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It doesn’t take a sleuth to realize why Hebrews 11 has been called the “Hall of Faith.”
The introductory phrase “by faith . . . .” is repeated by the writer in the same way a guide through a museum may introduce a new piece of art with “Here we have. . . . “
The writer to the Hebrews has already mentioned the importance of faith several times in his letter.
He has described repentance from dead works and faith toward God as a foundational doctrine for the Christian. (6:12) He does not specifically discuss the contrast between “faith” and “works” in the justification of the believer, but he takes pains to point out that Christians do not come to God by the blood of a sacrificial animal (works). They can draw near to God because of their whole-hearted belief (faith) in what Christ has done on their behalf. (10:22). He also does not emphasize where faith comes from (though he hints at it when he mentions God’s work in the New Covenant 8:10,11 and 10:16)
He is writing to people he knows are people of faith. People who have left off trying to earn their own salvation or earn a way into God’s presence and instead have trusted in Christ’s sacrifice for them. His goal is to encourage his readers to continue in their faith, to keep on believing that Jesus is all they need. Even though it seems like his readers have waited a long time for Christ to return, those who continue to walk by faith will win in the end. With these God is well pleased. (10:38,39).
Rather than defining faith, in chapter 11 the writer will describe what it is that faith looks like in the believer’s walk with God. He does this by using illustrations of Old Testament believers who persevered in their faith. He will intersperse these stories with instruction concerning the nature of faith and how it is rewarded.
Over the course of our study together as we look at the examples of Old Testament believers, we are going to develop a description of people who walk by faith, adding to it as we go through this chapter.
Can we stop a minute and let me try to head off how I don’t want you to apply these lessons?
We will be looking at people of faith who did amazing things. I do not want you to look at a description of a person’s faith and turn it into a “to do list” or an “I-ought-to-do-this-better club” to beat yourself up with.
All of the examples of faith in this chapter were laid down to encourage you - If God helped this person, If God kept His promise to that person, God will help you. God will keep His promises to you.
A good response is, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)
Faith is a gift of God. (Eph. 2:8,9) It comes through hearing the word of God. (Rom, 10:17). It is deepend as we take a step of faith and find that God is faithful.
I am praying that the Spirit of God will take the Word of God and strengthen the Children of God who follow these lessons.
Four things we learn about Faith from the opening verses.
Verse 1 is one of the few times in the chapter where the writer does not use the phrase “by faith.”
He is giving us a definition of faith - “faith is” - but even here, we will find that his definition is more of a description.
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for.”
Notice the three important words in this phrase: Faith, assurance, and hope
Biblical Faith has many different facets to its meaning. It can refer to
Assent - believing that something is true
Trust - relying on what is believed to be true
Allegiance - submitting to what is believed to be true
Faith is a bigger idea than hope - but it includes everything that hope does.
Hope looks to the future. It is an expectation of what will happen.
Biblical Faith looks to a person - to Jesus and what He has done for us in the past and He will do for us in the future.
You and I hope for a lot of things and are often disappointed.
A certain birthday gift. A promotion at work. A child’s appreciation.
By contrast, what are these things that people of faith hope for?
Things of which we can be assured. Things that are substantive - so sure that they can be (by faith) “tasted, seen, felt, heard.”
What are the only things that we can be assured of? What are the only true realities?
The Character of God, the Word of God, and the promises of God.
A person who walks by faith is assured that what God has promised
will come to pass.
“Faith is the conviction of things not seen.”
Notice the important words here: Faith, Conviction and Things not seen
There is a parallel between the first two parts of verse one.
Faith Assurance things hoped for
Faith Conviction things not seen
This lets us know that “assurance” and “conviction” are similar ways to say the same thing.
And that “things hoped for” corresponds to “things not seen.”
Why does the writer say the same thing twice? For emphasis, yes. But also to add another aspect to the description of faith.
What is a conviction? - a firmly held belief.
You and I may have convictions about a lot of things. Some of them are based on truth. Some are not.
Take for example the conviction that 1+1 will always equal 2. This is a conviction based on a mathematical truth. Contrast that conviction to one of the hosts of conspiracy theories found on FB. They are even called theories. They have not been proven.
What are the things that people of faith have convictions about?
Things not seen.
