Faith in God brings hope alive and expectations high! God is a promise keeper!
Faith In God
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 testimony.
Whenever man has put faith in God that man found a relationship with God. “Now” in verse one connects faith with the subject matter of chapter 10. Remember the subject matter at the end of 10 was continuing in the faith of Jesus Christ. Hold oh to the confession of your faith for it has great reward.
From the start of Hebrews it directs our attention to Jesus Christ. In this new covenant the object of our faith must ever be in the work Jesus completed on the cross. Here in Hebrews 11 faith is defined. Hope has been underrated; with no hope you have no bible defined faith. Hope is not the wishful thinking of the world. Bible hope is a confident expectation in the word of God. Faith is believing and knowing what God has spoken will come to pass. Those who hope in God will not be made ashamed. Faith is the proof and validation of hopes expectation. It is by faith the elders obtained a good testimony.
Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
The Holy Spirit went to great lengths to be sure we understood where the object of our faith should remain. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.
Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
God the Father has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed into the kingdom of the Son of His love. Faith in the atoning work of Jesus blood brings the forgiveness of sins. Jesus created all things, He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. The Father made it exclusive, Jesus must be the object of our faith and reconciliation can only come by surrendering to the preeminence of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain by faith. Abel had faith in the word God spoke. God in His grace even spoke to Cain and said your sacrifice can too be excepted; Cain refused to hear and believe what God spoke.
Genesis 4:7 "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."
Cain refused to receive the word of God and sin ruled over him! Abel’s more excellent sacrifice still speaks because it was offered in faith. Acts done with faith in God’s word have eternal consequences.
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Enoch had faith in God. He is the first known prophet as Jude spoke of His prophesy. By faith Enoch was taken by God; it is recorded that Enoch walked with God.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
It is only with faith that we can please God. See the instruction of biblical faith. We must believe that He is, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. Do you see that through the scripture true bible faith has the object of faith in God. I keep repeating the truth because so many other tradition and errors have tried to redefined faith. This covenant of grace is founded in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
The just shall live by faith in Jesus Christ and the completed work of the cross! Where is the object of your faith? Remember Hebrews has been pointing to an exclusive faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus purged us from our sin. Jesus has the superior priesthood the better covenant, based upon better promises. Jesus as High Priest saves to the uttermost.
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
This is one of the most famous Bible stories, Noah and the ark. Yet it was all predicated on Noah hearing the voice of God, believing what He heard and acting upon it. Noah’s faith brought him into action! Noah lived in a society that He and His family were the only ones who were in pursuit of God. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. The scriptures tell us he was a preacher of righteousness. Think of it, a ministry that only brought in his own family. Noah’s faith in God made Him an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith!
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
By faith Abraham obeyed! Again we can see the object of Abraham’s faith was the word of God. Faith must ever be placed in God and God alone! The heirs of promise are looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Genuine faith brings pursuit of God. False faith brings false pursuits! If the faith message you hear is lead you in pursuit of this worlds goods it is a false message. We need to look for the city whose builder and maker is God our pursuits must be eternal pursuit for the kingdom of God .
Hebrews 11:11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
By faith Sarah counted her God as faithful! When you begin to count God as faithful to His word you will receive strength to conceive seed, and bare a child of promises.
Hebrews 11:12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude; innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
Faith believe God’s promise when in the natural it is dead.
Hebrews 11:13 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. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
Embrace the promises and confess by faith what you believe. God will not be ashamed to be called your God.
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