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). Until recently, the nearly universal voice of the Church was the traditional view that God created all from nothing. Because faith allows us to overcome, we need to understand faith. Although the stress of the next section of Hebrews is on practical exhortations, doctrine is either taught or assumed in this part of the book as Read More Hebrews 11:1-7 - The Description of Faith What a loony tune!. The "end" is often the culmination of a lifetime pursuit of intimacy with God. I need not try to convince you of anything. If you do not trust someone, you will not allow yourself to get close to that person. To walk with God is to live in a constant, conscious enjoyment of the presence of God. How did Cain know Abel's sacrifice had been accepted and his had not? Because he was looking to the reward (11:26). Faith comes down to us as a gift from God. The writer of Hebrews is expanding what he previously taught in verse 6: O glorious victory That overcomes the world." 1 John 5:4. The order is crucial: first the man, then the offering. the word for substance is the Greek word hypostasis which is hard for us to directly define. Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 Put Your Hand in the Hand of God The Rev. Navigating the challenges and joys of ministry life. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years (Gen 5:22). Neither type of faith brought forth fruit to maturity. He feels it in a way that he did not before. This is not good work. I need wisdom. The difficulty of the verse lies in the meaning of the words translated (NASB) as assurance (being certain of, NIV) and (NASB) conviction (certain, NIV). That is why we need the preaching of the Word. So, this was soon after the death of Adam, and before any of the other patriarchs died. Such faith takes the future promises of God and makes them real in the present. And we know how Noah saved his family while the world around him perished. If the story of Cain and Abel seems short, the story of Enoch is minuscule by comparison. But He always relates to us in love. 9:4; 11:17), and three times in Hebrews (1:3; 3:14; and here). Put your faith in Jesus Christ! How could he do that? Seth lived 912 years (Gen 5:8). Pew Forum director Luis Lugo says, "You no longer have an alignment of affiliation, belief and behavior. The worlds first baby became the worlds first murderer. Faith, Creation, Jesus, Abraham, Noah, City Of God, Enoch, Abel, Example, Perseverence, Justification By Faith, 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, [NEW YEAR] 4-Week Series to kick off 2023, [PRODUCTIVITY] Fulfill your full potential, [FOUNDATIONS] Getting back to what matters most. 3:14) as subjective, hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end. But the respected Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (ibid., VII:587) argues that it does not refer there to subjective assurance, which rests within us, but to the objective reality of the faith. He said the following about God: "Something is wrong here: War, disease, death, destruction, hunger, filth, poverty, torture, crime, corruption and the Ice Capades. What were their growing-up years like? If you sense that the person is a hypocrite, conveying that he is something that he really is not, you will keep your distance. He knew that he had to be ready to meet with God. The author refers to them, although not by name, in 11:34 (quenched the power of fire). In The Greenville (SC) News, (June 24, 2008) a story about a recent survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life portrays our nation as one of "free-flowing spirituality" with a declining adherence to dogma "stunning." The author mentions Moses (11:24-26), who refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God. He considered the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; . Imagine what those in the Egyptian court must have said about Moses: He walked away from the wealth and prestige of being the son of Pharaohs daughter to lead a ragtag bunch of common slaves out into the Judean wilderness! Now, what does it mean to live by faith? Faith is the means of realizing spiritual reality, of gaining Gods approval, and of understanding the origin of all that is. I need patience. Since Gods promises are given in specific contexts, how can we know which of them apply to us now? Verse 1 says that faith has substance. Faith is tangible, even though it is invisible. Thirdly, God chose the Son who is His express image to purge our sins. 2. As John Stott remarked, death is a "trivial episode" to the believer. Like love, faith is demonstrated indirectly by action. To blast a person may be truthful, but it is not loving. And that is our calling today. What is the age difference between Cain and Abel? You can't see any of this. Here we see another side of the life of faith. God rewards those who seek Him (Heb 11:6). 3:16-18) oozes with faith in the unseen God: O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. In 1954 the phrase "under God" was added to our pledge of allegiance. He's right! Hebrews 11 begins by telling us what faith is: Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Heb 11:1). Enoch was taken. Has it occurred to you that God may have done this so that you will seek Him and walk with Him in a way that you were not doing before? Follow Us Online. 2335 Presidential Drive, Suite 114 . You are calling God a liar if you do not trust Him, and you cannot be close to a liar. Search. God is the reward of those who seek Him. But note this. It is a central doctrine of both the Hebrews and Christians that God created the universe out of nothing (ex nihilo). 