1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
This is one of the loftiest chapters in all of the Bible. The subject is Faith, which was introduced by the last verses of the previous chapter. There, the Apostle quoted the Prophets: Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him (Heb 10:38-39). Faith is critically important in order to please God – but exactly what does it mean to have Faith? This chapter answers the question; not by long, erudite dissection but mainly by giving real-life examples of men of faith.
The Apostle begins with a philosophical definition of faith that should find agreement across the entire human spectrum. Faith is the substance (hupostasis) of things hoped for (elpizomenon), the evidence (elegchos) of things not seen (blepomenon). The two clauses are parallel – substance and evidence are concrete, visible truths; the hoped for and not seen are invisible, impalpable beliefs of the mind. Faith is the intersection of those two models – not saving faith, but general, healthy faith of life. From atheists to Christians, we all live in this cross-section of concrete tangibles and immaterial intangibles. Gravity is a universally accepted intangible. The evidences for it are overwhelming, but you cannot see gravity, nor is it possible to empirically prove exactly how and why it works. Scientists have developed very compelling explanations of gravity, but they must rely on postulations of the invisible.
The laws of reason, morality, light, gravity, electricity, etc. can only be comprehended by allowing them an crucial component of mystery. They simply cannot be absolutely confirmed empirically. Sure, scientists can experiment in the field of electricity with understandable, consistent results, but to search out the “why” is to search for God. Man must accept those natural laws upon some degree by faith. Intellectuals and atheists try to make science and faith to be opposites, or at least alternative views of the world, but that is a false construct. Their worldview is firmly based on faith too. But without a Divine Source, many of their postulations are untestable faith statements with no supporting evidence whatsoever (contradicting Heb 11:1). See my note on 1Cor 2:5.
Considering the interplay of substance with things not seen in the physical world helps us to understand a similar synergy in the spiritual world. In both the spiritual and physical realms, evidences and substances convince the mind that something unseen and empirically impalpable is Living and True. Of course, the fool has already decided in his heart that there is no God (Ps 53:1), so it remains for the truly wise men of the world to search out the all-important question of what it veritably means to live by faith. Furthermore, to understand the nature of generic faith is of very little value, but to understand the nature of saving faith is without price, for it is able to illuminate the soul unto eternal life.
As in the physical, so too in the spiritual – many things that seem simple at first thought are found to be impossibly complex upon deeper study. Electricity and light for example. A simple, working definition of light is good enough for the common man to live quite easily, but the one who delves deep into the properties of light cannot even be sure whether light is a particle or a wave (some think it is both). Likewise with many Scripture terms. The common man is able to live his faith quite easily upon simple, working definitions of love, forgiveness, faith, atonement, salvation, etc. However, the one who would delve deep to discover their very properties will be utterly dumbfounded at their impossible complexity. God has truly taken the wise in their own craftiness (1Cor 3:19).
Faith is believing an utterance that cannot be fully grasped scientifically on account of supreme confidence in the one who affirms it. A working definition is this: Saving Faith is an unshakeable conviction to live according to the Truth of Christ. A glance at the people of faith in this chapter agrees. These men and women acted upon their belief in God and His Word. A faith that lacks action is not saving faith (Jas 2:20-26). Dead faith believes in God but follows its own way; saving faith believes in God and obeys His commands (Rom 1:5). Noah believed God and built an ark, Abraham believed God and left his homeland for Canaan. Biblical faith always believes and follows the will of God (Mat 7:21). See note on Mat 21:22.
Saving faith is not a single, simple commodity, but a complexity which might be likened to inter-linked steps. This is implied in the Apostle Paul’s comment that the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith (Rom 1:17). According to my reading of the Scriptures, saving faith is a five-jeweled star. It begins with hearing and coming to know the truth (Rom 10:17), which must be followed by believing it. Some theologians say that is the entirety of faith right there. Impossible! Even the devils possess that level of faith – they believe and tremble (Jas 2:19). No, the third and fourth steps are crucial in order to elevate personal faith above that of the wicked angels. Those steps are to accept the Truth and then obey and live it (Rom 10:9; John 1:12; Mat 7:24; Jam 1:23). Finally, perseverance. Living by faith without drawing back, without wavering, without stopping half-way down the road. By patient continuance in well doing (Rom 2:7). These five aspects of faith must be present in order to rise to the level of saving faith. It’s how the elders obtained their good report (see note Mat 14:31).
Religion is the search to know God. But God is a Spirit (John 4:24) and cannot be seen (John 1:18). And that’s why Faith is so key in the search to know God. In the context of religion, Faith is the union of substance with hope, the unwavering expectation that something unclear or uncertain will take place or is true on account of other evidences (Rom 8:24-25). In other words, it is taking what we know for certain (the substance) as reason to believe something that we do not fully understand. Noah believed God’s warning of things not seen as yet (Heb 11:7). Along with Abraham, he had evidence that trusting God would result in Truth and Blessing. Nevertheless, Abraham could not understand why God would ask him to kill the very son that He had promised would make his descendants as the sand of the sea for number. He simply accepted it by faith. His unshakable conviction in the genuineness of the substance enabled him to live out an astonishing purity of faith.
As with all true faith, Abraham’s faith was neither illogical nor blind. It rested upon firm evidences that upheld his trust in God and compelled him to act accordingly. Most people believe that there is a city in China called Beijing even though they have never seen it for themselves. They trust the eyewitness reports of others. In like manner, Biblical faith involves the unseen and yet is based upon testable evidences. Thomas’ faith was not sufficient until he had sensory evidence that Jesus was alive, but there is a special blessing for those who can believe without such drastic level of proof (John 20:29).
