A Faith Worthy of the Hall of Faith!

Chapter 11 of Hebrews is a tremendous passage. It is easy to read through it and identify people and events selected for the Hall of Faith. It is extremely beneficial to read about the people’s activities with a focus on the principles of their faith which led them to live they way they did. Their principles of faith are identical to the those needed by you and me. Douglas Mangum, In this brief paragraph the author breaks from his survey of biblical history. He steps back to comment on the meaning of the patriarch’s hope in a heavenly home. I hope this brief blog on Hebrews 11:13-16 will encourage us to deepen our faith in our great God and our hope in our heavenly home.

The primary focus of verses 13-16 is on Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Jacob, the patriarchs. These rich verses give us a glimpse of God-pleasing faith. I believe these verses reveal 5 components of patriarchal faith which we should aspire to attain. First, they were confident in their faith (13a), These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar. They died not wavering in their trust in God’s promises. William L. Lane, Their attitude was informed not by reason nor experience but by faith. A vibrant and true faith does not require complete fulfillment of God’s promises in our earthly existence. Consider the wise counsel of John Calvin, God gave to the fathers only a foretaste of his favour, which is poured out generously upon us … yet they were satisfied and never fell from their faith … If we fail we are doubly without excuse … how great will be our idleness if we grow tired of believing when the Lord supports us with so many helps?

Second, they gave testimony to their faith (13b), and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. R. Kent Hughes, They embraced the life of a pilgrim as the only proper way for them to live. Such an existence was extremely difficult as noted by William Barclay, In the ancient world, the fate of strangers was hard. They were regarded with hatred and suspicion and contempt . . . All their lives, the patriarchs were foreigners in a land that was never their own . . . Despite their position in society, they gave testimony to their faith which looked to the future with keen anticipation. Raymond Brown, Faith refuses to be silent. It must share its testimony with others.

Third, they had a faithful purpose (14), For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. William Barclay, It was not that the Christians were foolishly other-worldly, detaching themselves from the life and work of this world; but they always remembered that they were people on the way. We are reminded to have the same attitude in Philippians 3:20, But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. As Christians, our faith is not primarily on what God is doing for us here but what He is preparing for us in the future. It is a John Bunyan type of faith that was headed to the heavenly city.

Fourth, they had a faith that did not waver (15), If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. William Barclay, Their descendants, when they were in the desert, often expressed a wish to go back to the fleshpots of Egypt. But not the patriarchs. They had begun, and it never struck them to turn back. William L. Lane, If they had not regulated their lives in accordance with faith, the experience of alienation in the promised land would have provided an incentive for turning back. A healthy faith is one focused on the big picture - God’s promises of eternal life in a heavenly home in His presence. William Barclay, Above all things, he is the God of the brave adventurer. He loves the person who is ready to venture for his name.

Fifth, they had a faith God honors and rewards (16), But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Their faith was God-centered, not just in what He can do but in who He is - faithful, true, holy, righteous, just. Raymond Brown, The man or woman of faith has the ability to distinguish between good and evil, eternal and temporal, permanent and perishable . . . A God-honoring faith is not self-centered but God-centered. R. Kent Hughes, No higher tribute could be paid to any mortal. He is speaking of God declaring that He is not ashamed to be called their God. There is no thought more exciting than to stand before the Lord Jesus and He says, Well done, good and faithful servant. Maybe there is one more, when God the Father declares, I am not ashamed to be called your God.

Faith is not based on opinion. It is not based on consensus. It is based on faith in the promises of God. Thomas Constable affirms the faith of the patriarchs, In every case God approved and rewarded the continuing faith of the faithful. Join me in the study of God’s Word under the Books of the Bible tab. My desire for every Christian is that our faith deepens to the type of faith that places us in the Hall of Faith.

Be a Hero!

Raymond Brown expresses well the value of Hebrews 11, We have now come to one of the most familiar chapters of the Bible. Even Christians who find some of the earlier teaching of this letter difficult to understand turn to this chapter for help, especially in times of crisis or when their own faith seems weak. And they do not go away disappointed. Many of us have probably quickly read through Hebrews 11:1-3 on our way to the list of the heroes of the faith in verses 4-38. We do ourselves a disservice by not slowing down and reading those three introductory verses.

The writer introduces this section by describing faith as that which keeps Christians from apostasy. Donald Hagner, This list of heroes is meant to provide the readers with strength and encouragement in their own difficult circumstances. According to our author, if there is a key to unlock the gate to effective Christian existence, it is to be found in the reality and the motivating power of faith.

What is it about faith that can turn mortal humans into heroes of the faith? We must never forget that the value of faith depends on whom or in what our faith is placed? Those Hebrews as well as each of us must never forget that the power of faith is not based on my strength or perseverance but on Jesus Christ in whom one must place faith in Him alone. Zane Hodges, . . . it is faith that underlies the experience of the heroes of Old Testament history. Since these people experienced faith, so could his readers.

Verses 1-3 are not necessarily a definition of faith but a description of faith. Raymond Brown, In this chapter, as elsewhere, faith is man’s response to what God has said. It takes seriously the message of God’s revealed truth in holy Scripture. It does not merely agree with God’s word, but acts upon it.

In these opening verses of chapter 11 we read that faith may be described by two words, assurance and conviction. Faith is demonstrated by the assurance of things hoped for and by the conviction of things not seen. There are differences of opinion concerning the proper understanding of these two words.

Some believe they have a subjective meaning but others emphasize an objective meaning. Subjectively, assurance is viewed as an inner certainty of things hoped for. Objectively, assurance is the basis or foundation of things hoped for. For conviction, the subjective meaning is an inner certainty of things not seen. Objectively, it is usually translated as evidence and means the action produced by faith which proves the reality of things not seen. I believe there is room for both. Faith is founded on fact but must be personally applied.

