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Presented, August 28, 2005 am

FAITH – THE SUBSTANCE OF OUR HOPED FOR (2)

The need for Endurance - Hebrews 11

                Last week we began a study of faith based on Hebrews 11.  We noted that the word is based on a term that means “to win over, persuade”.  Faith is described as the assurance (foundation) of things hoped for and the evidence (conviction) of things not seen (11:1).  We also briefly discussed how faith involves trust.  As this study proceeds, I urge you to keep that in mind.  We noted the importance of faith as the foundation of all we believe and are as Christians and various passages that deal with faith.  With that as our background, today we want to begin examining the text and examples of faith the author used to increase their understanding of it.

I.                     The Context

a.        To fully appreciate the intent of a passage of scripture it needs to be put into its proper context.   This means both the purpose of the book as well as the framework surrounding the text.  Let us briefly note these things as we begin our study of Hebrews 11.

b.       The book of Hebrews – written to Jewish brethren who had been converted to Christianity.  The author’s intent is to show how Christ is superior to everything they associated with the Law of Moses and/or its fulfillment – the promise to Abraham, angels, their sacrifices, their priesthood, etc.   The first 10 chapters bear this out.

c.         Their need for endurance

                                                   i.      THROUGHOUT the book there are calls for endurance and caution – Hebrews 2:1, 3:12-13, 4:11, 5:12-6:12

                                                  ii.      The author’s discussion about faith comes in the midst of a context dealing with endurance.  It is a context that actually begins with 10:19-12:29. 

1.        He notes that as they understand the fulfillment of the Old Law in Christ that they ought to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith (10:22)

2.        10:23 – let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering

3.        10:24-25 – we NEED each other.  Don’t abandon your brethren.

4.        10:26-31 – the consequence of a failure to endure

5.        10:32-34 – recall what you have already endured

6.        10:35-38 – we NEED endurance.  Don’t throw away what you already have

7.        10:39 – we are not of those who draw back – CONFIDENCE that they will do that which is right.

8.        Chapter 11 – this leads to a study of the examples of faith.  In EVERY example mentioned, we find an understanding of this endurance and a willingness to live by it.

d.       Our need for endurance

                                                   i.      There false doctrine, “once saved, always saved” that is one of the foundations of modern religion discounts the importance of endurance (and even faith).  While they call for living a faithful life, they believe there is no eternal consequence if you fail or refuse to do so.  According to this doctrine, if you totally quit serving God, you have nothing to fear.  The context we are studying argues against this doctrine.
NOTICE also as we examine EVERY example of faith – we find those who did not quit.  As James 2:18 says, the demonstrated their faith by their works.

                                                  ii.      If we quit, we will lose our salvation.

1.        2 Peter 2:20-22 - notice the condition of these brethren Peter is describing.  They were definitely “Christians”, but NOW their condition is worse than the beginning.

2.        Galatians 5:4 – you have “fallen from grace”

3.        Matthew 10:22 – “he who endures to the end shall be saved”

4.        Hebrews 10:38 – “if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him”

                                                iii.      Our faith and endurance.  It is because of our faith that we never give up.  The world wants us to quit.  They will mock us and even persecute us.  Why put up with that?  Because we KNOW something better is waiting for us.  We TRUST God to be there for us and to reward us when this life is over.  Therefore we endure.

II.                   By faith, the elders gained approval. 

a.        The reference to elders here applies primarily to the examples we find in this chapter, but also to ALL who demonstrated faith in their lives – that is they trusted in God and they faithfully endured in spite of what happened.

b.       The common understanding of this text

                                                   i.      God said, “Well done good and faithful servants” (Matthew 25:21)

                                                  ii.      For example, Abel – Heb. 11:4 – he being dead, yet speaks

                                                iii.      We can rest assured that if we are faithful to Him, He will notice and our faithfulness will be rewarded – 2 Timothy 1:12; Revelation 2:10 – “faithful…the crown of life”

c.        Another thought

                                                   i.      Through faith they were able to give a good report on behalf of God or “witness” God’s greatness.   The word here is a form of the word for “witnesses” in 12:1
The word for “obtained a good report” quite often has reference to one who bears testimony – John 5:32,33 – God “bears witness” of Jesus, John the Baptist has “borne witness to the truth”

                                                  ii.      For example, Joshua & Caleb – God can deliver the land to us (Numbers 14:6-9) David – God had delivered him – 1 Samuel 17:31-37
Paul – the Lord WILL deliver us.- 2 Timothy 4:17-18

                                                iii.      Also, because of their faith they are “witnesses” in this way to us – their records are recoded for us to learn about them because of their faith.
Jesus said of a faithful woman, “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her." Matt 26:13
Matthew 10:32-33, “Whoever confesses Me before men, …”

d.       Does our faith prompt us to tell others about God?  What will God say about us?

III.                 Vs. 3 – Faith in God’s Word

a.        This created world is the foundation of our faith.  Until one is convinced that God created the world, there is no need going any further.   God’s word is meaningless; all that Jesus did means nothing, if God did not create the heavens and the earth.
So in this way it is a given fact that by faith we understand that this world was created as God spoke.  What we physically see originated from that which is not visible (another realm).  That explains all the problems with the difficulty of science explaining matter being eternal, the origin of life, evolution, etc.

b.       But there is another thought on this verse
When you consider the wording in the original language there is another possibility
The word for “worlds” (note that it is a plural noun) is from a Greek word (aeones ) from which we get the word eons meaning ages.  Vine’s defines the word as, “an age, a period of time.” The word is often translated “world” as here but it does not have reference to the created world. In every text where the word in this text is used it CAN have reference to the different ages of time (more than 100 times in the New Testament).  (See 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 for an example [4 times]) & Galatians 1:4-5 (note that vs. 5 says, “…to whom be glory for ever and ever.  Amen”.  This really says, from age to age.)  The Greek language has a different word for the created world (Kosmos) from which we get cosmos.   

c.        Also the word “framed” is a word that means “to put a thing in its appropriate condition, to establish, set up…prepare, mend.” (WS Dictionary).  It is used 13 times in the New Testament and does not mean something that is created the way the world is.

d.       AS used in this text, the meaning could be that by faith we understand that the ages were established or set in order by the word of God, or in other words, GOD HAS ALWAYS been in control.  Since the beginning of time and then the fall of man, God’s plans have been unfolding until they were completed.  Many of the examples in Hebrews 11 find their greatest meaning in the fact that God’s plans could not be thwarted.  You find extraordinary occasions where God’s will ALWAYS prevails – at times ages later than the promise. 
In this the last phrase of vs. 3 says the same thing as with physical creation.  What has happened physically is a result of God’s unseen will behind the scene.

e.        Let us NEVER discount the providence of God in the workings of this world.  Again, as you look at God in your life, DO YOU TRUST HIM?

Conclusion:  Now we are ready to begin examining the various examples of faith in the chapter.  We can see the endurance of faith and God’s faithfulness to us as we are faithful to Him.   Let us resolve to pursue a faith that is pleasing to God.  I close reading 11:13-16 as we find the ultimate results of faith.