We don't even trust God. Some modern translations of Genesis read Genesis 1:1 by When God began to create the heavens and earth, the earth was without form and void as though God arranged matter that was already there. But I often see people violate this principle in their personal relationships, causing much damage. It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment (Heb 9:27). When Noah and Mrs. Noah entered the ark, their boys went with them. Here we see another side of the life of faith. He had just warned in Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. He quotes Habakkuk 2:4 which is also quoted by Paul and James. All of us know about the great flood, the massive ark, and the gathering of the animals. Now, what does it mean to live by faith? By love, I mean, seeking the highest good of the other person. The highest good for every person is to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. The KJV and NKJV translate these words as substance and evidence. The NASB and NIV understand the words as subjective, whereas the KJV and NKJV take them as objective. the writer also was confident that the church would be able to stand the test. But, I have since pondered his question many times and I have sought to answer it. Seth lived 912 years (Gen 5:8). But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.. Living with that "end" in mind, the Christian daily exercises faith in an unseen, almighty, and awesome God. As bad as things are, they were worse in Noah's day. In other words, people are believing what they want and doing what they want and thinking what they want. And all our striving after career goals, worldly success, financial independence, and even our jumping from one relationship to another, those things are but symptoms of our deeper need to find our place in the universe. Concerning faith, he wrote (George Muller of Bristol, A. T. Pierson [Revell], p. 437, italics his): It is the very time for faith to work, when sight ceases. And just one generation later, their son Cain killed his brother. What is the reward? The lifespans of these generations are about ten times as long as our lives today. And God honored them because of their faith. The word confidence itself means full of faith. We can't see sins forgiven, we have to believe it. (Hebrews 11:1-3) God spoke the universe into existence. Offering the lamb was a sign that Abel was trusting in Gods promise. Certainly Cain represents all those people in the world who believe they can make up their own religion. 9:4; 11:17), and three times in Hebrews (1:3; 3:14; and here). If the story of Abel is about our quest for acceptance, then the story of Enoch is the familiar metaphor of the journey. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. God always looks to the heart first and foremost. How can you live in a constant, conscious enjoyment of the presence of God? David says, at your right hand there are pleasures forever more (Psa 16:11). But when Methuselah was born, Enoch knew that he needed help and he began to walk with God. Bible Study & Sermon Videos; hebrews-11:2; Hebrews-11:2. On the other hand, sinners are unable to believe because of spiritual blindness (2 Cor. Walking involves movement in a particular direction. After telling us about Enoch who walked with God, Hebrews says, Whoever would draw near to God.. Although I am not an example of great faith, I can share a personal example. The Bible calls Noah a preacher of righteousness but he didn't have much to show for his efforts. Abel had faith; Cain did not. Isaac was old and blind. How could he do that? Arguing from the greater to the lesser, since God can do the hard thing of creating everything from nothing, His is able to do the lesser things as well. He literally gave away all of his money and possessions and, by faith, founded an orphanage in Bristol, England. How do rewards fit in with faith? For 120 years he preached the truth and called the society around him to repentance. Faith does allow us to overcome the struggles we face in life. We must believe that he will keep his promise. Fathers, listen up. To blast a person may be truthful, but it is not loving. Verse 1 says that faith has "substance." Faith is tangible, even though it is invisible. Sons and brothers, pay attention. What they did, they did by faith. Lesson 32: By Faith (Hebrews 11:1-3) Related Media It is essential for every believer to understand the nature of enduring faith. Enoch knew that the judgment of God was coming soon. The word of God here does not refer to His written word, but to His spoken word. Permissions: You have permission and are encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format you choose, as long as you do not alter or change the wording in any way and do not charge a fee (beyond the cost of reproducing these materials). As we saw in chapter 10, Christs sacrifice on the cross is the only basis for forgiveness of sins. Enoch was surrounded by people who had no place for God. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him (Heb 11:5). 