The opposite of faith (pistis) is unbelief (apistis). The Apostle warned of this condition in chapters 3-4, saying: Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God (Heb 3:12). The people of Faith and Unbelief are identified by their actions. On account of unbelief (disobedience and rebellion), the children of Israel were barred from entering the land of Canaan (Heb 3:19). The five aspects of saving faith are:
To hear the Truth creates the first spark of faith (Gal 3:2). A key passage by Paul: “Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, but how can they call upon someone they haven’t heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom 10:13-17). To hear and understand the Message is the necessary precursor of saving faith and God has given His people an integral role in this step (Mat 28:19-20). It is through the foolishness of preaching (1Cor 1:21) that God has chosen to make the Son known unto Mankind. Yes, the heavens also declare the mighty God and there is no place nor language where their voice of Creation is not heard (Ps 19:1-4). However, the most common medium is the written or spoken Word.
To believe the Truth is the next step to saving faith. Hearing the Gospel carries the person to a crucial fork in the road: believe it, or reject it. Jesus said, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent (John 6:29; Acts 16:31), and He confirmed both steps of faith by saying, He that heareth My Word and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life (John 5:24, also Eph 1:13). Believing is the rational mental process by which a man comes to know and realize the Truth – through faith we understand (see my note for v3). In the Scriptures, to believe and to be saved are virtually synonymous. The saved are believers (Acts 5:14; 1Tim 4:12) and, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (1John 5:1). However, these verses imply a decision beyond simple head knowledge and that is the point of the next step, which is…
To accept the Truth into the heart. This is the actual step of salvation – to confess your own acceptance of the Gospel Pact. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name (John 1:12). Many cite Rom 10:9-10 as the bottom rung of salvation. Notice that it too describes salvation as believing and accepting: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Just believing cannot be enough, for the devils also believe, and tremble (James 2:19). The core work of all evangelists is to get people to accept the Gospel, accept Jesus as the Lord of their lives, accept the requirements of Christ’s Covenant. It is often easy to get people to see the truth of God, but to get them to accept/receive that truth as a reality in their lives is another, far more difficult step. Atheist Lee Strobel, after studying Christianity’s claims, came to believe that the Bible was true, but he refused to accept it personally. Instead, it made him angry. Finally however, he yielded his will and accepted the Truth into his heart and was converted. Other verses on accepting/receiving are 1Cor 15:1-2; 1Thes 2:13; James 1:2).
To walk the Truth confirms saving faith. Other titles are useful here – to obey, follow, live, do the will of God. All of these are found in ample measure in the New Testament. Jesus looked upon Matthew and simply said, Follow Me (Luke 5:27). There was a wealth of meaning in His request. To walk implies communion and love. Enoch walked so closely with God that he did not taste of physical death (Gen 5:24; Heb 11:5). Evidences of Man’s faith is the subject of this chapter, for faith without proofs is dead and cannot save (James 2:17-20, 26). Therefore, let us walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God (Col 1:10). To obey God’s commandments is to prove that you love Him and that you have placed your faith in Him. The just person lives his faith (Rom 1:17).
To persevere in the Truth is the last, clinching step of saving faith. This is the precious crown jewel of the Faith (2Pet 1:1), the part that abides (1Cor 13:13) after passing straight through the fiery furnaces of affliction and trial, and rises again in honor, purity, and highly precious (1Pet 1:7), a sacred, humble offering to the Lord on that day when He will make up His jewels. We are called to live by faith, but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him (Heb 10:38). Jesus encouraged each of the seven churches to hold fast unto the end. His words to the persecuted church of Smyrna are especially compassionate, Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life (Rev 2:10). The lazy person is quickly discouraged by failures and difficulties (Mat 13:21-23) but the determined person will pick himself up and re-take the trail without looking back. Satan sifted Peter like wheat (Luke 22:31), but he devoured Judas (1Pet 5:8). The one was determined to go on after he fell, the other gave up. Blessed is the man that endureth (hupomeno) temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life (James 1:12). The Greek word means to “patiently suffer,” implying that there will be failures, but the one who refuses to give up shall not lose his reward.
I came to see these five aspects of faith by much reading of God’s Word. Later, I remembered Calvinism’s TULIP theology also has five aspects. And they clash harshly with the five listed above. While I believe Saving Faith begins by hearing, believing, and accepting, the Calvinist theologian claims that God never gave man the capacity to choose to follow God. Instead He chose who would believe and He put the ability for faith ONLY in those persons He has chosen to save. The rest are impossibly dark-minded, incapable of believing or choosing God, lacking the very ability of faith. Anabaptists however, believe that Man is certainly able to choose Christ and personally responsible to do so. Accept the Truth and the lamp of saving Faith is lit; to maintain it burning unto the end is its confirmation.
Every man lives in some degree of faith. The idea that God would choose to give faith to some, but withhold that ability from others is unbiblical. No, our own choice and actions will determine our eternal destiny. Faith and salvation are practically the same subject. Faith begins in the mind and extends to the physical; it begins as a decision and extends into action.
3 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.
