Three Points. The Holy Spirit has three points he wants to make in Hebrews 11. The chapter is divided into three main sections: verses 4-16, 17-31, and 32-38.     The first section of Hebrews 11 is all about obedience. Here we see Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham and Sarah. Abel offered a sacrifice (v. 4). Enoch was pleasing to God (v. 5-6). He pleased God because he believed that God existed and he was seeking Him. Noah prepared an ark. Abraham “obeyed” by leaving his country and living in an alien land (v. 7-10). Sarah conceived a son (v. 11). Every illustration makes the point that real faith is marked by obedience.     Then the Spirit show that real faith believes that God’s promises about the future will happen. Here we see that Abraham offers his son because he trusts God to fulfill His promises by raising his son from the dead (v. 17-19). Isaac blesses Jacob trusting God for a future fulfillment (v. 20). The Holy Spirit is referring to Genesis 27:27-29 where Isaac blessed Jacob, with a blessing that looked to the future. In Heb. 11:21, Jacob worships Jesus (Gen. 49:10) even though He had not yet arrived. Next He says that Joseph gave orders about bringing his bones back to Israel because God had promised (Gen. 15:13 ) that the Jews would return to their land (v. 22). Moses left his royal position in Egypt because of Jesus (v. 23-29). Each example is about men who believed a future event would occur.     The final section shows us that real faith is willing to suffer.         And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. (NASB) Heb. 11:32-38       Meaning of Faith. The Greek word for “faith” is PISTOS. Its meaning has been illustrated for us. Now for the actual meaning in the Greek. Here is a list of definitions: “belief, persuasion, obedience, confidence, trust, and conviction.” The word occurs in the papyri. There it means “guarantee.” Here is a sentence in which it was used, “You have a guarantee for all that I cannot show a written receipt for.” The word is used in Homer of the gods who vouch for the truth of an alliance or treaty. Faith is not just the belief “that the unseen God is.” It must result in obedience, a firm belief that future promises come true, and a willingness to suffer for what you know is fact. The best test that your faith is real is that you are willing to suffer. That is the ultimate test of what you consider to be truth!     The driver who commanded his horse to cross the icy St. Lawrence River believed so strongly that the ice would support him he drove on across - horse, carriage and all. He believed there was ice and not water. So he charged ahead trusting in the seconds ahead that the ice would hold. He believed he knew what was true about the ice.         < Back    Next >
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