A Living Faith (Hebrews 11)

Is faith the assurance of things hoped for, the proof of things not yet seen? Did the patriarchs and matriarchs have a faith that pleased God? Do we believe that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him? Let’s discuss this in Hebrews 11.

What is faith? Did faith make the ancient patriarchs and matriarchs pleasing to God?

Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see. It was their faith that made our ancestors pleasing to God. (Hebrews 11:1-2 CEV)

What is one of the most important things that we realize in faith? Was the universe created?

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 11:3 ESV)

Did Abel act on faith? Is that what made his sacrifice better than his brother’s?

By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith. (Hebrews 11:4 HCSB)

Did Enoch have faith? Did this please God?

By faith Enoch was taken away without experiencing death. He could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he won approval as one who pleased God. (Hebrews 11:5 ISV)

What must we believe? Is diligence in seeking God important?

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 KJV)

Did Noah act on faith? Did he make great preparations for a barge to carry his family?

By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. (Hebrews 11:7 LSB)

Did Abraham act on faith? Did he obey God in faith or just believe without action?

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as a stranger in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:8-10 NASB)

Did Sarah have faith? Did she have a child in her old age?

And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. (Hebrews 11:11-12 NIV)

Did they all have a heavenly hope? Did they seek a heavenly country?

These 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. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But 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. (Hebrews 11:13-16 NKJV)

Did Abraham act on faith? Would any of us have so readily done such a thing?

It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead. (Hebrews 11:17-19 NLT)

Did Isaac, Jacob and Joseph act in faith? What about our faith, is it faith in action or empty belief?

By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. (Hebrews 11:20-22 WEB)