The first stake of faith is crucial – believing that God created the universe by His spoken Word (rhema). Unbelievers have devised the theory that the heavens, the earth and all its life-forms came into existence without God, but Christians believe the Genesis account which describes God creating the Universe in six days. First, we believe because of supreme confidence in the One who said it. Second, we believe because of the evidences. Through faith we understand (noieo). The Greek word means to exercise the mind, to consider and comprehend. Paul used noieo in a parallel statement in Rom 1:20.
The handiwork of God in nature is irresistible, visible evidence that He is. It’s intricate designs and orderly laws teach us about God – His mannerism, traits of character and being. Beauty, order, purpose, perfection in the worlds of the universe simply shout forth the glory and wisdom of God. And the marks of sin and disorder that have crept into the once-perfect Creation attest to the existence of Satan and his corrupting, destroying designs. Ultimately, all Biblical faith depends upon the truthfulness of the Bible. If all Scripture is given by inspiration of God (2Tim 3:16), then it must be infallibly true. How arrogant to reject something that Almighty God has said just because we, His creation, cannot understand how He could have done it.
Natural phenomena reveal the boundless wisdom of God. We marvel at the beauties of the sunsets, the clouds, the stars; we are amazed at the wide range of animal and plant life; we are dumbfounded by the precise balance of the natural laws and orderly march of time. These manifestations are readily visible to simple human sight, but deeper research will reveal their impossible complexities. Light, electricity, gravity, matter – virtually everything scientists undertake to study – are far beyond the bounds of the human mind. How beautiful though, that God created all things so that we can use them without needing to fully understand. For common use, a simple definition of Light is sufficient, but for those who delve deep, a much more complex definition is required.
I’m convinced that the same is true for spiritual realities. Faith, hope and love can be simply defined for good, common use in Christian life, but upon deeper study, they become impossibly complex. Unfortunately, some theologians treat them in such a simple, narrow manner that their intricacies remain uncovered. Calvinists essentially equate faith with belief, but the seeking mind which reads the Scriptures to discover the full truth will come to understand that faith is far more complex than that. My years of Bible study have brought me to understand Saving Faith as a five-jeweled star (see note for v1).
The Universe (things which are seen) was not fashioned out of existing matter, but was made out of nothing (things which do not appear). Ironically, that statement is not much different from atheism’s Big Bang theory: “In the beginning, a tiny piece of nothing exploded and created the heaven and the earth.” For any scientist, from amateur to professional, that should be an embarrassment of epic proportions. Beyond being utterly outside of the scientific method, it is patently absurd on the face of it. Yet many so-called scientists profess to believe it! The Big Bang has nothing – no cause, no energy origin, no matter, no intelligent direction. It is emphatically, absurdly unscientific and a shame to logic. The Bible account names the cause, energy source and intelligent direction, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Both Creationism and Naturalism begin with statements of faith, but Creationism is far, far more logical and consistent with Science.
The worlds (aionas) were framed by the Word of God. The plural, worlds, might refer to the terrestrial and celestial, the heaven and the earth (Gen 1:1). Or it could refer to the physical and spiritual realms. Some think to find support for their idea that God created other Earths with different life-forms in other parts of the universe (see also Heb 1:2), but that slim inference is highly unlikely and the Bible does not teach it elsewhere. The worlds were framed (katartizo). The Apostle used this word earlier when he said that God prepared (katartizo) a body for Jesus (see note for Heb 10:5).
The anti-God crowd tries to sell faith as “an illogical belief in the occurrence of the improbable.” However, Einstein famously said: “Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind.” Authentic faith is a belief that is based upon trustworthy evidences. And God has given us millions of proofs. However, the Origins debate is not based upon scientific exercise nor the study of evidences. Some may disagree with me, but the fact is vociferous: Naturalism rejects each and every evidence for God by re-interpreting the data. For instance, the global flood of Noah’s day finds much support in geology, but the evolutionists have pre-rejected the Bible’s flood account and so must create other stories to account for that evidence. The faith-statements of Evolutionists will trump any and all physical evidence. Never mind that the observational data fits the Genesis record better, they have already decided against the Bible.
A quote by a leading evolutionist is particularly honest about it: “We take the side of Science in spite of the patent absurdity of some of its constructs, in spite of its failure to fulfill many of its extravagant promises of health and life, in spite of the tolerance of the scientific community for unsubstantiated just-so stories, because we have a prior commitment, a commitment to materialism. It is not that the methods and institutions of Science somehow compel us to accept a material explanation of the phenomenal world, but, on the contrary, that we are forced by our a priori adherence to material causes to create an apparatus of investigation and a set of concepts that produce material explanations, no matter how counter-intuitive, no matter how mystifying to the uninitiated. Moreover, that materialism is an absolute, for we cannot allow a Divine Foot in the door.” Richard Lewontin’s admission is eye-opening. He is not compelled to reject God because of compelling scientific data, but because of his prior commitment to Naturalism. In fact, he admits, we are often forced to create counter-intuitive concept sets in order to “produce material explanations” for the evidences at hand. Well. I applaud his honesty, if not his prejudiced mind.
The foundations of materialism are even more faith-based than theism. After all, they are forced to believe the patently absurd construct of the Big Bang: “A speck of nothing exploded and then auto-created the universe.” Sadly, some Christians cannot rise to hold the same degree of faith in their religion. Instead, they entertain the interpretations of scientists who have already admitted to a having a prior commitment to atheistic Naturalism.
