Case Studies in Faith:

By Faith Abraham Saw a City

Hebrews 11:8-16 (ESV)

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.  [9] By faith he 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.  [10] For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.  [11] By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.  [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.

[13] These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.  [14] For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.  [15] If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.  [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.

As we begin this morning we should reread the opening verse showing us the characteristics of faith from Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 11:1-2 (ESV)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  [2] For by it the people of old received their commendation.

One big piece of this text today when we take into account the apostle’s description of faith is that assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen, is that all the ones mentioned never received the promises while on this earth.  None of the people mentioned in Hebrews 11 actually received what they had been convinced of while alive.  By this fact, and by other verses in Scripture, we shouldn’t think that God’s promises will be fulfilled while we’re alive either. Continue Reading

Case Studies in Faith:

Enoch Walked With God

Hebrews 11:5-6 (ESV)

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.  [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.

Saving faith, the faith that justifies the ungodly not only saves the sinner but it pleases God.  Last week we learned about the faith of Abel.  We learned that it was his faith in God and what God had said that Abel was counted among the righteous.  He believed God and by faith acted on that belief.  That type of faith pleases God because it looks toward God’s Son.  Saving faith glorifies Jesus Christ and this pleases God the Father.

Genesis 5:21-24 (ESV)

When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. [22] Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. [23] Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. [24] Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

We don’t know much about Enoch.  Mostly when he’s mentioned it is in the context of a genealogy list which has his name.  That’s about half the time.  The two other places that really tell us anything are here before us today.

What is before us is extremely important.  Simply put, Enoch walked with God by faith and this greatly please God.  What Scripture means when it uses the phrase Walked with God is that Enoch lived a consistent life of obedience.  He lived in fellowship with God. Continue Reading

Case Studies in Faith:

Abel’s More Acceptable Sacrifice

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.

Genesis 4:1-10 (ESV)

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” [2] And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. [3] In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, [4] and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, [5] but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. [6] The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? [7] If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

[8] Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. [9] Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” [10] And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.

As we continue on from last week’s Attributes of Faith, to this week’s Case Studies in Faith, I pray we will through the course of the next few weeks truly understand what saving faith is and what it looks like in the life of a believer.  In this text before us, we have a contrast between brothers Cain, the firstborn and Abel, the righteous.  I hope to answer the age old question about the sacrifices offered and why one was accepted and the other rejected.

For the church, faith is a much misunderstood concept.  Faith is what separates religious hypocrites from genuine worshippers.  It’s what is shown by genuine fruit in contrast to a self-elevating act.  Faith is what apprehends the future rather than walking in the present. Continue Reading

The Attributes of Faith

Hebrews 11:1-3 (ESV)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  [2] For by it the people of old received their commendation.  [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.

The Hebrew Christians, as has been noted before, were tempted to go back to their former ways and practices of Judaism.  One reason surfaces in this text of Scripture.  Judaism was a religion to behold.  The sights, sounds, and smells were breathtaking.  Can you imagine the amazement of the worshipper when he entered the temple and saw the shine of gold and silver?  It would be astounding to see the size of such a place with every flicker of the candles being reflected a hundred times.  Can you imagine the singing and the blasting of the shofar or the smell of the incense rising up and filling the room?  All this majesty was almost more than one could take in.

Christianity on the other hand does not have such breathtaking scenes.  As far as images go, it really has none, at least none that we can see now.  I’ve never once seen the Lord Jesus Christ.  I’ve not been allowed into heaven like John was.

The Old Testament worshipper was hindered in the fact that he often began to worship what he saw and not the God it was to represent.  In many ways we are much better off.  They worshipped by sight, we worship what we can’t see.  We’re not distracted by visual images.  We worship the Lord by faith. Continue Reading

Persevering by Faith

Hebrews 10:26-39 (ESV)

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,  [27] but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.  [28] Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses.  [29] How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?  [30] For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”  [31] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

[32] But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings,  [33] sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.  [34] For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.  [35] Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.  [36] For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

[37] For, “Yet a little while,  and the coming one will come and will not delay;

[38] but my righteous one shall live by faith,

and if he shrinks back,

my soul has no pleasure in him.”

[39] But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

What would need to happen for you to renounce Christianity and turn your back on Jesus Christ?  What if our government passed a law that said Christians could not own businesses and you are a Christian business man or woman.  Would you trade in Jesus for your business?  What if they passed a law that said Christians must promise loyalty to the president and worship him?  What if they told you that all you had to do was bow down and worship Obama and you could continue your life as usual.  What if they said you could still worship Jesus but they want you to also worship this political leader or king?

