Lesson for January 14, 2024
The Excellence of Faith
These verses are an amplification of the doctrinal concept from Hebrews 10:39, “But we are not the retreating type of believers designed for the purpose of destruction of our spiritual lives; but the doctrinal type for the purpose of doctrinal preservation of our souls for the execution of the Christian Way of Life.”
Hebrews 11:1-3
Verse 1
“Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].”
Assurance is the same Greek word as faith – “pistis.” Assurance is therefore faith in (believing) the Word of God. Whether you seek assurance of your salvation or assurance of God’s provision for your spiritual life, the Word of God is the only source. The reality of the things promised in God’s Word is based on His faithfulness. And the only way we will have full assurance (confidence) in those things which we hope for is through the knowledge of Bible doctrine.
The evidence of things not seen (the conviction of their reality) means proof or persuasion. Bible doctrine is the proof or the persuasion of all that you cannot see regarding God and His plan, but you know is true. It proves that all spiritual reality is found in God’s Word. As believers, we look at the things which are unseen and eternal, and the more accurate Bible doctrine we learn and apply, the more real the things of God become.
Verse 2
“For by this [kind of] faith the men of old gained [divine] approval.”
Believers in the Old Testament did not have a completed Canon of Scripture, but the Word of God was still available to them. There never has been a generation for which God’s Word was not available.Believers in the Old Testament gained the approval of God by means of the application of the Bible doctrine they knew (just like us). They received divine approval through application of Bible doctrine.
Gaining divine approval meant they were living their spiritual lives as it was revealed to them at that time.
A principle of application for us today:
Until the time of Moses there was no written doctrine at all, it was always communicated by some person. If the believers in the Old Testament could reach spiritual maturity without having the amount of doctrine that we have in the royal family, then there is no excuse for any of us failing to reach it.
Verse 3
“By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God] we understand that the worlds (universe, ages) were framed and created [formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose] by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”
Believing what the Bible teaches about the creation of the universe gives a believer even more confidence in God and His Word. If a person believes the Bible, they cannot believe in the theory of evolution – they are not compatible. The Bible is not a book of science, but when it speaks of science it is always accurate. Our faith in God is solidified by the accuracy of what the Bible says about history and science. Therefore, we can have complete faith in the power of the Creator of the universe, when it comes to handling any situation. This is the excellence of faith as a problem-solving device.
Hebrews 4:1-3
Verse 1
“Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it.”
Fear is the Greek word “phobeo” which means to beware or to be cautious. What you ought to beware of (afraid or cautious of) is going into reversionism. Promise refers to the promise of entering into a state of faith-rest. Remains is the Greek word “kataleipo,” which means to neglect, to leave behind, or to leave unclaimed.
All of God’s promises and blessings come through the knowledge and application of accurate Bible doctrine. Failure to learn and apply doctrine means a believer will fall short of obtaining faith-rest (a relaxed mental attitude). Rest is the Greek word “katapausis” meaning causing to cease or repose. Spiritually, it is rest based on complete, total, utter faith in God.
Should seem is the Greek word “dokeo,” which means to have human viewpoint thinking and not divine viewpoint thinking. To come short means to fail to attain a goal, to be below standard or to default. The reversionist defaults and fails to attain God’s goal of a relaxed mental attitude (rest).
Verse 2
“For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word preached did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard it.”
This is a reference to those Israelites who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and missed entering into the Promised Land. They had the best doctrinal teaching in the world at that time, but they were guilty of negative volition and neglect of their spiritual lives. The same problem existed when Hebrews was written and exists today as well.
A believer’s attitude toward God’s Word has always determined blessing or cursing in their life. The Greek word for profit means to help or to benefit. They did not profit from what they were taught. They refused to apply their faith to the promises of God, which is the meaning of “It was not united by faith.” God was extremely upset and disappointed with the Israelites because He had provided for them everything they needed, but they refused to accept it. Instead, they grumbled and complained and ended up being forbidden from entering the Promised Land, a place of peace and tranquility (rest), because of their lack of faith in the provision of God.
Verse 3
“For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “As I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.”
The principle of faith has never changed. Everything that a person has ever learned is based upon faith. For faith to be effective, it must have the right object. God’s rest can be entered into when the object of faith is God and His Word. The content of what you’re thinking is what determines faith’s effectiveness in your life. There is no limit to the amount of faith that a believer can have, but doctrinal content in the soul is what determines the strength of that faith.
That rest means resting in the promises of God, which results in a relaxed attitude toward the circumstances of life. Therefore, a relaxed attitude in life for a believer is the application of the Faith-Fest Technique.
Just as He said introduces a quotation from Psalm 95:10-11. I swore means to promise with a solemn oath. In My wrath is used for indignation. God was disappointed with His chosen people Israel as they continued to reject Him as they wandered in the wilderness. In the same manner, God is disappointed with believers in the Church Age when they “wander in the wilderness” of reversionism.
His works refers to the divine provisions of grace known as divine decrees. God loves to demonstrate to Satan that He can take care of members of His family. His grace provisions take care of believers in every dispensation and nothing Satan has to offer can equal God’s provision. Believers don’t have to wait until they reach Heaven to enter into God’s rest. The excellence of faith allows us to enter into God’s rest right now!!!