Thesis: To impart to the hearer what the bible teaches concerning the faith of Abraham, father/ancestor of the faithful.
Text: Heb 11:8-16
Introduction,
“Faith” as put forth in the bible is a very important and essential aspect of the Christian life (Heb 11:6).
Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
And faith is plainly “defined” in the bible as well (Heb 11:1)
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Yet the “faith” spoken of in the “bible” is not a subjective entity, it is not based upon what one person or another may believe, but rather it is belief, an assurance, a conviction in that which “God” has said, in His word (Rom 10:17).
Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (God; Jn 12:49; 17:8, 20-21)
Yet for the most part many individuals are wrongly led concerning just what is “faith” as the bible depicts, some teach that it is only that of mental assent, yet the bible teaches that the faith which consists of mental assent “only” is the kind of faith one should not have (Ja 2:17, 26).
Jas 2:17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Jas 2:26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
But rather the type of faith which God expects His people to posses is that which provokes one to action, to works of obedience unto God (Ja 2:20-24).
Jas 2:20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
Jas 2:22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
Jas 2:23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God.
Jas 2:24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
This is that which is known as the “obedience of faith” and is the main purpose of the letter to the Romans, it starts with this admonition (Rom 1:3-5).
Rom 1:3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
Rom 1:4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
Rom 1:5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
And it ends with it (Rom 16:25-26).
Rom 16:25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages
Rom 16:26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—
And one of the most brought up individuals among God’s creatures concerning examples of “faith” is the faith of Abraham, basically he is known as “faithful Abraham” (Gal 3:9), the spiritual ancestor of those that imitate his faith (Gal 3:7-9).
Gal 3:7 Know therefore that they that are of faith, the same are sons of Abraham.
Gal 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all the nations be blessed.
Gal 3:9 So then they that are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. (ASV)
In fact 3 major religions claim a connection with Abraham; Judaism, Islam and Christianity, the number of these 3 combined roughly adds up to about one-half of the world’s population.
Yet Christianity, the Way, the Faith, in fact Jesus Christ Himself, states that it is “only” through “Him” that one is able to approach God the Father, Jesus stated (John 14:6) . . .
Joh 14:6 . . ."I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Thus the follower of Christ is forced into a doctrine of exclusivity by the Lord; Islam and Judaism are left out in the cold, (for they reject Jesus as the Christ, the only way to God), if this is not the case then our Lord was a liar, of course we know that He never lied nor committed any sin (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22).
And those that are not agreed with Him in this point are in fact figuratively fighting against Him, there is no so called middle ground, no neutral position concerning Christ, He Himself stated (Mt 12:30) . . .
Mat 12:30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Yet, despite all this, and all that is falsely brought forth in the religions of men (as in Islam), or those formerly abolished, nailed to the cross by God (such as Judaism; Eph 2:15; Col 2:14), Abraham is a person we need to take a closer look at, in order that we may better see that which God approves of concerning “faith” and in order that we may better adjust the lives we have been given by God to be aligned with His will, for we, like Abraham, need to be called “a friend of God” (Ja 2:22-23).
Therefore today we will look at what the letter to the Hebrews states concerning the faith of Abraham in Hebrews chapter 11, which is commonly known as “the hall of faith,” and glean from it some of the lessons that are brought forth therein, thus we will look at . . .
1) The Active Faith of Abraham (and his wife Sarah) (Heb 11:8-12)
2) The Confession of the Faithful (Heb 11:13-14)
3) The Hope of the Faithful (Heb 11:15-16)
I. THE ACTIVE FAITH OF ABRAHAM (AND HIS WIFE SARAH) (Heb 11:8-12)
A. (Heb 11:8)
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
Here we see the main thrust of this chapter (the hall of faith), the words “by faith” occur 38 times in the NT and 18 times in this chapter alone, thus almost half of the occurrences are here, and this chapter indeed teaches us that like in Abraham’s case, the faith that obeys is evidence of ones’ spiritual status in the sight of God.
In fact when you go through all the cases where faith is spoken of as saving an individual (as in the times of the earthly ministry of our Lord), one can literally make up a list concerning what each individual “did” based upon that faith, the same is the case here, Abraham was called, and he obeyed, he went.