The early Christians suffered at the hands of Jews and Rome.  Many had everything taken from them and many even had their lives taken.  What would you do? Continue Reading

Affected by Truth

Hebrews 10:19-25 (ESV)

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,  [20] by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,  [21] and since we have a great priest over the house of God,  [22] let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  [23] Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.  [24] And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,  [25] not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

As humans, we have the need to live based on truth not on feelings, emotion, or even opinions.

Like most epistles found in the Bible, Hebrews begins with doctrinal teaching.  Doctrine is vitally important.  Doctrine is like spiritual oxygen, without it we will die.

We live in a day where everyone’s opinion is held to be as valid as anyone else’s.  One person’s fabrication of God is just as good as the next person’s.  We also live in a day where these ideas can be and, in fact, are extremely destructive.

Recently, in a discussion about God, I heard someone say, I just can’t think of God that way.  She meant that what the Bible revealed about God didn’t line up with an idea she had had for years about God and rather than know the God revealed in Scripture, she’d rather worship the idol she imagines in her mind.  There is no salvation in a make believe God.  The true God is offended when we worship a false god.  We must get it right.

We live in a day where people really don’t like doctrine.  It’s too wearisome in a fast paced world to slow down and consider and study truth.  Sometimes doctrine is tedious and sometimes difficult.  It is always vitally important. Continue Reading

The Forgiveness of Sin

Hebrews 10:1-18 (ESV)

For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.  [2] Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sin?  [3] But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin every year.  [4] For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

[5] Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,

“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,

but a body have you prepared for me;

[6] in burnt offerings and sin offerings

you have taken no pleasure.

[7] Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,

as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ “

[8] When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law),  [9] then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He abolishes the first in order to establish the second.  [10] And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

[11] And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.  [12] But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,  [13] waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.  [14] For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

[15] And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

“This is the covenant that I will make with them

after those days, declares the Lord:

I will put my laws on their hearts,

and write them on their minds,”

[17] then he adds,

“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”

[18] Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

The author is wrapping up his reasons that Jesus and His priestly work exceed that of the Old Testament priest.  From chapter 4:14-10:18 he doesn’t hardly stop to catch his breath.

Hebrews 4:14 (ESV)

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Along the way, he mentions three different times that perfection is needed by those who would worship God and that this perfection can only be acquired through Jesus Christ.  Perfection cannot be acquired through the Old Testament Mosaic system.  It cannot be acquired through any other religion. Continue Reading

An Infinitely Better Death

Hebrews 9:15-28 (ESV)

Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.  [16] For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established.  [17] For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.  [18] Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood.  [19] For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,  [20] saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.”  [21] And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship.  [22] Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

[23] Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.  [24] For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.  [25] Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own,  [26] for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.  [27] And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,  [28] so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Introduction

Many people ask the question…Why did Christ have to die?  That’s an extremely good question.  It’s a question with multiple answers on various levels.  It’s a question that really bears the gospel.

Christ had to die to make payment for our sin…

John 3:16 (ESV)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

For this verse to take place required God to make a way for our sin guilt to be taken care of.  God could not grant to us eternal life as long as our sin debt was left unpaid.

The Apostle Paul tells us that God sent Jesus to be that payment for the sin of His people.

Romans 3:21-26 (ESV)

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— [22] the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:  [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  [24] and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,  [25] whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.  [26] It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Christ had to die to make payment for our sin debt.  God’s wrath was poured out on Jesus instead of us.  All the wrath that God had for the sin of His people was poured out on Jesus.  Because of the death of Christ, God has no more wrath left for the church. Because of Jesus’ death, God can be favorable toward us.  His death was infinitely better than any other sacrifice ever made.

So, we’ve seen that Christ died to make payment for sin.

Do you think Christ’s death was enough to make payment for all your sin past, present, and future?

If Christ would have only paid our sin debt for us we would still not be suited for heaven.  More had to be done.  Simply taking our sins away would not make us righteous. Continue Reading

The Work of Christ

Hebrews 9:1-14 (ESV)

Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness.  [2] For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place.  [3] Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place,  [4] having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.  [5] Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

[6] These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties,  [7] but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people.  [8] By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing

[9] (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,  [10] but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

[11] But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent ( not made with hands, that is, not of this creation)  [12] he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.  [13] For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh,  [14] how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

So far in our study of Hebrews we’ve learned just how Jesus Christ far exceeds all the Old Covenant.  All of it has also shown that the benefits to God’s people are also superior.  God’s people have much greater benefits in the New Covenant with the Great High Priest than we ever could in the old system.  So, we’ve learned all this from the prospective of greater things for us.  What about God?  Has the New Covenant benefited Him in any way?  This text shows us again the great benefit to us and it does also show that from God’s prospective a great benefit for Him as well.  If we are to be God-centered we must consider all aspects of the New Covenant.  Christ’s great mediatory work not only brings sinners to God but allows God to be approached by sinners.

