The writer of Hebrews was led/moved by the Holy Spirit to provide a record of Old Testament saints who acted by faith-Heb. 11:2.
Heb. 11:4 By faith [to the saving of the soul] Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
How did Cain and Abel arrive at the decision to bring offerings to the Lord?
The most common teaching promulgated in Christendom toexplain the Lord’s antithetical responses to Abel and Cain and their offerings is that while the former brought a blood offering the latter brought a plant (non-blood) offering! Is this persuasion correct?
Heb. 11:3 By faith [to the saving of the soul] we understand that the worlds [lit. ages] were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
The ages were equipped and fitted by the Word of Godto accomplish His Own divine purpose.
The first part of Heb. 11:3b, describes ‘that which we see,’‘what is seen,’ ‘what we now see’ and/or ‘the things which are seen.’ These are different ways of describing what can be seen in the natural through our naked eye i.e., the ruin arising from the fall of Man! This realm is associated with sight.
The second part of Heb. 11:3b, gives an explanation regarding the first part i.e., that which is visible in the realm of sight, ‘did not come into being out of that which is visible,’ ‘hath not been made out of things which appear,’ ‘did not come from anything that can be seen,’ and/or ‘were not made of things which are visible.’
This latter part describes what is visible in the realm of FAITH ONLY; this is the realm of the spiritual NOT natural.
The present-existing RUIN, which God MUST have knownright from the beginning when He arranged the ages around the pre-planned activity of the Son within the framework of these ages, is NOT part of God’s orderly structure. This RUIN has to do with the disorder which entered on account of the fall of Man!
a. Angels are sons of God−Job 38: 7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
b. Adam was the son of God−Lk. 3:38 …Adam, the son of God.
c. The nation of Israel is the son of God, His firstborn−Ex. 4:22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “ Israel is My son, My firstborn. 23 So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.” ’ ”
d. In this lesson, we study Jesus Christ, the Son of God−Heb. 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
The Scriptures are replete with the phrase ‘the heavensand the earth.’
The heavens refer to the realm from where rulership emanates while the earth is one of the provinces in God’s universe−Dan. 4:26.
If God created Man to rule, which He did, and a saved individual has his/her spirit saved, which it has, THEN what should such a saved individual be instructed in for the entire of his/her life here on earth?
God created Man a perfect tripartite being and therefore, this DEATH affected all the three parts.
Man’s spirit died! The spirit lost communion with God.
Man’s soul died! The soul became corrupted thus knew evil experientially.
Man’s body died! The body lost the covering of glory hence became totally naked and became susceptible to physical decay.
In this ruined state, Man was separated from the purpose of his creation i.e., rulership.
God began a restorative work for Man which would place him in a perfect state so that he may rule.
God had PURPOSE when He formed the earth and therefore, Satan’s rebellion and the resulting ruin of the earth DID NOT thwart His plans and purposes−Isa. 14:24, 27.
God initiated the work of restoring the earth which had since become ruined but before that, the Lamb, Jesus Christ, had FIRST to be slain−Rev. 13:8.
On Days 1-4, God did a RESTORATIVE work with respect to the earth−Gen. 1:2b-19.
On Days Five and Six, God performed a CREATIVE work i.e., He spoke and created/made−Gen. 1:20-31.
The first 34 verses of the Bible reveal God’s perfect pattern [Creation, Ruin, Restoration, Rest] and God’s perfect established SEPTENARY arrangement of the Scriptures seen in Days One to Seven.
God performed a creative work in Jacob-Isa. 43:1 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
Therefore, the nation of Israel is a son of God-Ex. 4:22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn. 23 So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.” ’ ”
Hos. 11:1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.
God has chosen the nation of Israel to be the head over the nations-Ex. 19:5-6.
Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
God rules over the universe through angelic beings in a delegated capacity!
When He created the earth, God created and anointed a ruler over it i.e, Lucifer.
Since NO human being was present at the time the heavens and the earth were created, then sons of God are angels.
God created Man to replace Satan as ruler over the earth. This explains why Adam was the son of God-Lk. 3:38 …Adam, the son of God.
It is NOT automatic for faith to come merely because one is hearing the Word of God.
For faith to come, a Christian MUST hear CORRECTLY hence the admonition to take heed HOW we hear−Lk. 8:18.
A Christian can ONLY hear CORRECTLY when the Word of God is rightly divided−2 Tim. 2:15.
To rightly divide the Word of God is to studying God’s Word the way God gave it by beginning at Moses and comparing Scripture with Scripture, focusing on Jesus Christ, all the while relying on the Holy Spirit.
FAITH is believing that which God has SAID about amatter in His Word!
Rom. 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Does faith AUTOMATICALLY come merely because one is hearing the Word of God?”
When an individual adds to or removes from God’s Word,it NO LONGER becomes feasible for him/her to exercise biblical faith!
When an individual develops a negative attitude towards God’s perfect provision of His Word by consuming it in a different format from what He instructed, it is NOT feasible for him/her to exercise biblical faith!
When an individual quotes/interprets God’s Wordoutside of its context, it NO LONGER becomes feasible for him/her to exercise biblical faith!
Heb. 11:1 Now faith (to the saving of the soul) is the substance ofthings hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
The Holy Spirit picked certain individuals who, by having faith to the saving of the soul, pleased God and as a result, they obtained a good testimony.
Contextually, God Himself testified, bore record and/or had a good (honest) report of the individuals mentioned in Heb. 11.
