Without Faith
Hebrews 11:1-6
Intro.
Christianity is more than following rules, and rituals.
It is a relationship with the Lord.
- Knowing Him
- Loving Him
- Walking with Him
- Talking to Him
- Living with Him in your life.
It is entirely based on faith as defined in verse 1.
Heb. 11:1 ¶ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is vital,
Believing the truth as taught in the Word of God.
I. Without faith we cannot please God
A. People think they can please God in so many ways.
1. Going to Church (once in a while)
2. Trying to follow the ‘Golden Rule”
Matt. 7:12 ¶ “So ewhatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (ESV)
3. Trying to obey the Ten Commandments
4. Just being a good person
5. All these things may be good, but they don’t necessarily please the Lord.
B. ONLY by faith can we please the Lord. Vs. 6
1. Believing in Him.
2. Believing that he responds to us when we seek Him.
3. Rewarder - responds to us when we seek Him.
4. All through Scripture we are encouraged to seek the Lord
Deut. 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
C. The example of Enoch
1. He pleased God
2. How? By faith
Gen. 5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Without faith we cannot please the Lord.
II. Without faith we cannot be saved. Eph. 2:8-9
A. Our salvation is ensured dependent on Faith.
1. John made this plain in his Gospel
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
a. Believing in Him.
b. To totally rely on Him. (Chair)
2. Believing in Jesus is echoed all through Scripture.
B. It is by Faith alone in what Christ has done or us.
1. By God’s grace (kindness)
2. Through faith
3. It is a GIFT from God
C. Works are not enough. Vs. 8
1. Not of yourselves.
2. Not of works
a. All the things we mentioned earlier.
b. Doing anything we think will please God.
3. Religious works.
a. Baptism does not save you
b. Going to church does not save you
c. Helping your fellow man does not save you.
d. Being a “good” person does not save you.
Rom. 3:12b …there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
D. We are saved by faith and faith alone.
1. Nothing added
2. Faith in Jesus and His resurrection
Rom. 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Without Faith we cannot be saved.
III. Without faith our prayer will NOT be answered
A. This is partly what vs. 6 means when it says “a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him”.
B. Jesus said:
Matt. 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
C. Believing…
1. That God is
2. That He hears
3. That He will answer.
Conclusion
I often think about what Jesus said to Martha just
before he raised Lazarus from the dead.
John 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in
me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Do you believe this? - I would ask you that same question - Do you believe it.