1. Old Testament Worship Symbols and Types (Hebrews 9:1-5)

Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness.  [2] For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place.  [3] Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place,  [4] having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.  [5] Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

The author begins by explaining the various regulations for Old Testament worship.  If God was going to meet with His people He had to make provisions to do so.  Thus the tabernacle was brought into reality.  It was that special place that God’s holiness could exist on earth.  Since the fall when sin entered the world and death through sin, God had been separated from His ultimate capstone creation.  Man, made in God’s image, could not enjoy the fellowship that once was there.  Man’s sin not only affected man’s relationship with God but also affected God’s relationship with man.

The writer lays out for us the setting of the tabernacle.  Each piece had a symbolic purpose.  I want us all to see that each piece pointed to Christ.  The tabernacle was on earth but what it pointed to was heavenly.  It was an earthly symbol of a heavenly reality.

Col. 2:17 (ESV)

These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

The tabernacle was divided into two sections.  The first section was called the sanctuary or holy place.  In the sanctuary there was the lamp stand, table and the shewbread.

The lamp stand was always lit.  The oil had to be continually kept up and the wicks trimmed on a daily basis.  The light from this lamp would fill the sanctuary at all times.  This light was the symbol of Christ the true light.

John 8:12 (ESV)

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Christ is the light of the world and as the lamp was filled with oil continually, believers are filled with the Holy Spirit continually.  The lamp pointed to Christ but it wasn’t Christ.

The shewbread was prepared every Sabbath by the priest.  This was similar to the manna that fell in the wilderness during this time.  The bread was displayed on a table made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold.  The way it was displayed looked a lot like a meal prepared in the presence of God. Continue Reading

The Better Promises of the New Covenant

Hebrews 8:1-13 (ESV)

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,  [2] a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.  [3] For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.  [4] Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law.  [5] They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”  [6] But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.  [7] For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

[8] For he finds fault with them when he says:

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,

when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel

and with the house of Judah,

[9] not like the covenant that I made with their fathers

on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.

For they did not continue in my covenant,

and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.

[10] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel

after those days, declares the Lord:

I will put my laws into their minds,

and write them on their hearts,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor

and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’

for they shall all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest.

[12] For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,

and I will remember their sins no more.”

[13] In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

The writer of Hebrews has been emphasizing the superior High Priest which is Jesus Christ.  He is superior to all the other priests because His priesthood predates the priesthood set up in the Old Testament. In other words, the OT priesthood was a temporary priesthood.  Jesus’ priesthood actually dates as far back as Abraham.  He continues with his many points to show us the superiority of Jesus Christ as Priest verses the Old Testament priesthood.

The next stop is that of comparing the covenants that the priests mediate.

Divine Covenant is an agreement or it’s almost like a treaty God makes with man.  God says, you obey Me and I’ll bless you.  Basically, the 10 Commandments were given as the standard for godly conduct.  So, in the Divine Covenant, God decides the terms.  As with everything, He makes the rules. The priest’s responsibility was to be the go between before God and man.  God always has kept His part of the covenant but because man hasn’t a priest is needed to offer sacrifices to atone for man’s failure to keep his part.

What’s amazing about a covenant between God and man is that He did not have to enter into a covenant at all.  God was not obligated to make a covenant with man.  The Lord places Himself under obligation to fulfill His end of the agreement, which He does perfectly all the time.

Where does that leave us?  Our greatest need is the ability to meet God’s covenant requirements.

Example of the covenant…

Abraham-

Genesis 17:1-10 (ESV)

When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, [2] that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” [3] Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, [4] “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. [5] No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. [6] I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. [7] And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. [8] And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

[9] And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. [10] This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.

The covenant continued throughout the generations of God’s people.  It is the covenant that binds God to His people.  When God said I will fulfill certain covenant obligations He binds Himself to do them.  If God were to fail to uphold His part then He would be a liar and He could not be trusted.  However, throughout the ages God has always kept His end of the agreement.  Man is the one who has never kept his part. Continue Reading