Heb. 11 begins and ends with the same statement regarding the individuals in view having obtained a good testimony on account of their faith, to the saving of the soul–Heb. 11:2 For by it (faith to the saving of the soul) the elders obtained a good testimony…39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith (to the saving of the soul), did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
Heb. 11:6 But without faith (to the saving of the soul) it is impossible to please Him...
According to this verse, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God without faith, to the saving of the soul.
On the flipside, it is very much possible to please Him ONLY by faith, to the saving of the soul.
A Christian who chooses to live according to the fleshhabitually by setting his/her mind on the things of the flesh resulting in death CANNOT please God-Rom. 8:5-8.
In God’s economy, unbelief is evil. ‘Unbelief’ literally means ‘not believing’ and thus describes a lack of faith.
Failing to believe or lacking faith is evil in God’s eyes and it is no wonder that such a CHOICE does NOT please Him.
Heb. 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”
It is inferred that if the just live by faith, to the saving of the
soul, the Lord’s soul has pleasure in such a one.
Isa. 46:9 Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’
Lk. 12:32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your
Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Heb. 11:6 But without faith (to the saving of the soul) it is impossible to please Him…
Heb. 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
What is Faith? For many a Christian today, Heb. 11:1 defines faith, but does it?
The definition of ‘faith’ is found in the word itself i.e., simply put, faith means belief.
However, within the confines of the Scriptures, BIBLICAL FAITH is believing that which God has SAID about a matter. What God has said about a matter is recorded in His Word, ruling out the possibility for anyone to have faith or believe minus the Word of God–Rom. 10:17.
Paul preached the gospel/good news of the Christ to the Churches of Galatia much in every same way as he did with the Churches of the Thessalonians and the one at Corinth–Gal. 1:11.
Nevertheless, a false doctrine soon found its way among them–Gal. 1:6-9.
This doctrine emphasized the persuasion that justification is by works of the law–Gal. 2:14-16.
However, Paul instructs the Churches of Galatia that justification is ONLY by faith–Gal. 3:11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”
Rom. 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed fromfaith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
The phrase ‘from faith to faith’ stresses the necessity for therecipients of this epistle (us today) to continue believing the gospel of the Christ AND highlights the maturing process of a saved individual with respect to the salvation of his/her soul.
Paul stresses the importance and necessity to believethe gospel of the Christ and continue in it–Col. 1:21-23; 2:6-7.Peter writes to newborn babes (those who recentlyunderstood the Word of the Kingdom) inviting them to intensely yearn for the unadulterated spiritual milk which will enable them to make progress in [their] salvation (of the soul)–1 Pet. 2:1-3.
Paul wrote the letter called ‘Romans’ while residing in Corinth at the end of his third missionary journey. He addressed it to the church in Rome-Rom. 1:1, 7.
Paul expressed his readiness/willingness to preach the gospel−Rom. 1:15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready topreach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
Paul was ready and willing to preach the gospel of the Christ which he was not ashamed of, because it is the power of God to everyone who believes-Rom. 1:16.It is ONLY the gospel of the Christ which has the POWER of God to transform every willing Christian who makes the CHOICE to believe it!
The righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel of the Christ from faith to faith-Rom. 1:17.
The writer of Hebrews contrasts TWO CHOICES availableto his recipients, partakers of the heavenly calling [Heb. 3:1] i.e., the CHOISE to either live by faith or to draw back−Heb. 10:38.
Biblical faith, which is in view in God’s Word, meansbelieving what God has said in His Word.
A CHOICE to draw back is a CHOICE to live apart from believing what God has said in His Word and this brings NO pleasure to the Lord!
A CHOICE to live by faith is a CHOICE to believe what God has said in His Word and this brings pleasure to the Lord!The TWO CHOICES available to the just/righteous willresult in TWO OUTCOMES−Heb. 10:39.
The just who choose to live by faith will receive thesalvation of their soul while the just who choose to draw back do so to perdition!
b. Immediately after the fourth warning, the writer of Hebrews invites the recipients of his letter to ‘recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated’ pointing to a time immediately following their coming into a mature understanding of the gospel of the glory of Christ−Heb. 10:32-34.
Prior to his death, Moses spoke to the second generation of the Israelites who would soon enter the Promised Land and among many things, he invited them to remember the days of old-Deut. 32:7-9.
Prior to the nation of Israel being taken captive by the Assyrians, the Lord sent His servant Isaiah inviting the nation to remember the former things of old-Isa. 46:8-10.
Why did the writer of Hebrews admonish the beneficiaries of his letter to recall the former days; not to cast away their confidence and to have need for patient endurance?
It is because of the imminent return of Jesus Christ-Heb. 10:37 For yet a little, a very little while, and He who comes will come and will not delay. (Wuest)
The letter of Hebrews is written to believers whounderstood their heavenly calling i.e., the purpose for their redemption, matters to do with the coming kingdom, the 7th Day, the Word of the Kingdom−Heb. 3:1, 12: 10:19; 13:22.
This epistle is about a salvation to be inherited in the age to come for which Christ is bringing many sons to glory−Heb. 1:14; 2;5, 10. Sonship and glory portend RULERSHIP.
The letter provides five warnings which we MUST constantly remind ourselves IF our desire is to inherit salvation in the age to come, being part of the many sons that Christ is bringing to glory.
Carrying on the thought from the fourth warning, the writer of Hebrews admonishes the recipients of his letter to ‘recall the former days’ which refers to the time ‘after you were illuminated.’ This is a time immediately following their coming into a mature understanding of the gospel of the glory of Christ-Heb. 10:32-34.