Christians Who Continue on the Path of Greatest Resistance - Hebrews 11:7 (outline)

“Christians Who Continue on the Path of Greatest Resistance”

Hebrews 11:7

Series: Christ-Centered Endurance

Intro:

The man Noah spent 100-120 years building a 450’ long x 75’ long x 45’ high ark to prepare for a worldwide flood all based on the warning of God. In the middle of a world that lives by sight, Noah had to live by faith — that is not the path of least resistance but of greatest resistance. So it is with the recipients of the book of Hebrews...

What is the goal of the sermon?

To compel the hearers to daily continue in a life of saving faith - a life of greatest resistance.

Why is this goal needed?

Our conditioning.

$15.00/hr or $18/hr.; Lower payments/longer debt; job change - we are conditioned to see the lower stress option as the best or the greater $$$ option as best.

“When threatened with loss of property, imprisonment, or even death the first believers had to confront honestly the possibility of abandoning their Christian profession.” [Allison, Gregg R., Historical Theology [Zondervan Academic], p. 543]

Given the choice, would you give up your guns/house/friends/family or give up Christ?

Our confusion. [saving faith v. spurious faith]

ML-J said, “If the church of Christ on earth could but get rid of the parasites who only believe that they ought to believe in Christ, she would, I am certain, count more in the world as she did in her early days. [Ibid, p. 89]

How will you go about to accomplish this goal? / Preview

So, you must be compelled to continue in a life of saving faith — a life of greatest resistance rather than least resistance. We will look at (1) the nature of faith that walks the path of greatest resistance (2) a case study of this kind of faith (3) how walking this path is possible and (4) and appropriate response to this kind of faith.

Points:

I. What is the nature of faith on the path of greatest resistance? (a saving faith)

Nature: inherent qualities/distinct

Devils believe. James 2:19.

“For there is a faith whereby we are justified, which he who has shall be assuredly saved; which purifies the heart and works by love. And there is a faith or believing, which does nothing of all this; which who has and has no more, is not justified, nor can be saved…- John Owen [Beeke & Jones, A Puritan Theology, p. 493]

There is a difference between a saving faith and a spurious faith.

Hebrews 10:39. believe to the saving of the soul.

Saving belief - continues to end

Spurious faith falls away before the end

Hebrews 10:26-27

Saving faith - battles against sin in the will

Spurious faith - willfully gives in to sin

Illustration: Acts 26:27-28

What a saving faith is NOT.

NOT mere mental ascent

NOT transient emotional commitment [Beeke, J. R., & Smalley, P. M. (2021). Reformed Systematic Theology: Spirit and Salvation (Vol. 3, p. 475). Crossway.]

NOT confidence in miracles [Ibid, Beeke]

NOT saying a prayer or making a physical motion [Ibid, Beeke]

What is a saving faith?

Carson:

"Genuine faith, by definition, perseveres: where there is no perseverance, by definition the faith cannot be genuine.” [D.A. Carson quoted in Historical Theology by Allison, p. 561]

Beeke & Smalley:

Saving faith is “a living reliance upon Christ that results in good works” [Beeke, J. R., & Smalley, P. M. (2021). Reformed Systematic Theology: Spirit and Salvation (Vol. 3, p. 474). Crossway.]

Fernandez:

Fernandez: Saving faith is a continued reliance upon Christ that results in endurance in Christian living.

Answer:

A saving faith is one which walks the path of greatest resistance because the path of greatest resistance is the Christian life while we are living upon this earth.

Application

Do you have a saving faith or a spurious faith?

II. What is a case study [a father] of this kind of faith on the path of greatest resistance?

Illustration: Good to be taught. Better to be shown.

Structure of Hebrews 11.

This chapter in Hebrews is full of case studies of individuals who had saving faith, who chose the path of greatest resistance — a life of faith.

Hebrews 11:1-3 Introduces saving faith

Hebrews 11:4-7 Pre-flood examples

Hebrews 11:8-22 Post-flood examples

Hebrews 11:23-31 Are post-Exodus and pre-Judge examples

Hebrews 11:32-38 Are from Judges to the Prophets examples

Hebrews 11:39-40 Summarizes these case studies of saving faith.

The saving faith path is the path of greatest resistance.

Case Study: the man, Noah Hebrews 11:7.

Genesis 6:5-7 The depraved condition of mankind

Noah as a preacher of righteousness - II Peter 2:5.

The Lord was longsuffering - I Peter 3:20

Noah’s path of greatest resistance:

...was compelled by warning by the Word. Hebrews 11:7.

This shows why we need to rely upon God? The warning points this out several realities...

App: Many have not considered the seriousness of their need to rely upon Jesus because they are not aware of their need.

...was walked with a faith that obeys

We are saved by faith in Christ alone, but it is not a faith that remains alone.

