Sermon Tone Analysis
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is commonly referred to as the “Hall of Faith” because it speaks about characters from the past and the faith they possessed.
The point is to call believers to have faith like these people from the past.
The passage is divided up into 5 sections.
An overture, some early examples of faith, the faith of wayfarers, more examples of faith, and a conclusion.
The writer uses the phrase “by faith” repeatedly to drive into our mind the necessity of living a life of faith.
Also, by calling to mind all of the biblical characters from the past, the author is making the argument that God’s people must be people of faith.
1.
The Overture ()
The writer begins by defining faith.
A. ὑπόστασις (hypostasis) - reality, being sure, firmness (Hebrews 11:1)
Faith is being sure.
Faith is having resolute confidence.
All of the examples given in this chapter possessed resolute confidence in the promises of God even though God hadn’t fulfilled them yet.
ὑπόστασις (hypostasis)
B. ἐλεγμός (elegmos) -proof, conviction, certainty (Hebrews 11:1)
Faith is being certain.
Even though you can’t see it, you know it is true.
It is a firm assurance in what was not immediately observable
C. Faith is what gain God’s approval.
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D. Thinking that God created the world requires faith.
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This is a foundational theological point.
God created everything that is out of nothing.
Faith looks at the created world and attributes the creation to God.
Believers have a resolute confidence, an unmovable certainty that God created everything that exists.
2. First Examples of Faith ()
The writer starts with the book of Genesis and moves from Abel to Abraham to discuss the faith they had.
A. By faith Abel ()
We don’t know exactly why Abel’s sacrifice was pleasing to God and Cain’s was not, but Hebrews gives us a hint.
Cain went through the motions, but Abel had faith that what he was doing is what God wanted him to do.
Example 1: Abel’s external actions matched his internal attitudes.
B. By faith Enoch ()
Enoch walked with God.
His entire way of living was about drawing close to God.
Enoch demonstrated a resolute commitment to living according to God’s ways.
He never looked back.
He never gave up.
He never wavered in his commitment to God’s ways.
Verse 6 is extremely important and is perhaps my favorite verse of Scripture.
Without faith it is impossible to please God.
A life of faith is defined by three components:
i. Seeking God earnestly
ii.
Believing that God exists
iii.
Confidence that God rewards those who seek him
Example 2: Enoch’s lived a life of faith which pleased God.
C. By faith Noah ()
Noah acted in faith based on the message he recieved from God.
He didn’t see anything, but he acted anyway.
Example 3: Noah acted according to God’s instructions by faith.
D. By faith Abraham ()
Abraham is perhaps the greatest example of faith in the Old Testament.
The author focuses much attention on his example.
Example 4: Abraham obeyed God’s call to move into the unknown by faith.
He had no idea where he was going.
He left what was secure to follow God.
He didn’t go to receive something from God.
He simply moved because God told him to do so.
Example 5: Abraham had no place of permanent dwelling because he continued to be committed to God’s promises.
E. By faith Sarah ()
Example 6: Sarah focused on the faithfulness of God to keep his promises.
Faith moves beyond the boundaries of the natural to trust in the supernatural.
Faith accepts that God can do anything.
He can work a miracle.
3. The Interlude ()
The writer pauses his person-to-person accounting of faith to make a general statements.
A. Genuine faith remains past our physical life and experience.
Just because we haven’t received God’s promises yet, doesn’t mean they are not coming.
The fulfillment of God’s promises may not be in this lifetime, but God will always accomplish what he promised.
B. Perception is not always reality.
All you may perceive is what is of this realm, but there is another realm.
People of faith do not simply live by want they can perceive.
People of faith live by the promises of God.
4.
More Example of Faith ()
A. By faith Abraham ()
Example 7: Abraham was forced into a radical decision which he made by faith.
Genesis doesn’t tell us what Abraham was thinking; however, the author of Hebrews reasoned this was the way the promise of God and the command of God could be fulfilled.
B. By faith Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph ()
Example 8: These men had resolute confidence by speaking about things which would happen after they died.
C. By faith Moses ()
Moses is another prime example of a person who lived by faith.
He was not perfect and his failures are recorded for us, yet the trajectory of his life was one of faith.
Example 9: Moses turned away from man’s ambition to follow God’s path for his life.
D. By faith the people of Israel ()
Example 10: The people moved when God told them to move.
E. By faith Rahab ()
Example 11: Rahab obeyed God.
5.
The Conclusion ()
The writer realized that time and space would prevent him from going through the entirety of the Old Testament, so he rapid fires examples.
Hebrews 11:32-
Example 12: All of these people lived by faith in the midst of a hostile world.
All of these people were commended by God for how they lived their lives.
Main Point: Living by faith is the only way to please God and receive his promises.
A life of faith is normal for the people of God.
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