The evidences that God created the universe in just the way He said are plentiful. The fossil record shows that birds have always been birds, cows have always been cows and people have always been people. Scientists who place their faith in the ability of billions of years to create and evolve life-forms are flying blind here – the fossil record says, “No. Only in fairy tales (like evolution) do frogs change into princes.” The missing links between the animal groups that Darwin acknowledged existed but that he was sure would be resolved after more investigation are still missing. Increasingly, even non-Christian scientists are admitting that Earth appears to be specifically designed for life and humankind. It remains to be seen where the “Intelligent Design” movement will end up.
As Lewontin admitted, to change one’s mind on the six-day creation of the world by God is not a simple matter of being convinced by the evidence. In fact, it is virtually impossible to win a debate on the evidences because one’s “prior commitment” overwhelms them. The human mind is always able to propose explanations for any contradictory evidence, even if it requires “patently absurd constructs” (using Lewontin’s words). Jason Lisle calls these conjectures, “rescuing devices.” The “Ort cloud,” for example is blindly believed and often cited by long-age worshipers to be the source of short-life comets – never mind that the cloud is nothing but wild speculation with not one kernel of evidence. The undetectable Ort Cloud was created in order to provide a natural explanation for the existence of the universe.
A truly convincing, mind-changing argument must be more than evidence alone, and that is true in both the worlds of spiritual and physical beliefs.
4 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.
The two extremes that mark out Faith and Unbelief begin to unfold with the first children born into the world. The difference between Cain and Abel did not spring from differences in their general faith in God, but their specific faith in God – how they lived out their faith. They both believed in God and talked with Him, but their actions revealed profound differences. Abel was obedient and righteous, while Cain was rebellious and evil. God warned Cain, If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. Cain lived selfishly and according to the dictates of his own heart. He could not control his temper even when talking to God (Gen 4:5). His wicked, envious ways finally led him to lure his brother out into the field, where he killed him. Why? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous (1John 3:12). God accepted Abel’s sacrifice because of his righteous life, but unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect (Gen 4:5).
Some think that the reason Cain’s sacrifice was not accepted was because he brought an offering from the fruit of the ground (Gen 4:2-4) instead of bringing a lamb as Abel did. But was the problem with the sacrifice, or the actions and attitude of the person? God cannot abide the sacrifices of praise and worship effected by hands stained by sin and blood. “Away with your vain oblations, feasts and sacrifices. They are an abomination unto Me, they are iniquity. I hate them, I am weary of bearing them. Wash and make yourselves clean, put away your evil doings and I will take your scarlet-red sins and cleanse you white as snow. Be willing and obedient; then you shall eat the good of the land” (Isa 1:11-20). God had respect unto Abel and to his offering (Gen 4:4) because Abel’s works were righteous. This was why Abel’s offering was a more excellent sacrifice.
While the Genesis account does not directly say so, it appears that God had communicated the law of burnt-offering animal sacrifices for sin to Adam and his sons. Abel apparently kept sheep for that purpose, and also to obtain wool for clothing (Man was not permitted to eat flesh until after the flood). On the other hand, many of the approved Old Testament sacrifices were grain offerings – of the fruit of the ground. So to my mind, the reason God rejected Cain’s offering was because his deeds were evil (1John 3:12), and not just because he didn’t bring a lamb. Perhaps Cain refused to bring a lamb, which would have only added to his already evil deeds.
The Bible does not say how the brothers knew that Abel’s sacrifice was accepted and Cain’s sacrifice was refused. Some think that fire fell from heaven and consumed Abel’s offering in similar fashion to the later experiences of Moses (Lev 9:24), David (1Chr 21:26), Solomon (2Chr 7:1) and Elijah (1Kings 18:38).
While many theologians make faith to be a simple intellectual assent or belief in Christ, the sincere reader of the Bible will recognize that definition to be incomplete. The account of Cain and Abel show that true, Biblical faith is man’s action motivated by a deep conviction and fear of God. The character of every man’s faith will be judged on the last day. The dead will be judged according to their works (Rev 20:12). Faith as head knowledge is not saving faith.
God testified of Abel that he was righteous. Although murdered by the hands of his own brother, Abel being dead yet speaketh. The allusion is to God’s warning words to Cain: What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto Me from the ground (Gen 4:10). Cain’s wicked actions and his brother’s innocence could not escape God’s notice. Jesus attributed Abel’s murder to the evil generation of Mankind, and Cain was the first (Mat 23:35).
Why did God not require blood for blood in this case of blatant, pre-meditated murder? True, Cain was punished, but he escaped the sentence of death that the Law of Moses would demand. God even protected Cain from later vengeance by putting a mark upon him and warning that anyone who killed him would be punished sevenfold (Gen 4:15).
5 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.
The record of Enoch is one of the most remarkable accounts in the Bible. Enoch lived before the Mosaic Law in the time between Adam and Noah. He was a God-fearing man who lived his faith to the ultimate. God was so well-pleased with Enoch’s faith that He received him early into heaven and without experiencing death. In an age when most lived to be 900 years old, Enoch left this world at the “young” age of 365 years. His body did not die, nor did his soul descend into Sheol, but God translated (metatithemi) him. The Greek word is rendered changed in Heb 7:12.
I am of the opinion that Enoch did not receive his glorified, heavenly body as described in New Testament passages (i.e. 1Cor 15:35-55), but that he was taken directly to Paradise in like manner to Elijah. By Paradise, I mean the place where even now the souls of the faithful await the final resurrection (Luke 23:43; see my note for Mat 25:1). The Greek word metatithemi is not used elsewhere in connection to redemption or resurrection of the body (compare 1Cor 15:52; Php 3:20). How could Enoch be taken to Paradise before Christ died? Either Enoch never sinned, or God acted upon His foreknowledge that Christ would die for Enoch’s sins. The latter is far more likely. It would also explain the unique departures of Moses and Elijah.