Today individuals are also called by God, through the gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Thess 2:14).
2Th 2:14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And this calling comes from heaven itself (Heb 3:1a) . . .
Heb 3:1a Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling,
And many are called, but sadly few have chosen to obey that call, as did Abraham, and that is exactly what this verse expresses (Mt 22:14).
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
For it is written concerning this call (1 Cor 1:26) . . .
1Co 1:26 For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
But those that are humble, lowly, poor of spirit, that are convicted of their sinful state by the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:8), before the Most High God, and their need for what only He can give (Ps 103:3), these are those that answer that call (Mt 5:3).
Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Look at what it states concerning Abraham’s going out to receive his inheritance . . . “he went out, not knowing where he was going”, this is about as close to that which is referred to as “blind faith” as is seen in the bible; Abraham was called, he went out, and didn’t really know where he was headed, but he trusted God to direct him to the place where he could receive “an inheritance.”
The same is true today, one hears the word of God, and is called by it, determines to answer that heavenly call, but for the most part they do not know that which it totally entails, where they are going in many aspects of their lives, what is required of them, in order to be faithful, holy children of God.
The world has painted a differing picture than that which God paints for His perspective followers, the world speaks of riches, joy and blessings, and these are true hopes, yet, the Lord states this concerning those that want to follow Him (Luke 14:26-33) . . .
Luk 14:26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate (love-less) his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
Luk 14:28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?
Luk 14:29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,
Luk 14:30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'
Luk 14:31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
Luk 14:32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.
Luk 14:33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
Disciples of Christ need to renounce all earthly things in their lives, put them on the back burner, and seek first the kingdom of God (Mt 6:33), yet there are promises to followers of Christ while upon this earth, but again, not everything one may have bargained for.
We, like Abraham, need to trust God to lead us to the promised land, this calls for a great deal of faith in God’s promises, for he (Abraham) had to leave a well established permanent home, separate from his friends and relatives in order do that which God called him to, and the same is true many times with us today (Mt 10:29-30) . . .
Mar 10:29 Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel,
Mar 10:30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
But the hope of eternal life combined with the surety of He Who made this promise (Tit 1:2), should be enough to sustain us through the hardships imposed upon the righteous in this ungodly world, for they are but temporal endurances while God, Who cannot lie (Heb 6:18), promises us that it is worth all that and more (Rom 8:16-18).
Rom 8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
Rom 8:17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Rom 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
B. (Heb 11:9)
Heb 11:9 By faith he (became a sojourner) went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
Therefore Abraham went into the land of promise, but he did not posses it, the only real part of that land which was his was that which he purchased to bury his wife Sarah (Gen 23), it would be his descendants that would fully receive the land promise under David and Solomon (2 Sam 8:3; 2 Chro 9:26; 1 Ki 4:21; Neh 9:8, 24).
Therefore he was resolved (as were his descendants) that he was but a sojourner, a temporal resident while upon this earth, this is the case with all of God’s people, this world is not our true home, we came from heaven and were going back to heaven (Eccl 12:7), that is why we are told to focus upon heaven (Col 3:1-4).
Col 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Col 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
We are told to send our treasures there, where they will be waiting for us (Mt 6:19-21).
Mat 6:19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
Mat 6:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
C. (Heb 11:10)
Heb 11:10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
The people at Babel after the flood, like those of the line of Cain built their own cities, they were attempting to make a name for themselves (Gen 11:4), they even named their cities after themselves, attempting to glorify themselves (Gen 4:17), yet their cities are now in ruins, they have long ago turned into dust.
But we, like Abraham “by faith” look for a permanent city, one with lasting foundations (Eph 2:20; Rev 21:9-27).
Eph 2:20 being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone;
That city, that place which was built, prepared, by God, not by men, Jesus stated (John 14:1-3)…
Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions (Gr. abiding-places); if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
And that city is one that will be in existence long after this universe will have passed away (Heb 12:22-28; Rev 21:1-4) . . .
Heb 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable (hosts of) angels in festal gathering,
Heb 12:23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
Heb 12:24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Heb 12:25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.
Heb 12:26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."
