We live in a world that is far from God and all of us are going to die. Along with the divinity of the Holy Spirit, we have the doctrine of the Trinity. Delivered on Sabbath Morning, December 14, 1856, by the REV. Matter is not eternal. There is abundant evidence that an incredibly intelligent Designer created everything, especially human life. Rick Ezell is the pastor of First Baptist Greer, South Carolina. 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 It is also the power of a godly husband and father. By faith Moses gained Gods approval, even though he received the worlds scorn. That's what the phrase "by faith" (repeated over and over again in this chapter) is all about. Death is like a river that separates us from the presence of God in heaven. The reason that faith in God as creator comes first is not by accident. A.W. You may think, Thats a great story, but what if God hadnt delivered them? You would think that a discovery such as human DNA, which shows amazing design, would cause all scientists to fall down in worship before God. Faith proves or gives evidence for the things that we cannot see, thus giving us a conviction that these unseen things are true. Walking with God is the greatest pleasure. I suspect that Adam had explained that God required a sacrifice. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by Unlocking the Bible, 1-866-865-6253. There is more to life than that. Walking is not sitting and walking is not sprinting. As Jonathan Edwards said as his final words, Trust in God and you need not fear (Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography, Iain Murray [Banner of Truth], p. 441). And only God can give me what I need. And for all of us, men and women alike, take heart from Noah's example. It is the relationship you have with Jesus. Any duration. It is important to define or give substance to such an abstract noun as faith. Instead we find complexity, and diversity not only between religious communities but within it as well." 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. But note this. If this is the best God can do, I am not impressed. Have Faith, Hebrews 11:1-3 - September 5th, 2021. A. From Abel to Enoch to Noah - what joins these men together? Hebrews 11:1 gives a definition, or at least a good description, of the faith that pleases God: "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." "Confidence" is the translation of a Greek word that means "foundation." Faith is the foundation that . Perhaps he was like many men who don't get serious until they look into the face of their firstborn son or daughter. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Just after I became pastor here, I had to take a stand on a matter that resulted in a lot of conflict. The French philosopher Pascal said that there is a "God-shaped vacuum" inside every human heart. Rick has earned a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Master of Theology in preaching from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. 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. He uses the aorist tense in the infinitive "to please". Notice the word ungodly or ungodliness occurs four times. Impossible Without Faith: Hebrews 11:17-40. "You gotta come down and defend the faith, Brother." This ancient story may seem a long way from the realities of your life today. How do I know that? Hebrews uses the word three times. 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. 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. The worlds first baby became the worlds first murderer. It's just not in us to believe those things. That's what Tim Russert said to Jon Meacham when he invited him to appear on Meet the Press to debate noted atheist Christopher Hitchens. All of the others relate to a parade of characters from the Old Testament who trusted in God. This Son also maintains the universe by the word of His power. Because he was looking to the reward (11:26). THE FEEDING OF FAITH: You are not born with faith as you need to have it. Fathers, listen up. Order Curriculum, Literature, and Church Supplies, by Rick Ezell on Wednesday, January 01, 2014 at 7:00 AM. But when Methuselah was born, Enoch knew that he needed help and he began to walk with God. Will you live it? [2] For by it the people of old received their commendation. As we saw in chapter 10, Christs sacrifice on the cross is the only basis for forgiveness of sins. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years (Gen 5:22). Dont hope in your good works, because all the good works in the world can never erase the debt of sin that you owe. Sometimes it involves leaning into the wind. Hebrews 1:1-3 tells us that Gods agent in creation was the Son. by Gerhard Friedrich [Eerdmans], VIII:586), the proof of things unseen. The Bauer, Arndt, & Gingrich Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament [University of Chicago Press, 2nd ed.] I know you believe in Christ." The greater the difficulties, the easier for faith. God tests us so that we may know what is in our heart - 1 Peter 1:7 II. It has the idea of a "foundation or basis. The word also is used as a technical term for the unity of the Trinity, although this is not what is implied here. In 1860 the motto "In God We Trust" was added to our currency. Ultimately, this will undermine the relationship, because it erodes trust. Why did Moses do what he did? Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. Yet a lot of people feel that way? Featuring Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Kristi McLelland, and more! But He always relates to us in love. These elements of relationships also apply to our relationship with God. Behind every support specialist, Bible study editor, graphic designer, and accountant is a Sunday School teacher, kids volunteer, or small group leader. Such faith takes the future promises of God and makes them real in the present. Let me remind you that you may believe what you want, think what you want, act like you want, but there is only one way to God and that is through faith in his Son, Jesus Christ. While the term is roughly equivalent to world, it allows for what modern science has established, that time is related to matter. In ancient times the Jews considered Abraham to be almost worthy of their worship. At one point before we knew how things would turn out, I said to Marla, I am at peace that even if I get fired, God will take care of us, because I did the right thing. Live to please God and you will know His peace, even if people angrily oppose you. It is important to define or give substance to such an abstract noun as faith. Hebrews 11 demonstrates that the life of faith is not a rarity. We are not a very trusting people. It has sustained the people of God through thousands of years in every sort of difficulty. This sermon is yet another feeble attempt to do so. Faith or trust in God is at the foundation of a relationship with Him. Thirdly, God chose the Son who is His express image to purge our sins. Man looks on the outward and makes his judgments that way. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. these people were heroes. One brother kills another in an outburst of rage and envy. You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. And by the time of Noah we read, The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (Gen 6:5). By faith they saw the unseen God as more real than the enraged king standing in front of them, threatening to roast them alive. Hebrews 11:8-10. Hebrews 11 paints a picture of what a life of faith looks like. 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. Walking with God involves peace, purpose, progress, privilege and pleasure. 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. Since the day that Enoch began to know God, he must have been thoroughly enthralled at God's goodness to reward him. You can't see any of this. Abel had faith; Cain did not. Cain brought an offering from his crops while Abel brought a sacrifice of the best of his herd. the Father chose that all things be summed up in the Son, It is this Son who became incarnate in Jesus Christ. Only the seed on the good ground bore fruit with perseverance (Luke 8:11-15). Knowing the U nknowable. I suggest this expanded paraphrase of 11:1, Faith makes real in our experience the promises that God has given about the future. 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. The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Hebrews 11:23-29. He wanted to prove to the world that there is reality in dealing with the living God. And the author of Hebrews is explaining that by way of illustration in Hebrews chapter 11. Walking isnt easy when the wind is against you. What does it mean to walk with God? "Without faith it is impossible to please God." Hebrews 11:6. What matters about them is the relationship they have with Jesus. Creation is dependent upon the Son for its maintenance. And just one generation later, their son Cain killed his brother. He wants them to become imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises (6:12). 48:51. Since God created all things from nothing, then everything owes its existence to God who spoke creation into existence. But this first one goes back to Genesis 1, to the biblical account of creation. For example, God confronts our unbelief and sin. It is about the faith and that faith must be in Jesus. But as Paul explains (Rom. The Roman Catholic Church promised Jan Hus, the brave Czech martyr, safe passage to a hearing. Dont go looking for a God of your own imagination. Follow Us Online. Every time the boy became sick you would think This is it. As it is difficult to directly translate into English because it has many meanings, we must look at the context here. He literally gave away all of his money and possessions and, by faith, founded an orphanage in Bristol, England. God spoke into the nothing and creation happened. I will seek to clarify the meaning of the verse as I understand it, but I admit that my understanding may be limited. If you doubt the truth of Gods Word, including His promises for the future, you cannot trust Him and thus will be distant from Him. As our pressures mount, we are tempted to disbelieve in God's . Robert Rayburn expresses this very directly: Think of what must be believed in order to become a Christian. And that of course is the thing that ultimately matters about us all. When you walk, you see things you dont notice from a car. For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.. George Muller was another man who made Gods promises real by faith, and proved in a visible way the reality of the invisible God. All of us know about the great flood, the massive ark, and the gathering of the animals. All of us are on a journey going somewhere. It is not a list of great things that you have accomplished. So how can you draw near to God? God is the great peace-maker: when we make peace we are walking with Him. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Although I am not an example of great faith, I can share a personal example. What is faith? There is clearly a reference here to God revealing His name to Moses. Pastor Colin Smith preached this sermon on the faith of Abraham from Hebrews 11:8-16 as part of the series "Living By Faith." 15 Outstanding Quotes To Recharge Your Preaching. We couldn't. It's the faith. 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. His faith made real in the present the future promises of God. 2 For by it the men of old gained approval. However, do we take faith as seriously as we ought? Each of them highlights a distinct aspect of faith. Abel had been killed, but that was before Seth or any of his descendants were born. 