The example of Enoch provides another proof that man’s works are important, for it was Enoch’s way of life that commended him unto God. And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him (Gen 5:24). To walk with God implies constant fellowship, faithful obedience, singleness of heart and mind. God was Enoch’s best friend, the all-important object of Enoch’s life.
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.
Verse one gave the definition of generic faith, but here is the more specific definition of saving faith – to believe that God exists and that He will reward the good and the bad according to the stature of their faith. These are the two fundamental planks without which no man can please God. According to verse one, generic faith is being convinced that what we hope for will happen; saving faith is applying that principle to the God of the Bible.
Some confuse faith with feelings, or they validate their faith by how they “feel.” But feelings are emotions; faith is a decision of the mind. Feelings change but faith is constant. Circumstances can affect our feelings which in turn affect the way we act (in confidence, fear, doubt, peace, discouragement, etc), but faith is the deep, unshakable conviction that guides life regardless of feelings. Job did not allow his feelings to affect his faith. Virtually every person in this chapter’s list of faith experienced emotional shocks that tested their faith in God. The trial of faith (1Pet 1:7) is accompanied with negative feelings of fear, doubt and discouragement. Feelings are like the waters at the river’s surface, constantly swirling and moving; faith is like the deep, invisible waters, slowly but steadily moving in one direction.
God will most certainly test the faith of every Christian. After all, without faith it is impossible to please Him. Abraham was tested when God told him to kill his son Isaac (Heb 11:17); Noah was tested when God told him that He was going to destroy the world by a flood; Job was tested when God allowed all his earthly possessions to be taken away. It is key that we recognize that the test of faith will come in an area that we do not understand. It may be in the death of innocents, unexplained sickness, extreme trials and tribulations, affirmations of secular scientists, etc. Our faith is tested in those times we cannot seem to discern God’s purpose.
In easy and comfortable America, one vital test of faith is believing that the Bible is the true, authoritative Word of God. The Bible says that God created the universe in 6 days about 6000 years ago. Secular scientists claim that the universe created itself about 6 billion years old. Who are you going to believe? To believe is a crucial step to saving faith and there are two decisive variables that impact the sincere seeker’s belief machinery. First, the degree of confidence in the presenter, and second, the degree of confidence in the evidence itself (John 10:38). The insincere person, on the other hand, “believes” something because that’s what he wants to believe – in spite of the evidence and/or the person who says it. And that’s why we have Calvinism, Evolutionism, Dispensationalism and a whole lot of other false doctrines. See my note for verse 3.
7 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.
Noah displayed remarkable faith in God. He is a textbook example of saving faith (see note v1). He heard God’s warning and believed it. Two thousand years of earth history said it was impossible for water to fall out of the sky and destroy the world, but Noah was moved by Godly fear to accept and obey God’s word to build a huge ark that would save life on earth. Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he (Gen 6:22). He did not stop until the work was done; he persevered in the labor for 120 years.
Noah was moved with fear. His reverence and respect for God moved him to accept the instruction. The Scriptures describe many of the faithful ancients as fearing God – their high, holy regard for God motivated them to yield their wills to His rule and authority over their lives. It was His place to command and it was their responsibility to obey without questioning. They were very conscious of God’s perfect knowledge and supremacy in comparison to their own human frailty. What a contrast to Cain’s angry, self-righteous response (Heb 11:4).
Noah prepared an ark to the saving of his house. This was his life’s work and it urgently parallels our own calling in this world – the saving of our house. Noah worked diligently to that end and his example is ever more important as we see the end approaching. Can I put my own name in this verse? Make it true to my life-work? Do I see the warnings that God has given in His Word concerning the things that are about to befall this earth? Do they move me with fear such that I do something about it? Am I preparing an ark to the saving of my family? Does my righteous, devoted, Godly life condemn the world? (see 2Pet 2:5).
On account of his faithful obedience, Noah became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. The phrase is virtually identical to Paul’s statement to the Romans, that Abraham became the heir of the world…through the righteousness of faith (Rom 4:13).
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Abraham’s example of faith takes up a quarter of this chapter. And rightfully so, for his life was a constant succession of acts of faith. He came to be called the father of the faithful (Rom 4:16; James 2:21). The record of Abraham’s faithfulness began with his decision, at 75 years old, to obey God’s call to leave his homeland and family. He packed up all the substance that he had gathered in Haran and went forth, not knowing whither he went, but believing that God would perform His promises if he obeyed. The story is told in unemotional words in Genesis 12:1-5, but I can only imagine the sea of questions and doubts that Abram and Sarah had to endure.
Upon reaching the land of promise, Abraham did not settle down to build for himself a beautiful home and develop a city around him. He lived in tents, traveling from place to place for the rest of his life. Why? Because his mind and affection was set upon reaching a heavenly city, whose builder and maker is the eternal God of heaven and earth. In all the Scripture, there is not one hint that Abraham thought it strange that God would give him the land of Canaan and yet he had no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on (Acts 7:5, v16). The only property Abraham gained for himself in Canaan was Machpelah, the famous buryingplace for his family (Gen 23:9).