Heb 12:27 This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb 12:28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship (service), with reverence and awe,
Heb 12:29 for our God is a consuming fire.
D. (Heb 11:11)
Heb 11:11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive (seed), even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
Sarah also is put before us as one who lived a life “by faith,” many of us remember her for the plan she concocted in her attempt to run ahead and help God, we need to remember that God needs no help, and that which He wants us to do, He makes clear, there is no reason to go ahead of God in the gospel today, that is merely a progressive gospel, and is proof that one is not in fellowship with God (2 John 9).
2Jn 1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead (progresses) and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
But it could be that Sarah and Abraham both thought that God would give her the promised seed through her maid servant, for it wasn’t until Gen 17:16 when God came and told Abraham directly that it would be through Sarah that the great nation would come, and that after the conceiving and birth of Ishmael.
Thus the basic lesson that needs to be learned here is we need to “wait on the Lord” to give Him the time that He needs in order to properly bring to fruition His will, oftentimes our timetables are shorter than God’s and we need to “by faith” exercise patience and trust in His working, for it is written (Isa 40:28-31) . . .
Isa 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
Isa 40:29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Isa 40:30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;
Isa 40:31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
And also there is the question about the laughing of Sarah at the Lord’s promise (Gen 18:12-14), we need to remember that our perfect God works through imperfect people, she may have doubted the promise of the Lord when she first heard it, but soon afterwards she believed, “is anything too hard for the Lord?” No!!!
We can also look at Abraham, not only did he also laugh concerning God’s promises (Gen 17:17), he also took Lot with him even though he was told to be separated from his kinsmen (Gen 12:1), it was because of Lot’s being with him that invoked Abraham to shed blood in the saving of Lot and his house when they were taken captive (Gen 15). Also Abraham went to Egypt without command (Gen 13; in others words it wasn’t “by faith,” Rom 10:17), he lied in Egypt, in fact it is likely that Egypt is the place where Hagar came into the picture (Gen 12:16), in other words, no Egypt, no lying, no Hagar, no running ahead of God, just faithfully suffering and waiting on the Lord.
Therefore we can see that neither was Abraham perfect, but God was still able to accomplish that which He purposed concerning him, and He can do the same with us today.
The gospel is also known as “the perfect law of liberty” (Ja 1:25), the gospel system is put forth in a way that it is able to perfectly save imperfect mankind.
It puts you right in the sight of God “by faith” (Jn 5:24), through Jesus (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 10:14),
It washes away sins (Acts 22:16) “by faith” (Col 2:12), through Jesus (Rev 1:5).
“By faith” it gives one the ability to receive more forgiveness when stumbling takes place (Acts 8:22; Ja 5:16; 1 John 1:9), through Jesus (1 Jn 1:7), and . . .
“By faith” it is able to actually change it’s adherents into the likeness of God as one spends time believing and earnestly applying its precepts (Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 4:16; Eph 4:23-24; Col 3:9-10), this is also known as “the renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Tit 3:5).
And all this is “by faith” God said it, we believe it, and respond to it (Ja 1:21-25).
Jas 1:21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Jas 1:23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.
Jas 1:24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
Jas 1:25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres (continues), being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts (works), he will be blessed in his doing.
E. (Heb 11:12)
Heb 11:12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
Concerning the seed promise, God made two very unlikely individuals (one barren, the other so old he was as good as dead) into a great nation (this started with Isaac and was fulfilled in Egypt; Ex 1:7).
And when you take into account the ongoing spiritual descendants of Abraham through the gospel, clearly the ability of God to fulfill His promises goes without question (Gal 3:26-29).
Gal 3:26 For you are all sons (children) of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.
Gal 3:28 There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for you all are one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed (descendants), heirs according to promise.
Therefore let us “by faith” believe and obey that call (2 Thess 2:14) that carries with it the promises of Him “Who cannot lie” (Tit 1:2), and “is able to make us stand” (Rom 14:4), based upon our “faith” which results in the obedience thereto (2 Pet 1:5-7, 10).
