Who Authorized You to Say That?

 

Who Authorized You to Say That?

If we insist that a person must be qualified to speak on a topic, then generally we would expect a great deal of agreement from the public. With scientific, medical, psychological, law, and even software there are legitimate requirements to be considered a competent professional and quite familiar with those fields before officially addressing an area. We even have entire departments devoted to wording a document or making a formal statement correctly and leaving the ‘right’ impression on the public. There seems to be a reason for such requirements.

However, at the same time there are situations where we dismiss this requirement altogether. We listen to reporters sharing news on various subjects on which they are not experts. On Social Media platforms we subscribe to a view merely because they agree with our position, are popular, they belong to our political party, or they say what we like hearing. In a liberal college classroom, our professors espouse a questionable idea or even an acceptable concept and very few students are equipped to see through the ridiculous propositions. Movies and songs tend to conflate and confuse real cultural issues in a similar manner often villainizing the views they disagree with. A strategy of some reporters is to capture a celebrity’s opinion on the record regardless of whether the person is a real authority on that topic. Many will legitimize an idea because of ‘who’ said it. We often, without any fair questions accept a person (and their views) because they are the ‘right’ color or have assimilated the accepted ‘talking points.’ Even though we say this is our position and we respect others for having a different view, we are not really listening to the arguments that could possibility change our minds.

Perhaps we need to ask again why is anyone qualified to speak on that subject? What makes them such an expert? Has the advisor enjoyed personal success following their own advice? These types of questions are generally good if you accept experience or academic affirmations as the basic criteria. But what if the person had no personal experience but addressed the topics anyway? It even sounds foreign saying it…it feels unsafe and flatly reckless! But this happens all the time. But have we judged too soon? The perspective of numerous pioneers would be silenced if we required experience before they could speak on the topic. Many inventions and life-enriching discoveries have been made by non-academics! Going further…what if those pioneers spoke on a topic with authority that came from God and not necessarily their experience or academic prowess?

I suspect that would change the conversation significantly. ‘Thus saith the Lord’ would take on new meaning and gravity or we would be forced to ignore His counsel, opting for mere human experiences, accreditations, or opinions. In the final analysis people will answer to God for what He stated about a matter regardless of whomever they subscribe to. It behooves us to represent His views accurately because we cannot escape accountability with Him. Certainly, we must observe correctly, interpret precisely, correlate responsibly, and apply truth appropriately. We know no one will do this perfectly every time, but one can be consistently correct. Ultimately the Bible’s (KJV) statements come from God, He is the primary Author and Source of all truth. 

Matthew 21:23, says, “And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?” The same thought is echoed in Mark 11:28, stating, “And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?” Again Luke 20:2, repeats this notion stating, “And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?”

Yes, even our Lord Jesus faced the questions of supposed religious leaders examining His actions, to which he countered by ultimately refusing to reveal His own source and highlighted His holy prerogatives. Beloved, if the statement came from God, then it should be accepted as the standard…the truth.

The Resurrection of Christ

Text: Luke 24:25-27, 45-51; 1Cor. 15:12-23; Acts 1:1-3, 10-11; Eph. 4:7-10; Heb. 2:9; 7:22-28

Memory Verses: 1Tim. 3:16                                                                

Theme: We believe the Lord Jesus literally arose from the dead.   

Aims: I hope to deepen your convictions, fuel your worship, and enlarge your appreciation for the resurrection and ascension of Christ. May God help each of us to respond appropriately to Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.

Relevance:

Why is the Resurrection & Ascension of Jesus Christ so important?

 Much of the Lord Jesus’ resurrection and ascension will remain a mystery if we don’t understand what He did and why He did it. We need to know what Jesus did and why He did it, or these acts will be shrouded in mystery. He and the significance of these events will remain a puzzle to us. We will not have as much personal trust in Him, as much appreciation for Him, or as much confidence in sharing Him with others as we could have.

It is important for us to understand what Jesus is doing now so that we don’t feel alone and helpless as we live, and so that we don’t get the impression that things are out of control and God doesn’t have a plan that He is working out. God does have a plan.

Why do we need to know about the resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus?

If we don’t believe the resurrection is true, then the Lord Jesus cannot be God. He is just another human. The Bible cannot be trusted, and there is no hope for life after death, for divine guidance, or for truth or morality in this life. Human history pivots on the resurrection. If it is true, there is hope: if it is not true, then there is no reason to hope for meaningful earthly existence or life after death.

 

Introduction:

            Did Jesus rise from the dead? Both the Bible and history confirm that Jesus rose from the dead.

Jesus definitely died on the cross. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people witnessed it. The Romans were not careless executioners; they knew when a person was dead. They had ways of making sure. They broke the legs of the person so he could not support himself to breath any more, and he asphyxiated. But Jesus needed no bones broken. He was already dead. To be sure, the Roman speared his side. No reaction. Blood and water came out, a sign of legal death. The executioner had to verify the death to Pilate. If he had gotten it wrong, it would have meant his death. Finally, if those certain events had never happened, a historian would have corrected the lie. Jesus definitely died.