Notice the contrast between dwelling in tents and living in a city which hath foundations. The first represents our physical life as strangers and pilgrims on the earth (v13) and the latter is that heavenly country in the spiritual realm, the eternal home of the soul (v16). Their mind was set upon laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life (1Tim 6:19).
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Sarah surely knew that God had promised to give her a son by Abraham, but when it ceased to be with her after the manner of women (Gen 18:11) she and Abraham decided that they should have a son by surrogate. After all, she was at that time 77 years old. But thirteen years after Ishmael was born, God came to Abraham and repeated His promise to give Sarah a son. When he heard God’s words, Abraham laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? (Gen 17:17). Sarah overheard and laughed within herself too (Gen 18:10-12). In the Hebrew language, the words Isaac and laughed are almost the same.
I do not think that Abraham and Sarah doubted that God was able to give her a child, but that they laughed at the absurdity of the situation. They were both old and well-stricken in age. Physically it was not possible for Sarah to conceive, but she judged Him faithful who had promised. There is probably no closer type of Mary’s miraculous conception than Sarah’s conception. Abraham and Sarah, against hope believed in hope (Rom 4:18).
The nations and multitudes that sprang from Abraham are remarkable in number, not only on account of his descendants through Isaac, but also through Ishmael, who became the father of the Arab nations. After the death of Sarah, Abraham took another wife who bore him six more sons (Gen 25:1-2). However, God assured Abraham that His covenant would be with his children through Isaac (Gen 17:19-22) and these became known as the Jews. Of course, Abraham’s children today are all those with faith in Christ, for they are counted to be Jews by adoption (Gal 3:7-9). Together with the physical Jews of the Old Covenant, they have grown in number to be as the sand which by the sea.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob and their sons and daughters, all died in faith without having received the promises (Heb 11:39). Becoming a great nation, receiving the land of promise, having an innumerable quantity of offspring, blessing all the nations of the earth – none of those promises were fulfilled in their lifetime. Nor did they experience the greater, eternal promises of the heavenly city (Heb 11:16), of the eternal rest (Heb 4:8-11) and of seeing and knowing God face to face (Job 19:26; Ps 17:15). Nevertheless, they died in faith – they endured unto the end, they were faithful unto death, they patiently kept their souls (Mark 13:13; Rev 2:10; Luke 21:19); they were fully persuaded that what God had promised He would perform. See the end of the chapter for more about these promises (Heb 11:39-40).
If the Old Testament saints did not embrace the comforts and pleasures of this world, much more should the New Covenant people of God deny themselves in order to live as strangers and pilgrims on the earth. The patriarchs did not count themselves citizens of the land of Canaan for they chose heaven to be their place of residence (Php 3:20). Many indeed confess this same ideal today, but do they truly live as if they believe that?
Here again the qualities of Faith are in plain view. Although they had not yet received the promises (were still persevering), through the eye of faith they saw and were persuaded of them (they believed). They embraced the promises (obeyed them) and confessed (accepted) that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Abraham could have returned to his idolatrous country of easy living in Ur, but he was not mindful of that country from whence he came. He refused to bring it to mind. He chose to live as a pilgrim on the earth in order to inherit a better, heavenly country (Heb 11:25). Abraham’s mind was set upon leaving behind forever his old Chaldean life (a type of the world). In fact, he made his servant swear to never take his son back there (Gen 24:5-8). His example contrasts with the backslider of Heb 10:26.
The dispensationalists think to make God’s promises to Abraham to be prophecies with physical fulfillments, but the New Testament emphatically overturns that idea. Even the promise to give Abraham and his seed the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession (Gen 17:8) was only partially fulfilled in the physical realm. The blood Jews have not possessed the land of Canaan for even one-half of the time since Abraham. These verses show that Abraham was not even looking for an inheritance in the earthly land of Canaan. He desired a better country, that is, an heavenly one. And why not? Abraham knew that life is fleeting – it was far more valuable to focus his faith and hope on eternal, spiritual promises.
Of such people God is not ashamed. He will be their God and He will prepare for them an eternal city, for if the true tabernacle is in heaven (Heb 8:1-5), then the true Land of Promise is also a heavenly consideration.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
The faith of Abraham was never more tested than when God came to him, apparently in a night vision, and asked him to take his only son Isaac, whom thou lovest…and offer him there for a burnt offering (Gen 22:1-2). Abraham was surely shocked, but he walked with God for more than a century, seeking to be perfect before Him (Gen 17:1). Without questioning, without postponing, without doubting, Abraham rose up the next morning and did as God had told (Gen 22:3).
In faith, Abraham automatically and implicitly obeyed God’s command. His faith overruled the objections that his mind raised against God’s order to sacrifice Isaac. And oh, the blessing that Abraham received. There are no higher words of commendation in all the Bible than the ones God showered upon Abraham: Now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me…By Myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing…that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thee…and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed My voice (Gen 22:12-18). Abraham’s obedience speaks so loudly that we barely hear his confession of faith.
God asked Abraham to give Him the one possession he counted most dear in life. He will not ask less of you and me. The thing that you count most precious of all, God will put His finger upon it and say, “will you give it to Me?” Jesus said, He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me (Mat 10:37-39). He asked the rich young ruler to give up his wealth; He asked Matthew to leave his cushy job (Luke 5:27); He asked Saul to leave his promising career in Judaism; He asks us to give up our lives (Luke 9:24).
