The Bible's Hall Of Faith Series

Introduction

I am starting a new sermon series from Hebrews 11 that I am calling, “Flawed: Heroes of the Faith.” This five-week series explores the lives and flaws of some of the believers listed in Hebrews 11, “The Bible’s Hall of Faith.” The believers whose lives we will examine are Sarah, Moses, Jacob, and David.

I should mention my reason for doing a shorter sermon series. Last year, we carefully examined two books of the Bible: 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy. In previous years I have preached through books of the Bible which have taken a long time. So, I thought that it might be good for me to do several shorter sermon series. Hence, “Flawed: Heroes of the Faith.”

Today, I would like to do an overview of Hebrews 11. We don’t know who wrote the book of Hebrews, although as the note in The Reformation Study Bible says, “While the human author of this book remains unknown, the important thing is that this writing, like the OT before it, is what ‘the Holy Spirit says’ (3:7)” (The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version [2015 Edition]).

The recipients of this letter were most likely Jewish Christians of the Dispersion. That is, they were Jews who had scattered from Jerusalem and Judea and, in this case, they were probably living in Italy (cf. 13:24).

The message of the letter to the Hebrews is about Jesus. One commentator suggests that Hebrews 1-6 teaches us that Jesus is a superior person, Hebrews 7-10 teaches us that Jesus exercises a superior priesthood, and Hebrews 11-13 teaches us that faith in Jesus is a superior principle. The recipients of this letter were tempted to go back to their old way of life in Judaism and put their faith in Moses and his teaching. They were tempted to put their faith in the visible things of this world and not in the invisible realities of God. Instead of going on to spiritual maturity, they were “of those who shrink back and are destroyed” (10:39).

The author asserts in Hebrews 11 that believers are called to live by faith in the promise of God.

Scripture

Let us read Hebrews 11:1-12:2:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. 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.

By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please

him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.