They buried Him just before the Sabbath. Three days later, the disciples went to the tomb and found it empty. There was no one to deny it. All anyone would have had to do to put an end to the rumor was to produce the body. They could not.

There are only two possibilities—the tomb was either empty or it was not. If it was not, the Christian claim would have been stomped out immediately. So, it was empty. If it was empty, there are two possibilities. Someone stole the body, or else Jesus rose from the dead.

Who would have wanted the body? Jesus' enemies? No. They wanted Him in the grave. They wouldn't have stolen it. Would His friends have wanted the body? Perhaps, but they would not have tried to steal it, and if they had they would have failed.

The disciples did not understand the resurrection until afterward. They were not expecting Him to rise. Additionally, had they tried to steal His body, the Roman guard would have prevented it. Finally, the disciples would not have dedicated their lives and paid with their lives for spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth if they had known the resurrection was a lie.

If Jesus' body was not removed by His enemies or His friends, the answer that remains is that He rose from the dead, just as He said He would (Matthew 28:6).—Max Anders

Lesson:

I.                The Resurrection of Jesus Christ—Did Jesus really rise from the dead?

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a biblical, theological, and historical reality. Though many have questioned its veracity, some have outright denied it as a lie, yet others have investigated it and found it to be undeniably true. Then there are those of us who have believed it because the Scriptures unmistakably declare it and our lives have been changed significantly because of it (1Cor. 15:3-11).

A.    The Resurrection of Christ Denied—How do some explain away Christ’s resurrection?

The resurrection of Christ is the single Bible teaching that Satan hates the most. He has through the centuries tried to ridicule, down play, discredit, deny, and explain it away. The following are some of those unsuccessful attempts by wicked men to deny the resurrection of Christ.

1.The Fraud Theory. They hold that Jesus and or His disciples invented the whole thing. They suppose that Jesus used the ancient prophesies as a road map and followed them like a script. But it is difficult to map out where you would be born (Mic. 5:2), how you would die (Ps. 22:16), and how you would avoid the Roman soldiers breaking your bones (Jn. 19:30-37).

2.The Swoon Theory. They think that Christ merely fainted on the Cross and then later revived in the coolness of the tomb. But the Scriptures say Christ died (1Cor. 15:3). This idea requires far more faith than the truth of the resurrection. It requires that one believe that after his whipping and crucifixion Christ recovered so dramatically that the disciples worshiped Him as God.

3.The Vision Theory. They allege that the disciples used some primitive form of LSD and as a result saw visions of Christ. This is extraordinary because there were over 500 believers who all saw Christ at once (1Cor. 15:6)! That must have been some powerful stuff!

4.The Spirit Theory. This is the idea that only Jesus’ spirit arose, not his physical body. But this is incredible because it does not explain how the Lord invited the disciples to physically touch Him (Luke 24:39; Jn. 20:17, 27) and how He eat fish before them (Luke 24:42; Acts 10:41).

5.The Heart Theory. This theory holds that Jesus was only resurrected in the heart of his friends. The difficulty is that the disciples did not anticipate the resurrection, and when the ladies told them of Christ’s resurrection some still did not believe it (Mark 16:9-14).

6.Over the years many skeptics have scoffed at the resurrection of Christ. Several examined the historical evidence with the purpose of disproving the resurrection of Christ only to find themselves overwhelmed with solid evidence for the resurrection. These findings, arguments, and evidences can be studied in Frank Morison’ “Who Moved the Stone?,” J.N.D. Anderson’s “The Evidence for the Resurrection,” and Josh McDowell’s “Evidence that Demands a Verdict.”

B.     The Resurrection of Christ Declared—What does the Bible say about Christ’s resurrection?

The best source of insight into the resurrection of Christ is the Scriptures. There you will find that His resurrection was anticipated, executed, and declared with brilliant clarity and conviction to saving of sinners.

1.What Bible Passages present the strongest declarations that Jesus Christ actually rose from the dead?

2.Consider these OT Passages.

                                                                    i.            David’s prediction (Ps. 16:10)

                                                                  ii.            Isaiah’s prediction (Isa. 53:9-12)

3.Consider these NT Passages.

                                                                    i.            The Lord Jesus’ predictions (Matt. 12:38-40; 16:21; 17:19, 22, 23; 20:18, 19; Jn. 2:18-22)

                                                                  ii.            The Lord Jesus’ appearances (John 20:11-17; Matt. 28:9-15; Luke 24:34; 1Cor. 15:5; Mark 16:12, 13; Luke 24:13-35; John 20:26-29; 1Cor. 15:6, 7; Matt. 28:16-20)

                                                                iii.            The Apostle Paul’s explanations (1Cor. 15:20-23; Rom. 10:7-17; Col. 2:10-15)

4.Consider these Proofs of the Resurrection

                                                                    i.            Credibility refers to the acceptance of a fact in a manner that deserves belief; it is belief based upon good authority, reliable facts, and competent witnesses.—William Evans

                                                                  ii.            Acts 1:1-3, The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, ² Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: ³ To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

