Hebrews 11 - What's the Big Deal About Faith?
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
This is the introduction to the final section of the book of Hebrews (Chapters 11-13). Hebrews 11 is a power packed chapter. It can be encouraging and intimidating because it tackles the topic of faith.
It is the one topic that every preacher can be confident in covering!
Faith is something that every Christian must have and it is something that must continually increase!
Faith is something that every Christian must have and it is something that must continually increase!
Faith is not a theological concept in any other religious system in the word.
Sacrifice
Worship practices
Systems
Giving
Serving
Worship
Instruction
Proselytizing
Hebrews chapter 11 has often been referred to as “The Hall of Faith.” Imagine if you would that we are going to take a walk down the Hall of Faith and point out a few important details (working at Hersheypark).
Example: Trying to visit Graceland and not realizing that we stayed in Elvis’ birthplace on our way home (Topelo, Mississippi).
35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; 38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
“Do not throw away your confidence” - What does he mean by confidence?
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
Greek word parrhesia (4 x’s - Hebrews 3:14, Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 10:19 and Hebrews 10:35) means a “Bedrock Belief” (a bold, yet humble, freedom and authorized access into “the Most Holy Place”)
“You have need of endurance”
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Vs. 38 “but my righteous one shall live by faith”
This is a direct quote from Habakkuk 2:4, which is quotes 3 x’s in the NT, showing its importance.
17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
What’s the Big Deal About Faith?
What’s the Big Deal About Faith?
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
“assurance” or “substance” (NKJV) = something firm, a substructure or even a foundation.
Consider the 5 senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste) - Arguably sight is the most prominent.
Just as physical eyesight is the sense that gives us evidence of the material world, FAITH is the sense that gives us evidence of the invisible, spiritual world.
Hebrews 1. A Definition of Faith (1)
“Physical eyesight produces a conviction or evidence of visible things; faith is the organ which enables people to see the invisible order.” (Bruce)
Vs. 2 - These Jewish Christians were discouraged and thought about giving up on Jesus, so they needed these examples of faith to “break them out of their slump.”
Do you need broken out of your slump?
Faith is needed for what we can’t see and can’t touch. If you have it before you or have it in your hand, there is no need for faith.
Hebrews 1. A Definition of Faith (1)
Faith does not contradict reason, though it may go beyond reason. One may objectively prove the Bible is the most unique book ever published and has impacted society more than any other book. But only faith can prove that the Bible is the Word of God. Therefore, this is a belief beyond reason but not in contradiction to reason or against reason.
Vs. 3 “the universe was created”
Science vs. the Bible
The Bible does not contradict science it can only further prove it.
2 It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them.
And now, we begin our walk down the Hallway of Faith …
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
Abel - Faith Worshipping
Genesis 4:3-5 The difference was not animal vs. vegetable, but Abel’s sacrifice was made by FAITH.
Scripture gives not direct answer as to why God accepted Abel’s and not Cane’s.
(Different theories found in the New American Commentary)
6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
It’s not the substance that matters, rather the heart!
“he still speaks” - (1) Faith is not necessarily rewarded on earth. (2) Reminds us of the value of eternity and a life well lived. His life and testimony still speaks to people today.
Joke: Billy Graham playing gold with a non believer
5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Enoch - Faith Walking
Enoch is one of the mystery men of the OT being mentioned only in Genesis 5:21-24 as the man who walked with God and he was not, for God took him.
The writer of Hebrews makes the bold assumption that only a man of faith can enjoy the closest of communion with God. (Enoch fulfilled the purpose for which we all were created)
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
Vs. 6 - This is the basic faith required of any who seeks God.
“He exists” & “He rewards”
Not “difficult” rather “impossible”
Hebrews 2. Enoch’s Faith (5–6)
“These two elements seem most simple, but, alas, how many professing Christians act as if God were not living; and how many others, though seeking after Him, are not expecting from Him as Rewarder!”
7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
Noah - Faith Working
“Noah’s faith involved the whole person: his mind was warned of God; his heart was moved with fear; and his will acted on what God told him.”
Noah’s account begins in Genesis 6:9-21
Noah was warned of something that had never happened before. (Rain? or flood?)
“not yet seen” or “events as yet unseen” - This brings us back to Hebrews 11:1
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
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 for them a city.
By faith _________ when God told them ___________, they believed God and it was created to them as righteousness.
By faith _________ when God told them ___________, they believed God and it was created to them as righteousness.