With a brief mention of names which would call up before the minds of his readers achievements almost as wonderful as those on which he has been dwelling, he passes from the elders who received witness from God by their faith, and (Hebrews 11:33-38) speaks in general terms, but all the more distinctly, of the triumphs which faith has won. 13 See 1 Corinthians 15 (especially verse 19); 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (see especially verse 13). Noah is the third hero named in the Hall of Faith. For some, their only hope is that there will be no existence beyond the grave. Read Romans 1:20 and study more about God as the Creator in our section Is There a God?. It's important to understand which group is being addressed in which passage. Faith is the only means of salvation (Ephesians 2:8).. Jesus is the object of saving faith (Romans 3:22).. 17 Among many other creation texts, see Psalm 19:1; Isaiah 40:26; 42:5-9; 45:12; Matthew 19:4; Mark 13:19; Acts 17:22-29; Revelation 4:11. It is available on the Internet at: www.netbible.org. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. Our homilist continues his exhortation with a summons with a focus on the first element of the faith - hope - love triad that he outlined in 10:22-24. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.Hebrews 11:29-31 . As best as I can recall, that chapter began something like this: I suspect some of you men have turned to this chapter first. I remember giggling to myself about that, probably because I didnt wait for that chapter to come up in the normal sequence of chapters either. "Heroes of Faith in the Book of Hebrews." Throughout his life, Samuel served the Lord with integrity and unwavering faith. We have been living a comfortable life. Unemployment rates were low, and salaries were high (certainly in comparison with salaries in the Third World). "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. The first reference to faith in the Old Testament is found in Genesis 15:6, where it says "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." Faith is also mentioned in the story of Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac. A reference to death occurs more than 20 times in Hebrews 11, and this accounts for the use of terms which plainly speak of death (die, died, death, dead). Obedience, faith, and dependence on the Lord made him one of Israel's finest leaders. Our text emphasizes the powerful contribution men and women make by living a life of faith, thus setting an example for us to follow. ADVERTISEMENT MORE FROM REFERENCE.COM Business & Finance World View World View (NLT). Then she said, I have created a man just as the Lord did! 2 Then she gave birth to his brother Abel. The book of Hebrews contains exhortations, warnings and encouragement to Jewish Christians facing trials and was probably written not long before the Romans destroyed Gods temple and its worship system in A.D. 70. It was a number of years ago. God's rest is entered by faith by believing the gospel (verses 3-4). From the account in Genesis 5, we learn that Enoch walked with God, and thus God took him away (Genesis 5:24). It is not something we can produce on our own Very little else is known about Abel, except that he found favor in God's eyes by offering him a pleasing sacrifice. The first report of jealousy and murder is told in Genesis chapter . The principal divisions of the Letter to the Hebrews are the following: Introduction (1:1-4) The Son Higher than the Angels (1:5-2:18) Jesus, Faithful and Compassionate High Priest (3:1-5:10) Jesus' Eternal Priesthood and Eternal Sacrifice (5:11-10:39) Examples, Discipline, Disobedience (11:1-12:29) To please God and to be motivated to faithfully follow Gods commands, we must also believe that His awesome promises for the future are true. 8 Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8, emphasis mine). Used by permission. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left. 28 For in him we live and move about and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, For we too are his offspring. 29 So since we are Gods offspring, we should not think the deity is like gold or silver or stone, an image made by human skill and imagination. G. Their example encourages us to continue to be faithful (12:1). And to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abels does (Hebrews 12:24). Christian hope is a desire for, and an expectation of, what God has promised. Some of those who have retired are now thinking about employment to make up for their losses in the stock market. In verse 2, our author underscores the fact that faith is a crucial part of ones relationship to God; indeed, it is the only basis for our relationship to God. 11 as people of great faith (NKJV Study Bible, p. 2095, Heroes of Faith). This may be because they are yet in the future, because they are spiritual and cannot be seen,20 or because in our humanity, they seem so impossible we cannot think of them as possibilities.21 For the Christian, the things God has promised are those things for which we deeply long,22 but they are also things for which we must wait.23 We are so confident about these unseen things that they become reality to us, a reality that becomes the basis for living in the light of the unseen, and often in spite of what is seen. 11:1). 13) . 