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. Enoch lived with a profound awareness that judgment was coming. What else could compare with this? Back then, there were only eight true believers in the whole world. The seed sown on the rocky ground sprang up quickly, but it also quickly withered and died when trials hit. Donald Hagner puts it this way (Encountering the Book of Hebrews [Baker], p. 142): From the examples of faith lifted up in this chapter it seems clear that what is not primarily in view is what we feel or possessassurance, confidencebut rather, how faith substantiates, or gives substance to, what is promised, how it provides evidence of what is believed about unseen and hoped-for realities. Each story fills out the picture. Let me apply verse 2 in two ways. All we need is the courage to do what Noah did and to believe what God has said. Sermon: Living By Faith in God - Hebrews 11 by Rick Ezell on Wednesday, January 01, 2014 at 7:00 AM Sermon series: Inner Workings Developing a Heart for God - 1 Samuel 16 Assuring Your Knowledge of God - Hebrews 6 Living By Faith in God - Hebrews 11 Hungering for the Righteousness of God - Matthew 5 Scriptures: Hebrews 11:1-7 Introduction Here is a second principle for close relationships: Truth is the basis for trust. All the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died (Gen 5:8). 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. While the term is roughly equivalent to world, it allows for what modern science has established, that time is related to matter. A life was laid down for him. One sees nothing, but the other man sees a distant steamer. Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God (Hebrews 6:1) When we learn to depend on God's work in us, we learn to be perfectly peaceful, calm, undisturbed by . If you look at the end of Luke 3, you will see that this is the line of descent into which Jesus Christ was born. Hebrews uses the word three times. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. These verses are not so much a definition of faith but they show us the attributes of faith. The unseen things we are convinced of, are things God has revealed. Your family. God picked him up and carried him across it (A.W. The seed sown on the rocky ground sprang up quickly, but it also quickly withered and died when trials hit. Ultimately, this will undermine the relationship, because it erodes trust. Just after I became pastor here, I had to take a stand on a matter that resulted in a lot of conflict. And Hebrews here makes this abundantly clear. Think about this: Walking with God! That is the greatest privilege possible. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made out of things which do appear. Whoever would draw near to God! Please open your Bible at Hebrews 11 as we continue our series, Living by Faith. Why is the doctrine of creation by Gods word crucial for knowing Him and for the Christian life. Even though he was a devout Catholic (a fact he never tried to hide), Russert as moderator couldn't take sides so he wanted Meacham to take up the cause. To walk with God means that you are at peace with Him. Death becomes the doorway into the unfiltered presence of God. The word confidence itself means full of faith. This was Gods provision for multiplying the human population in its earliest generations. Ages (worlds) is a Hebrew way of referring to the creation from the standpoint of its successive duration. What exactly had Adam taught his sons about the proper way to approach God? Walking with God is not just for Enoch. Those who are alive when Christ comes in glory will be taken across the river, without going through it. "You gotta come down and defend the faith, Brother." Those with true faith accept God's word, focusing on assurance about what we do not see, looking beyond the situation as it can be perceived by natural vision. Faith does allow us to overcome the struggles we face in life. Our hearts are restless until they find rest in you." His standard for living is clearly laid out in scripture. Truth is the basis for trust. To ensure you receive the best experience on Lifeway.com, we use cookies to process information about your visit. Pastor Colin Smith preached this sermon on the faith of Abraham from Hebrews 11:8-16 as part of the series "Living By Faith." His faith made real in the present the future promises of God. It's just not in us to believe those things. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by Unlocking the Bible, 1-866-865-6253. Justification by faith is one of the central doctrines of the Christian faith. those who were Gentiles would have been taught these stories also as the Church made Scripture central to the faith. Today their grief is wrenching and unremitting, yet they continue on by faith. How true that is. July 29, 2012. Greear. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah (Gen 5:22). Their faith needed to be strengthened to meet this challenge. Listen as Old Testament giants of faith still speak to us through their lives. But Enoch did not go through it. He "was not" because God took him off the earth and allowed him to enter heaven without experiencing death. Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2004, All Rights Reserved. George Muller was another man who made Gods promises real by faith, and proved in a visible way the reality of the invisible God. There is also the realm of the spirit, the invisible spiritual kingdom of God. All the ultimate answers of life lie in that kingdom. The Power of Faith will help you strengthen your confidence in God's promises. Many martyrs have died at the stake because of their faith. He created the things that are from things which are not. Humans might fabricate things out of the dirt or use material from creation for their buildings, but not God. So many of us have filled our hearts with the junk food of the world. This runs through the whole chapter with one exception. We are told in vs. 5 that Adam lived for 930 years. Hebrews 11:17-19 I. That's as fine a tribute as you are likely to find, and not just about a public figure. This is for us today. You have to factor in eternity. