OceanSide church of Christ

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THE PAST ENCOURAGES THE PRESENT

Hebrews 11:1

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    The primary exhortation to the Hebrew Christians to whom the book was written is:  “Be faithful!”

1.      “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard” (Heb. 2:1)

2.      “To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Heb. 3:7-8).

3.      “…if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end” (Heb. 3:14).

4.      “Let us therefore fear…” (Heb. 4:1).

5.      “Let us therefore labour to enter into that rest…” (Heb. 4:11).

6.      “Let us hold fast our profession” (Heb. 4:14).

7.      “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection” (Heb. 6:1).

8.      “…shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end” (Heb. 6:11).

9.      “That ye be not slothful…” (Heb. 6:12).

10.  “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Heb. 10:22).

11.  “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering” (Heb. 10:23).

12.  “Cast not away therefore your confidence” (Heb. 10:35).

13.  “The just shall live by faith” (Heb. 10:38)

14.  “We are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (Heb. 10:39).

 

B.      The writer has already used examples from the past to encourage his readers.

1.      Israel who did not enter into the Promised Land because of unbelief (Heb. 3:7-19).

2.      Hebrews 6:12

 

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

 

C.     In Hebrews 11, the writer turns to the examples of faithful individuals from the past.

1.      This is another tactic used to encourage his readers to be faithful.  If they could be faithful, so can you.

2.      “If these Hebrews would learn of saving faith, then let them take a closer look at the record in their possession, and let their own Scriptures teach them what is involved in saving faith” (Wacaster, 434). 

3.      Therefore, we have entitled the chapter:  “The Past Encourages the Present.”

a.      Some refer to this chapter as “The Hall of Fame of the Faithful.”

b.      The words “by faith” occur 18 times in the chapter.

c.       We are given 25 examples of men and women who lived by faith.  “There are at least three outstanding character traits that leap from the verses in this chapter:

1)      Their unfaltering faith in God

2)      Their ability to “see” the “invisible” with the eye of faith

3)      Their power to press on in the hope they had in Christ even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles” (Wacaster, 428).

4.      LESSONS:

a.      We should not ever underestimate and devalue the power of a positive example.

b.      “Even the most casual reading of this chapter reveals to the humble student that faith acts.  After reading the chapter, and studying it in comparison with other passages, one is impressed with the undeniable truth that faith that saves, is faith that obeys” (Wacaster, 428).

 

D.    Outline of the chapter:

 

i.                    FAITH (Heb. 11:1-3)

ii.                  FATHERS (Heb. 11:4-22)

iii.                FOUNDER (Heb. 11:23-31)

iv.                FEARLESS (Heb. 11:32-38)

v.                  FASTENING (Heb. 11:39-40)

 

NOTE:  Notice that we have entitled the last two verses as “Fastening.”  In these verses, the Holy Spirit fastens these examples of the past to us today (Heb. 11:39-40).

 

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

 

-          They obtained a good report through faith.

-          They were faithful even though they did not receive the promise.

-          God provided better things for us.

-          They without us should not be made perfect.  Thus, they with us can be made perfect.

-          LESSON:  Some discount the need for the study of the Old Testament today.  The Old and the New, however, are intricately tied together.  If we do not study the OT, we will have a shallow understanding of the New Testament.

 

I.                   FAITH (Heb. 11:1-3)

 

A.    Faith Defined (Heb. 11:1)

 

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 

1.      Definitions:

a.      Faith

1)      Strong (4102):  persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God

2)      Thayer:  conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it

b.      Substance

1)      Strong (5287):  a setting under (support)…confidence

2)      Thayer:  a setting or placing under, that which has foundation, is firm

3)      Vine:  a standing under, a foundation, the quality of confidence which leads one to stand under, endure, or undertake anything

4)      Robertson:  assurance, the steadfastness of mind which holds one firm

c.       Hoped

1)      Strong (1679):  to expect or confide

2)      Thayer:  to wait for salvation with joy and full confidence

3)      Vine:  hope, often translated “trust”

d.      Evidence

1)      Strong (1650):  proof, conviction

2)      Thayer:  a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested, conviction

3)      Vine:  a proof, proving, test

2.      Faith is the foundation of the Christian’s life.  It is the “substance,” the things standing under all that is hoped for.

3.      Faith is not a blind leap in dark based upon opinions and wishes.  It involves “evidence,” that is, proof, of things not seen (Rom. 1:19-20).

 

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  For the invisible things from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

 

a.      Jesus thought evidence was essential (See John 10:37-38).

 

If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.  But if I do, though ye believe not, believe the works; that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

 

b.      Some of the evidences:

1)      The heavens (Ps. 19:1-3).

2)      The human body (Ps. 139:14).

3)      The things that are made (Rom. 1:20).

4)      Design in the world (Heb. 3:4).

c.       LESSON:  Man can either accept or reject the evidence.  Rejection of the evidence does not diminish the credibility and power of the evidence.  God has given enough evidence “so that they are without excuse.”

4.      The difference between the KJV and the ASV on this verse:

a.      The quotes:

 

KJV:  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

ASV:  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.

 

b.      The KJV speak of the causes of faith (substance and evidence) and the ASV notes the consequences of faith (assurance and conviction).

5.      Faith involves seeing the unseen.

a.      “Faith apprehends as a real fact what is not revealed to the senses. It rests on that fact, acts upon it, and is upheld by it in the face of all that seems to contradict it. Faith is a real seeing” (Vincent, e-sword).

b.      II Corinthians 5:7

 

(For we walk by faith, not by sight).

 

B.      Faith Discharged (Heb. 11:2-3)

1.      Furnishes a good report (Heb. 11:2)

2.      Foundation upon which to build (Heb. 11:3).