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him (Hebrews 11:5-6). The early church remembered our Lords death daily or weekly.27 It is our conviction that we should do no less. The Old Testament heroes are heroes not only of the faith, but they are heroes of faith. On a secret mission, Rahab played an important role in Israel's defeat of Jericho. (NLT). The amazing city He has prepared is called the New Jerusalem, which comes to the new earth in Revelation 21 and 22. It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau. Enoch so pleased the Lord God that he was spared the experience of death. While the whole Bible resonates with faith, sometimes Hebrews . In fact, that whole chapter of Hebrews 11 has become known as the "Hall of Faith" since faith is mentioned so many times. . Then, the author spends quite some time talking about Moses, and even his parents. 6 Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth we are absent from the Lord 7 for we live by faith, not by sight. Study more about this vital subject in these articles: Mike Bennett is editorial content manager for the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, in the Dallas, Texas, area. Joseph (Hebrews 11:22; this story is found in Genesis 50:24-25). Our text reminds us that our faith in times of crisis is the outcome of a life that has consistently been lived by faith. That's an easy way to score rhetorical points, but it's also an anti-intellectual way to shut-down a serious discussion. The chapter begins with the author's definition of faith; faith is "the assurance of things hoped for and the . Barak was a courageous warrior who answered God's call, but in the end, a woman, Jael, received credit for his defeat of the Canaanite army. Posted on Jun 29, 2021 by Scott Ashley Listen Estimated reading time: 4 minutes. In the first two verses, the author defines faith for us in two ways: The Jewish patriarch, Isaac, fathered twin boys, Jacob and Esau. With Jesus Christs example and help, we dont need to succumb to weariness and discouragement (verse 3). Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith. In all of the Old Testament, few people were as loyal to God as Samuel. Our mission is to glorify God by equipping, encouraging, and empowering YOU to understand the Bible and grow in faith. We enter God's rest only by believing the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is reserved in heaven for you, 5 who by Gods power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. He is a fascinating Bible character almost anyone can relate to. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Sacrificial lifestyle (vs 4) - Faith gives God our first and our best. This chapter plays a very important role in the developing argument of the entire epistle. Abraham is also called the "friend" of God (Isa. We've heard and read that in the Bible's creation story innumerable times. The remaining heroes of faith are listed anonymously in Hebrews 11, but we can guess with a fair degree of accuracy the identity of many of these men and women based on what the writer of Hebrews tells us: When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. (NLT). 27 See Acts 2:46; 20:7; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. So far in chapter 11 we have seen Abel and Enoch put forth as examples of faith, but this is just the beginning. This Hebrews 11 Bible study will explore the chapter to find what God wants us to learn about faith today. It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying -- "he disappeared because God took him." In that regard, let's look at those who are famously commended. By Faith Abraham: Hebrews 11 describes the faith of the three men the Jewish people hold to be the cornerstone of Judaism: Abraham, Moses, and David. Jephthah was a mighty warrior, a brilliant strategist, and a natural leader of men. There was a momentary move toward religious faith after 9/11, but that quickly dissipated. Verse 1 of chapter 11 sets out a rather general, preliminary, definition of faith: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). 9. "Faith" - mentioned in 26 books and occurs 231 times in the Bible. But all of these events occurred before Israel reached Mount Sinai, where God gave Moses the law. But how did it come to be? Hebrews Chapter 11 is often called the "Hall of Faith" or the "Faith Hall of Fame." Introduction: the ancients commended for their faith - but they did not see [its fulfilment - implied] B 11:4-12: Examples of men and women of faith - Abel to Abraham C 11:13-16: Interlude: Pilgrim faith sees beyond the grave B' 11:17-38: Examples of men and women of faith - Abraham to Maccabean revolt: A' 11:39-40 There are many scripture passages that speak about what death is and how to deal with it. This was to demonstrate his righteousness, because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed. Isaac, the miracle child of Abraham and Sarah, is the next hero distinguished in the Hall of Faith. Romans 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. It occurs 36 times in both epistles, more than in any other Old or New Testament book. Faith does guarantee that God will declare us righteous, and thus we are assured of possessing all that God has promised those who possess eternal life. That wonderful country is elsewhere described as the Kingdom of God that Jesus will bring to this earth at His return. In other words, the problem wasnt just with the offering, but with the offerer. Learn Religions, Apr. The point in Scripture is never that we should be like Abraham or Moses, orGod forbid!Jephthah or Samson. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry, and why is your expression downcast? Isaac (Hebrews 11:20; this event is recorded in Genesis 27:26-40). But do not be terrified of them or be shaken. Sarah, the wife of Abraham, is one of only two women named among the heroes of faith (Some translations, however, render the verse so that only Abraham receives credit. 