They were not to cast away their confidence which brought such great reward. This leads me to ask two questions: Do you have it? What were their growing-up years like? So how can you draw near to God? The prevailing current worldview, that matter always existed and that the current universe, including man, happened by sheer chance over billions of years, is based on blind faith, because there is no evidence to support it. Here, at any rate, he is facile princeps (easily foremost) among the divines of the Puritan schoolManton's Worksoffer real literary gold to the reading public.'- J.C. RYLEThe outstanding preaching ministry of Thomas Manton . The writer of Hebrews is expanding what he previously taught in verse 6: I dare say many people in our churches have made up their own religion. What is the age difference between Cain and Abel? Faith obeys God even when we don't understand (17b-18) A. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his one and only son - Hebrews 11:17 Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (NIV). Walking isnt easy when the wind is against you. Enoch got through his early years without too much trouble. Nothing is impossible with God. It is like the sound of a train on the tracks when it gets up to speed, and he died, and he died, and he died.. Today we come to the story of Enoch, where we learn that faith walks with God. This is called providence. Christ said he would return, but it has been 2,000 years! By faith he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen (11:27). For them it was all about the faith. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him (Gen 5:24). After telling us about Enoch who walked with God, Hebrews says, Whoever would draw near to God.. I often wonder if I would be a Christian if I hadn't been born in a Christina home, reared by Christian parents, lived next to a Christian church, surrounded by Christian people. Hebrews 11:1-3, Hebrews 11:8-16, Hebrews 11:1-16, Denomination: Each story fills out the picture. The author refers to them, although not by name, in 11:34 (quenched the power of fire). We learn from them that: The story of Cain and Abel, recorded in Genesis 4, is a tale that is so well known that many people who never read the Bible know that Cain killed Abel. July 29, 2012. If you look at the end of Luke 3, you will see that this is the line of descent into which Jesus Christ was born. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. What exactly had Adam taught his sons about the proper way to approach God? Ten generations are recorded here from Adam to Noah. It's easy to look at Enoch or Noah or Joseph or Moses or David and say, "I could never do that." Down deep in our hearts, we have believed a lie that the life of faith is restricted to a few "special" people. Notice the word ungodly or ungodliness occurs four times. No one ever comes back from the other world to tell us of how things are there. Prepare meaningful sermons and worship events with our sermons, illustrations, quotes, humor, commentary, powerpoint, children's sermons and bulletins. Having trouble logging into your account? In fact, Adam was still living when Enochs son Methuselah was born and when Enochs grandson Lamech was born! Therefore, at all times, we must cling to Christ as our Savior. Walking with God is not just for Enoch. Sometimes it involves leaning into the wind. But when you believe in His Word about salvation, you gain understanding about the origins of the ages that makes everything in history fall into place. Here is a message especially for all the men. There is clearly a reference here to God revealing His name to Moses. 1. Verse 1 says that faith has "substance." Faith is tangible, even though it is invisible. This Son also maintains the universe by the word of His power. It is important to define or give substance to such an abstract noun as faith. However, do we take faith as seriously as we ought? I think that's often how we hear today's second reading ( Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 ). Thirdly, God chose the Son who is His express image to purge our sins. And in the light of that Enoch walked with God. Why is it important to affirm that faith is not a work that gains Gods merit? As we saw last week, there is a type of faith that does not endure trials and temptations. The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Hebrews 11:23-29. The story of Enoch is told back in Genesis 5, where God records the generations from Adam to Noah, whose story we will look at next week. Faith is the telescope that brings the future promises of God into present focus. Verse 1 says that faith has substance. Faith is tangible, even though it is invisible. In any case he walked with God for 300 years. Fathers, listen up. You can't prove it in a laboratory. takes both words in an objective sense. And for all of us, men and women alike, take heart from Noah's example. Habakkuk lived in difficult times before the Babylonians came to take away Judah into captivity. This is not good work. 