2Pe 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
2Pe 1:6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
2Pe 1:7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
2Pe 1:10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
II. THE CONFESSION OF THE FAITHFUL (Heb 11:13-14)
A. (Heb 11:13a)
Heb 11:13a These all died in (Gr. according to) faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar,
All these (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Sarah) died “according to faith.”
This teaches us that physical death is not to be feared, but rather looked at as a part of the process of our existence (look at Heb 2:14-15) . . .
Heb 2:14 Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Yes death is an enemy, because of the pain, because of the unknown, but revelation has assured us that it is going to be OK, and more than that, that we are going back home (Eccl 12:7), and it’s going to be better than ever (Lk 23:43).
Luk 23:43 And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
So what should our response be? Like our Lord’s (1 Cor 11:1; Lk 23:46) . . .
Luk 23:46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.
And get ready for the ride of our life, or should I say the ride of our death, being transported by the angels to the heavenly places (Lk16:22).
And keep in mind God is over all (Eph 4:6), He has appointed the day of our physical death (Heb 9:27) just like He has appointed that Day which will usher in the eternal kingdom (Acts 17:31) in which we will exist and be with God forever and ever (Rev 22:5) in our risen (1 Cor 15:23), changed (1 Cor 15:52) imperishable, just like Jesus bodies (Phili 3:21; 1 Jn 3:2), and in that place the former things, pain, crying, death, and so forth will be no more (Rev 21:4).
So we need to by faith have the mindset of Paul and our Lord Jesus (Phili 1:21-23)
Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Php 1:22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.
Php 1:23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
And our Lord Jesus (Jn 17:24; Phili 3:21)
Joh 17:24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Php 3:21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
2. None of these (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Sarah) literally received possession of the land, seen the day that their seed was as the sand of the sea, nor the promise of blessing the entire world through the Messiah.
The fact that they did not receive the promises did not deter their faith, they looked at it through the eye of faith, as confirmed by Christ (John 8:56).
Joh 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it, and was glad.
In other words, they believed God, and they understood God, and they looked forward to ultimately being with God, as should we, for we are much nearer to our eternal inheritance (the new creation, 2 Esdras 7:75; the new heavens and the new earth. 2 Pet 3:13; Rev 21:1) than were they, and much, much more has been revealed unto us than they concerning things such as the 2nd coming of the Lord, the resurrection, and the eternal state of the redeemed (1 Cor 15; 1 Thess 4:16-18; Rev 21:1-22:5; etc.).
B. (Heb 11:13b)
Heb 11:13b and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (ASV)
We need to understand that where we are today, in this cursed earthly realm, separated from the holy God, is punitive, because of sin, yet they, by living their life of faith unto God, and His promises, both by their lips and their actions they confessed that they were but strangers upon this earth, this type of mindset is brought forth well in Ps 39:12 . . .
Psa 39:12 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. (KJV)
The word “pilgrim” literally means “one who crosses a field,” these who are “pilgrims” are those who consider this world but a field to cross on the way to their final destination, their true home.
Concerning this world, they knew it was temporal, they knew it was not the true abode of God, thus they loved it not, neither ought we, as it is written (1 John 2:15-17) . . .
1Jn 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (Rom 5:5; Eph 1:13)
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world—the desires (lust) of the flesh and the desires (lust) of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
1Jn 2:17 And the world is passing away along with its desires (lusts), but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
For those that are called by the gospel, are called out of the world (John 15:19)
Joh 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
In fact we can either choose to be friends of God (Ja 2:23), or friends of the world, we can’t have it both ways (Ja 4:4; Mt 6:24).
Jas 4:4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Mat 6:24 "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money (mammon).
Also in some versions the word “pilgrims” here is translated “exiles” (ESV; NASB) or “aliens” (NIV), and there is something to be said about that . . .
We are “exiles” from God in this realm because of sin, our love and practice of it, that close fellowship lost in the garden with Him will be regained in the new creation (Rev 21:1-4).
We “by faith” are “aliens” in the world as it is, being children of light, not of darkness, children from above, not below, we as believers and followers of Christ confess that this world is not our true home and desire to be with God in the heavenly places, as did Jesus in His prayer to the Father (Jn 17:5) . . .
