The Life Of Faith Series

Hebrews Sermon Series #15 June, 18, 2014 The Life of Faith

A Jesus is superior to anyone/anything in the Old Testament.

1 He is the fulfillment of all the rituals, symbols & prophecies found there.

a Hebrews 10:37-38 (NKJV) 37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."

This is a quote from Habakkuk.

Habakkuk 2:3-4 (NKJV) 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. 4 "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.

b “The just shall live by faith” is quoted in Romans 1.17 & Galatians 3.11.

Romans 1:17 (NKJV) 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."

Galatians 3:11 (NKJV) 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."

aa Faith in what?

bb To the superior work & worth of Christ that saves.

cc Not only does faith saves us . . . it also sustains us.

2 Hebrews 11 first lays the foundation of faith & then gives illustrations of that fath.

a This chapter makes the transition from the principle of faith into the practice of faith.

b We’ll see the “honor roll” of the Old Testament saints who lived by faith (Abraham, Rahab, Noah, etc.)

aa Those honored are not recognized for their great works but for their great faith.

bb In God’s hall of fame, it’s not filled with just superstars who fill stadiums, record multi-platinum songs, preachers on T.V. . . it is filled with those who by faith performed their duty, faced their trails and received their blessings.

B As New Testament believers, our lives are to be lived in the same superior way.

1 We are to live by faith because without, we cannot please God.

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

2 Tonight we’ll look at these four aspects of the life of faith . . .

a The definition of faith

b The dimensions of faith

c The daring of faith

d The dynamics of faith

3 Pray

I The definition of faith (10.37-39)

Hebrews 10:37-39 (NKJV) 37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

A Faith is believing in trusting. (Put on screen)

1 Everyone has faith in something.

a The humanist has faith in himself & humanity.

aa The materialist has faith in her possessions.

bb The evolutionists put their faith in science.

b When you drive down the road at 65 MPH with another car coming right at you 8 feet away, going the same speed . . . you have faith that the driver will stay in their lane.

2 But faith is only as valid as the object in which it is placed.

a When Christians talk about faith it is believing and trusting in the Word of God

aa Faith is the eyes & ears of our soul that allow us to see & hear the Word of God.

bb Just as our physical ears allow us to pick up sound waves, listen to others, our faith is what lets us pick up on the promises/power of the Word of God.

b Not only is faith our eyes/ears . . . it is also our souls hands that reach out to lay hold on God’s Word.

B Several years ago we went to Holiday World & there was a monstrous roller coaster that I couldn’t convince another single person in my family to ride.

1 It was obviously safe because every 40 seconds people exited the ride, laughing. (Yet my boys refused to ride it)

2 This is exactly what the recipients of the letter of Hebrews were doing.

a They had heard/seen, but they feared an all-out abandonment of their former life of Judaism for what they saw as to be a risky ride with Jesus.

b Some people today have the head belief in Jesus, but they refuse to trust them with the rest of themselves.