…influenced his household

…led to condemnation of others

…proved his justification - Romans 3:16.

The only inheritance that matters is the inheritance of righteousness.

What does this mean, and why is it of ultimate importance?

Heir = brought into the direct lineage Genesis 6:8.

Noah becomes the heir of “the righteousness” Hebrews 1:9

What does this mean?

The Son because the incarnate Son...

The righteousness of Jesus is the sum total of Christ’s perfection in being and in doing before God.

This perfection in soul, heart, mind, and body fulfilled all the law of God and attained the complete joy of the Father. This is perfect righteousness - a perfect with God’s very Being.

This sum total of God’s perfection in being and doing is passed down to Noah — by faith.

If you have this, you have all that matters; but to not have this is to not have anything.

Answer:

Noah is one of many case studies of individuals who walked the path of greatest resistance - the path of saving faith.

Application:

Are you this kind of head of household?

Have you forgotten about eternity?

How seriously are you taking the warnings of God in his word?

III. How is faith on the path of greatest resistance even a possibility?

Illustrations: It is impossible for you to bring about this kind of faith. Galatians 1:13-15 Paul’s testimony - “But when it pleased God...” -

Is this kind of faith a possibility?

Person #1 - Impossible

Because it is based on word of God.

Should we believe your word about this kind of faith being impossible?

Can you enter a laboratory and definitively disprove the existence of God?

Person #2 - Maybe Possible

Person #3 - Is Possible But Uncertain How...

Faith is based upon the Word of God - Noah was warned. Hebrews 11:7.

Faith is

based upon the word of God in the OT

corroborated by miracles (Ten Plagues)

often communicated by promises given and fulfilled by God.

Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, David, King Josiah, King Hezekiah…etc

The Faith of the OT Had a Purpose. Hebrews 11:13.

Imperfect foreshadowings of the One they saw coming.

The Faith of the Believers of the OT is Fulfilled in the Son

Faith comes by the word of God given.

In the NT God has spoken in the special revelation of His Son.

Is this kind of saving faith a possibility today? Yes, but it only comes through the Living Word - the Son of God.

Hebrews 12:1-3. The possibility of this faith is so great today.

Applications:

1. This kind of saving faith is God-initiated.

Those who are skeptical, ask God to grant you this supernatural faith to see your need and rely upon Jesus.

2. This kind of saving faith is Spirit-empowered.

Just as the written word of God was inspired by the Spirit of God; so the Son of God was empowered by the Spirit of God; and it is the Spirit of God who brings life into a spiritually dead heart.

Those who know they need this kind of faith, ask the Spirit of God to bring about this faith in your heart by the Word of God.

3. This kind of saving faith is Christ-centered.

Meaning that the Spirit of God uses the word of God to tell you that you are a sinner, but there is a Savior through whom you can receive forgiveness of sins and full righteousness before God.

Answer:

This faith, on the path of greatest resistance, is possible by the supernatural work of God through the Spirit of God to point sinners and saints to depend fully upon the Son of God.

Conclusion:

IV. What is an appropriate response to this kind of faith?

(1) Evaluate your faith: whether your faith is a saving faith or a spurious faith. Begin a life of saving faith.

(2) Evaluate your perspective: whether your temptation to quit is because you have stopped looking to Jesus. Continue in a life of saving faith.

(3) Evaluate your testimony: how your current status in life is a means of saving faith to those around you.

“Dr. Lloyd-Jones’ early emphasis on the necessity of God’s action, far from encouraging passivity, pointed men to the one source of true hope....Yet Dr. Lloyd-Jones would not have been in the ministry had he not also believed that God uses means to fulfill his purposes.” [Ibid, p. 128].

Continue in a life of saving faith.

(4) Evaluate God’s warnings seriously in light of eternity.

ML-J said, “Of everything that is uncertain in life, the most uncertain of all is life itself.” [Ibid., p. 93]

(5) Evaluate meaning of the church/household: what it means to be the saved household of God. Hebrews 11:7; Hebrews 3:6.

RH Response Questions:

Before today I had a spurious faith, but now I believe that the Holy Spirit has granted me saving faith to rest in Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

Please pray that God would use me as a means to communicate the gospel to my family that they might have saving faith.

I am still doubting who Jesus is, but I do have more questions now.

Eternity matters to me, and I want to know how to have eternal life.

Post-Sermon Discussion Questions:

What is the difference between saving faith and spurious faith? Do you believe that the Bible distinguishes between the two kinds of faith?

How did Noah’s decision to build an ark for a worldwide flood, which had never before happened, condemn the world. See Hebrews 11:7.

What would be one way in which leaders of households could help their families see the saving grace of God?

What does it mean that the Christian life is a life of greatest resistance and not least resistance. Are you able to think of one example where you had to make a decision that was choosing the path of greatest resistance?

How is saving faith for the life of greatest resistance possible?