the power of faith in christ

THE POWER OF FAITH IN CHRIST ( HEB. 11:1-40 )

(1.) THE DESCRIPTION OF FAITH ( HEB. 11:1-2 )

(Heb. 11:1-2 ) says,- " Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of thing not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report".

" FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN", WHICH MEANS THAT FAITH REST ON A FOUNDATION. FAITH GIVES REALITY AND PROOF OF THINGS UNSEEN, TREATING THEM AS IF THEY WERE ALREADY OBJECTS OF SIGHT RATHER THAN OF HOPE. FAITH IS NOT TRUST IN THE UNKNOWN , FOR WE MAY KNOW BY FAITH WHAT WE CANNOT SEE WITH THE EYE. FAITH IS THE ULTIMATE ASSURANCE AND THE ULTIMATE EVIDENCE THAT THINGS NOT SEEN ARE REALITIES.THE CONTINUITY OF MEN WHO BELEIVED IN THINGS NOT SEEN, HEROES OF FAITH, IS UNBROKEN.

(11) THE EXAMPLE OF FAITH (Heb. 11:3-40 )

(Heb. 11:3 ) says-- " Through faith we understand the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." By the act of believing, God's children know that the Lord made the worlds by His word . The old testament great ones lived by faith. Abel, Enoch and Noah are mentioned as precise examples of men acting by faith. Also the generation receiving the exhortation was to live by faith. And each succeeding generation also must LIVE BY THINGS HOPED FOR UNTIL THE COMING OF CHRIST.

THE INTERPRETATON OF (Heb. 11:4-7)

Abel made an acceptable offering, which was a blood sacrifice. And this offering typologically established blood sacrifice as the basis of entrance into the life of faith . The faith life becomes a life only by an atonement made. So Abel continues to speak. Enoch lived a righteous life. His goal was to please God at any cost, and he succeeded; Before his translation he had been well - pleasing unto God.

This should still be the goal of every true believer, and it is impossible to please God afar from faith. Abel brought an acceptable offering, and Enoch lived a life of unbroken fellowship. Noah believed that God would judge the earth, and this became an incentive for his life of faith. He built the ark as an evidence of his faith. He activated his faith in the light of judgment. Noah lived to see his faith and practice vindicated. On the one hand, he exhibited his faith by building the ark; on the other, he saw his faith vindicated in his deliverance from the flood. Thus, he joined that glorious company of the just who live by faith through A RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH IS ACCORDING TO FAITH.

THE INTERPRETION OF (HEB.11:8-12)

The latter Patriarchs also bore the same witness. Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob. Joseph, and Moses all exemplify the life of faith. Abraham and Moses served as the better examples because they played such an important part in the purposes of God in the earth. Abraham exemplifies obedience in the life of faith. When God called him out of UR of the Chaldees, he became a dweller in Tents and a Sojourner, A Spiritual Pilgrim, with his eye fixed upon a city as yet unseen.

Later Abraham willingly gave Isaac to God, fully persuaded that the seed of Abraham, through Isaac, predestined to bless the world, would by under, no jeopardy if Isaac would die. In faithfulness to His covenant promised of a seed, God would raised him up. Even the birth of Isaac, the son of promised, was an evidence of faith on the part of Abraham and Sarah. For their son was born when they were physically too old for such an occurence.

THE INTERPRETATION OF (Heb. 11:13-16)

For true believers , to live by faith is to die in faith. The faith life is a pilgrimage. Heaven is the only home of faithful believers. It is the better country to which those who live by faith are fully committed. And because they are committed to God, God is committed to them. GOD IS NOT ASHAME OF THEM, AND HE PROVES THIS BY PROVIDING A CITY OR PLACE OF HABITATION FOR HIS OWN (John 14: 1-2).

