These first generations lived for many years, but they had one thing in common: All the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died (Gen 5:5). We read this story and we wonder, How can this be? This means that the Son is Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. Matter is not eternal. Let me remind you that you may believe what you want, think what you want, act like you want, but there is only one way to God and that is through faith in his Son, Jesus Christ. Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon (Isa 55:6, 7). The evidence of our eyes is against all of this. The text says it is the substance of things hoped for. Hebrews 11 begins by telling us what faith is: Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Heb 11:1). God has made Himself known in the Scriptures, and If you want to walk with Him, you must believe what He says about Himself. How do rewards fit in with faith? God rewards those who seek Him (Heb 11:6). Enoch was surrounded by people who had no place for God. We don't trust our government officials, we don't trust our bosses, we don't trust our neighbors, we don't trust our doctors, we don't trust our pastors. Faith proves or gives evidence for the things that we cannot see, thus giving us a conviction that these unseen things are true. To walk with God does not mean that you are perfect, but if you are walking you are making progress. Now the writer lays down an axiomatic truth. Nine generations were all living at the same time! Cain farmed the soil while Abel raised livestock. THE TELL TALE MARKS OF GENUINE FAITH. By faith, Moses saw through the world with its fleeting pleasures and treasures. He trusted in God. Faith is the victory! Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. It's what we believe about the things that matter most. Their faith needed to be strengthened to meet this challenge. Ten generations are recorded. If you seek Him, you will find Him. By faith he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen (11:27). All we need is the courage to do what Noah did and to believe what God has said. We're sorry, an error occurred. Let me apply verse 2 in two ways. As we saw last week, there is a type of faith that does not endure trials and temptations. As Psalm 33:6, 9 affirms, By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah (Gen 5:21 22). All Sermons Bible Studies Devotionals Prayers. Some of you may think that 65 sounds quite old, but at this point, Enoch was about a fifth of the way through his life. Pastor Colin Smith preached this sermon on the faith of Sarah from Hebrews 11:11-12 as part of the series "Living By Faith." About. ''Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. No wonder we are so unhappy. It is their faith that gets them out of bed in the morning and lets them enjoy the memories of their children rather than be haunted by their memories of them. Faith, you see, is confident in the power of God's words. How could he do that? Without faith it is impossible to please God (11:6). What is the age difference between Cain and Abel? Prepare meaningful sermons and worship events with our sermons, illustrations, quotes, humor, commentary, powerpoint, children's sermons and bulletins. I suspect that Adam had explained that God required a sacrifice. Intro: Our text mentions a man named Abraham. After telling us about Enoch who walked with God, Hebrews says, Whoever would draw near to God.. That would conflict with the entire teaching of the New Testament, that faith is simply the channel through which Gods blessings flow. Here, at any rate, he is facile princeps (easily foremost) among the divines of the Puritan schoolManton's Worksoffer real literary gold to the reading public.'- J.C. RYLEThe outstanding preaching ministry of Thomas Manton . He will save all that come to Him in faith. He believed that in His excellent goodness, God is ever willing to bestow blessings, and ever ready to reward those who come to Him. Free shipping on books, Bibles, gifts, VBS, and church supplies of $50 or more. Faith obeys God even when we don't understand (17b-18) A. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his one and only son - Hebrews 11:17 3By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not seen." (Hebrews 11:1-3) I'm focusing today's sermon on our . At one point before we knew how things would turn out, I said to Marla, I am at peace that even if I get fired, God will take care of us, because I did the right thing. Live to please God and you will know His peace, even if people angrily oppose you. What is the faith that pleases God. So, to walk with God means that we go where He is going. We don't even trust God. We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:9). This ancient story may seem a long way from the realities of your life today. A lack of truth erodes trust and causes distance in relationships. Reminder: You are currently impersonating {{userSessionData.email}}. the writer also was confident that the church would be able to stand the test. Search. Moses asked the Lord, What is your name? And God said, I am that I am (Ex 3:14). As John Stott remarked, death is a "trivial episode" to the believer. Enoch was taken. There is a third principle for close relationships: Truth must be expressed in love. The hoped for things we are sure of, are things God has promised. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Now, what does it mean to live by faith? The answer lies in the resurrection and the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faith taken seriously makes a difference in our world and changes the way we live. Not one word is ever said about the faith of his wife or the faith of Shem, Ham or Japheth or their wives. For George Carlin, the comedian, religion and God weren't high on his list. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah (Gen 5:22). Faith or trust in God is at the foundation of a relationship with Him. All scholars agree that the word is used objectively in 1:3, which states that Christ is the exact representation of Gods nature (essence, or reality). However, do we take faith as seriously as we ought? Our faith substantiates what we hope for, thus giving us assurance that they are true. that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. If you sense that the person is a hypocrite, conveying that he is something that he really is not, you will keep your distance. And we must exercise the faith we have or it will begin to wither and die on the vine. All of the patristic and medieval scholars understood the words in the objective sense, but Melanchthon advised Luther to render it, sure confidence. Luthers interpretation has influenced most scholarship since the Reformation (Koster, ibid.). "Without faith it is impossible to please God." Hebrews 11:6. So, here is a young man who suddenly finds himself in a place where he knows that he needs the help of God. Impossible Without Faith: Hebrews 11:17-40. Delivered on Sabbath Morning, December 14, 1856, by the REV. Hebrews 11:8 Sermons: By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance. Hebrews 11:1-3, Hebrews 11:8-16, Hebrews 11:1-16, Denomination: How did they know to bring an offering to God? 15 Outstanding Quotes To Recharge Your Preaching. All have to cross the river. Noah was a righteous man who had great faith in God. Ditto for Cain. [Published with permission from Dr. Arnold Lastinger.] While we should never be needlessly offensive toward people, our focus should not be on pleasing people, but on pleasing God, who examines our hearts (1 Thess. It is important to define or give substance to such an abstract noun as faith. By faith he preached when no one would listen. To save items to a SermonFolder, please sign in to your account. But God is full of grace and mercy and soon after the death of Adam, God gave a wonderful sign that deaths power would be broken. By exercising this kind of faith the ancients gained the warm commendation of God. 4:4). What were their growing-up years like? Those who kept their faith in the LORD in these awful times would live. Any duration. It is the relationship you have with Jesus. Justification by faith is one of the central doctrines of the Christian faith. Pink says that the name Methuselah can mean, When he is dead, it shall be sent. He suggests that perhaps Enoch gave his son this unusual name, because God had revealed to him that when Methuselah died, the flood would come. Pastor Colin Smith preached this sermon on the faith of Abraham from Hebrews 11:8-16 as part of the series "Living By Faith." He offered a first-born lamb from the flock. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God has put eternity inside every human heart. When the flood finally came, only eight people were saved: Noah and his wife, his three sons and their wives. Suddenly there is a break in the clouds. For more information, see ourPrivacy Policy. According to Hebrews 11, faith is believing that God exists, that he rewards those who seek him and that we can hope in him because his promises will always be true. When he looked at Abel's heart, he found faith there, and it was faith that he rewarded. Faith enables us to see the unseen world that the natural man cannot see. These elements of relationships also apply to our relationship with God. 2 For by it the men of old gained approval. It has the idea of a "foundation or basis. The word also is used as a technical term for the unity of the Trinity, although this is not what is implied here. There is abundant evidence that an incredibly intelligent Designer created everything, especially human life. Here we see another side of the life of faith. It's easy to look at Enoch or Noah or Joseph or Moses or David and say, "I could never do that." Down deep in our hearts, we have believed a lie that the life of faith is restricted to a few "special" people. We read here about Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah. How do I know that? What is the faith that pleases God. I dare say many people in our churches have made up their own religion. Seth lived 912 years (Gen 5:8). For example, God confronts our unbelief and sin. We can't see sins forgiven, we have to believe it. Yet a lot of people feel that way? Unity of the Christian faith our faith substantiates what we hope for, comedian! Arnold Lastinger. relationships also apply to our relationship with God that they are true, ibid. ) Koster... Religion and God said, i am that i am that i am that am... Or basis they are true Morning, December 14, 1856, by the REV an noun!, what is your name their faith in the resurrection and the ascension of our Lord Jesus.... 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