                                                                iii.            The empty tomb

                                                                iv.            The tremendous change in the lives of the disciples

                                                                  v.            The change from Saturday to Sunday as the primary day of worship

                                                                vi.            The existence of the church and her continuation

                                                              vii.            Consider these proof passages also (Acts 13:31; 1Cor. 15:5-7; 1John 1:1)

C.    The Resurrection of Christ Described—How is Christ’s resurrection portrayed?

What kind of body did Christ rise from the grave with? What kind of body can we expect to have for all eternity? (1John 3:1-3)

1.Christ’s resurrection body had flesh and bones (Luke 24:39, 40)

2.Christ ate food in His new resurrection body (Luke 24:41-43; Jn. 21:12, 13)

3.Christ’s resurrection body still had evidence of His crucifixion (Jn. 20:27; Luke 24:40; Rev. 5:6)

4.Christ’s resurrection body was no longer subject to natural laws (Jn. 20:19; Luke 24:31, 36)

5.Christ’s resurrection was an expression of the awesome power and will of the Triune Godhead (Jn. 10:18; Acts 2:30-36; Rom. 1:4)

D.    The Resurrection of Christ Distinguished—Why is Christ’s resurrection so important?

1.Christ’s resurrection is utterly different from all others (Jn. 11:1-44; 1Cor. 15:20, 23). He will never die again and His glorified body is not subject to weakness, aging, and death, but will live eternally (Phil. 3:20-21).

2.Christ’s resurrection is the foundation for all future resurrections (1Cor. 15:20-23; Acts 17:31).

                                                                    i.            The Rapture Resurrection (1Cor. 15:53; 1Thess. 4:16)

                                                                  ii.            The Premillennial Resurrections (Jn. 5:24-30; Dan. 12:2; Rev. 20:4-6)

3.Christ’s resurrection is fundamental to Christianity (1Cor. 15:12-19). It is so vital that without it, there is no reality to the Christian Faith!

                                                                    i.            All gospel preaching has been, is now, and always will be useless (15:12-14)

                                                                  ii.            All past, present, and future faith is futile (15:14)

                                                                iii.            All preachers become notorious liars (15:15)

                                                                iv.            All living Christians are still guilty of their sins (15:15-17)

                                                                  v.            All departed Christians are in Hell (15:18)

                                                                vi.            All reason and purpose for life is destroyed (15:19)

4.Christ’s resurrection is distinguished for its achievements

                                                                    i.            For Christ

a.       It is the mark of His deity (Rom. 1:4; Acts 10:40)

b.      He is exalted as Savior and Lord (Acts 5:30, 31; Phil. 2:9-11)

c.       He is given to the Church as the Head (Eph. 1:19-23)

d.      His teachings, ministry, and authority were validated (Matt. 12:38-42; Jn. 2:13-22)

                                                                  ii.            For Believers

a.       It guarantees our justification (Rom. 4:25)

b.      It guarantees our power and strength each day (Eph. 1:18-2:10; Phil. 3:10)

c.       It guarantees daily forgiveness through our High Priest (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25)

d.      It guarantees our own resurrection (John 14:19; 1Thess. 4:14; 2Cor. 4:14)

                                                                iii.            For Sinners

a.       It is a warning of coming judgment (Acts 17:31)

b.      It is the substance of conversion faith (Rom. 10:7-17)

                                                                iv.            For Satan

a.       It seals his doom for all eternity (Heb. 2:14; Rev. 20:10)

b.      It was the death blow to his kingdom and authority (Col. 2:10-12, 15)

5.If the resurrection is true, the implications are staggering.

                                                                    i.            First, we can be sure that Jesus was who He claimed to be. The apostle Paul wrote, “[He] was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:3–4).

                                                                  ii.            Second, if Jesus rose from the dead, we can be sure that everything else He said was true. Most importantly, He did make possible the forgiveness of our sins and the gift of eternal life. Again, the apostle Paul wrote, “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4:25).

                                                                iii.            Third, if He rose from the dead, we can be assured of our own resurrection and eternal life. “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17). But if Christ has risen, our faith is not futile and we are not still in our sins.

                                                                iv.            And, it is as Jesus said in John 14:2–3: “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

                                                                  v.            If Jesus has been raised from the dead, if He has been raised to a new and deathless life, then best of all, He is still alive!

6.Napoleon is reputed to have said,

I marvel that whereas the ambitious dreams of myself, Caesar, Alexander, should have vanished into thin air, a Judean peasant, Jesus, should be able to stretch His hands across the destinies of men and nations.

I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I myself have founded empires; but upon what do these creations of our genius depend? Upon force. Jesus alone founded his empire upon love; and to this very day millions would die for him.

When you look at the facts of the resurrection, without having made up your mind ahead of time against it, the birth, explosive growth, and permanent survival of the church are powerful evidence for the truth of the resurrection.

Living by Faith is....

Faith is confidence in the trustworthiness of God. That is, it is deeply rooted in His character and credible statements. It is the conviction that God is honest, what He says is true, and that what He promises will come to pass (Heb. 11:1). Obviously biblical faith must have some revelation from God, some promise of God as its foundation. One cannot believe something until it is first communicated to them (Rom. 10:17). Obviously, then it is not a leap in the dark. It demands the surest evidence in the universe—the Word of God.