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. The prevailing current worldview, that matter always existed and that the current universe, including man, happened by sheer chance over billions of years, is based on blind faith, because there is no evidence to support it. Our weekly email connects you to the latest content and resources. We've heard and read that in the Bible's creation story innumerable times. The flood came in the 600th year of Noahs life and if you compare that with the long years of Methuselahs life, you will see that God sent the flood in the year that Methuselah died. We read here about Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah. If you feed your flesh and your doubts, they will grow. Your community. The constant, conscious enjoyment of the presence of God that, by faith, is possible for you now is a taste, an anticipation of the joys that will be yours forever in heaven. Bible Study & Sermon Videos; hebrews-11:2; Hebrews-11:2. What they did, they did by faith. The word confidence itself means full of 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). By faith he preached when no one would listen. Please open your Bible at Hebrews 11 as we continue our series, Living by Faith. Scripture: Hebrews 11:7-12 John Piper Sermon The Hope of Exiles on the Earth Jun 29, 1997 Scripture: Hebrews 11:13-22 John Piper Sermon Liberated for Love by Looking to the Reward Aug 3, 1997 Scripture: Hebrews 11:23-28 John Piper Sermon Faith to Be Strong and Faith to Be Weak Aug 10, 1997 Scripture: Hebrews 11:29-38 John Piper Message Without faith it is impossible to please Him (11:6). Ages (worlds) is a Hebrew way of referring to the creation from the standpoint of its successive duration. Light shines into the darkness, and we have reason to hope that the reign of death may not be forever. Faith recognizes that God sometimes tests us (17a) A. Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-4 Denomination: Baptist Summary: Every body has some type of faith, people have faith in many different things, when we get into our car we have faith that it will crank and get us to our destination, we have faith that our doctor knows what he or she is doing, every body has this mindse 1 2 3 4 Next "WHAT IS FAITH?" Enoch lived with a profound awareness that judgment was coming. You are the church, and Lifeway is here to serve you with biblical resources for everything life brings your way. Suddenly there is a break in the clouds. 2:8-9). You will always be on guard. Greear. Today we look at the 11th chapter of Hebrews which is often known as the faith chapter. In it are many examples of people who remained faithful to the LORD under the most difficult and impossible of situations. Faith was about my belief in God. It has to make a difference. People who spoke against God. To walk with God does not mean that you are perfect, but if you are walking you are making progress. But even if your progress is slow, you will still be moving forward. Intro: Our text mentions a man named Abraham. We need to recognize that faith is not a meritorious work that we do to gain rewards from God. God accepted Abel's offering because it was brought in faith. Single men, take notice. So, faith believes what God has revealed and trusts what God has promised. Other Scriptures Referenced: Acts 17, John 20. . By exercising this kind of faith the ancients gained the warm commendation of God. In other words, people are believing what they want and doing what they want and thinking what they want. They become futile in their speculations, their foolish hearts are darkened, and professing to be wise, they become fools. Put your faith in Jesus Christ! Some of you who are younger are trying to figure out if you will follow Jesus. 2:4). How true that is. "By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.". 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). According to Hebrew 11:6 he firmly believed that God is a rewarder. What is faith? Something is definitely wrong. ii. Being unconditionally certain that it's true requires faith. So many of us have filled our hearts with the junk food of the world. All Videos Images Commentaries Devotionals Other Translations Sermons Related Scriptures Podcasts Blogs. "It's the faith, Brother." If you would draw near to God, you must believe that he exists (vs. 6). The unseen things we are convinced of, are things God has revealed. Log In Create an Account. The order is crucial: first the man, then the offering. "Through Faith" As we read on the context is the same.Vs35b-38. He managed to save his own family - and no one else. So a life of faith means a life in which we base our whole hopes on Him and on His promises. Certainly Cain represents all those people in the world who believe they can make up their own religion. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. It seems that the responsibility of being a father caused Enoch to feel that he needed God in a way that he had not felt before. And Enoch walked beyond space and time into eternity. Enoch got through his early years without too much trouble. Bur Hebrews 12 says they had not resisted unto blood. He began walking with God after the birth of his son Methuselah. Now, what does it mean to live by faith? 2. Genesis 1:1, Habakkuk 2:4, Hebrews 10:38, Hebrews 11, Hebrews 11:1-16, Hebrews 11:1-3, Hebrews 1:1-3, Hebrews 11:8-16, Hebrews 12, John 1:14, Romans 8:24, Sermon Topics: With the threat of persecution looming over them, the Hebrew believers needed to be steeled to endure the coming trials by faith. Without faith you will not believe it anyway. ( Hebrews 11:1) A definition of faith. On the other hand, sinners are unable to believe because of spiritual blindness (2 Cor. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him (Heb 11:6). Since the birth of Seth, all of these patriarchs carried on living. After going through the roll call of these saints, the example of Jesus is set forth in the 12th chapter as the most excellent example of enduring faith, The writer of Hebrews wrote to warn the church he addressed not to drift away from the truth and commit apostacy. 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