The word “see” is used in chapter 11 seven times! “Seeing” has a lot to do with faith.
The meaning of “see” encompasses the physical act of taking an image into our brain.
We might say, “She looked at the bird.”
It often includes the thought process. To see is to perceive, discern clearly, to come to understand,
We might say, “She saw what the children were up to.”
Biblical seeing is often in contrast to only seeing what can be seen by the eyes.
Spiritual realities are those things that require more than physical sight to see.
A person of faith looks beyond tangible things and everyday circumstances to see what others cannot.
A person of faith sees the mystery of God on display.
Matt 13:14-16 “ . . . Blessed are your eyes, for they see. . . . ”
A person of faith will see the hand of God in all that happens (Providence)
A person who walks by faith can see invisible spiritual truths.
“For by it the people of old received their commendation.”
In this phrase we are introduced to a new word, commendation, that is used 4 times in this chapter (in the introduction and conclusion) and one in the first verse of chapter 12 when it mentions the “cloud of witnesses.”
Again this word has a range of meanings. It could simply mean someone who witnesses an event and gives testimony about it. It is used in the Bible of martyrs who gave a good commendation by the laying down of their lives. It is usually used in the positive - A person is commended for doing something that pleases God.
Think through the list of people mentioned in chapter 11.
Are there any perfect people here? Are there any near perfect people here?
No, they are all flawed. They made bad mistakes and made them again. They sinned against the known will of God. They hurt other people by their sinfulness. They suffered consequences for their sinfulness.
YET, God commends them!
Why? Because through all the mess, or after all the mess, they kept believing what God said was true. They “saw” spiritual realities. This was the ballast of their lives. Perfection was not what was commended. Their persevering trust in God was. It was not what they did because of their faith that was commended, it was their faith that pleased God.
A person who walks by faith will receive from God their sought after
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
“By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”
Some teachers will put verse three as the beginning of the Hall of Heroes. This makes sense. In verse 2 the writer has introduced “the people of old.” In verse four, he is going to start listing some of these people beginning with Abel from the 4th chapter of Genesis. Obviously this verse refers to events in the first chapter of Genesis.
Many, and I am one, see this verse as another part of the writer's introduction. Another description of what faith does.
This verse is describing the theological concept of ex nihilo - that God created the world out of nothing. Everything we can see, was once not here in any form or substance. It is a mind blowing concept to consider. Nothing became all this. By the word of God!
We read again and again in Genesis chapter one, “And God said. . . . “
And in Psalm 29 we read:
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over many waters.The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!
A person who walks by faith understands the power of the Word of God to do the impossible.
I said this in the introduction, but it is important to say it again here:
There is a lot of noise in our lives today. It confuses and tires. The voice of Jesus is different and wonderfully better than all the other sounds you will ever hear. It is powerful and empowering. It is gentle and encouraging.
The writer to the Hebrews has already told us that Jesus “upholds the universe by the word of his power.” (1:3)
Notice in Chapter 4:12 the Word of God seems to be a “thing” likened to a sword, but in verse 13 the word is Jesus. “His sight” “the eyes of him”
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (4:12,13)
If the word of God has spoken to you, I encourage you to take some time to answer these questions of application:
Are you often disappointed? What does this say about what you are hoping for? How can you learn to put your hope in the promises of God? Consider Colossians 3:2
When people are convinced of something, it changes their behavior. Even if the conviction is not based in reality. Consider the woman who is convinced she is not attractive or is convinced she needs a husband (or a new one!). Her convictions can cause her to act foolishly or self-destructively. Even harmless convictions, say of the importance of daily vitamins, affect our behavior. How has a false conviction changed you?
How would a conviction of spiritual realities change you? How can you deepen your conviction of spiritual truths? Consider Mark 9:24; Phil. 4:8.
Whose commendation are you seeking? What difference would it make if you sought a commendation from God? Consider Colossians 3:23; 1 Cor. 4:2-5
When you read the Bible, what would it look like if you realized you were hearing the thunderous, powerful, and majestic voice of the Lord that can expose the thoughts and intention of your heart?
If you have asked for and received the Homework for Lesson One in the past, I will be sending you the homework for Lesson Two this week. If you want to start now, send me a message.
Photo from Cyndy Smith