Joh 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
C. (Heb 11:14)
Heb 11:14 For they who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. (NASB)
When they confessed that they were not like the majority in this world (1 Jn 5:19), looking for, focusing upon earthly things, but rather followers of true and living God, by doing this they separated themselves from the world, and showed forth to others that which they were looking forward to, and seeking, heaven, their own true and eternal home.
We in like manner, when we confess Jesus as the Christ, the resurrected Son of the living God, and tell of the hope we have through and in Him, the hope of following Him to be with the Father (Jn 14:6), we in this manner manifest to others that which we are truly seeking (Rom 10:9-10).
Rom 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
In doing this we confess that the earthly things which we are blessed with are actually God’s (Ps 24:1),
Psa 24:1 The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
And are merely tools in which to glorify God with on our journey toward heaven (1 Cor 1:31; 10:31).
1Co 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Because those “that seek” heaven according to God’s will, “shall find,” and a big part of that is the mindset that enables one to boldly confess faith in the promises of God to others (2 Pet 3:13).
2Pe 3:13 But according to His promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (EMTV)
Confession of Christ and God’s promises through Him is an essential part of God’s plan of salvation, it promotes the kingdom, it develops one’s confidence and faith in God, and it builds faith in others, consider the apostle Paul in Phili 1:21-27 (turn there) . . .
Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Php 1:22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.
Php 1:23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
Php 1:24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
Php 1:25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,
Php 1:26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
Php 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
Therefore let us bring forth “the confession of the faithful” in order that others may hear, believe, obey, confess, and have hope, as did Abraham (Heb 10:23; 1 Pet 1:3-4).
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you,
III. THE HOPE OF THE FAITHFUL (Heb 11:15-16)
A. (Heb 11:15)
Heb 11:15 If they had been thinking of that land (country) from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.
If Abraham and his descendants’ ultimate aim had been to posses a place on earth, they would have returned to Ur of the Chaldees, in order to enjoy the great advantages which the luxuries of that advanced civilization could have provided to them, in spite of his idolatrous family.
Many times today we have to forsake the things of the world that are connected to sin, and are caused hardship in this life because of this separating, yet that has been true throughout the ages, as seen with the case of Moses (Heb 11:24-26).
Heb 11:24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
Heb 11:25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
Heb 11:26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
Yet again, this is no knew thing, and it is merely God’s way of weeding out those whose hearts are not good and honest before His all seeing eyes, as seen in the case of the thorny soil in the parable of the sower (Luke 8:14).
Luk 8:14 And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
In fact the word of God teaches us that those that look back to their former life, apart from God’s will, are like Lot’s wife, who was turned into a pillar of salt (Gen 19:26), they are not fit for the kingdom (Luke 9:59-62).
Luk 9:59 To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."
Luk 9:60 And Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God."
Luk 9:61 Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home."
Luk 9:62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
Here is the mindset we are to have concerning our former lives outside of Christ (turn to Rom 6:20-23) . . .
Rom 6:20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. (Before the gospel became part of our lives we were unrighteous, like the rest of the unconverted world; 1 Jn 5:19)
Rom 6:21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. (We should be ashamed of our former lives, walking as the world walks, for those ways end in one’s spiritual demise)
Rom 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. (Good works in the Lord is our new lot upon this earth; being God’s salt and light unto His glory, not servants of sin, our practice proves whose we are; 1 Jn 3:4-10)
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Again, we look forward to and even now enjoy fellowship with God, for the end of sin is eternal separation from God, permanently without God and without hope in this world and the next)
Bottom line, we should not be ashamed of the gospel (Rom 1:16), or of Christ (Lk 9:26), but we should be ashamed of our former lives without God and without hope in this world (Eph 2:12), loving the things of the world (1 Jn 2:15-17), being enemies of God (Ja 4:4).
B. (Heb 11:16)
Heb 11:16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
They desired a better country, one that was superior to Chaldea or Canaan, they sought a land that is spiritual, imperishable, for God is an imperishable Spirit (John 4:24), thus God was not ashamed of them in this mind-set.
The implication in this text is that if they would have been more worldly-minded, setting their hopes and joys more upon earthly matters, then God “would” have been ashamed of them.
