Sunday Night Bible Study Hebrews 11:1-6 August 28, 1994 Hebrews 11:1-6 Introduction The importance of faith Throughout the epistle, the writer has been trying to demonstrate the importance of faith. The Jewish believers who were reading the original letter had been going through a great deal of persecution since they started believing in Jesus as their Messiah. Some of them had even been tempted to just give up in trusting in Jesus and go back to Judaism like they were before they were saved. But the writer has over and over again stressed the importance of faith, of trusting and continuing to trust in Jesus. Heb 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; Heb 3:18 - 4:3 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not (apisteuo)? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. 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. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it]. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. Hebrews 10 35-39 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 (pistis): 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 (pistis) to the saving of the soul. Now... Just to make sure the readers understand, the writer is going to carefully define and illustrate what "faith" (pistis) is. 1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. :1 faith is the substance Here's a phrase that's currently being shredded by the "faith teachers". They say, "There you have it, faith is a substance!" Copeland: "Faith is a power force. It is a tangible force. It is a conductive force." Copeland again: "Faith was the raw material substance that the Spirit of God use to form the universe." 5287 hupostasis 1) a setting or placing under 1a) thing put under, substructure, foundation 2) that which has foundation, is firm 2a) that which has actual existence 2a1) a substance, real being 2b) the substantial quality, nature, of a person or thing 2c) the steadfastness of mind, firmness, courage, resolution 2c1) confidence, firm trust, assurance RWP on Heb 11:1 {Hupostasis}, what stands under anything (a building, a contract, a promise). the sense of assurance, that steadiness of mind which holds one firm (#2Co 9:4|). It is common in the papyri in business documents as the basis or guarantee of transactions. "And as this is the essential meaning in #Heb 11:1| we venture to suggest the translation 'Faith is the _title-deed_ of things hoped for'" Wuest: "that which stands under, a foundation." Thus it speaks of the ground on which one builds a hope....The Holy Spirit energized act of faith which a believer exercises in the Lord Jesus is the title-deed which God puts in his hand, guaranteeing to him the possession of the thing for which he trusted Him. NIV - Heb 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. NASB & NRSV - Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. :1 of things hoped for Things like the promises of God. Having that deep assurance that the things God has promised, He will do. Ro 8:24-25 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Here's the hard thing about faith. We aren't supposed to be trusting only in things we can see and things that have already happened, but also in things that haven't yet happened. We not only trust in the finished, completed work of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins, but we are also trusting that He will come again to judge the living and the dead! Summary: Faith is that deep assurance inside you that God is going to keep His promises to You. It might be the general promises given to every believer. It might be special, specific promises God might give to you about your life. :1 evidence of things not seen evidence - a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested., that by which invisible things are proved and we are convinced of their reality. Conviction. Kind of like proving to a child that air exists. Blow up a balloon. Pop a plastic bag. Vincent: "It is important that the preliminary definition be clearly understood, since the following examples illustrate it. The key is furnished by verse 27, as seeing him who is invisible. Faith apprehends as a real fact what is not revealed to the senses. It rests on that fact, acts upon it, and is upheld by it in the face of all that seems to contradict it. Faith is real seeing." Keep this in mind as we study the various examples of faith. We're not talking about men who had some spiritual force called faith, but we're talking about men who trusted in the unseen, who trusted in God's promises, who based their lives on hope. Faith is more than just being sure about God's promises, but it is an awareness of the entire invisible realm all around us. 2Co 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight: We need to learn to not depend as much on what we see in our circumstances, but more and more on trusting in the unseen, in the great hand of God. Looks can be deceiving. Our problem is we don't like to go where we don't see where we're going. Illustration: The African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3 foot wall. The animals will not jump it they cannot see where their feet will fall. Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see, and with faith we are freed from the flimsy enclosures of life that only fear allows to entrap us. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. The writer is going to show these Jewish believers that faith is nothing new, that even their own forefathers had to learn to walk by faith. That's what the rest of this chapter is all about. 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. :3 through faith we understand... The "Faith Teachers" take this and twist it to somehow show that even God uses faith, and that God used faith to create the world. But what this is saying is that our understanding of the creation is what is done by faith. We weren't around to watch the creation of the world. The Creation was an "unseen" thing for us, and so to understand it, we have to apply a little faith. :3 the worlds aionos - "the ages", literally, time, the fourth dimension. :3 framed prepared, shaped up :3 by the word of God God only had to speak, and the universe jumped into existence out of nothingness. 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. :4 by faith Abel offered Genesis 4:1-10 Two brothers bringing offerings to the Lord Abel brought an animal sacrifice, Cain brought from the fruit of the ground God liked Abel's sacrifice (NIV - "looked with favor"), but not Cain's. Lots of people try to figure out why Abel's was better. Some think it was that fact that it was a blood sacrifice - I think that is probably part of it. But not all sacrifices have to be blood sacrifices, just look through Leviticus. But the bottom line is that Abel offered his sacrifice "by faith". He was trusting in God. He was a man aware of God's promises, and he trusted in them. He was a man aware of the unseen world, and He respected it. His faith led him to offer the kind of sacrifice he did. Lesson: Two people can be doing basically the same thing, but one is acceptable to God, and one isn't. It all comes down to faith. Are you letting God lead you? Are you doing things in your life because you love God and want to follow Him? Or because you're just watching others and trying to be like them? :4 being dead yet he speaketh I believe this is referring to where God says: Ge 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. Abel's blood was crying out to God from the ground. Yet there's more, because the writer speaks in a present tense, as though Abel speaks today. Abel's example of living by faith is what is still speaking to us today. 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. :5 Enoch was translated Genesis 5:15-24 Enoch "walked with God: and he was not; for God took him... He just disappeared. translated: 3346 metatithemi {met-at-ith'-ay-mee} from 3326 and 5087; TDNT - 8:161,1176; v AV - translate 2, carry over 1, remove 1, change 1, turn 1; 6 1) to transpose (two things, one of which is put in place of the other) 1a) to transfer 1b) to change 1c) to transfer one's self or suffer one's self to be transferred 1c1) to go or pass over 1c2) to fall away or desert from one person or thing to another He had his own "private rapture" He was just walking with God, and walked right on into heaven. :5 he should not see death He was only one of two people in Scripture who have yet to die. The other was Elijah the prophet, who was taken by a chariot of fire directly to heaven while Elisha was watching. (2Ki.2) Why didn't Enoch die? He pleased God How did Enoch please God Ge 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he [was] not; for God took him. How could a man walk with God, when God is invisible? By faith! The conviction of things not seen... 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. :6 Impossible 102 adunatos {ad-oo'-nat-os} from 1 (as a negative particle) and 1415; TDNT - 2:284,186; adj AV - impossible 6, impotent 1, could not do 1, weak 1, not possible 1; 10 1) without strength, impotent, powerless, weakly, disabled 2) unable to be done, impossible It just can't be done. There is going to come a time when we just have to learn to trust in the things we don't see. :6 must believe that he is Two conditions. Faith in God. Illustration about the skydiver and the malfunctioning chute. Make sure your faith is in the right thing. :6 he is a rewarder of them God is on our side. He's not out to get us. Ro 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 2Ch 16:9 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. Illustration of father and son, jump We have a Father that loves us How can I have more faith? Ro 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. We all struggle with lack of faith. Get into God's Word, look at His great deeds Psalm 77 - a real depressing Psalm! Ps 77:10-12 And I said, This [is] my infirmity: [but I will remember] the years of the right hand of the most High. 11 I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. 12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.