Faith: what it is and what it does
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📚Now faith is the assurance 📖 of things which are to be hoped, the conviction 📖 of things not seen.11:1 This is the only place in the Bible where faith is defined in words (many places show what it is by revealing it in action). Faith has to do with two areas or spheres – the future (for what we hope), and the unseen. God has made promises and given revelations concerning these two spheres. Faith believes these promises and relies on these revelations. This brings assurance to the heart. Faith is not a leap into the dark; it is a leap into the light. It is not wishful thinking; it is based on the powerful evidence of God’s Word. True faith does not believe every idea about God that men may have, or everything that men think is God’s revelation. It believes the truth revealed in the Bible.⚜
2 📚For by it the forefathers 📖 obtained a good commendation.
3 📚Through faith we understand that the worlds were created by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
11:3 Observe that faith is not contrary to understanding or reason – faith gives understanding. It is like the eye which lets in the light. Believers know how the universe came into being because God has revealed it. They need not speculate about its origin as unbelievers do. God spoke and creation began (Gen 1:1, 3, 6, 9; Ps 33:6; Isa 40:26; 42:5; John 1:3; Col 1:16).⚜
4 📚By faith Abel 📖 offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain did. By it he obtained a testimony that he was righteous 📖, God testifying of his offerings. And by it, though he is dead, he still speaks.
11:4 Now he begins to speak of the “forefathers” who had faith. Not all of them were great or exceptional people (Abel was a shepherd, Jacob and Samson were full of faults, Rahab had been a prostitute, etc). But they all had one thing in common – they believed God and trusted Him fully, and in this they are examples to us all. Not all Old Testament believers are here by name. The writer chose various ones to illustrate various aspects of faith, the many sides of faith. The results of faith as seen here are three.
First, it caused those who had it to do something. True faith is not lifeless, not inactive. It is a powerful force which always produces action (see notes at Heb 10:39; Jam 2:14-26).
Second, faith obtained blessings from God. God blessed each believer in this list in some wonderful way or other.
Third, faith enabled those who had it to endure all things and go on enduring to the end. So true faith works, obtains, and perseveres. A faith that does not do these three things is not true Bible faith.⚜
5 📚By faith Enoch was taken away so he would not experience death. He was not found, because God had taken him away. For before his being taken away he had the testimony that he pleased God.
11:5 Enoch illustrates the relationship between faith and fellowship with God. See Gen 5:21-24. There is no possibility of knowing God or walking with God apart from faith. Unbelief calls God a liar (1 John 5:10), and how can there be fellowship between two persons when there is distrust and slanderous thoughts in the heart of one? Enoch illustrates also the relationship between faith and immortality, the change that will come to believers when Christ returns (1 Cor 15:51-53; 1 Thess 4:15-17).⚜
6 📚But without faith it is impossible to please him, 📖 for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him 📖.
7 📚By faith Noah, being warned of God about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear 📖, prepared an ark to save his household 📖. By it he condemned the world 📖, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith 📖.
8 📚By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go to a place that he would afterwards receive for an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going.
11:8 See Gen 12:1-5; Acts 7:2-4. Here is the relationship between faith and obedience to God. Without faith there will be no real obedience and if there is no obedience it is proof that there is no faith. See Heb 5:9; John 3:36; Acts 5:32; Rom 1:5; 2 Thess 2:8; and the note at Acts 22:10. God called Abraham to leave all behind and to set out for an unseen place. So he illustrates also the connection between faith and separation from one’s former way of life, faith and forsaking all (compare Luke 14:33; 18:28-30; 2 Cor 6:17-18). But is it not foolish to set out and not know where one is going or what one will be doing? Foolish to man’s reason, perhaps, but not to faith and its greater understanding.⚜
9 📚By faith he lived 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 looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11:9-10 Gen 12:6-9. Abraham’s living in tents and being frequently on the move illustrates the relationship between faith and pilgrimage. See vs 13-16. Abraham had his eyes on the eternal world, so he did not settle down in this one. Compare 1 Pet 2:11. Believers now are to have the same outlook. Their lasting possessions and their citizenship are in heaven (Heb 10:34; Matt 6:19-20; Phil 3:20). By faith they understand this and rejoice in the fact that this world is not their home, that they are only passing through it on their way to the city of God in heaven (Heb 12:22; Gal 4:26; Rev 21:2).⚜
11 📚Through faith Sara also received strength to become pregnant, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she considered the one who had promised faithful. 12 📚Therefore from just one man, and him as good as dead, came offspring as many as the multitude of the stars of the sky, as innumerable as the sand at the sea shore.
11:11-12 Gen 15:4-6; 21:1-5; Rom 4:18-21. It is certain that Abraham believed God’s promise that he and Sarah his wife would have descendants. But in Genesis when God promised He would give a son to Abraham and Sarah, nothing is said about Sarah’s faith. See Gen 18:10-15. According to the writer to the Hebrews later on she too believed God’s promise. Together they illustrate the connection between faith and fruitfulness, or faith and seeming impossibilities (Matt 17:20).⚜
13 📚These all died in faith, not having received the things promised. But they saw them far off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims 📖 on the earth.
