FAITH THAT EMBRACES THE PROMISES
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
Last week we studied...
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. 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. 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. 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.
In those first seven verses we saw...
In those first seven verses we saw...
Faith explained...
As confidence of things hoped for
As conviction of things not seen
Faith exemplified...
In Abel (faith worshipping)
In Enoch (faith walking)
In Noah (faith working)
Faith emphasized...
Without which it is impossible to please God
We must believe He exists, and rewards those who diligently seek Him
Another aspect of our faith pertains to “the promises” in which we hope...
Another aspect of our faith pertains to “the promises” in which we hope...
We are warned not to fall short of what has been promised -
1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
Faith (along with patience) is necessary to inherit the promises
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.
The faith which pleases God, then, is one that embraces God’s promises...
The faith which pleases God, then, is one that embraces God’s promises...
In Hebrews 11:8-22, we learn of the faith of those who “embraced the promises”
Because of their faith, “God is not ashamed to be called their God”
Do we have the sort of faith that makes God unashamed to be called our God?
To answer this question, let’s use the text of our study to review...
DISCUSSION
THE FAITH OF THE PATRIARCHS (11:8-12, 17-22)
THE FAITH OF THE PATRIARCHS (11:8-12, 17-22)
The Faith of Abraham
The Faith of Abraham
By faith Abraham “obeyed”
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
When God called him to leave his country, he obeyed the voice of the Lord
Even though at first he did not know where he was going
This is a good example of conviction in “things not seen” (11:1)
Here we learn that faith and obedience are not contradictory terms - rather, they are tied together
Concerning Jesus, the Hebrew writer says...
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Is our faith an “obedient faith” like Abraham’s?
46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
By faith Abraham “sojourned”
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
His faith required him to live “as in a strange [foreign] country”
Even though it was the “land of promise”, he and his descendants could not have it for four hundred years - cf. Gen 13:14-17; 15:13-21
He therefore patiently waited for the city “whose builder and maker is God” (v. 10)
This suggests that the promises he embraced were more than just those pertaining to the land of Canaan
Later, we will confirm that he had a heavenly hope as well!
Our faith requires us to live “as in a strange [foreign] country”
For we too are “strangers and pilgrims”
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Is our faith a “sojourning faith” like Abraham’s?
14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
This world is not our home
By faith Abraham “offered up Isaac”
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
His faith required him to be willing to offer that which was closest to him
His son, Isaac - Gen 22:1-19
Through whom the promises he embraced were to be fulfilled
Abraham assumed that God would raise Isaac from the dead, if need be, in order to keep His promises (v. 19)
Thus he illustrated that confidence “in things hoped for”
Our faith often requires forsaking that which is closest to us
Our loved ones, even our own life...
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Is our faith an “offering faith” like Abraham’s?
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The Faith of Sarah
The Faith of Sarah
By faith Sarah received strength to conceive a child
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Even though beyond the normal age of childbearing - Gen 18:1-3; 21:1-7
Even though she laughed when she first heard of God’s promise, she later “judged him faithful who had promised”
Through her faith, the promises of a great nation were fulfilled!
Our faith requires looking to God for strength, and trusting He will provide
We must look to God to “find grace to help in time of need”
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Is our faith a “receiving faith” like Sarah’s? Don’t forget...
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
The Faith of Isaac
The Faith of Isaac
Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau regarding things to come
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
cf. Gen 27:1-40
This illustrates how Isaac by faith “embraced” the promises
The Faith of Jacob
The Faith of Jacob
Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph when he was dying
21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
cf. Gen 48:14-20
His blessing involved the promises of God, showing how he embraced them also
The Faith of Joseph
The Faith of Joseph
When he was dying, Joseph:
Made mention of the departure of Israel out of Egypt
Gave instructions concerning his bones
22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
cf. Gen 50:24-26
In so doing, he demonstrated that he had “embraced the promises”!
Such was the faith of the patriarchs.
Such was the faith of the patriarchs.
I purposely skipped verses 13-16, for what is said there not only applies to Abraham and Sarah, but to Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
As we now turn to those verses, we learn in particular...
HOW THEIR FAITH PLEASED GOD (11:13-16)
HOW THEIR FAITH PLEASED GOD (11:13-16)
They Embraced the Promises
They Embraced the Promises
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
They did not receive the promises during their lifetime
Yet with faith they could see them afar off
They freely confessed to be strangers and pilgrims on the earth
This implies that they sought a homeland
But what they desired was a better one, indeed a heavenly country
Therefore, they died “in faith” (i.e., holding fast to the promises)
Therefore God is not Ashamed of Them
Therefore God is not Ashamed of Them
“wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city” (11:16b)
He is not ashamed to be called their God
He is well pleased with them
It was their faith embracing the promises that pleased Him
He has prepared a city for them
What they waited for, He has prepared
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
That which He has prepared is what we look for, too
14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
I.e., the new heavens and new earth...
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
In which will be the “New Jerusalem,” that “great city...descending out of heaven”
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof.
Indeed, even now in a sense we have “come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem...”
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
CONCLUSION
What kind of faith pleases God? Certainly a...
What kind of faith pleases God? Certainly a...
Worshipping faith like that of Abel
Walking faith like that of Enoch
Working faith like that of Noah
...but also a Waiting faith seen in the patriarchs (Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph)!
The faith that pleases God is one that “embraces the promises” made by God...
The faith that pleases God is one that “embraces the promises” made by God...
Patiently waiting for their ultimate fulfillment, even if it doesn’t happen in one’s lifetime
But with conviction and confidence of “things hoped for” and “things of unseen”...
We will “obey” His calling
We will “sojourn” here on earth
We will “offer” up whatever He asks of us
We will “receive strength” to do whatever He bids us
And we will “make mention” of His promises from generation to generation!
This is the kind of faith...
In those “who believe to the saving of the soul” - Heb 10:39
In those of whom “God is not ashamed to be called their God” - Heb 11:16