In truth, Abraham did offer up Isaac. He traveled three days, built the altar, laid on the wood, bound his son and then raised his knife to slay him. In his mind, Isaac was dead. Thus, in a figure he received him back from the dead. Abraham could not have forgotten that God had said His covenant would be with the seed of Isaac (Gen 17:18-19). He could not understand why God would then ask him to kill Isaac, but no matter, he obeyed God’s word because he had faith that God knew what He was doing.
Can we take the Word of God by the same faith that Abraham showed? I’m convinced that God is just waiting to pronounce the same blessing of Abraham upon the person who obeys His Word even without understanding it all. Now I know that thou fearest God…because thou hast done this thing…because thou hast obeyed My voice…I have sworn, saith the Lord, that in blessing I will bless thee. We cannot possibly comprehend what is all meant by that last phrase. “In blessing I will bless thee; I will add blessing to blessing; I will open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive” (Mal 3:10). The hand of God’s grace is limited only by the action of a man’s faith.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
The Scriptures record how Isaac, Jacob and Joseph lived out their fervent faith in God. Sometimes they failed to live perfectly, but their persevering goal was to please God. The core thought is that these three men blessed their sons as they were dying, thereby showing they believed in the afterlife of souls. Isaac prophesied concerning things to come; Jacob blessed his grandchildren and worshiped; Joseph foretold that God would bring Israel out of Egypt and made his brethren swear that they would carry his bones out with them (Gen 50:24-25). Even in dying, they looked forward into the future. Joseph lived in Egypt almost all of his life, but his heart was set upon another, better country (v16). He did not want his bones to remain in Egypt.
The Old Testament Scriptures do not teach much at all about life after death, but the acts of the faithful demonstrate that they believed to die is not the end of existence. Job famously affirmed, For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold (Job 19:25-27). Jesus gave the Sadducees another proof that the souls of physical dead were still alive, pointing out that God indicated Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were alive when He told Moses, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (Luke 20:37-38; Mat 22:31-32).
Some commentators have called Jacob “carnal” and in other ways given him a bad reputation for deceiving his father Isaac into blessing him instead of his older brother, Esau. Yet the real blame should fall on Isaac and Rebekah. Isaac intended to bless Esau even though God had said that Jacob was to receive it. Confirming that prophetic word, Esau had in fact sold the birthright to Jacob. In truth, the Hebrew word that the Scripture uses to say that Job was a perfect man (Job 1:1) is also used to describe Jacob (Gen 25:27).
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
The faith of Moses’ parents was not of common variety. The king had commanded that all Jewish male babies be killed, but Moses’ parents obeyed God rather than man (Acts 4:19). Moses was a proper (asteios) child, in the other translations of this word, he was a goodly child…exceeding fair (Ex 2:2; Acts 7:20).
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Like Joseph before him, Moses’ heart was not in Egypt. Although he was raised in the house of Pharaoh’s daughter and had all the riches and pleasures of Egypt at his right hand, Moses chose rather to identify with his enslaved brethren and suffer affliction. At about 40 years of age, he was forced to flee from Pharaoh into the wilderness where he lived as a stranger in a strange land (Ex 2:22) for another forty years.
The Apostle implies that Christ was involved in world affairs long before Jesus was born and was known to Moses. And other affirmations agree. The Rock that followed Israel in the desert was Christ (1Cor 10:4), whose other Old Testament names include, “God with us” (Mat 1:23), “Jehovah our righteousness” (Jer 23:6) and “Everlasting Father” (Is 9:6), “Jehovah of hosts” (Is 44:6), “the I Am” (John 8:58). Jesus showed this truth to the Jews, but they could not understand (Mat 22:44). Of course, the fact that the Messiah would be God was only vaguely revealed in the Old Testament. The LXX, for instance, virtually always translates Christos as simply, “anointed.”
The term, the reproach of Christ, matches the Prophets’ description of the Messiah as a suffering servant. The most well-known example is Isaiah 53, but the Old Testament has many such prophesies of Jesus Christ. In the messianic Psalms 69, the word reproach (oneidismos) is found six times in reference to Christ. The reproach of Christ is to suffer persecution on account of faith in God (Heb 10:33; 11:36-38), on account of identifying with Christ (Heb 13:13).
The motivating impulse in Moses’ life was the hope of eternal reward (misthapodosia). His strong faith was that God is a rewarder (misthapodotes) of them that diligently seek Him (Heb 11:6). These words are found only in the book of Hebrews (Heb 2:2; 10:35).
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Moses forsook Egypt on two occasions. The first time he was forced to flee Egypt because Pharaoh sought to kill him (Ex 2:15). But when the Invisible One appeared to him and gave him commandment, Moses returned to Egypt on a mission of deliverance. He boldly approached Pharaoh ten times with God’s message, not fearing the wrath of the king. Finally Moses succeeded and this time he forsook Egypt for good, but not before keeping the Lord’s commandment of the Passover. Afterwards, he led the children of Israel out with a high hand (Ex 14:8) and they passed through the waters of the Red Sea.
On the night that Moses led Israel out of Egypt, the first Passover ceremony in history took place. The commandment was for every family to kill a lamb and sprinkle its blood with a sprig of hyssop upon the upper and side posts of every house door (Ex 12:22). That night the Lord passed through Egypt and looked upon the door of every household. The ones that had the blood sprinkled upon its sides were passed over (thus, the Passover), but the Destroyer was sent into the house of every door without the blood. Spiritually speaking it is a ceremony that has happened millions of times in history to Jews and Gentiles alike. If the blood of true Lamb has been applied to the door of your heart, God will pass over you and will not suffer the Destroyer to com in unto your houses to smite you (Ex 12:23).
