Ancestors
of Faith
Hebrews 11:1-7
Paul reminds us that without faith we cannot keep
the law. The law is important and cannot be ignored; however, it is faith that we
will be saved.
Hebrews 11:4 ESV
[4] By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable
sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending
him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
We read that there is a connection between faith
and sacrifice. To understand this connection, we need to look at verse 3.
Hebrews 11:3 ESV
[3] By faith we understand that the universe was
created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that
are visible.
We understand that God has made everything and
has given us everything. We might view God as a means to get what we want. This
was not the case with Abel. Abel had faith in God and understood that God was deserving
of sacrifice and so he was grateful when he sacrificed.
Hebrews 11:5 ESV
[5] By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should
not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was
taken he was commended as having pleased God.
Enoch had so much faith that he went to heaven
without experiencing death. Enoch was commended as one who pleased God.
We will experience physical death but because
of Jesus' sacrifice we will not experience a spiritual death. If we abide in Jesus,
we will live a pleasing life to God. It will be obvious to God and to others. We
will abide in Jesus and follow our calling.
Hebrews 11:7 ESV
[7] By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning
events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his
household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness
that comes by faith.
Noah heard God's calling and followed God's instructions.
He lived for God and did what we was told for 120 years.
We have been called to be what we are doing. It
was not the job that is important but how we did it. If we have genuine faith we
will spread the gospel. Spreading the gospel is a natural response to God's grace.
Hebrews 11:1 ESV
[1] Now faith is the assurance of things hoped
for, the conviction of things not seen.
Faith is assurance of things hoped for and our
confidence is the reality of our faith. Faith is seeing God's plan realized. A life
of faith is living by responding to God's promises and knowing God will judge.
True faith shapes our actions. Our lives are testaments
to others.
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