In order to appreciate fully what faith is, it is vital to disassociate it from the myths and secular ideas that have eroded its true and rich meaning. Faith is not taking a risk; it is not even a well-informed calculated risk. Faith is not a gut feeling that is followed. Faith is not hoping for the best, hoping that everything will turn out all right. Newell (Hebrews Verse by Verse, pg. 372) says, “Hoping for something is not yet faith!” Faith is not a feeling of optimism. All of these are actually secular ideas or either extra-biblical concepts that have invaded the Christian idea. Faith must always be based on something God communicated or it is not biblical faith. Note again the words of Newell,

Things not seen show there is no consulting the human faculties or “feelings.” The ark is the test of faith. When Noah entered the ark, there was the same conviction of the fact of the coming flood that he had during the years of building the ark. God had spoken! That was all that was before his mind. He never looked at the sky.

Certainly there is a kind of natural faith that relies on nature evidences, but the focus of this writing is on supernatural faith. Living by faith results in supernatural living because one is literally trusting and relying on the Most High God and the supernatural realities He avails through the Cross of Christ.

So, how does Christ and His work fit into the category “of things hoped for” and “things not seen”? Preliminarily, the work of Christ is the primary focus of faith considered in these verses. Two words in Hebrews 11:1, conveys that authentic Bible faith has “substance,” and “evidence.” These words will point believers to what Christ has done for them. They galvanize their convictions about His High Priestly work, and secure God’s approval upon their lives (Heb. 11:1-2).

LIVING BY FAITH IS CONSISTENT WITH BEING SAVED

“The just shall live by faith,” says the writer of Hebrews. The challenges these believers were facing must be faced with confidence in God and what He has communicated. By faith they would be able to get a real grasp on the realities of Christ’s sacrifice, priesthood, New Testament, and the hard things they must face because they continue with Him.  A “just” person is a God-justified person—a believer in Christ. Every believer must settle in their minds that the Christian life can only be realized in its fullness as they “live by faith” (Heb. 10:38). “Faith” as used in verses 38, 39 (“believe,”) 11:1, and verse 3 refers to “conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and joined with it” says James Strong (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance). This same word appears throughout Hebrews eleven. About living by faith W. Newell said, “not only the first step of faith, but a vital continuing on the path of faith, is set before us as a way of life: not only the obtaining of life, but the manner of life of the true believer….” This is precisely what the writer had been urging these Hebrew Christians to do.

No doubt some were tempted to “draw back” (Heb. 10:38) or shrink away from a bold confession of Christ, but this temptation must be resisted and genuine believers must persevere (Heb. 10:35-36). Such endurance under fire will require faith. God’s favor cannot rest on the believer who denounces his Christian faith—“My soul shall have no pleasure in him” (Heb. 10:38). To draw back unto perdition is to experience physical or moral ruin under the severe chastening of God. The chastening of God can be far worse than anything any human being or organization can bring to bear. Living by faith involves determining to never retreat from or recall one’s profession of faith in Christ. It involves going on with Christ consistently confessing Him and even though the climate and culture are hostile to Christianity. 

LIVING BY FAITH PROVIDES EVIDENCE OF THE UNSEEN

Not every reality is seen, felt, tasted, heard, or placed under a laboratory microscope to be understood. While it is true some things can be scientifically explored, it is equally true that other realities must be grasped by another means—faith. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” While it would be beneficial to explore this great verse, for now simply consider the phrase, “the evidence of things not seen.” Just because something is not seen does not mean it is not a reality. In Judaism there was an elaborate temple, a human priesthood on earth, the animal sacrifices were real, and all the trappings could be readily seen, but the realities of Christianity and the New Covenant are not visibly obvious. In fact they are not seen by the natural eyes.

The word “substance” literally means “to stand under, to support.” It is the thought of a foundation or basis.  So faith is the foundation supporting the believer’s hope. Faith is to a Christian what a foundation is to a house: it gives confidence and assurance that one will stand. 

The word “evidence” presents the concept of “that by which something is tested or proof” and simply means “conviction.” Thayer commented on its use in this verse defines it as: “that by which invisible things are proved and we are convinced of their reality.” Real faith in the believer’s soul is the proof of the invisible and the persuasion the invisible is absolutely real. The evidence is the inward conviction from God that what He has promised, He will perform. The presence of God-given faith in one’s heart is conviction enough that He will keep His Word.

Now “evidence” is linked to “things note seen” (11:1). We cannot see Christ or His sacrifice, His High Priestly ministry, His Heavenly Tabernacle, or the satisfaction of the Father with Christ’s sacrifice.  But, we have evidence that these are still realities though we cannot currently see them. One simply knows them and understands they are realities because of this knowing in their heart of hearts. Believer’s faith is “the evidence” that these, though invisible, are yet realities—actualities, and factual!

Faith then provides a basic framework for understanding and dealing with Christian reality (Heb. 11:1-3). The first eight verses of Hebrews 11 describe faith and illustrate how faith in God and His Word provides a basic framework for understanding and dealing with reality. This great chapter emphasizes the vision and endurance of faith. Christian faith stands or falls on the truth that the Word of God reveals. Thus Hebrews 11 helps believers realize that it is confidence in the reality of things they cannot see that lies at the root of faith. It is only “by faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Heb. 11:3).

