November
9th
Hebrews 11
B. Christ brings better benefits and duties –
Practical
Superior
Faith & Provision for us
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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
In
this classic passage of the heroes of faith we have and interesting
insight into the Jewish theology of the OT. First the writer defines
faith. It is the believing of what cannot be seen. And then he goes
on to describe faiths effects in the lives of the OT saints - they
obtained a good report. So what is the writer saying? He is saying
that these OT saints heard the word of God and believed it and their
faith led to obedience to the revealed will of God and to the
testimony of God that they were righteous. Now let’s see if that is
so. Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice, because he
believed God. In other words, Abel heard Gods instructions regarding
how to present a sacrifice to God and he followed Gods directions
correctly and therefore – ‘by which he obtained witness that he
was righteous’, God testified (in some way, perhaps with fire from
heaven!) to his acceptance of Abel’s gift. Enoch was translated
because before his translation God testified to him that he pleased
God. Enoch was a righteous man. Then the writer breaks off to explain
that those who come to God must believe that he exists and that he
rewards those who seek him. (In this passage the reward is not
mentioned yet every Hebrew reader would know that the reward of
righteousness is resurrection into the Messianic Kingdom) Noah heard
the word of God and sprang into action by building an ark and through
this act he demonstrated that he was a righteous man. Abraham heard
the word of God telling him to leave his home and go into a far
country. He got up and went. Abraham’s faith in Gods promises
(which led to obedience) made him a righteous man. Sara also is
credited as righteous because she believed God’s promise. So what
were the promises they saw a far off? They saw the Messianic kingdom
and they saw the Messiah reigning in righteousness over the whole
world. And they believed Gods word and lived accordingly. So were
they saved – as christians are? No. their salvation was realised in
the resurrection to eternal life. (The first resurrection at the
beginning of the Kingdom Rev 20) In the OT God spoke to his people
and they heard and believed and God declared them to be righteous.
And he promised the resurrection to those who kept his word and
obeyed his word.
- What is the defintion of faith here?
- What was the 'good report'?
- What does the writer say about the men of faith?
- Where the men of faith saved as Christians are?
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