Faith…in action, in walk, and in preparation
Hebrews 10:22-23, 38 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,…
In Hebrews, there is a faith chapter….but all through the book, the writer has been exhorting the persecuted Christians to faith in Christ Jesus….a reliance on that faith….and what that faith will give them.
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith….
Now the just shall live by faith:…”
We often think of faith as “a thing” which comes to our aid when doubts assail us.
But faith is a living substance implanted in our new nature by the Holy Spirit, that gives us the ability to see God in and behind, all and every circumstances, giving us great peace and stability in our life. It not only shows us God, but commands us to follow and obey Him.
Faith is always there in every believer….though little or great, as it is used.
And the writer was trying to get these beleaguered Christians to “hold fast our profession” (Hebrews 4:14)….if “we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” (Hebrews 3:6)….if they be “followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Hebrews 6:12)
And in these days of wars, chaos, and hatred….we, too, should hold fast our profession….we should believe God… and live and be governed by faith.
Faith and love are in equal parts in the new nature. We are not great in love and small in faith,…or great in faith and small in love.
They are equal—for faith sees God, and love attaches ourselves to Him in any capacity He shows Himself.
So now the writer, having exhorted to faith…..gives examples of what he has been speaking of. He shows that the practical life that really pleases God…at any time….was a life of faith.
Hebrews 11:1-3 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
For by it the elders obtained a good report.”
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.”
Faith is a governing principle of our practical life. It draws us out of the world around us, by giving evidence to us of the heavenly world….the things unseen.
It gives us independence of the world—the world’s allurements and opinions. The circumstances of the world do not control us;…
…because we have faith in God and He is in control.
God spake this world into being….so what we see…was made by what we can not see—the power of God.
Hebrews 11:4-5, 7 “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.
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that He pleased God.
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”
Able is first….and the first act of faith was to see our sin….and the complete insufficiency to come before God, in our sin.
But then faith (which always sees God and His Word) remembers God’s provision to cover Adam and Eve (Gen 3:21) by the slaining of animals….and Able, in faith, brings a sacrifice.
By this act of faith Abel witnesses of God—His holiness, and His provision for sinners, by a sacrifice, pointing to Christ.
And by this, Abel obtained from God a witness that he was righteous in HIs sight because of this offering.
Abel deals with faith in God about our sin and His provision in HIs sacrifice.
Then there was Enoch.
By faith Enoch lived a life of dedication to God, walking with God….apart from the world around him.
His life was lived everyday in faith. He believed God’s Word of judgment on the world (for he had a warning from God, and named his son, Methuselah meaning “it will come when he dies”)
Living in faith, he not only had a walk which was separate from the world….but in faith he warned the people, that they might repent and turn back to God. (Jude 14-15)
His life of faith continued until “Enoch was translated…and was not found, because God had translated him..”..to live with God without seeing death.
Enoch deals with our walk of faith….everyday, walking with God,…warning of the judgment to come.
Then there is Noah.
The Word says…”Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God”.(Romans 10:17)
The rain and flood had not been seen yet in the world…but Noah believed God.
Noah heard the Lord…and in faith..”moved with fear” which is the beginning of wisdom…prepared the ark.
This was witness against the world’s view: that everything will continue to be as it is.
This was witness of God’s righteousness for it promised judgment to come on the lives of the men of the world, if they did not seek God’s provision.
He preached in action and words, while the ark was being built and the animals gotten.
And God gave witness, by sparing them. The rain did come…the flood did come…but they were safe in the ark….bringing them through to a new earth.
Noah deals with our preparation for the Lord’s coming….we are to be doing the good works we have been called to, and in witness, warning others, that now is the time to come to the Lord Jesus Christ, and be safe.
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”
Faith in action saved from sin and brought Abel into God’s presence with acceptance.
Faith in walk saved Enoch from the contamination of the world and into God’s presence without seeing death.
Faith in preparation led Noah through the judgment on the people of the earth and led him to a new inheritance.
Faith sees God and gives evidence within us that He and His Word is real; so we can draw near….and receive a full reward of our faith.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 