The Essence of Faith - Pt. 1

 

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. 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. (Hebrews 11:1-3 ESV).

 

Today we begin one of the most familiar passages in Hebrews. It has often been called the “Hall of the Faithful.” However, before we begin to look at each of these men and women in this chapter, we need to see why the writer has include it and what it has to do with our life. So, go back with me five to a previous verse: 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 (Hebrews 10:34). You may remember that some Christians were imprisoned and the others made the hard decision to identify with them and risk their property and their lives.

 

These are the kinds of people the whole book of Hebrews is trying to produce. He wants his readers to live lives that look at the high price of love (the seizure of our property, perhaps, or the some other kind of abuse or calamity, and then accepts that possibility joyfully and do what love demands, no matter what. That's the life Hebrews is aiming at.

 

All the glorious truth we have seen about Christ:

 

-       giving himself once for all as a final sacrifice for our sins (9:14),

-       perfecting us for all time by a single offering (10:14),

-       giving us a clean conscience by his own blood (9:14; 10:22),

-       being our sympathetic high priest before God (4:14-16),

-       interceding for us day after day in heaven (7:25),

-       putting his laws in our minds and writing them on our hearts,

-       being our God (8:10),

-       remembering our sins no more (8:12),

-       promising never to leave us or forsake us (13:5-6)

 

all this great truth that we have been seeing is aimed practically at making us into this kind of people. People who risk property and life in order to bring the love of God to others. People who do not look for comforts and ease and security as a necessary thing in life. People who are free from the American assumptions of style and safety and wealth and leisure. People who know there is one life to live and only what's done in the name of Christ and for the eternal good of others will count in the end.

 

Like Peter we should be able to quickly answer the question of Jesus:

 

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:66-69 ESV).