Larry Richards observed that much of what Hebrews has communicated about believers’ new lives in Christ is invisible. One cannot presently see High Priest Jesus standing as the link between believers and the Father in heaven. Believers cannot see themselves as God does, holy and cleansed by the one great Sacrifice of Christ. They cannot see they are justified, accepted in Christ, and heir of an eternal inheritance. But when a genuine Christian accept these as fact, and they are convinced of them even though they cannot yet see their full reality revealed, then they are ready to begin to live by faith. Living by faith provides the needed “evidence of things not seen.”

LIVING BY FAITH IS PLEASING TO GOD

This basic truth is rehearsed in verse 11:2, “For by it [faith] the elders obtained a good report.” God approved of the lives of faith of these Old Testament worthies. This is mentioned in verse 11:4, “By faith Abel offered…God testifying of his gift,” and again in verse 5, “By faith Enoch was translated…he had this testimony that he pleased God.” Then notice the phrase in verse 6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him.” These phrases teach that living by faith is pleasing to God, and He bears witness to the faith of the believers listed in this great Bible chapter. Each divine ‘testimony’ is introduced by the words “by faith.” God was most pleased with these individuals who trusted what He communicated to them and boldly acted upon His Word to execute His will. Warren Wiersbe said, “The summary in Hebrews 12:1 calls this list of men and women “so great a cloud of witnesses.” They are witnesses to us because God witnessed to them. In each example cited, God gave witness to that person’s faith.

If God was pleased with the life of faith in the history of the nation of Israel and in the individual lives of the people mentioned in Hebrews 11, then he will be pleased with lives of faith today under the New Covenant. In the context of the book of Hebrews that means taking Christ as the last and greatest communication of God to mankind. It is believing that Jesus Christ is a greater and more faithful Servant than Moses. Faith is knowing Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is greater and better than the angels of God. It is realizing that the priesthood of Christ is far superior to the priesthood of Aaron because it will endure forever in the power of a deathless life. It is believing that the Sacrifice of Christ is the final and satisfactory atonement for all sin forever. It is realizing that Christ did not present the value of His sacrifice at Calvary in a tabernacle on earth, but in the very Heaven itself. God wholly accepted it! He is satisfied!

Rely then on the truth that believers now have real cleansing, thorough forgiveness, an eternal inheritance, and full access to God because of faith in Christ! None of these realities can be seen, but believers know they are real by faith. That means forsaking the old systems of worship under the law and paganism and clinging to the new and living way that enters into the veil to the Heavenly Holy of Holies! The just shall live by faith! 

So then, living by Faith is the highest principle for Christian experience. In doing so, believers are sure to please God, sustain a distinctively Christian confession, secure eternal rewards, and effectively face the hazards of a righteous lifestyle.  Though staggering challenges pervade their lives, confidence in Christ enables them to respond with joyful obedience to still triumph in them all.  Forsaking Christ in fear ceases to be a consideration as they live by faith.  

Let's Talk About Faith

Hebrews 11:1-3

Under the ministry of Dr. Alverson at Grace Independent Baptist Church, I learned something about taking God at His Word.  Pastor Alverson was absolutely enthralled with Faith Promise Giving and he enthusiastically taught us the principles and promises of faith giving. With countless illustrations from his own experiences, he detailed for us how to stand on God’s promises.  He would present endless accounts of how faith has become the axiom for his entire life.  He constantly assured us from Scripture and his adventures with God that life must be lived by faith.  Because we dared to look through the window of his experiences—his years of trusting God to meet ministry, directional, family related, physical, spiritual, and emotional needs—we found ourselves inspired and emboldened to trust God also.

Living by Faith is the highest principle for Christian experience. In doing so, we are sure to please God, sustain a distinctively Christian confession, secure eternal rewards, and effectively face the hazards of a righteous lifestyle.  Though staggering challenges pervade our lives, confidence in Christ enables us to respond with joyful obedience to still triumph in them all.  Forsaking Christ in fear ceases to be a consideration as we live by faith. 

But, what are we talking about when we talk about faith? What is God's concept of faith? When we are willing to accept as fact what God’s Word says, and in response reach out to seek and to experience relationship with Him, then we have begun to live by faith. And then we will be rewarded.

This living by faith—accepting as fact the truths that we cannot touch or feel or see, and then acting on them—seems such a simple prescription for life. Lest we make the mistake of equating simplicity with ineffectiveness, Hebrews 11 details the accomplishments of faith. –Adapted from The Teacher's Commentary

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. [2] For by it the elders obtained a good report. [3] Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:1-3)

God tell us we can perceive reality as He knows it by faith. This transfers us well beyond human investigation and discover into the realm of the supernatural and spiritual. Such faith has substance and presents reliable evidence though. It is not limited to what is physically perceptible, what currently exists, or even the visible. Faith is like an extra ability to sense and see the supernatural, spiritual, heavenly, and invisible realities.

