FAITH THAT PLEASES GOD
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
A key concern in the epistle of Hebrews is that Christians remain strong in faith...
A key concern in the epistle of Hebrews is that Christians remain strong in faith...
There is the danger of developing “a heart of unbelief” -
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
It was the lack of faith that destroyed Israel in the wilderness
16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
In chapter ten, we saw...
In chapter ten, we saw...
An exhortation to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” - Heb 10:22
An admonition to have that faith which endures to the end...
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
But one might ask...
But one might ask...
What is this “faith” which leads “to the saving of the soul”?
How does this faith manifest itself in the lives of those who possess it?
In chapter eleven, we find the answer to such questions...
In chapter eleven, we find the answer to such questions...
With a definition of faith - cf. Heb 11:1
With a mention of how necessary faith is to please God - cf. Heb 11:6
With examples of Old Testament saints who demonstrating saving faith - Heb 11:3-40
In this lesson, we shall focus our attention on the first seven verses as we examine the “Faith That Pleases God”
In this lesson, we shall focus our attention on the first seven verses as we examine the “Faith That Pleases God”
DISCUSSION
FAITH EXPLAINED
FAITH EXPLAINED
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Faith is Confidence and Conviction
Faith is Confidence and Conviction
“Now faith is substance of things hoped for...”
The Greek word translated “substance” is hupostasis
Literally, it means “to stand under”, i.e., to be a foundation
In Heb 3:14, this Greek work is translated “confidence”; i.e., firm trust, assurance
So, Biblical faith hast do with confidence, assurance, and conviction
Faith “…the evidence of things not seen.”
The Greek word translated “evidence” is e-leg-chos (found only twice in the NT)… 2 Tim 3:16 “reproof”
It means to have knowledge about something
Faith Pertains to Things Hoped for and Not Seen
Faith Pertains to Things Hoped for and Not Seen
Faith is confidence about things hoped for, such as...
The coming of our Lord - Tit 2:13
The resurrection of the dead - Acts 24:15
It was this kind of confidence possessed by the OT saints that pleased God - Heb 11:2
Faith is conviction - the evidence - about things we have not seen, such as...
The existence of God: “whom no man has seen or can see,” - 1 Tim 6:16
How the world began: “the worlds were framed by the word of God” - Heb 11:3
Yet faith is that strong conviction that such matters are true
As expressed in verse 2, the “elders obtained a good report” or “testimony” because of their faith.
As expressed in verse 2, the “elders obtained a good report” or “testimony” because of their faith.
The rest of the chapter is filled with illustrations of the faith possessed by these “elders”.
The first three mentioned were “antediluvians” (living before the flood), and in them we see...
FAITH EXEMPLIFIED
FAITH EXEMPLIFIED
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
The Testimony of Abel - who had a Faith Worshipping
The Testimony of Abel - who had a Faith Worshipping
By faith he “offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain” - Heb 11:4
The reference is to…
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. 4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: 5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Cain’s offering was “of the fruit of the ground”
Abel’s offering was “of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat. thereof”
It is said the Lord had “respect” concerning Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s
Why did God respect Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s?
It may have been that God had specified an animal sacrifice
It may be Cain offered “leftovers”, while Abel offered his best (the firstborn)
Cain’s attitude may have been wrong; he certainly showed himself prone to display envy and hatred, capable of murder!
We do know for sure that Abel offered his with “faith” while Cain did not
Through faith Abel “obtained witness that he was righteous” - Heb 11:4
God certainly testified of his righteousness in showing respect to his offering
Jesus also bore witness to the righteousness of Abel…
35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
The apostle John also…
12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
Through his faith, “he being dead yet speaketh” - Heb 11:4
His example of faith was written for our learning...
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
His example of faith continues to warn us in regards to worshipping God
The Testimony of Enoch - who had a Faith Walking
The Testimony of Enoch - who had a Faith Walking
By his faith, Enoch “was translated that he should not see death” - Heb 11:5
The historical reference alluded to is...
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Like Elijah, he did not experience death - cf. 2 Kings 2:1-11
His faith was such that “he pleased God” - Heb 11:5
What God found pleasing is that he “walked with God” - Gen 5:24
His example of faith illustrates the value of walking with God throughout life
The Testimony of Noah - who had a Faith Working
The Testimony of Noah - who had a Faith Working
By faith Noah “moved with godly fear” - Heb 11:7
The scriptural background is Gen 6:1-22
God warned him about “things not seen” (cf. Heb 11:1); i.e., the coming flood
His confidence (faith) in what God said would happen prompted him to act with reverence toward God
By faith Noah “prepared an ark to the saving of his house” - Heb 11:7
His faith moved him to build the ark
Through such faith working, Noah...
“condemned the world”
His own example of faithfulness stood in stark contrast to others
His obedience magnified the lack of obedience in others
Just as Nineveh will condemn those who did not listen to Jesus - Mt 12:41
“became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith”
He received that standing of being right in God’s eyes
It was his faith that so pleased God!
From the examples of these “antediluvian” saints we learn that true biblical faith is a strong conviction that worships God properly, walks with Him in life, and works as He directs.
From the examples of these “antediluvian” saints we learn that true biblical faith is a strong conviction that worships God properly, walks with Him 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...
That such faith is necessary to please God is evident as we go back to verse six and notice...
FAITH EMPHASIZED
FAITH EMPHASIZED
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Without Faith it is Impossible to Please God
Without Faith it is Impossible to Please God
We have seen Abel, Enoch, and Noah “obtained a good testimony” by their faith
Of Enoch in particular it is said “he pleased God” - Heb 11:5
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!
The Faith which Pleases God...
The Faith which Pleases God...
Includes conviction about God - we “must believe that he is”
We must believe there is a God, and He is the God of the Bible
Though we do not see Him, we have conviction in “things not seen” - Heb 11:1b
Includes confidence “that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”
We must believe that God acts on the part of those seek after Him…
9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
It is regarding such “things hoped for” - that we must have confidence - Heb 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?
How Such Faith is Developed
How Such Faith is Developed
It is not the result of a tendency to believe readily
A common misconception is that faith is “blind” - a leap in the dark
That there is no logic or reason to faith, one simply “believes”
But faith as described in the Bible is the result of “evidence”!
Faith in God is the result of evidence provided via creation
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Faith in Jesus is the result of evidence provided via revelation...
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Certainly the “antediluvian” saints had such evidence, including God speaking to them directly!
Today, faith comes “by hearing the word of God”
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
The word of God presents evidence to believe in God and Jesus
Such as fulfilled prophecy, eyewitness testimony, etc.
Through God’s word, we can develop the kind of faith (conviction) which pleases God!...
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
CONCLUSION
The faith which leads “to the saving of the soul” is one that includes...
The faith which leads “to the saving of the soul” is one that includes...
A strong conviction that God is
A strong confidence that He will reward those who diligently seek Him
It is the same kind of faith that we see in...
It is the same kind of faith that we see in...
Abel, in how he worshipped God
Enoch, in how he walked with God
Noah, in how he worked for God
Do you have that same kind of faith today?
Do you have that same kind of faith today?
If you do not, let the power of God’s word create such faith in you...
It will help produce faith in the existence of God!
It will help produce faith in Jesus as His Son who died for you!
If you do, then let it affect the manner in which you...
Worship God
Walk with God
Work for God
As revealed through His Son Jesus Christ
With the right kind of faith, we can have the assurance that...
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 might one day “obtain a good testimony”!
