BETTER FAITH - Part 2 of 7
Hebrews 11:8-19
I. FAITH COMES FROM HEARING – THE PROMISES
A. I will make you a great nation (12:2, 15:5), multitude of nations (17:2-6)
B. I will bless you (12:2, 21:22-23)
C. I will make your name great (12:2)
D. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you (12:3, 15:13-14)
E. All the families of the earth will be blessed (12:3)
F. I will give you this land – Canaan (12:7),
G. But one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir (15:4)
H. Nations and kings will come from you (17:6)
II. FAITHFULNESS DOES NOT MEAN SINLESSNESS
A. Abraham was a liar (12:11-13, 20:11-13)
B. Abraham was an adulterer (16:1-6)
C. The faithful of Hebrews 11 had flaws and sins – but they had great faith
III. FAITH AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
A. “Righteousness is a state of unblemished character. Justification is the means by which this character is imparted to men.” (Given Blakely – Romans Commentary).
B. Genesis 15:6 “Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned (credited) it to him as righteousness.”
C. Romans 4
i. Works mentioned are mainly works of Law (2:15; 3:20, 27; 4:13). Paul is making the argument that salvation is by faith in accordance with grace so that it is not just for the physical descendants of Abraham, Jews, but for those of the faith of Abraham (4:16)
ii. Abraham had righteousness credited to his account because of faith and not because of works (4:13-15) – for the law had not even come yet.
iii. Apart from perfect obedience to law (any law), the righteousness of God has been manifested – through faith in Jesus (3:20-22). This does not mean that the Old Testament has nothing to do with the New but rather finds its fulfillment, for it is ‘being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets’, meaning righteousness is not found in the law but from God in Christ Jesus (Deuteronomy 30:6 cf. Colossians 2:11-12, Ezekiel 36:26-27, Jeremiah 23:6, 33:16, Malachi 4:2, Habakkuk 2:4, Isaiah 53:11, Psalm 32:1-2). Chapter 4 goes on to show this using Abraham and David.
D. James 2
i. Faith without works is dead (2:26). Just thinking something or even saying something is useless if nothing is done (2:14-20) mainly because the words are empty and in essence – not true.
ii. Abraham was justified by works when he offered up Isaac as faith was working (2:21-22). Abraham was NOT justified by faith alone (2:24).
iii. Jack Cottrell says “What, then, actually justifies us? Faith without works? No, says James. Faith plus works? No, says Paul. A faith that works? Yes, say Paul and James.” (The Faith Once for All, p.330)
E. Philippians 3:9 “...not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith”
F. The man of God ought to do everything in his power to obey God’s commands in order to simply be obedient to the Lord and Master (John 14:15). But at no time should that man begin to think that his obedience is the means by which he will be saved. We must seek the righteousness of God which is in Jesus not in obedience to law – any law.
IV. FAITH AND COVENANT
A. Genesis 15:8-21 Covenant ratified by a sacrifice
i. Walking between the pieces (15:10, 17)
ii. Jeremiah 34:18
iii. Punishment for breaking covenant seen in those pieces (Matthew 24:51, Hebrews 4:12-13)
B. Genesis 17:1-14 Covenant of Circumcision – Acts 7:8
i. Established or confirmed (17:2)
ii. Everlasting (17:7) -as long as the covenant is in effect (Galatians 3:19)
iii. Circumcision is a sign (17:11)
C. Romans 9:6-8
i. They are not all Israel who are descendants from Israel (physical) for in Isaac your descendents shall be named (Ishmael also came from Abraham) but it is the children of promise who are regarded as descendents. Those who were truly in covenant were the ones who obeyed by faith. Faith has always been the means of justification.
D. Galatians 3
i. The New Covenant is not only by faith but that is the only way to be indwelt with the Spirit of God (3:2). Fulfillment of “in you all the nations of the earth will be blessed” in the New Covenant (3:6-9). For by faith we are sons of Abraham! The Law does not fulfill this promise. For the seed is Christ (3:15-18). Fulfillment of the Old and the beginning of the new was realized in the Seed (3:19). The law leads us to Christ and when He has come we no longer need that leader (tutor) but all who have been baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ...and if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendents, heirs according to promise (3:23-29).
V. FAITH AND OBEDIENCE (Genesis 22)
A. God tests Abraham – is he faithful? Will he do what I say?
B. First mention of “love” is here and Abraham sacrifices his son (John 3:16)
C. First mention of “worship” is here
i. SHACHAH – prostrate, bow down
ii. Refers to Abraham offering a sacrifice
D. The sacrifice is stopped by God and Abraham receives Isaac back as a type
i. Hebrews 11:19 “He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.”
ii. The angel was convinced of Abraham’s faith (22:12).
iii. The promises to Abraham are reaffirmed... “Because you have done this thing” (22:16), “Because you obeyed My voice” (22:18). Why did he obey, why did he do this thing? Because he considered God able! Our obedience is driven by our faith that when we do what He says, He will do what He says. Given Blakely says “where obedience is not found, faith is not present”