A Response Of Saving Faith-10

A RESPONSE Of SAVING FAITH-X—Hebrews 11:3-40

Attention:

Lost Loot

A little boy came home with a $10 bill he claimed to have innocently found.

“Are you sure it was lost?” asked his mother.

“”Oh yes Ma’am, I’m sure,’ said the boy. “I saw a man looking for it!”

The boy’s ‘faith’ had convinced him that the money was his!

Faith’s response to life’s challenges

We indeed bring something of value to the table when we are saved!

The Hebrews writer sought to encourage & exhort his readers(hearers) by recounting the very practical responses which faith had wrought in their forebears/ancestors.

Saving faith yields practical responses to life, which encourage others.

What are some practical responses to life by saving faith?

How does saving faith respond to life?

In previous weeks we have observed 11 Responses to Life’s Challenge afforded by Saving Faith. These responses have focused upon the “elders”(:2)(patriarchs) but their application is for us.

We have found that Saving faith meets life’s challenge with...

1. A Particular WORLDVIEW(:3)—Concept presented 05/20/2012 with 10:39—11:3 as FELLOWSHIP

2. OFFERINGs Of PECULIAR QUALITY(:4)

3. DESIRE For GOD’s PLEASURE(:5-6)

4. CONDEMNING TRUST(:7)

5. A Particular PLACE(:8-10)

6. A Particular OUTLOOK(:11-12)

7. A Particular VISION(:13-16)

8. A Particular CONCLUSION(:17-19)

9. A Particular BLESSING(:20-21)

10. A Particular PREPARATION(:22)

Regarding Moses:

11. A Particular BOLDNESS(:23)

12. A Particular FEARLESSNESS(:24-27)

13. A Particular DISPLAY(:28)

14. A Particular PASSAGE(:29)

15. A Particular CONQUEST(:30)

16—Saving faith meets life’s challenge with...

A Particular RELIANCE(:31)

Explanation:(:31)

:31—“By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.”

From events recorded in Joshua 2:1-24 & 6:17, 20-25(READ).

Important to understanding the significance of Rahab’s faith is the fact that she was known & recognized as “the harlot Rahab.” Every Jew knew this but probably did not consider(as do many Christians) the reality of such salvation.

A Harlot/Whore/Hooker/Mistress/Call girl/Escort—The amount of money exchanged is irrelevant to the moral implications, which erase any euphemistic consolations by which people placate themselves.

Regarding the Salvation of such immoral people:

Mat. 21:23-32—“Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests & the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, & said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?” But Jesus answered & said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John--where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ “But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus & said, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. “But what do you think? A man had two sons, & he came to the first & said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ “He answered & said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it & went. “Then he came to the second & said likewise. And he answered & said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors & harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. “For John came to you in the way of righteousness, & you did not believe him; but tax collectors & harlots believed him; & when you saw it, you did not afterward relent & believe him.”

Ezek. 33:11—““Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way & live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’”

Lk. 15:10—““Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.””

Mat. 7:21—““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”

Mat. 12:46-50 “While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother & brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother & Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” But He answered & said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother & who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples & said, “Here are My mother & My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother & sister & mother.””