48:51. Hebrews 11:32-35a Elijah: Widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-23) Elisha: Shunammite Woman's Son (2 Kings 4:18-37). This runs through the whole chapter with one exception. There is much we don't know that we wish we knew. Thats what Enoch did. Joseph Parker says, The fifth chapter of Genesis is the beginning of that long series of characters in human history which are extremely uninteresting. Genesis 4:4 says that God looked with favor on Abel and his offering. Our Savior broke the power of death when He rose from the grave. This is a constant theme of Scripture. Its no good saying, If God wants me He can make himself known to me. Dont hope in your good works, because all the good works in the world can never erase the debt of sin that you owe. To go back to Howard Fineman's quote, it's all about pursuing (a great biblical concept) the one true God. Pink)! For posting on the web, a link to this document on our website (www.UnlockingtheBible.org) is preferred. When the flood finally came, only eight people were saved: Noah and his wife, his three sons and their wives. The second is (p. 249), a proving of (or conviction about) unseen things.. Website:UnlockingtheBible.org. Abel had been killed, but that was before Seth or any of his descendants were born. We read here about Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah. Some of you may think that 65 sounds quite old, but at this point, Enoch was about a fifth of the way through his life. I need not try to convince you of anything. They believed because he believed. The writer of Hebrews 11 would surely say agree to that. In this sense, the phrase is parallel to our confession (ctive sense in 11:1: faith is the reality of the goods hoped for. Faith is the reality of what is hoped for in exactly the sense in which Jesus is called the [exact representation] of the reality of the transcendent God in 1:3 (ibid.). And in the light of that Enoch walked with God. Paul says, I press on (Phil 3:12). 3 Tests Of Plagiarism: Do Your Sermons Pass Them. He cites Habakkuk 2:4, But My righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him. Then he expresses his confidence in his readers (10:39), But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. His subject is enduring faith. Some of his readers were in danger of shrinking back to destruction. No wonder we jump from one job to another and from one relationship to another. I need patience. All the ultimate answers of life lie in that kingdom. Enosh lived 905 years (Gen 5:11). If you would draw near to God, you must believe that He is who He says He is. It has sustained the people of God through thousands of years in every sort of difficulty. Hebrews 11:1-3 | Search Results | Sermon and Worship Resources God gives you a new assignment, and you know that you are out of your depth. He uses the aorist tense in the infinitive "to please". I need a pure heart. In November of 1994, Scott and Janet Willis, along with their six children, were traveling in their minivan from their home on the south side of Chicago to Milwaukee on Interstate 94. Your family. To that end, he devotes chapter 11 to an explanation and illustration of genuine faith that endures. Without faith you will not believe it anyway. Hebrews 11 paints a picture of what a life of faith looks like. Hebrews 11:17-19 I. i. The "hoped for" things we are sure of, are things God has promised. Maybe you did too. By faith, Moses saw through the world with its fleeting pleasures and treasures. Adam lived 930 years (Gen 5:5). Whoever would draw near to God! And the author of Hebrews is explaining that by way of illustration in Hebrews chapter 11. They were not to cast away their confidence which brought such great reward. Neither type of faith brought forth fruit to maturity. The seed sown on the rocky ground sprang up quickly, but it also quickly withered and died when trials hit. "It's the faith, Brother." It is about the faith and that faith must be in Jesus. Bible > Hebrews > Chapter 11 > Verse 8 Library Free Downloads eBibles Hebrews 11:8 If you would draw near to God, you must believe that he exists (vs. 6). I think that's often how we hear today's second reading ( Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 ). Faith is the victory! Yes, it is. The most important thing about you what will matter about you forever is not how many people know your name, or not how many people follow you on social media. Whoever would draw near to God must believe that He is! That is exactly what happened. He knew that he had to be ready to meet with God. But they must have had some faith. It's the faith. Death becomes the doorway into the unfiltered presence of God. That parable serves as a useful backdrop to our text last week (10:32-29), where the author urges his readers on to enduring faith. If you would like to download two encouraging, FREE full-length MP3s of Tony's popular sermons: "The Sovereignty of God" and "How to Handle a Crisis," you ca. He wants us to have a faith that endures trials to the preserving of the soul (10:39). There is abundant evidence that an incredibly intelligent Designer created everything, especially human life. For by it the elders: The great examples of godliness all had different circumstances and personalities, but they all had one thing in common - faith. Hebrews 1:1-3 tells us that Gods agent in creation was the Son. I know you believe in Christ." Why is the doctrine of creation by Gods word crucial for knowing Him and for the Christian life. So many of us have filled our hearts with the junk food of the world. By faith Moses gained Gods approval, even though he received the worlds scorn. God is merciful and just, so when we do justly and love mercy, then we walk humbly with our God (Mic 6:8). 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