How does faith provide a basic framework for understanding and dealing with reality? (Heb. 11:1-3)

With the mention of faith (“believe” and “faith” are the same concept), in Heb. 10:38-39, the groundwork was laid for a fuller discussion of the life that pleases God in this illustrious eleventh chapter.  The first eight verses of Hebrews 11 describe faith and illustrate how faith in God and His Word provide a basic framework for understanding and dealing with reality. The chapter emphasizes the vision and endurance of faith. It introduces us to men and women of the Old Testament who had 20/20 spiritual vision and who endured tremendous shame and suffering rather than renounce their faith.  From these verses we can discern what faith is, what faith is not, and what it does.  In doing so, we understand the basic framework for reality.

1. What Faith is Not (11:1).
1. “This chapter centers on and focuses upon what faith is.…It might help to show, first of all, what faith is not. Faith, for instance, is not positive thinking; that is something quite different. Faith is not a hunch that is followed. Faith is not hoping for the best, hoping that everything will turn out alright. Faith is not a feeling of optimism. Faith is none of these things though all of them have been identified as faith.…
2. “Faith is believing there is another dimension to life other than those which can be touched, tasted, seen or felt.… Faith believes that God, in His grace, has stepped over the boundary into human history and told us some great and very valuable facts. Faith believes them and adjusts its life to those facts and walks on that basis.”—Ray Stedman, What More Can God Say?
2. What Faith Is (11:1).
1. Faith is confidence in the trustworthiness of God. It is the conviction that what God says is true and that what He promises will come to pass (11:1).

                                                               i.      Faith must have some revelation from God, some promise of God as its foundation. It is not a leap in the dark. It demands the surest evidence in the universe, and finds it in the Word of God.

                                                            ii.      It is not limited to possibilities but invades the realm of the impossible. Someone has said, “Faith begins where possibilities end. If it’s possible, then there’s no glory for God in it.”

                                                          iii.      The nature of faith, according to the NT, is to live by the truth it receives; faith, resting on God’s promise, gives thanks for God’s grace by working for God’s glory. –Evangelical Dictionary of Theology

                                                           iv.      Faith is a belief in or confident attitude toward God, involving commitment to His will for one's life.—Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary

2. Faith, mighty faith the promise sees,  And looks to God alone; Laughs at impossibilities And cries, “It shall be done.” —Author unknown.

3. There are difficulties and problems in the life of faith. God tests our faith in the crucible to help us see if it is genuine (1 Pet. 1:7). But, as George Müller said, “Difficulties are food for faith to feed on.”
4. There are three fundamental considerations about faith: its basic nature, the honor associated with it, and its way of seeing things.

                                                               i.      In its essence faith is being sure of God and certain about unseen hopes and realities He communicated.

                                                             ii.      The fact that faith is honorable is illustrated by Old Testament believers, who were commended by God for living by faith.

                                                            iii.      Faith is also a way of viewing all experience since it is the way in which believers see the universe for what it is—a creation by God. –Adapted from John Walvoord

3. What Faith Does—Accomplishes (Heb. 11:2-3).
1. Faith Sees the Future and the Invisible (11:1). 

                                                               i.      Verse 1 is not really a formal definition of faith; rather it is a description of what faith does for us.

                                                             ii.      It makes things hoped for as real as if we already had them, and it provides unshakable evidence that the unseen, spiritual blessings of Christianity are absolutely certain and real. In other words, it brings the anticipated within the present and makes the invisible seen or realized.

                                                            iii.      Therefore, faith is a very practical thing (Heb. 11:3), in spite of what unbelievers say.

                                     1.      Faith enables us to understand what God does. Faith enables us to see what others cannot see (note Heb. 11:7, 13, 27). As a result, faith enables us to do what others cannot do! People laughed at these great men and women (Heb. 11) when they stepped out by faith, but God was with them and enabled them to succeed to His glory.

                                     2.      Dr. J. Oswald Sanders put it perfectly: “Faith enables the believing soul to treat the future as present and the invisible as seen.”

2. Faith Secures God’s Approval (11:2).

                                                               i.      Because they walked by faith and not by sight, the OT elders received divine approval—“obtained a good report.” The rest of Hebrews 11 is an illustration of how God has borne witness to them. These Old Testament worthies believed God, and for them it was not a leap in the dark and it was not a hope-so type of scenario. Their faith rested upon solid evidence.

                                                             ii.      Witness or “obtained a good report” is an important thought in Hebrews 11.

                                    1.      It occurs not only in verse 2, but twice in verse 4, once in verse 5, and once in verse 39. This is important to note because trusting God and living by faith is often perceived as foolish, unscientific, and irrational. Those who have insisted on living by faith had to live with some element of shame and social discomfort. It takes real faith to endure shame or reproach for your commitment to Christ and His principles.

                                    2.      The summary in Hebrews 12:1 calls this list of men and women “so great a cloud of witnesses.” They are witnesses to us because God witnessed to them. Their testimony is the fact that living by faith does work regardless of the incredible challenges we will face. In each example cited, God gives witness to that person’s faith. God is pleased with a person who believes His Word and acts on that trust. Though people will question our sanity because we are governed by our faith, God is pleased with the "Faith life" and that is all that really matters!

