Faith
Heb 11:1-40
1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.Here is the definition of faith. It is the very opposite of "I have to see it to believe it." Faith is substance. Faith is evidence. It is something you can't see and it is something that is hoped for. Substance and evidence are real things. Faith is real. It is a real substance and it is real evidence of things not seen. Just because we can't see something does not mean it is non existing. We believe in God by faith. Most of us have not seen the visions and appearances of God and Jesus like some have been privileged to see. We must believe in God by an invisible substance called faith. When we exercise this faith it becomes stronger. The evidence of faith eventually brings forth sight. I believed first, I felt the presence of God second. We believe first, we are healed second. We believe first, we are baptized with the Holy Ghost second. Faith comes first then the answer to prayer. How do we get this faith? Romans 10:17 "
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Study the word of God continually to increase faith.2
For by it the elders obtained a good report.3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
All things were made by the word of God. It is our faith we understand that God created all things. All things were made by things we cannot see. They did not appear until God spoke them into existence, yet they existed in the mind of God.
4
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.I've heard different opinions on why God preferred Abel's sacrifice to Cain's. One school of thought stated that Abel recognized that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin and offered an animal sacrifice as opposed to Cain's sacrifice of vegetables. Another school of thought was that God saw that Abel's heart was right and he offered the best that he had and Cain's heart was not right and he did not offer his best. In the verse above we see that God reveals to us a little concerning faith. It was faith that pleased God here. By Faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. Abel had faith, Cain did not. Perhaps Abel did have faith in the future provision God would make to obtain salvation to those who believe through the death of His Son Jesus Christ. By offering an animal sacrifice it pointed to that day when Christ would offer himself once for the sins of the whole human race. That sacrifice only counts for those who believe and receive it by faith. So we see salvation comes by faith, righteousness comes by faith, healing comes by faith, and anything we receive from God comes by faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Abel saw his need for God and deliverance from sin. Perhaps Cain by making an offering of the fruit of the ground did not see any need for deliverance from sin. So his sin remained and Abel's sin was forgiven. We see the later manifestation of Cain's heart when he slew his brother in anger.
5
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.Enoch actually got to go be with the Lord before he physically died. He is still alive. He was translated. Whether he received a new body or is still in his old body, I do not know but this is similar to the rapture of believers who are alive when the Lord comes. They will not die but be translated. They will also receive new bodies that cannot die. Enoch had faith and this faith is what allowed him to be translated and not see death. Apparently he knew beforehand that God was going to take him that particular way. His faith in God did not waver. Faith is a strong, real substance that should not be taken lightly.
6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.Here is another definition of faith. Simply, to believe in God and believe that he exists and believe that he will hear the prayers of those who diligently seek him. This is not a half-hearted prayer or one that is prayed as a formality. Prayers are answered for those that seek the Lord with all their heart. God knows if we really are sincere and if we really want answers.
7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.Noah had his faith tested. If we really have faith, we will act. Noah could not have had faith in the word of God that God was going to destroy the whole world, and not act. If he did not build the ark, then his so-called faith would have no effect. God warned, Noah believed, Noah acted as if he believed. If Noah would have had the wait and see kind of faith then he would have acted too late.
8
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.This too took faith and the faith brought forth an action. You can be sure that I would not have set one foot out of the land I lived comfortable in with my kin folk if I did not know for sure that God called me to go and God would provide for me along the way. There may be some people who are natural wonderers but the majority of us would not want to uproot ourselves and leave possessions, homes and lands without knowing for sure that God would be with us and provide for us.
9
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:He lived in a strange land that legally was not yet his, yet he believed that the land would be his by faith in the word of God.
10
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.This city is the same city that all who believe in Jesus Christ who came from the lineage of Abraham, the promised one, the one who brings salvation through faith, will dwell in that city and inherit the same things that was promised to Abraham.
11
Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.I realize that Sara at times appeared not to have faith but she did have faith. She believed God's word that she was to have a child but didn't realize that she herself was to bear the child. She tried to help God by offering her servant Hagar to Abraham. Her thoughts may have been, "Now how can it come to pass, maybe God meant that I was to have a child by Hagar. I'm too old so this must be what he meant." She may have tried to figure out how the prophecy could come to pass and thought it needed her help. I'm not critical of Sara too much here for we today do the same things. We limit God to our human limitations. We think God needs our help. Do you realize that the word, "God helps those who help themselves," is not in the bible. Not anywhere in the word of God will you find that quote, yet I've heard it quoted over and over again. If God says something will happen, it will happen and nothing we can or cannot do will prevent it.