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him (Gen 5:24). Hebrews, Chapter 11, and Verse 1. Faith proves to us the fact that the things we presently cannot seeGod, angels, demons, heaven, hellare very much true and real. In other words, faith applies the reality of Gods promises and the unseen world to life in the present, visible world. He trusted in God. Obviously sibling rivalry was present from the beginning. Perhaps that's what happened to Enoch. You become a father, or a mother, and you find yourself saying, God has given me this wonderful gift and if I am to raise this child in this ungodly world, I need strength. When the flood finally came, only eight people were saved: Noah and his wife, his three sons and their wives. Ten generations are recorded. After telling us about Enoch who walked with God, Hebrews says, Whoever would draw near to God.. And I want to make two observations from them: i. Adam was still living when Enoch was born. 4:15). God always looks to the heart first and foremost. We've heard and read that in the Bible's creation story innumerable times. That means more than that heaven is a place of great happiness. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah (Gen 5:21 22). Notice the word ungodly or ungodliness occurs four times. Faith is the victory! But true faith, faith that rests on God and his Word and believes all that he has said, true faith sees the unseen and say, "Yes, it is true.". Results like these do not belong on the resume of a supreme being. If you seek Him, you will find Him. Hebrews 11:32-35a Elijah: Widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-23) Elisha: Shunammite Woman's Son (2 Kings 4:18-37). With the threat of persecution looming over them, the Hebrew believers needed to be steeled to endure the coming trials by faith. The reward of seeking God is finding Him. But you have not said it to build the other person in Christ, and so it is not loving. When he looked at Abel's heart, he found faith there, and it was faith that he rewarded. The subjective understanding is, faith means being confident of what we hope for, convinced of what we do not see. An objective understanding is, faith means the reality of the goods hoped for, (Helmut Koster, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, ed. If you would draw near to God, you must believe that he exists (vs. 6). [Published with permission from Dr. Arnold Lastinger.] In any case he walked with God for 300 years. How does all of this relate to Hebrews 11? People who spoke against God. Why did one choose to be a farmer and the other a shepherd? The text says it is the substance of things hoped for. " This man is revered by over one-half the world's population. Enoch was the seventh of these 10 generations from Adam to Noah. The lifespans of these generations are about ten times as long as our lives today. Some think that faith is believing something . Picture Seth, and Enosh, and Kenan, and Mahalalel, and Jared, and Enoch, and Methuselah, and young Lamech all gathering round the old man. So, faith believes what God has revealed and trusts what God has promised. Bible Study & Sermon Videos; hebrews-11:2; Hebrews-11:2. Along with the divinity of the Holy Spirit, we have the doctrine of the Trinity. By faith he believed God regarding things he had not yet seen. were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. This is the first of 19 uses of by faith in this chapter. Hebrews 11 begins with a short general definition of what faith is. Abel was commended as righteous because of a sacrifice that God accepted. This ancient story may seem a long way from the realities of your life today. You may think, Thats a great story, but what if God hadnt delivered them? His faith proved the reality of the unseen God as greater than the reality of the flames that burned him to death. Rick Ezell is the pastor of First Baptist Greer, South Carolina. Before we look at these three aspects of faith, it may be helpful to explain something about the nature of faith with reference to relationships. We can't see the soul in heaven. And the author of Hebrews is explaining that by way of illustration in Hebrews chapter 11. But as Paul explains (Rom. If this is the best God can do, I am not impressed. 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. CSB Experiencing God Bible, Hardcover, Jacketed. On the other hand, sinners are unable to believe because of spiritual blindness (2 Cor. Creation is dependent upon the Son for its maintenance. They refused to bow down to Nebuchadnezzars idol, which caused the offended king to threaten to throw them into the blazing furnace. Abel had been killed, but that was before Seth or any of his descendants were born. a. You may say, Thats just the way I feel, and thats true. Hebrews 11:17-40. For example, God confronts our unbelief and sin. But when you believe in His Word about salvation, you gain understanding about the origins of the ages that makes everything in history fall into place. Only the seed on the good ground bore fruit with perseverance (Luke 8:11-15). 3 By faith we understand. Offering the lamb was a sign that Abel was trusting in Gods promise. But what does that have to do with us? What is faith? Being unconditionally certain that it's true requires faith. I know you believe. But here's what I wonder. Comments >>. After he arrived, they said, We promised you safe passage here, but not a safe return. 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