                                    3.      This witness was His divine approval on their lives and ministries. It is not that these individuals were perfect, but that in these instances they trusted God while enduring some incredible and intimidating circumstances. Faith in God will get us through the hard stuff as well. 

                                                            iii.      The problem with many of us today is that when a crisis comes to us and we ought to be able to rest in God and lay hold of Him, but we are not able to do so. When we haven’t been doing it all along, it is such a new experience for us that it is very difficult to do. However, if you learn to trust God when the sun is shining, it is easier to trust Him on the day when … you are in one of life’s storms.—McGee, J. Vernon

                                                           iv.      The best way to grow in faith is to walk with the faithful. The remainder of Hebrews 11 is devoted to a summary of the lives and labors of great men and women of faith found in the Old Testament. In each instance, you will find the same elements of faith:

                                    1.      God spoke to them through His Word;

                                    2.      Their inner selves were stirred in different ways;

                                    3.      They obeyed God;

                                    4.      He bore witness about them.—Adapted from W. W.  Wiersbe

3. Faith Comprehends the Creation (11:3).

                                                               i.      Faith provides us with the only factual account of creation. God is the only One who was there; He tells us how it happened.

                                     1.      We believe His word and thus we know also.

                                     2.      McCue states: “The conception of God pre-existent to matter and by His flat calling it into being is beyond the domain of reason or demonstration. It is simply accepted by an act of faith.”

                                                             ii.      Through faith we understand. The world says, “Seeing is believing.” God says, “Believing is seeing.”

                                     1.      Jesus said to Martha, “Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (John 11:40).  Believe in order to see!

                                     2.      The Apostle John writes, “These things have I written unto you that believe ... that ye may know” (1Jn. 5:13). In spiritual matters faith precedes understanding.

                                                            iii.      The worlds were framed by the Word of God. God spoke and matter came into being (Gen. 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14). This agrees perfectly with man’s discovery that matter is essentially energy. When God spoke, there was a flow of energy in the form of sound waves. These were transformed into matter, and the world instantly sprang into being.

                                                           iv.      So that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (are visible). Energy is invisible; so are atoms, and molecules, and gases to the naked eye, yet in combination they become visible. The fact of creation as set forth in Hebrews 11:3 is unimpeachable. It has never been improved on and never will. Thus we have a framework for perceiving and understanding reality as God knows it. We live in a universe that was created by God; it did not evolve. We are not alone in the universe, God is here and we are accountable to Him. Believing these truths establishes the framework for our fundamental worldview. As we face challenges, we know we are not alone; we can turn to God in faith as the Hebrews 11 believers did. We understand that we have significance because God made us; all things have some importance because we all our creatures and part of His grand design. 

How do Christ and His work fit into the category “of things hoped for” and “things not seen”? (Heb. 11:1-2)

The Work of Christ is the primary focus of faith considered in these verses. In fact the entire book of Hebrews is extremely Christ focused; it is Christocentric! The person and works of Jesus Christ is the discussion of every preceding chapter! Accordingly, two words in Hebrews 11:1 convey what authentic Bible faith is: substance, and evidence. These words will point us to what Christ has done for us, galvanize our convictions about His High Priestly work, and secure God’s approval upon our lives (Heb. 11:1-2).

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. [2] For by it the elders obtained a good report. (Hebrews 11:1-2)

1. Faith has Substance (Heb. 11:1). The word “substance” literally means “to stand under, to support.” It is the thought of a foundation or basis.  So faith is the foundation supporting our hope or the bases of what was anticipated.
1. Faith is to a Christian what a foundation is to a house: it gives confidence and assurance that we will stand.  When a believer has faith, it is God’s way of giving him confidence and assurance that what is promised will be experienced.  
2. Faith is the foundation on which our hope rest. Yes, our hope for salvation and the assurance thereof rests squarely on faith in the clear statements of God. Real faith is never baseless; it has the best possible foundation--The Word of God.  

                                                               i.      Faith then provides a foundation “of things hoped for,” or a basis for whatever is anticipated (Heb. 11:1).  Spiritual hopes are to be built upon or constructed on faith. What were people hoping for in Hebrews? They were hope for an authoritative message from God, an entrance into God's rest, a faithful and understanding Great High Priest, and a complete and effective Sacrifice to take away sin's guilt. All of these spiritual realities or hopes rest on the foundation of confidence in what God said. 

                                                             ii.      Vincent says, “The key is furnished by verse 27, as seeing him who is invisible. Faith apprehends as a real fact what is not revealed to the senses. It rests on that fact, acts upon it, and is upheld by it in the face of all that seems to contradict it. Faith is real seeing.” –Wuest, Kenneth.

                                                            iii.      “Faith is the title-deed of things hoped for.” The Holy Spirit energizes our faith and we exercise it in the Lord Jesus; this is the title-deed God gives us, guaranteeing to us what He promised. For these first-century Jew, faith in Messiah as High Priest would be the title-deed God would give them, guaranteeing to them the possession of the salvation for which they trusted God. Thus, they would have assurance.—Adapted from Wuest 

3. But what are “the things hoped for?” 

                                                               i.      This is directly linked to the blessings afforded believers because of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our hopes are linked to the substance—this foundation or basis.