THE INTERPRETATION OF (Heb. 11: 17-19, 11:20, 11:21-22, 11:23-29)

From genesis 22 we see the faith of Abraham in offering up Isaac on mount Moriah. The faith of Abraham was tested in at least two ways : (1.) He was required to offer to God the best and dearest of his possessions: and (2.) He was required to offer to God the son of promise. Abraham's future was assured to him only through Isaac. If Isaac were to die, what will happen of the promise of God to Abraham ? In making his offering, Abraham demonstrated in practical fashion his belief that death is no problem to God. Death can be neither barrier nor deterrence to God's keeping a covenant promise- GOD WAS ABLE TO RAISE ISAAC UP, EVEN FROM THE DEAD. FIGURE. PARABLE , SIMILITUDE, AS THOUGH ISAAC WERE ACTUALLY RETURNED FROM THE DEAD; A RESURRECTION .

Then (Heb. 11:20) tells us that by faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in the covenant promise made to Abraham, but still future to Isaac, thus concerning things to come. See genesis 27- the blessing of Jacob by deception.

Then in (Heb. 11:21-22) tells us that - " By faith Jacob --- by faith Joseph ---- ". Evidence of the faith of the Patriachs in the promise made to Abraham. Jacob, by blessing the sons of Joseph, perpetuated the promise and evidence both faith and submission as he worshiped. Joseph demonstrated his faith in the covenant promise to Abraham by requesting that his body (bones) be buried in the land of promise ( Gen. 48;50)

Then in (Heb. 11: 23-29) tells us that - in many ways Moses exemplified the life to faith. By faith his parents hid him in defiance of a specific royal command ( Ex 1:16-22) . He was a proper or beautiful child, thus a foreshadow of future blessing from God. Later, Moses himself, by faith, made proper choices. SON OF PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER. A praise symbolic of rank, indicating the rank of prince. Moses chose God's people and the promises of God even though this meant affliction and adversity. In this, Moses became the deliverer of a hopeless people (Ex. 2). He also chose not to enjoy the temporary pleasure of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead of his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the kings' anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible. By faith Moses kept the passover and the sprinkling of blood , so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. By faith the people passed through the red sea as on dry land: but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

Then in (Heb. 11:30-31) tells us that -Jericho fell victim to the faith of Joshua and the children of Israel, and Rehab participated in Israel blessing by her faith. The memorial to the faith of Rehab is read in Matthew 1:5 where she is listed the geneology of Christ.

Then in (Heb.11:32-38) tells us that- the writer of this Epistle has come to a point in the history of the old testament at which he says, "What more can I say now"? He could go in any direction and could list heroes of faith. He could demonstrate how faith has worked in the lives of many men and woman. So he gives a list and makes it clear that he is not able to discuss in detail, but that all should be included in this marvelous chapter. We see the war faith in the lives of these men we mentioned. Not one of them is dealt with in detail, but all have something in common; Everyone mentioned here was a ruler. Gideon, Barack, Jephthah, and Samuel were all Judges ; David was a king. They were all rulers, and they were all engaged in a war for God. Each one of them won that battle by faith.

Then in (Heb. 11:39) says- " And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise ". What promise is it that they did not receive? God made many promises, and many of them received the promises that He made to them. But the promise is His promise that He will raised them up and that there will be a kingdom established here on this earth.

They have not receive that promise yet, because God is still today calling out a people to is name, and, as it says here in Hebrews, " bringing many sons home to glory". " And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the

promise ". WE ARE TOLD HERE THE REASON FOR THAT--" GOD HAVING PROVIDED SOME BETTER THINGS FOR US , THAT THEY WITHOUT US SHOULD NOT BE MADE PERFECT "(HEB.11:40).

GOD HAS HIS MIND! THE BELIEVERS IN CHRIST, HIS CHILDREN. WAS NOT THAT GRACIOUS OF GOD? " THAT THEY WITHOUT US SHOULD NOT BE MADE PERFECT".

GOD IS VERY PATIENTLY CALLING PEOPLE OUT OF THIS WORLD TO HIS NAME-AND THAT IS THE CHURCH. AND UNTIL THAT CHURCH IS COMPLETED, HE IS JUST GOING TO KEEP CALLING THEM OUT.

Written by Osmundo S. Sabado

Edited by Orman L. Sabado