some demonstrations of faith. The writer of Hebrews gives us two Old Testament examples of faith. In this study we’ve given the definition of faith, the demonstrations of faith, and lastly we note:

III. The declaration about faith. (6)

A. The impossibility of pleasing God. (6a)

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him”

The writer of Hebrews had already laid the foundation for faith in the 1st five verses and in verse six he makes a strong declaration about faith. The examples of faith that we are given are for our exhortation, learning, and encouragement. Abel and Enoch were not super humans. They didn’t have anything that we do not have access to. Abel and Enoch lived by faith and by their faith they pleased God.

The writer of Hebrews lets us know that without faith in God we cannot please God. Impossible: adunatos, ad-oo’-nat-os; unable, i.e. weak (literal or figurative); passive impossible -could not do, impossible, impotent, not possible, weak. The Bible doesn’t say that it is improbable, but impossible to please God without faith. Without faith in God it is not difficult, hard, strenuous, exhausting, etc … but it is impossible. We are unable to please God in any shape, form, or fashion without faith in God. God cannot be pleased or will not be pleased without faith. Without taking the leap of faith in Jesus Christ we can never please God in any other way.

→ Our work is not pleasing

→ our worship is not pleasing

→ our giving is not pleasing

→ our singing is not pleasing

→ our sacrificing is not pleasing

The African Impala can jump to a height of over 10ft and cover a distance of greater than 30ft in a leap. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3ft. wall. The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall. Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see, and with faith we are freed from the flimsy enclosures of life that only our fear allows us to be entrapped in. If we do not take the leap of faith in Jesus Christ here we can never please God! God is not asking us to have blind faith, but Biblical faith! Without faith in Him we can never please God! It is sad to have lived your life without God and yet tried your hardest to please God and die without Him.

In April 1988 the National evening news reported a photographer who was a sky diver. He had jumped from a plane along with numerous other skydivers and filmed the group as they fell and opened their parachutes. On the film shown on the telecast, as the final skydiver opened his chute, the picture went berserk. The announcer reported that the cameraman had fallen to his death, having jumped out of the plane without his parachute. It wasn’t until he reached for the absent ripcord that he realized he was freefalling without a parachute. Until that point, the jump probably seemed exciting and fun. But tragically, he had acted with thoughtless haste and deadly foolishness. Nothing could save him, for his faith was in a parachute never buckled on. Faith in anything but an all sufficient God can be just as tragic spiritually. Only with faith in Jesus Christ can we please God and be received by God! Without faith it is impossible to please God! The writer of Hebrews makes a strong declaration about faith. After revealing the impossibility of pleasing God, we also note:

B. The inspiration for pleasing God. (6b)

“for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

After giving the impossibility of pleasing God the Bible tells us about the inspiration for pleasing God. God can be pleased! Abel pleased God; Enoch pleased God; this whole chapter is full of men and women of faith who lived lives pleasing to God. Those who come to God must believe that He is! Come: proserchomai, pros-er’-khom-ahee; to approach, i.e. (literal) come near, visit, or (figurative) worship, assent to (as soon as he) come (unto), come thereunto, consent, draw near. This word refers to “worshipers.” This doesn’t just mean that we believe God exists! The devil knows God exists! He believes God exists! James 2:19 says, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe-and tremble!” Believing that God exists is not enough! God is surely not pleased with an atheist, but neither is He pleased with a Deist! Many people believe “in God.” If you press them on Who that God is, their answer often is not the God revealed to us in the Bible. The world is full of false gods and dead idols. The One True God has revealed Himself in the Bible. He is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. He will bless those who seek Him! He will be found by those who seek Him. He is not hiding from us, running from us, unknowable by us! We must diligently seek the Lord! That means we must mean business! We must with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength love the Lord, seek the Lord, and serve the Lord!

Diligently seek: ekzeteo, ek-zay-teh’-o; to search out, i.e. (figurative) investigate, crave, demand, (by Hebrew) worship-en-(re-) quire, seek after (carefully, diligently). Are you diligently seeking the Lord? Isaiah 55:6–7 says, “Seek the LORD WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND, CALL upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” God rewards Biblical faith! God rewarded Abel’s faith! God rewarded Enoch’s faith! Has God rewarded your faith? It inspires me to know that only through faith in the Lord Jesus can we please God. God can be pleased, but only through His Son! Are you demonstrating biblical faith in God? Is your worship pleasing to God? Is your walk pleasing to God? Are we setting a godly example and leaving behind a godly example for the next generation? Do we have a faith like Abel? Do we have a walk like Enoch? If you have never repented of your sins and come to God on His terms you are lost and separated from God and you cannot please God! Come to Jesus Christ for salvation and you can begin a life that is pleasing to God! Are we diligently seeking the Lord Jesus and are we faithfully obeying the Lord Jesus?