11:13 They all illustrate the faith which perseveres to the end (Heb 10:39).⚜
14 📚For they who say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 📚And certainly, if they had been thinking of that country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 📚But they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 📚By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 📚of whom it was said, “In Isaac will your descendants be called”. 19 📚Abraham took into account that God was able to raise him even from the dead. And he received him back from there, figuratively speaking.
11:17-19 Gen 22:1-19. Several aspects of faith are seen in this event – faith and victory in trial, faith obedient in a time of perplexity, faith and resurrection, faith and the infallibility of God’s promises. For the fulfillment of God’s promise in Gen 21:12, Isaac had to live. Abraham believed that if he had to sacrifice Isaac, then God would raise him from death; that God would fulfill His promise regardless of appearances to the contrary. True faith perseveres in spite of circumstances and appearances. It lays hold of the fact that God cannot lie and reasons in His favor.⚜
20 📚By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
11:20 Gen 47:27-31. This illustrates the connection between faith and things which are hoped (v 1).⚜
21 📚By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph, and worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff.
22 📚By faith Joseph, when he was about to die, mentioned the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
11:22 Gen 49:1-28; 50:24-25. Both Jacob and Joseph illustrate faith that goes on until death still sure about things God promised for the future (v 13). Jacob’s faith actually shone brightest at the end of his life. True faith does not “draw back” even in the hour of dying (Heb 10:39). Were the Hebrews who received this letter tempted to forsake this faith because of difficulties? Let them look to their ancestors. Through what troubles and trials they came! But each one endured to the end. This is what God enables true faith to do.⚜
23 📚By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was an exceptional child, and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
24 📚By faith Moses, after he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 📚He chose to suffer ill-treatment with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time, 26 📚considering reproach for Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he had fixed his eyes on the giving of the reward.
11:24-26 Ex 2:11-13; Acts 7:23-26. Moses at the age of forty made the choice between Egypt and God. Choosing Egypt would mean worldly power, wealth, and pleasure. Choosing God meant to give all that up, and to suffer with God’s people who were then slaves in Egypt. Moses chose God and let everything else go. He could do this because he had faith, and faith helps men to put the proper value on things. Faith is sure that the future unseen things of God are of far more worth than all the world can offer. Compare Phil 3:7-8.
Moses illustrates the connection between faith and renunciation. See Heb 10:34; Luke 14:33; 18:28-30; Matt 4:18-22; 10:37-39; 16:24-28. True faith will always be willing to give up everything for Christ. Those who are not willing, though they may say they have faith and though others may think they have faith, actually are without true Bible faith. Then what shall we say of those Christians who reject the way of Moses and Paul, refuse to suffer for Christ, and go after the pleasures, wealth and power of this world? They have a profound need to learn this great truth – disgrace for Christ’s sake is of greater value than the treasures of the world (v 26; Heb 13:13; Acts 5:41; 1 Pet 4:12-16).⚜
27 📚By faith he left Egypt, not fearing 📖 the anger of the king. And he patiently endured, as though he saw him who is invisible.
28 📚Through faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them.
11:28 See Ex 12:1-30. Here is faith and deliverance from God’s judgment. Compare v 7; Heb 9:27-28; 1 Cor 5:7.⚜
29 📚By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. The Egyptians, trying to do this, were drowned.
11:29 See Ex 14:15-31. Here is faith and deliverance from enemies.⚜
30 📚By faith the walls of Jericho collapsed, after they were encircled for seven days.
11:30 See Josh 6:12-20. Here is faith and taking what God has promised (compare Josh 1:3; 1 John 5:14-15; Mark 11:24).⚜
31 📚By faith the prostitute Rahab did not perish with those who refused to believe 📖, since she had peacefully received the spies.
11:31 See Josh 2:1-21; 6:24-25. Here is faith triumphing over great sin and ignorance and delivering from God’s curse (compare Gal 3:10-14; John 5:24).⚜
32 📚And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and Barak, and Samson, and Jephthah, and David, and Samuel, and the prophets,
11:32 The writer would have given many other illustrations from the Old Testament, but it was not necessary. He has shown what true faith is and what it does. Now he groups together a number of heroes of faith and shows how their faith worked, obtained, and persevered (note on v 4).⚜
33 📚who through faith subdued kingdoms 📖, worked righteousness, obtained promises 📖, stopped the mouths of lions 📖, 34 📚quenched the violence of fire 📖, escaped the edge of the sword 📖, became strong 📖 in weakness, became valiant in battle, and put to flight foreign armies.
35 📚Women received back their dead 📖, raised to life again. And others were tortured, refusing deliverance 📖, that they might gain a better resurrection 📖. 36 📚And others experienced trials of cruel mockings and beatings, yes, and bonds and imprisonment 📖. 37 📚They underwent stoning 📖, they were sawed in two 📖, were tempted 📖, were killed with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, ill-treated, and tormented 📖 38 📚(of whom the world was not worthy). They wandered in deserts, and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
11:33-38 These verses give ten things OT believers accomplished and eight things they endured. Their certainty about unseen things enabled them to accomplish what they did, and their confidence about things for which are hoped enabled them to endure what they endured.⚜
11:38 The world treated them as if they were not worthy of it. But the reverse was true. They could find no sure home on earth, but God prepared one for them in heaven.⚜
39 📚And all of these, though they gained a good commendation 📖 through faith, did not receive the things promised 📖. 40 📚God had provided some better thing 📖 for us, so that they, apart from us, would not be made perfect.