How much more would He be ashamed of us who have access to God’s complete revelation, who can see His entire revealed plan from start to finish, we are not to be ashamed of our Lord, nor His gospel, for He Himself said (Luke 9:26) . . .
Luk 9:26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Paul wrote (Rom 1:16) . . .
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
And also Peter writes (1 Pet 4:16) . . .
1Pe 4:16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
Here (Heb 11:16), the inspired writer states that God had prepared a city for Abraham, this is applicable to his spiritual descendants also (Gal 3:26-29), this was a work in progress during our Lord’s earthly ministry, He stated (John 14:2-3) . . .
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions (Gr. abiding-places); if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
But now that work is completed, Christ has been crucified, resurrected, and ascended into heaven, He is our Forerunner (Heb 6:20), the firstfruits of them raised (1 Cor 15:23), to the resurrection of life (John 5:29), never to die again (Rev 1:18).
And when that raising takes place it will be to inherit that city, which is spoken of in Rev 21-22.
That city where righteousness only dwells, the lusts of the world will not exist in this place (2 Pet 3:13).
2Pe 3:13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.
Every gate in the heavenly city is pictured as a pearl (Rev 21:21), a pearl is formed in an oyster, from that which was an annoyance (a speck of dirt), in other words a hardship, an obstacle, soon becomes a blessing, in the same manner the gospel may impose earthly hardships upon us, but they are for our ultimate good.
And it streets are pictured being made of pure gold (Rev 21:21), that base metal which people in this world live, die and kill for, this earthly wealth will finally have its proper place, to be trodden underfoot, and the true riches, intimate fellowship with God, will be eternally enjoyed (Rev 21:1-4).
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more.
Rev 21:2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God:
Rev 21:4 and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away.
And these blessings in this city can only be realized, apprehended “by faith” through “the Faith” “the Way” the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Gal 1:6-9 teaches us that the “only gospel” is the one that was preached in the 1st century, that “one Faith” (Eph 4:5)
Jude 3 teaches us that “the Faith” was once for all delivered back in the apostilic days,
John 16:13 teaches us that “all the truth” was revealed to selected men in the 1st century.
We sin the same way as they did back then (Rom 3:23), and we are saved the same way unto the same living hope they had back then, and this is that unchanging plan . . .
One is to . . .
Hear the Word of God (Acts 2:37; Rom 10:17) this how the Father plants the word, the seed of the kingdom (Lk 8:11), within the good ground, that good, honest and open heart.
One is to . . .
Believe that Jesus died for our sins, was raised from the dead, and ascended into Heaven, and that we have a living hope of following Him (1 Cor 15:1-4; 23; 1 Pet 1:3-4), belief (faith) is the crossover point (Jn 5:24) wherein one enters into the process of “being saved” (Lk 13:23; Acts 2:46; 1 Cor 1:18; 15:2; 2 Cor 2:15)
Joh 5:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
And one is not to stop there, but rather continue in the process of “being saved” (Lk 13:23; Acts 2:46; 1 Cor 1:18; 15:2; 2 Cor 2:15) . . .
One is to . . .
Repent of sins, (Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3, 5), Repentance is a change of mind that results in a changed life, a life
that is likened unto Christ’s (Jn 14:6; 1 Cor 11:1)
One is to . . .
Confess Jesus as the Christ to others (Acts 8:37; Rom 10:9), if you are ashamed of Christ and His words, He will be ashamed of you on That Day (Luke 9:26), this is how God propagates His kingdom (Mt 28:19-20).
One is to . . .
Be baptized (immersed) into Christ (Gal 3:27) into the death of Christ (Rom 6:3) where His precious blood was shed (John 19:34) unto (for) the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16), it is the point where one is to be dead to the practice of sin and alive unto God (Rom 6:1-11).
And finally one is to . . . Live a holy life (1 Pet 1:15), and “knowing” what being “holy” is, “separated” “set-apart” “FROM” the ways of the world and “TO” the Way of God (2 Cor 6:14-7:1), doing, practicing the will of the Father, being “doers” of the word (Ja 1:22) in order that you won’t have your name blotted out the book of life (Rev 3:5), that you may enter into the eternal phase of the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet 1:10-11)
2Pe 1:10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
2Pe 1:11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.