Chapter 11:1-40

The Epistle To The Hebrews: A Study Guide

By Pastor James P. Vold

Hebrews 11:1-40

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. 4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying to his gifts; and by it he, being dead, still speaks. 5By faith Enoch was translated so that he did not see death, “and was not found because God translated him”; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 7By faith Noah, being warned by God of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out into the place which he would afterward receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. 13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they came out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. 17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” 19accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. 20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. 23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. 24By faith Moses when he had come of age, refused to be called the son of Pharoah’s daughter, 25choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. 27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest He who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. 32And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36And others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 39And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. (Heb. 11:1-40 NKJ)

In Part 11 we considered The Superiority Of The Christian Walk under the following headings: A. What Christ Did For Us; B.Warning Of Dangers and C. A Statement Of Principle.

D. The Definition And Illustration Of Faith

1. The Definition

(1) Faith is said to be the substance of things hoped for. That suggests building life’s foundations on the certainty of God’s promises. Hope springs from promise. The word translated substance can in the original language mean either: “standing upon” or “placed under.” In either case, the promise inspires expectation. In brief, faith is believing what God says.

(2) Faith is also the evidence of things not seen. The believer deals with the reality of the invisible. We believe the promises and rely on (trust) the invisible.

(3) Faith allows us to know God’s act of justification. For by it the elders had a good report. God declared Abraham righteous when he believed God (Rom. 4:3; Gen. 15:6).

(4) Faith gives us the key to creation. Through its exercise we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that the things we can see were not made of things which are visible.

(5) Faith includes two factors about God:

a. It believes that He is, that is, He exists. He does not draw life from any source. He is, as Jesus said in John 5:26, One who has “life in Himself.” To believe that is to accept His reality and understand in a small measure that God is a self-existent and self-sustaining being.

b. Faith believes that He rewards those who diligently (constantly) seek Him. It accepts not only that God is real, but that He is also available. God can be experienced. The Word says so and the lives of millions testify that it is so.

2. The Illustrations

Our Lord knows that it is easier to illustrate (give examples of) faith than it is to define it. He gives us the definition and provides scores of illustrations in the records of individual lives. The Holy Spirit names 18 persons and alludes (refers indirectly) to many others without specific names. When we look at the list, we are surprised by those who are mentioned by name and by some who are not. This list is not meant to be complete. It is only meant to illustrate faith in personal action.

When we consider the people mentioned in this list of faith, we see that believing God and acting upon His word affects:

(1) The way we approach God as illustrated by Abel.

(2) The way we walk with God as illustrated by Enoch. (He is mentioned only in Gen. 5, Jude 14 and here.)

(3) The way we work as illustrated by Noah.

(4) The way we choose and stand by our choices as illustrated by Abraham.

(5) The way we face impossible situations as illustrated by Sarah.

(6) The reason we endure as illustrated by those who could have turned back but continued walking with God because they looked for the city of God.

(7) The way we surrender all to the Lord because we trust Him as illustrated in the offering of Isaac.

(8) The way we abide by God’s revealed will as illustrated in Isaac’s blessing of Jacob over Esau.

(9) The wisdom we have through faith as illustrated in Jacob’s selective blessing of Joseph’s sons.

(10) The confidence we have to face the future as illustrated by Joseph’s dying command.

(11) The awareness of God’s purposes as illustrated in the insight of the parents of Moses.

(13) The reliance on God’s promises about redemption as illustrated in the Passover and the crossing of the Red Sea.

(14) Our strategy of living as illustrated in the fall of Jericho.

(15) Our non-conformity (not being the same as) to the world as pictured by Rahab.

(16) The whole flow of life as pictured in the lives of Gideon, Barak, Samsom, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets. (Consider the variety of persons and experiences in this list. Then trace each life in the Old Testament setting.)

(17) The deliverances enjoyed and the destructions endured by the unnamed host (multitude). Note that the same faith which brought deliverance to some, enabled others to endure destruction. Faith is not always the door to “health, wealth and happiness.” To endure through trials is as much victory as is freedom from trials.

Two concluding comments on the listing of people of faith:

(1) The people of faith are more than the world deserves.

(2) Old Testament believers did not receive the fullness of God’s promises because He planned better things for us so that they, with us, might complete His perfect plan.

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up (Deut.6:6-7).

I, the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to thousands who love me and keep my commandments (Deut. 20:5-6).

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