There might be an allusion to baptism in the sprinkling of blood, which at the Passover indicated identification with Jehovah God and immunity from the death angel. The water of baptism in the New Testament is to identify with Christ, as seeing Him who is invisible (aoraton). See Col 1:15; 1Tim 1:17.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
The conquest of Jericho is a lesson in collective faith, for all the armies of Israel obeyed the commandment of the Lord in the week-long marches around the city. Rahab and her household was spared because they believed that the Lord God of Israel is God in heaven above and in earth beneath (Josh 2:11) and asked for mercy (Josh 2:12-13). Then she obeyed and kept the covenant of words – she bound the scarlet line in her window and did not leave the house until the city had fallen (Josh 2:17-21). Accordingly, the New Testament uses Rahab to illustrate the importance of good works (James 2:25), which is the obedience aspect of saving faith.
The Greek word here translated believed not (apeitheo) is often rendered, “obeyed not” (i.e. 1Pet 4:17; Rom 2:8). It is a detail that illustrates again the multi-dimensional character of saving faith. In the Scriptures, the word faith (pistis, pisteuo) sometimes refers to the Christian faith in general (as in 1Pet 5:9; Jude 1:3; Titus 1:3) and sometimes to one of its more specific aspects (hearing, believing, accepting, doing, persevering). In the present chapter, by faith very clearly refers to faith in its fullness.
The household of Rahab, although “Gentile”, was spared and allowed to live in Israel (Josh 6:22-25). They were apparently adopted into the Jewish nation after the required cleansing rites were completed, for they are not mentioned again in the histories of the Scriptures until the genealogy of Christ (Mat 1:5). By God’s own mouth, Ruth and Rahab should not have been included in the promises of Israel. They were Gentiles and foreigners to the commonwealth of Israel, excluded from the congregation of the Lord for ever (Deut 23:3). Yet, God’s grace cannot fail to find the sincere heart of faith and how He rewards them that diligently seek Him! God is moved by man’s humility and petition; He is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love (Heb 6:10). Rahab and her family were saved by faith.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
The names and feats in this list are irrefutable proofs that authentic, saving faith is an active, continuing result of believing and accepting the covenant of God. More than just a confession of belief in God, it is to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing (Col 1:10), following after righteousness, godliness, faith, love patience, meekness (1Tim 6:11). First, they believe that He is, and second, that He rewards all that diligently seek Him in constant good works of obedience (Heb 11:6). These are men of action, not men of words. Their commitments to fervent faith moved God to work mighty, impossible things through them for the sake of His name.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Not all of the faith-heroes were specimens of victory, success and glory. In this list, the Apostle describes many remarkable instances of fortifying faith through times of tremendous earthly suffering. The Twelve were reviled, beaten and eventually killed (except John), but the Scriptures say that they actually rejoiced to be counted worthy to suffer shame for His name (Acts 5:41; 2Thes 1:5). Down through the centuries of the Church Age, untold millions of faithful men, women and children have added their experiences to the ones named here. Most have been long forgotten by human memory, but not one has been forgotten by the One who has promised to reward them with a better resurrection.
Torture, mockery, scourging, imprisonment, cruel death, hunger, poverty, afflictions, torments, flight, life in hiding – these are the marks that Faith will leave upon the soul that has truly chosen God. ALL that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (2Tim 3:12; 1Pet 2:19-21). We should never think it disgraceful to suffer for righteousness’ sake, but as marks of honor, scars of triumph, wounds of victory (1Pet 3:14).
Of these, the world is not worthy. What a vindicating statement for these down-trodden ones that the World has hated, rejected and counted not worthy to even draw breath. God’s tribute is: “It is not that you are unworthy of the World, but that the World is unworthy of you.” The World loves its own and hates the followers of Christ (John 15:18-19). And who the World hates, it persecutes. Do you feel hated by the World? If not, it would be worthwhile to examine why not. Denying self and taking up the cross of Christ is to bear reproach (v26). These will be found worthy to walk with Him in white in that heavenly country where God has prepared for them a city (Rev 3:4; Heb 11:16).
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
The men of faith who lived before Christ did not receive the promise until Jesus opened up the way into heaven by His own blood. His death provided the sacrifice necessary for the forgiveness of sins and His resurrection allowed the souls under the Old Covenant to rise with Him and ascend to Paradise. Jesus death and resurrection destroyed the power of Satan (Heb 2:14) which he had long held as “certificates of death” over every sinful man (Col 2:14-15). Suddenly they were freed from their place in Hades and rose with the triumphant Christ (Eph 4:8; Mat 27:53; Dan 12:2).
By the Old Testament examples given in this chapter, it is apparently possible to live by faith in God without the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. The better covenant (Heb 8:6) of the New Testament however, includes the promise that the Holy Spirit will come and dwell in the heart of every believer (Rom 8:9). It is one of proofs that the promises, even to Abraham, were not to be fulfilled in the physical but in the spiritual realm. The land of inheritance was not physical Canaan but spiritual Canaan, the better country (Heb 11:16) and city without foundations (Heb 11:10) is heaven.
They without us should not be made perfect. The Old Testament saints could not be made perfect by offering sacrifices (Heb 7:19; 9:9; 10:1); they had to wait until the one offering of Christ was made (Heb 10:14). Now they and us are made perfect by the same sacrifice.