Hebrews 11:1-19
Q.1. What is faith and why is it crucial? How do faith and creation fit together? – (Heb.11:1-3 & 6)
The writer of Hebrews defined faith, and why it is crucial – Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen … without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him (Heb.11: 1 & 6). Belief in either creation or evolution, is based on faith – By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible (Heb.11:3 c.f. 2 Pet.3:5-6). We either believe in the theories of so-called experts who were not there at the beginning, or we accept the record from the One Who was there from before the beginning, and Who inspired what is recorded in the Bible (2 Tim.3:16-17; 2 Pet.1:20-21).
Q.2. Why should length of days not be equated with impact? How can faith make us look foolish? How is the resurrection of the living assured? – (Heb.12:4-5 & 7)
Abel’s life was cut short … but not his impact – By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks (Heb.11:4). The world generally scoffs at the idea of the world-wide Flood that destroyed all but eight people. It dismisses the story of Enoch and Elijah. Here, God’s people all avoided eternal destruction, and the latter two were translated to glory without dying. All these pre-figure the resurrection of the saints predicted in the New Testament i.e. the Rapture (1 Thes.4:13-17; 5:9).
Q.3. How does faith help us to look for a reward greater than any earthly gain? Where should our focus on life be? What made the faith of Abraham remarkable? – (Heb.11:8-19)
God made promises to Abraham that his descendants would inherit a land. In response, Abraham demonstrated true faith. He trusted God to raise the dead. Abraham also distinguished himself in another way – for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God (Heb.11:10). All the Old Testament saints looked beyond this life. They too all died – 13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth … 16 But as it is, they desire 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 (Heb.11:13 & 16). In other words, it is ultimately not about children or possessions, but about faith in an everlasting God, and in being part of the family of God. That is why Abraham was willing to offer up his only son. He believed in resurrection and life everlasting – He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type (Heb.11:19). It is not about what others think about us, but rather what we and others think about God. Do our lives reflect this belief?