12
Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.Look at the seed of Abraham today. They are in the millions that sprang from one child, even Isaac. They sprang from the womb of a barren woman. Isaac was the child of promise. Satan has tried many times to destroy this chosen seed.
1. When Abraham's wife was taken into the household of Pharaoh and again when Abimelech was interested in her for a wife thinking she was a sister of Abraham.
2. When Pharaoh tried to have all Hebrew baby boys killed in Egypt under two years old.
3. When Haman tried to get the king to decree that all Jews be killed in the days of Esther.
4. When they went into Babylon captivity.
5. When Herod tried to destroy the children under two years old to kill the Christ child.
6. When the Roman army destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
7. When Queen Isabel and Ferdinand destroyed Jews in the Inquisition.
8. When Adolph Hitler tried to exterminate millions of Jews during the Holocaust.
There are many more occasions when the Jews were nearly wiped out. There are those today who would like to wipe them out. In spite of the many odds they are in existence today. They had to be back into their own land and have been since 1948 in order to fulfill bible prophecy.
13
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
They had faith concerning the promise of God. They chose to serve God rather than live just for the present. Their inheritance was in the future in eternity. They looked forward to the salvation God was to bring through Jesus Christ while we today look back to the one who bought our salvation. Our hearts too, should be in the things eternal that will not pass away.
17
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Indeed this had to be one of the greatest tests of faith ever to exist. He believed God so much that he was willing to obey his voice and kill his own son believing that God was able to raise him from the dead. Abraham knew God and knew the voice of God.
20
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.Abraham's faith continued in Isaac. He blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future. The prophecy for Jacob was: Genesis 27:28
"Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:29 Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee." Concerning Esau the prophecy was: Genesis 27: 39 "And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;
40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck."
21
By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.Notice how all the patriarchs became prophets and prophesied what was to come by faith.
22
By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.Joseph new that God would deliver the children of Israel out of Egypt and his bones were to go with them. I imagine that he used the word when instead of if God brings you out of Egypt.
23
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.Faith is what caused Moses' parents to hide him and refused to heed the king's commandment to slay their male child.
24
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
The movie, "The Ten Commandments" is a great movie but not completely scriptural. Moses was not in ignorance of his past when he went to live in Egypt and became Pharaoh's daughter's son. He chose to identify with his own people by faith. He esteemed the reproach of Christ greater than the riches of Egypt. Faith is the substance Moses had from his childhood. This was not something he found out later in life as the movie indicates.
28
Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.This was a type of the same faith that saves us today. Faith in the word of God and the commandment to sprinkle blood on the door posts saved anyone within the household from the curse of death when it passed by. The same faith saves us when we believe that the blood of Jesus Christ covers our sins when we believe in Him for salvation.
29
By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.Passing over across the Red Sea also was by faith. You can be sure with walls of water standing straight up and ready to come back down at any minute, that it took faith to allow oneself to pass over on the dry path God made for them. When the Egyptians tried to do the same the waters came crashing down. The Egyptians were not people of faith.
30
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.Faith could actually tumble the walls of Jericho. We certainly need to study more about this necessary ingredient.
31
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.Here is an example of how faith saved one who was not and Israelite. In fact she was a harlot; what an example of God's mercy and salvation. Here a woman that was considered a tainted woman had previously heard of how God was with Israel. She knew by faith that Israel's God was God. She hid the spies of Israel and sided with them instead of her own people fearing the Lord rather than the wrath of her own people. This resulted not only in her own salvation but the salvation of all her relatives. All who came into her home believing escaped the destruction of Israel because of the scarlet ribbon she hung outside her window as a sign of her faith.
32
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
The Old Testament is full of faith stories.
35
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:The resurrection was believed in the Old Testament as well as the new. It would seem that they had a choice of whether to be delivered as Daniel was from the lions or to allow themselves to suffer death for the cause of righteousness in order to receive a greater reward at their resurrection.
36
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
The stoning of Stephen in the book of Acts is an example of how one was killed for preaching the gospel. Yet, Stephen forgive his persecutors and was granted a vision of Jesus standing at the Father's right hand just before he died.
38
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.The rebellious evil world is not worthy of the good ones who die and suffer persecution for the cause of Christ.
39
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Those in the Old Testament had not yet received the promise. They will receive their reward when we who believe after Christ receive our reward. They looked forward to the coming of Christ and we look backward to his first coming and forward to his Second Coming. Both Old Testament saints and New Testament saints will be joined together to be with Christ at his Second Coming. All this is available to us by a little substance called FAITH.