Those listed in the hall of faith had hope not controlled by sight but by assurance and confidence. William Barclay, It is easy to argue: ‘Why should I refuse the pleasure of the moment for an uncertain future?’ The Christian answer is that the future is not uncertain because it belongs to God; and it is enough that God has commanded and that God has promised. Raymond Brown, The ‘faithful’ characters arrayed in chapter 11 did not simply live for the passing moment; they realized that there was far more to life than the immediate and temporary scene.

Some things for which those Christians hoped for should be the same for us.

• Christ’s return, Titus 2:13, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory

of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ;

• Resurrection, 1 Peter 1:3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead;

• Glorification, 1 John 3:2, Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be

has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him,

because we shall see him as he is.

B. F. Westcott caught the essence of these 3 verses, . . . the future and the unseen can be made real by faith.

The writer of Hebrews gave an example of faith in things hoped for and of things not seen - creation. Douglas Mangum, At its most basic core, Christian faith is rooted in God as Creator. Everything that is now visible was once invisible. All that exists came into existence by the sovereign word of the Lord. The only way to understand these profound cosmic realities is by faith.

Such faith was and is commended by God. Faith starts with belief, moves to trust which results in obedience. The greatest moment we could ever imagine would be when we stand before God and He says to you and me, Well done, good and faithful servant.

J. Oswald Sanders, Faith enables the believing soul to treat the future as present and the invisible as seen. Join me in the study of God’s Word under the Books of the Bible tab. Let’s be encouraged by the faith of others as we seek to be faithful, as well.

Warning Passages of Hebrews are Self-Tests!

It has been three months since we examined the warning passage in Hebrews 6:4-8. The passage at hand is Hebrews 10:26-31. Both passages are similar in how they address apostasy, falling away from the faith. They both speak of professing Christians. They warn of the seriousness of apostasy. They declare the impossibility of repentance. They speak of God’s judgment. They are convicting - a specialty of the Word of God.

I believe the Epistle to Hebrews is not just a series of warning passages but messages of hope. The warnings are tools for self-examination. Consider 2 Corinthians 13:5, Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! Let’s take a few moments to understand how these terrifying warnings were designed by God to address one’s spiritual condition. The Word of God is an instrument which can destroy and heal.

After much prayer, I propose that the warning passages are addressed to the reader. There are many readers and God meets them where they are spiritually. Consider the warning passages as self-tests for the following types of people faced with apostasy: a regenerate (born again) Christian who could lose salvation; a professing Christian who is unregenerate; a regenerate Christian who is a candidate for discipline and/or future loss of reward; and a regenerate Christian being warned of the dangers of apostasy.

First, consider a regenerate Christian who could lose salvation. This is an untenable position based on Scripture passages which declare salvation as a gift of grace not a reward for good works. Proper interpretation demands an understanding which is compatible with clear passages. Scripture never contradicts itself. This warning passage is serious and should not be taken lightly. Yet, it must not be made to say more than what is intended by the Holy Spirit. A key to the warning passages in Hebrews is the distinction between salvation which is a gift and rewards which are based on faithful service. There are many verses listed on the website which refute the possibility of losing salvation. Let me list two passages declared by Jesus, John 6:40, For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. John 10:27-28, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. These warning passages should not make a wayward believer comfortable but seriously uncomfortable as will be noted shortly.

Second, there is the possibility that a professing Christian is unregenerate. Zane Hodges, . . . the warning is against mere profession of faith short of salvation, or tasting but not really partaking of salvation. Judas was identified by Jesus as such a person, John 6:70, Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” There is a difference between knowing the truth and experiencing the truth but not submitting to the truth. The warning passages of Hebrews should be a warning to those who have attached themselves to Christianity but have not been grafted in by Christ. There is a sacrifice for sin and He is our Savior and Lord.

Third, the reader may be a regenerate Christian suffering discipline and/or future loss of reward. Warren Wiersbe, What should a believer do who has drifted away into spiritual doubt and dullness and is deliberately despising God’s Word? He should turn to God for mercy and forgiveness. There is no other sacrifice for sin, but the sacrifice Christ made is sufficient for all our sins. Thomas Kem Oberholtzer, Even a casual reading of the passage reveals that a judgment is in view . . . that the judgment is of true believers, in which disobedience may result in divine discipline in this life and in loss of future rewards in the millennium. The passage motivates Christians to live according to Scripture and to experience life to the fullest in the present and in the coming kingdom.

Fourth, the self-test is good fit for a regenerate Christian being warned of the dangers of apostasy. It is a hypothetical warning designed to turn the wayward Christian back to faith and trust in Christ. The construction of the sentence in Hebrews 10:26 is equivalent to a third class condition. It is a hypothetical argument concerning Christians which would result in condemnation if one did apostasize. This is a call to repentance not a proclamation of condemnation since there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Take time to read 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 which clearly states the need to do a self-test.

One of the most powerful sermons ever preached was entitled Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. R Kent Hughes made an appropriate comment, Jonathan Edwards gave his people a whiff of the sulphurs of Hell that they might deeply inhale the fragrances of grace. That is what a self-test is all about. The grace of heaven must take priority over the stench of hell. The Bible is a super Swiss Army knife with multiple blades. One can convict an apostate. Another can draw the unregenerate to faith in Christ alone. Also, there is one that can turn a professor into a possessor. And of course, one can remind the believer to take faith in Christ seriously.

Warren Wiersbe rightly declares, It is a fearful thing to fall into the Lord’s hands for chastening, but it is a wonderful thing to fall into His hands for cleansing and restoration. Join me in the study of God’s Word under the Books of the Bible tab. It is better to self-test now than to get a damning diagnosis later.