                                     1.      Consider the fact that Jesus has satisfied the Old Covenant requirements (Heb. 10:9) and established the New through His sacrifice. 

                                     2.      Also think about how He fulfilled the will of God by sanctifying—perfecting—“once and for all” every believer (10:10, 12). 

                                     3.      Now note the reality that His “one sacrifice” absolutely “took away sin” forever for all who repent believing the gospel (10:12). 

                                     4.      In addition, the Spirit of God testifies to us (10:15) that we are truly forgiven and God has forgotten our sins, He lives in our bodies; therefore, we stand in need of no additional sacrifices (Heb. 10:16-18). 

                                                             ii.      On this foundation we can confidently enter the very Presence of God boldly through “the new and living way” Christ has secured for us (10:19-22). Beloved, this is what we hope for! 

2. Faith has Evidence (Heb. 11:1).
1. The word “evidence” presents the concept of “that by which something is tested or proof” and simply means “conviction.”

                                                              i.      Thayer commenting on its use in this verse defines it as: “that by which invisible things are proved and we are convinced of their reality.”

                                                             ii.      Real faith in our soul is the proof of the invisible and the persuasion the invisible is absolutely real.Once we believe, trust, act on what God stated in His Word, we receive the peace and assurance He promised. 

                                                            iii.      The evidence is the inward conviction from God that what He has promised, He will perform. It also points to what God promised He has performed for us personally. The presence of God-given faith in one’s heart is conviction/proof enough that He will keep His Word or that He has kept His promise. Beloved, we cannot see all spiritual realities and we cannot demand to see invisible truths before we believe God. We cannot examine or reproduce what God claims in order to believe it. No, we take an honest God at His Word and act on it. In return He grants us this conviction or evidence deep within our souls. 

2. Now “evidence” is linked to “things not seen.” 

                                                               i.      We cannot see Christ or His sacrifice, His High Priestly ministry, His Heavenly Tabernacle, or the satisfaction of the Father with Christ’s sacrifice.  But, we have evidence that these are still realities though we cannot currently see them.  We simply know them and understand they are realities because of this knowing in our heart of hearts.  Our faith is the evidence that these, though invisible, are yet realities—actualities, and factual! Beloved, just because we cannot see something does not mean it is not real. We cannot see air, electricity, or influence, but everyone of us knows these things are real! Faith enables us to realize spiritual realities that are beyond the capabilities of our natural senses. Our world is far more than a physical existence; there are extraordinary supernatural and spiritual realities as well.  

                                                             ii.      Just as our natural senses provide evidence of the existence of matter, solidness, color, of heat and cold, of the differences in the qualities of items...our faith provides evidence of invisible realities whether past, present or future. God gives us faith—an extra perception or a sixth sense that is spiritual in its orientation, a supernatural intuition—as evidence of spiritual realities. By faith we can interact with the Lord God and the heavenly realm beyond our physical perception. Through faith we know Christ's Sacrifice is sufficient payment for our sins and God was fully satisfied with it. Through Faith we know we have a faithful and merciful High Priest in Heaven making intercession for us believers. Through faith we have entered into God's rest and are assured of an eternal home with Him. By faith we face the challenges of life knowing we are not alone, but God is with us working on our behalf. By faith we have, are, and will realize all God has promised in His Word. 

Once again living by Faith is the highest principle for Christian experience. In doing so, we are sure to please God, sustain a distinctively Christian confession, secure eternal rewards, and effectively face the hazards of a righteous lifestyle.  Though staggering challenges pervade our lives, confidence in Christ enables us to respond with joyful obedience to still triumph in them all.  Forsaking Christ in fear ceases to be a consideration as we live by faith. 

So why should we remember people of faith who lived in the past? What made the faith of these people extraordinary? (Hebrews 11:4–8)

Well, to recall the people of faith from history links them with our own reality and affords us hope, inspiration and guidance.  Since these were real people and faith proved effective for them as they trusted God, it will indeed be a legitimate way of coping with the challenging realities we face today.  Their faith is extraordinary because it enabled them all to please God in spite of their contemporary challenges and difficulties.  God has pleasure in those who continue to live by faith, but not those who draw back in doubt and unbelief (Heb. 10:38-39). My recommendation is press on on in faithful interaction with the true and living God each day of life. Also encourage others to enter a faith-relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. Finally, cast away the anxieties and fears that have made you more immobile and reluctant to act; step out in faithful obedience to the Lord. He is pleased to work through our lives allowing us to experience the wealth of life with Him.

If you have not placed your trust in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins then I encourage you to acknowledge you are a sinner. Look seriously at what Jesus did for us at Calvary and call upon Him for forgiveness to establish a relationship with God. Believe the gospel--Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and He arose again the third day exactly as the Bible said He would. God accepted Christ's payment for our sins; will you accept Christ's payment on your behalf? Yes, Jesus suffered greatly for our sinful thoughts, behaviors, and the attitudes with which we justify our sin. Like myself, you can be forgiven as I was. Place your faith in Jesus Christ and turn to God today.