Faith Before the Flood

Flow of Hebrews 11

Faith Before the Flood (v. 1-7)

Faith of Our Fathers (v. 8-22)

Faith to Forsake Egypt (v. 23-29)

Faith to Overcome Foes (v. 30-40)

Faith Before the Flood (v. 1-7)

Defining Faith (v. 1-2)

Demonstrating Faith (v. 3-7)

Creation (v. 3)

Able (v. 4)

Enoch (v. 5-6)

Noah (v. 7)

Grappling with Hebrews 11:1

Translation:

NKJV Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

HCSB Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

NET Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.

NASB95 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Interpretation:

Do we interpret the words “substance” & “evidence” objectively or subjectively?

In other words, is this verse describing faith as our internal subjective feeling, or an external objective truth upon which we rely?

Best answer: BOTH… Faith is the confident internal assurance which the believer has because God has provided external evidence about unseen realities.

Defining Faith:

Faith is a reasonable reliance on demonstrable facts, which calls us to respond to the revelation of God. Compare James 2:19 and Romans 10:17.

Biblical faith trusts and follows the word of God. Faith is always followed by action. Faith and faithfulness are organically connected both etymologically, and theologically.

Faith is allegiance: this concept is deeply rooted conceptually in the Old Testament and world history. It is illustrated by a vassal Susan Aryan treaty arrangement in the Old Testament or a patron client relationship in the New Testament. This sort of arrangement involved to things of the client. First, entrusting their security to their overlord. Second, promising obedience to that overlord.

The phrase “by faith“ appears 18 times in Hebrews chapter 11 that’s illustrating what faith looks like. This chapter is less of a definition of faith, and more of a description of faith.

Faith is not fideism, that is believing that belief is supreme, I.e. Believing without evidence.

Faith is not myth, that is, believing in spite of evidence.

Faith is not strength, it is only as good as it’s object.

Biblical faith helps us in the present because it has a solid view of the past faithfulness of God. Faith is different than hope in that faith looks backwards into the past of what God has done, while hope looks forward into the future of what God will do.

Faith through the ages

Salvation in every age is by grace through faith, though the content of that faith may change. Faith is always the common denominator, yet the numerator may change from Able to Noah to Abraham to Moses to David etc.

In a sense humility and faith are near synonyms. Faith is humble enough to admit that we don’t know everything, while simultaneously trusting that God knows best. God not only knows what I don’t know, but also cares about me to tell me what I ought know.

Demonstrating Faith:

Creation (v. 3)

Before beginning his impressive roll call of the faithful, the author reminds his readers that faith is absolutely necessary if we are to understand even the first page of Scripture. - Homer A. Kent Jr.

Faith is needed to believe in creation, because none of us were there to observe the beginning. Genesis 1:1 is our record, given to us by God, which we either believe or disregard.

Our author uses the word “eon” to not merely refer to the physical creation, but also history that God governs.

Abel (v. 4)

Able, in contrast to his brother Cain, exercised faith in his sacrifice to God. This faith resulted in able obtaining a witness that he was righteous, because God testified to his righteousness by excepting his offering.

Differences of interpretation exist regarding what made Able “accepted” before the Lord, while Cain was not. Either the sacrifice itself, the attitude with which it was offered, or both are involved. Jewish interpreters have tended to favor the former, and Christian interpreters the latter.

It is possible to interpret the Genesis 4 narrative based upon this text. Romans 10:17 defines faith as a response to God‘s revelation. The word translated sacrifice in Hebrews 11:4 is a Greek word that means to slaughter. It is possible to connect Hebrews 11:4 back to Genesis 4 and highlight that Able obediently offered a blood sacrifice, while Cain did not.

1 John 3:12 may also be appealed to in regards to this discussion, however, it remains inconclusive.

Although Abel is dead, his example of humble, honest faith still speaks to us today!

Hebrews 12:24 will later state that the blood of Christ speaks better things than that of Able. This is because the blood of Able cried out for justice upon sinners (cf. Rev. 6:9-11), while the blood of Christ cries out for justification of sinners.

This illustration not only serves to highlight the nature of faith, but specifically exercising faith in a sacrifice, which has been the primary topic throughout chapters 9-10.

Enoch (v. 5-6)

The translation of Enoch recorded in Genes 5 serves as the first ray of hope after the curse. His translation evidences the fact that death is not the end. There is something on the other side. God is determined to ultimately overcome death.

Little is known of Enoch other than the fact that he is called a prophet (Jude 14), who walked with God (Genesis 5:24 cf. 3:8 & Lev. 26:3, 12) who pleased God (Hebrews 11:5), and therefore God took him.

The OT Apocryphal books of Enoch, Jubilees, Wisdom of Solomon, and Sirach also highlight the character Enoch, with some interesting elaboration. He was a revered figure in Judaism.

The testimony that “he pleased God” is attributed to only two people in the Bible: Enoch & Jesus (Matt. 3:17; John 8:29). “Pleased God” is the LXX rendering of the Hebrew phrase, “walked with God.”

Enoch is one of only two men in the Bible who never suffered death. The other being Elijah (2 Kings 3).

It is possible that Enoch exercised his prophetic office in the naming of his son Methuselah, which means, “his death shall bring it...” referring to the coming flood.

This recounting of the life of Enoch drives our author to make the fundamental observation of v. 6.

Seeking God requires a genuine belief in two realities:

The actuality of God. He exists!

The activity of God. He acts!

To put it another way… if I am not seeking God, than I am not believing one of these two fundamental realities, and I am functioning as a practical atheist or practical deist.

The emphatic nature of v. 6 highlights its importance. “Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God.” This fundamental tenant of God’s dealing with the human race is akin to “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble...” In one sense, humility and faith are near synonyms.

Comparing Able & Enoch:

It is interesting to note that because of his faith, Abel died. yet because of his faith, Enoch did not die.

In his death, Abel speaks, while Enoch speaks in his escape from death.

Noah (v. 7)

The author’s third illustration is Noah, whose faith and righteousness were so widely recognized as to be almost proverbial (Ezek. 14:14). - Homer A. Kent Jr.

By faith Noah responded to God’s word, specifically God’s warning of a coming flood.

One fascinating feature of Noah’s faith is that He believed God regarding the coming of rain, even though it had never yet rained upon the face of the earth.

In other words, faith humbly acknowledges that we don’t know everything. There are things beyond the realm of our personal experience. Therefore faith chooses to trust God, even we we don’t fully understand God.

Noah’s faith resulted in his obedience. He prepared the ark. Yet the faith-filled preparation of the ark had two opposite outcomes.

It saved Noah’s family.

It condemned the world.

So too the modern preaching of the Gospel is a two-edged sword. It can save or condemn, based upon how you repsond.

“Heir of righteousness which is by faith...” Faith in God results in righteousness from God (Gen. 15:6). Putting it another way, right standing with God is the result of faith in God.