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Are we a nation "under God" can we really say, "In God We Trust"? (Hebrews 11:1-3) God spoke the universe into existence. He "was not" because God took him off the earth and allowed him to enter heaven without experiencing death. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah (Gen 5:22). It is reflected in their giving, their truth-telling, their church attendance, their integrity. Scriptures: God picked him up and carried him across it (A.W. The order is crucial: first the man, then the offering. If what we believe makes any difference, then it has to change the way we live. If you do not come to Him in faith as your Savior, you will stand before Him in terror as your Judge! Why is the doctrine of creation by Gods word crucial for knowing Him and for the Christian life. Dont hope in your good works, because all the good works in the world can never erase the debt of sin that you owe. Enosh lived 905 years (Gen 5:11). God tests us so that we may know what is in our heart - 1 Peter 1:7 II. But Hebrews applies the story of Enoch directly to us. God, who is Spirit, is eternal. The seed sown on the rocky ground sprang up quickly, but it also quickly withered and died when trials hit. Since nature abhors a vacuum, if we don't fill it with God, we will fill it with something else. We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:9). If the enemy can get us to doubt Gods love in a time of trials, we will draw away from God and disobey His Word of truth. It has sustained the people of God through thousands of years in every sort of difficulty. Joseph Parker says, The fifth chapter of Genesis is the beginning of that long series of characters in human history which are extremely uninteresting. "Hebrews 11 tells us what it means to have faith and obtain life. He's right! There is also the realm of the spirit, the invisible spiritual kingdom of God. The "hoped for" things we are sure of, are things God has promised. This is the kinda (expletive) you'd expect from an office temp with a bad attitude.". [2] For by it the people of old received their commendation. 1:18-22), sinful men suppress the truth in unrighteousness. Isaac's blessing of Jacob and Esau shows faith in God's promises, even when circumstances seem to contradict those promises (11:20). (Amos 3:3). Our faith substantiates what we hope for, thus giving us assurance that they are true. The biblical view, that the eternal God spoke it into existence, is based on faith, but not on blind faith. The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us (John 1:14). One sees nothing, but the other man sees a distant steamer. So it is. But even if your progress is slow, you will still be moving forward. All the days of Seth were 912 years, and he died (Gen 5:8). He had always believed in God, always come to worship, always offered the sacrifices. You are at peace in the presence of God, because you have nothing to hide from Him. The flood came in the 600th year of Noahs life and if you compare that with the long years of Methuselahs life, you will see that God sent the flood in the year that Methuselah died. Please see below for details. It's what we believe about the things that matter most. You will always be on guard. As they burned him at the stake, he died singing! Donald Hagner puts it this way (Encountering the Book of Hebrews [Baker], p. 142): From the examples of faith lifted up in this chapter it seems clear that what is not primarily in view is what we feel or possessassurance, confidencebut rather, how faith substantiates, or gives substance to, what is promised, how it provides evidence of what is believed about unseen and hoped-for realities. When the flood finally came, only eight people were saved: Noah and his wife, his three sons and their wives. We don't even trust God. You may think, Thats a great story, but what if God hadnt delivered them? Truth is the basis for trust. They knew what death was because they had seen it in the animals, but when the first man died, all of the others knew this is what will happen to me! Enoch was given a prophetic glimpse of the day when our Lord Jesus Christ will come with His holy angels. Enoch was taken soon after Adam had died. If you would like to download two encouraging, FREE full-length MP3s of Tony's popular sermons: "The Sovereignty of God" and "How to Handle a Crisis," you ca. You hear, touch and smell things that you miss in the car. Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon (Isa 55:6, 7). Perhaps he was like many men who don't get serious until they look into the face of their firstborn son or daughter. Without faith it is impossible to please Him (11:6). What is the faith that pleases God. Abel was commended as righteous because of a sacrifice that God accepted. Bible Study & Sermon Videos; hebrews-11:2; Hebrews-11:2. It's the faith. It refers to the repeated phrase, then God said (Gen. 