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THE PAST ENCOURAGES THE PRESENT

Hebrews 11:2-3

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

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

 

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. 

a.      (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)

 

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

 

A.    Faith Defined (Heb. 11:1)

 

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

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

 

For by it the elders obtained a good report.

 

a.      Who are the elders?

1)      Definitions

a)      Strong (4245):  elderly, older, a senior

b)      Thayer:  elder, of age, advanced in life, a senior, forefathers

2)      These are the ancients, the forefathers, the prophets and fathers of Israel who had gone before.

3)      Some of them he will mention in this chapter.

b.      The faith of these forefathers enables the Holy Spirit to testify favorably on their behalf.

1)      Good report

a)      Strong (3140):  to be a witness, to testify

b)      Thayer:  to be a witness, to bear witness, to utter honorable testimony

2)      NOTE:  “The apostle does not mention one of whom an account is not given in the Old Testament” (Clarke, e-sword).

3)      Just the mention of their name warms our hearts.  We hold them dear because of the faith that they manifested in the past.

c.       Lessons:

1)      It is not wealth, power, prestige, fame, talent, education, or popularity that gives us standing in the sight of God.  What commends man to God is great faith.

2)      If we live a life of faith, others can testify positively on our behalf.

3)      If an honest report of your faith was given by the Holy Spirit at this time, would He be able to include you in Holy Writ?

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

 

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.

 

a.      Notice the first four words:  “Though faith we understand…”

1)      Understand

a)      Strong (3539):  to exercise the mind, observe, comprehend

b)      Thayer:  to perceive with the mind, to understand, to have understanding

c)      Vincent:  to perceive with, reflective intelligence, perception and apprehension of the mind

2)      LESSON:  Faith does not just a feeling.  Faith is grounded in evidence which enables us to know.  We can know that God created the worlds.  It is NOT a guess!

b.      Worlds were framed

1)      Framed

a)      Strong (2675):  to complete thoroughly

b)      Thayer:  to render fit, sound, complete, to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange

2)      NOTE:  If we did not have the Bible, we could still understand that deity exists, has great power, and created the world (See 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 of him 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.

 

c.       The Scriptures tell us “how” God did the creating, “by the word of God.”

1)      Genesis 1:3

 

And God said, Let there be light:  and there was light.

 

2)      Psalm 33:6, 9

 

By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth…For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

 

Barnes:  “The word “done,” introduced here by our translators, enfeebles the sentence. It would be made more expressive and sublime as it is in the original: “He spake, and it was.” That is, Its existence depended on his word; the universe sprang into being at his command; he had only to speak, and it arose in all its grandeur where before there was nothing.

 

3)      The “how” of belief is by hearing God’s Word (Rom. 10:17).

 

So them faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

a)      We were not present at the Creation.

b)      We did not literally hear the Word of God and watch the Creation rise forth into being.

c)      We understand this “by faith.”

4)      He adds a note of explanation at the end of the verse, “…so that the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

a)      God did not make the things which we see out of material that already existed.

b)      The universe was made out of absolutely nothing.  Some refer to this as creation “ex nihilo.”

c)      NOTE:  Matter is not eternal as the evolutionist must believe.

d)     LESSON:  This is the very foundation of our faith.  Either we believe this, or, we must believe in the godless theory of evolution.

-          God vs no God

-          God then world vs world then God

-          Nothing vs matter

-          Came out of nothing vs came from matter

-          God’s spoken word vs Big Bang

-          Creation vs evolution

-          Instantaneous vs large amounts of time

-          Evidence vs manipulation and perversion of evidence

-          True science vs pseudo-science

-          Truth vs error

 

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

 

A.    It is interesting that the inspired writer does not go back to Adam and Eve as the first example of faith.

1.      Could it have been that they never repented of their sin?

2.      Could it have been that their sin was too great regardless of how well they lived the rest of their lives?

 

B.      Abel (Heb. 11:4)

 

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.