Hebrews 11, verses 1 to 31, by faith

 

Hebrews 11:1 ¶  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.

 

This chapter is famous among Christians as the “faith chapter.” Faith, Paul says, is in some substantial thing that is hoped for and evidence of something we as yet cannot see. People who have faith in the God of the Bible understand things that the secular humanist or the atheistic determinist cannot understand. That person hopes for something that is real but that they have not as yet seen. They believe God in His eternal promises. The elders, men and women of the past, were approved by God for their faith. This is clear from reading the Bible. We have faith that God created things we can see out of things we cannot, out of nothing in many instances from our perspective but it was not out of nothing in reality as at the very least it came from His own mind.

 

Belief is the foundation of faith and trust goes with it hand in hand.

 

John 1:1 ¶  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2  The same was in the beginning with God. 3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

 

Period. Done. Do you have faith in those statements?

 

Romans 3:22a  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe…

 

Hebrews 11:4 ¶  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. 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. 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. 20  By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21  By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22  By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. 23  By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 24  By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28  Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29  By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. 30  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31  By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

 

The context of these verses shows that Paul is talking about faith that is not experiential. These people had faith BEFORE they saw the promises made to them fulfilled. This is not about you saying you have faith because of the wonderful answers to prayer you’ve seen in your life. This is faith regarding things that have not been seen. And these are often big things that are huge in comparison to the faithful’s interactions with God before these events were promised. Here is also a very important point in that you cannot please God if you don’t believe in Him or believe Him. So, an atheist who thinks of himself or herself as a good person doesn’t really have a leg to stand on. Saying someone was a good person at their funeral and that they have gone to, “a better place,” is an absurdity if they do not believe in the God who created them or believe Him.

 

It would fill up pages to go back over the events in Genesis and Exodus which I discussed in my comments on those books so I will assume you are familiar with these events.

 

Another important Bible truth is shown in verse 19. Enlightenment era philosophers would say that God was a monster for demanding that Abraham sacrifice his promised son and that Abraham had to suspend all reason to be willing to do so. But here we have the fact that Abraham knew that God could raise his son from the dead so he was willing to obey by his complete and utter trust in God. We also learn that Abraham realized that God would provide Himself as a sacrifice in a future prophecy of Christ as a ram was found in a thicket for the immediate sacrifice.

Genesis 22:8  And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

And a ram was made available in place of Isaac;

Genesis 22:13  And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

It is noted that many of these people of faith did not receive the promises in their lifetime that were afar off in time, but they had faith nonetheless. How strong and complete is your faith in God? Would you have faith if your life was a torment and your years were spent in agony waiting on the promise of eternal life with God AFTER you died physically?