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26). Last week we looked at Abel and saw from his story that faith listens to God. We've heard and read that in the Bible's creation story innumerable times. Abel had been killed, but that was before Seth or any of his descendants were born. In ancient times the Jews considered Abraham to be almost worthy of their worship. This ancient story may seem a long way from the realities of your life today. Let me remind you that you may believe what you want, think what you want, act like you want, but there is only one way to God and that is through faith in his Son, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 11 demonstrates that the life of faith is not a rarity. Augustine said, "O Lord, you have made us for yourself. By faith Moses gained Gods approval, even though he received the worlds scorn. For example, God confronts our unbelief and sin. Adam died after 930 years. Pink says that the name Methuselah can mean, When he is dead, it shall be sent. He suggests that perhaps Enoch gave his son this unusual name, because God had revealed to him that when Methuselah died, the flood would come. This runs through the whole chapter with one exception. Our hearts are restless until they find rest in you." All of the patristic and medieval scholars understood the words in the objective sense, but Melanchthon advised Luther to render it, sure confidence. Luthers interpretation has influenced most scholarship since the Reformation (Koster, ibid.). His faith proved the reality of the unseen God as greater than the reality of the flames that burned him to death. Finally we have the story of Noah (Gen. 6-9). What I am about to say will probably sound obvious (Duh!). Genesis 4:4 says that God looked with favor on Abel and his offering. All of us know about the great flood, the massive ark, and the gathering of the animals. By their choice, sin and the sinful nature entered the human race. You can't see any of this. Pink)! You are calling God a liar if you do not trust Him, and you cannot be close to a liar. Husbands, observe this carefully. Now faith is the substance: Just as our physical eyesight is the sense that gives us evidence of the material world, faith is the "sense" that gives us evidence of the invisible, spiritual world. Please open your Bible at Hebrews 11 as we continue our series, Living by Faith. He speaks of straining forward toward what lies ahead (Phil 3:13). Jesus: The Truer and Better Object of Faith: Hebrews 11:1-6. He managed to save his own family - and no one else. He is one of only two people in the Bible who did not die - the other being Elijah. Seth lived 912 years (Gen 5:8). The author says that faith gives us understanding of how the material universe (and time) came into being, namely, by Gods spoken word. Faith or trust in God is at the foundation of a relationship with Him. Walking is not sitting and walking is not sprinting. Yet, God passionately pursues us at great cost. Ditto for Cain. We need to recognize that faith is not a meritorious work that we do to gain rewards from God. The second is (p. 249), a proving of (or conviction about) unseen things.. If someone lies to you or deceives you, you will not trust what he says or does. If we are going to follow Jesus, we must do the same. 3:14) as subjective, hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end. But the respected Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (ibid., VII:587) argues that it does not refer there to subjective assurance, which rests within us, but to the objective reality of the faith. God teaches us by pointing to real-life examples of faith in action. Obviously sibling rivalry was present from the beginning. One brother kills another in an outburst of rage and envy. Sermon: Living By Faith in God - Hebrews 11 by Rick Ezell on Wednesday, January 01, 2014 at 7:00 AM Sermon series: Inner Workings Developing a Heart for God - 1 Samuel 16 Assuring Your Knowledge of God - Hebrews 6 Living By Faith in God - Hebrews 11 Hungering for the Righteousness of God - Matthew 5 Scriptures: Hebrews 11:1-7 Introduction Then he adds, "That's a lot to believe." He believed that in His excellent goodness, God is ever willing to bestow blessings, and ever ready to reward those who come to Him. Isaac was old and blind. What is faith? What else could compare with this? You cant walk with someone when you are hiding from them. 15 Outstanding Quotes To Recharge Your Preaching. What is the reward? Faith is the victory! This grim reality runs like a relentless drumbeat throughout the chapter. All scholars agree that the word is used objectively in 1:3, which states that Christ is the exact representation of Gods nature (essence, or reality). 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