12) C. Love (Ch. How could anything come out of nothing? Remember your leaders, who spoke Gods message to you; reflect on the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith (Hebrews 13:7). Chapter 11 then gives us examples to true faith among the many Old Testament characters who heard the voice of God, obeyed, and endured to the end. Heroes of Faith (Hebrews 11) Hebrews 11 is often viewed as an ode to faith. (NLT). This scandalous woman turned spy for God was actually honored twice in the New Testament. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of . . His story in Judges 11-12 contains both triumph and tragedy. . 4 But Abel brought some of the firstborn of his flock even the fattest of them. The biblical account equally highlights his epic failures. Here the author begins by giving us a two-fold description of what faith is certain about. Hebrews11:27: Leaving one's family affiliations versus Persevering in faith with the promise of seeing God in heaven 5. I am reminded of Romans 4 where in the previous chapters Paul shows that all men are lost sinners, destined for eternal judgment, and incapable of attaining righteousness by their own efforts. How could law-keeping under the Old Covenant be superior to faith in Christ through the New Covenant if no Old Testament saint was ever declared righteous because of law keeping? Although he's ranked among the most notable heroes of faith, he was a liar, adulterer, and murderer. Mary Fairchild is a full-time Christian minister, writer, and editor of two Christian anthologies, including "Stories of Calvary. The word faith, pistis in Greek, is repeated some twenty-six times in this chapter alone, demonstrating its significance to the author's overall message. 13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. Coming to know that God exists is a starting point. I have already made this point earlier, but I will repeat it (because it is so often denied by certain preachers): faith does not guarantee that we will not suffer. To speak in the simplest terms, chapters 1-10 portray the deity and humanity of the Lord Jesus, and the supremacy and sufficiency of our Lord as the Great High Priest. 11 See, for example, Hebrews 2:14-16; 11:13-16. These saints had a great love and respect for the Old Testament and for the Old Testament saints. Assurance of God's Promises (vs 1) - Faith is not living with our fingers crossed, it's a firm confidence in God and His promises to us. 26 This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time, so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus faithfulness (Romans 3:21-26). An unsaved co-worker might have faith in his training or work skills, confident that his or her hope of a promotion will be realized. 3 At the designated time Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground for an offering to the Lord. But Jacob started out as a liar, cheater, and manipulator. Jephthah was a not-so-well-known Old Testament judge who proved that it's possible to overcome rejection. This is the time for us to explain to others why we have hope.24 This is the time for Christians to demonstrate their love for one another and for all who are in need. Q. Moses and Rahab are the last to be referred to in any detail. Hope (Ch. I believe he is the only man who shared this in common with the Lord. We really have no other choice from Scripture: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). But let there be no doubt as to what the source of our faith is. Think about it for a moment. Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. 25 God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. It is as though the author makes his way from Genesis to the end of the Old Testament period, citing examples of faith. 11:1 says, 30 Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has set a day on which he is going to judge the world in righteousness, by a man whom he designated, having provided proof to everyone by raising him from the dead (Acts 17:24-31, emphasis mine). Faith gives us solid assurance that Gods promises will be fulfilled and a clear vision of the invisible spiritual reality. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you." Fairchild, Mary. One has to read carefully to see this, but then it becomes apparent. Remember that some of the Hebrews to whom this epistle is written are considering turning back to Judaism, to the Old Covenant, and to the Old Testament priesthood and sacrificial system, as though they were superior to the priesthood of Christ and to the New Covenant, which He inaugurated by the shedding of His precious blood. the massive Pentagon building is visible. So believing faith begins at Genesis 1:1 and keeps believing through the Bible to Revelation 22:21. Faith can be defined as trust or confidence in a person or something. D. These faithful ones passed on their faith from generation to generation (11:17-31). It lists many men and women who showed faith in God and His promise. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. God is the source of our faith, for it is He who writes His law upon our hearts (Hebrews 8:10). Moses faith was evident when he refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter, thereby identifying with Gods persecuted people.10 Moses also kept the Passover and left Egypt, passing through the Red Sea. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith that we preach), . 18 When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch. It was not necessary for the apostles to emphasize the fact that God created the heavens and the earth because Jews believed that God created the world. Much of this encouragement to persevere comes from godly men and women who persevered by faith. Faith believes God by believing His Word. Then he moves to Abel (Genesis 4) and next to Enoch (Genesis 5), then to Noah (Genesis 6-9), and then to events in the life of Abraham (Genesis 11-22), Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, all of whom are found in Genesis. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The English word "faith" (or a cognate) is found most often in Romans and Hebrews. 14 Now Enoch, the seventh in descent beginning with Adam, even prophesied of them, saying, Look! By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance (Romans 8:22-25). 6 This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials. Hebrews 11:4-7 lists three faithful men from the time before the Flood: Hebrews 11:20-22 lists three more men who acted on faith: With all three the significant thing was their firm conviction that death cannot frustrate Gods purposes (Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, note on Hebrews 11:20-22). 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. These people still minister to us. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior. And so we will always be with the Lord. And faith allowed them to walk between walls of water through the Red Sea, while the Egyptian army chasing them was destroyed (Exodus 14). And finally, Chapters 11 and 12 detail our response to Jesus as God's Son and our Priest. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. Let me suggest at least two reasons. 7 Is it not true that if you do what is right, you will be fine? May God imbed this text in our minds and enable us to live it out in our lives, to His glory and to our eternal good. . It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. Mark 11:22. James 2:14-17. . It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it. 8 Cain said to his brother Abel, Lets go out to the field. While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him (Genesis 4:1-8). Hebrews 11:24-25: Material wealth and the pleasures of sin versus Choosing to suffer with the people of God 3. 1 Now faith is being sure2 of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.3 2 For by it the people of old received Gods commendation. Every year the Jews would plant their crops but the Midianites would swoop in and steal their harvest leaving them hungry, defeated, and depressed. Hebrews 11 has much to say to us today as well. The examples of Gods miraculous interventions (verses 33-35a) can help build our faith, as we recognize that no problem is too hard for God. He gives faith and wants us to grow in faith. 14 And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. In other words, they walked by faith, not by sight (New Bible Dictionary, Faith, 1982, p. 368). It's doubtless Isaac would ever forget how God had delivered him from death by supplying the necessary lamb to be sacrificed in his place. 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Elishas servant was encouraged by seeing with own his eyes the powerful spiritual reality that Elisha already saw by the spiritual vision of faith. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Pharaoh's daughter is mentioned in 11:24 but only as an illustration . Faith occurs 24 times in Hebrews chapter 11, and the expression "by faith," which first occurs in Hebrews 11:3 is found 19 times in this chapter. . Read more about this in our article The Faith of Abraham.. Notice this about Enoch. The transition to the third aspect of the Lord's work is given in Hebrews 9:11-12 where Christ is specifically stated as the High Priest, the . Before the author concludes this epistle with specific exhortations for the reader in chapters 12-13, he pauses in chapter 11 to give numerous examples of living by faith from the Old Testament. What Does It Mean to Believe in Jesus Christ? The author is not urging his readers to conjure up faith somehow, but rather to live by the faith God has given.9 The faith which our author emphasizes here is not primarily saving faith, but the life of faith. Other bible versions have varying counts: Faith appears 458 times in the New International Version, 389 in the New King James Version, 378 in the New American Standard Bible and 521 in the Good News Bible (GNB). Hebrews 11 explains how faith . The word "faith" is used 25 times throughout chapter 11. While we do not have time to explore the implications of creation being a matter of faith in this lesson, I would recommend that the reader give this matter some thought. A towering figure in the Old Testament, Moses is honored in Hebrews 11:23-29. This wonderful chapter is an example to us on how we can, and should, have faith in God as well. Enoch (Hebrews 11:5; his story is found in Genesis 5:21-24). For example, consider a religious person who says, "I believe in God." If that person is asked, "Why do you believe?" he might reply, "That's the way I was raised" or, "That's what I've always been taught." Hebrews 11:13-16 demonstrates how these heroes of faith were motivated by their spiritual vision and steadfast belief in Gods promises: These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Their faith and endurance prepared them for the awesome future God has planned. If time permitted many other important landmarks could be pointed out by our guide. So what is the point of all this? We're resuming our periodic study in Hebrews this morning and the text before us Hebrews 11:4-7 is part of this famous so-called "Hall of Faith" passage in Hebrews. For by it [faith] the people of old received Gods commendation (Hebrews 11:2). The truths set forth in chapters 1-10 are the foundation for our faith. Or was it his unshakable faith and trust in the endless mercy and steadfast goodness of the Lord? People - mentioned over 2200 times. Being unconditionally certain that it's true requires faith. Faith produces peace (Psalms 42:11).. That is why you will find no reference to either in this chapter.