Hebrews 11 constitutes God s Hall of Faith chapter. It deals with the subject of faith more extensively than any other chapter in the Bible.

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1 God s Hall of Faith Hebrews 11:1-3 In 1893, an engineer by the name of George Ferris built a machine that bears his name the Ferris wheel. The machine was debuted that year as the landmark attraction for the World s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. With a height of 264 feet, it was the largest attraction that had ever been opened to the public. When it was finished, Mr. Ferris invited a newspaper reporter to accompany him and his wife for the very first ride. It was a windy day, and a stiff breeze struck the wheel with great force as it slowly began its rotation. Despite the wind, the wheel turned flawlessly. After one revolution, Ferris called for the machine to be stopped so that he, his wife, and the reporter could step out. In braving that one revolution on the windblown Ferris wheel, each occupant demonstrated genuine faith. Mr. Ferris began with the scientific knowledge that the machine would work and that it would be safe. Mrs. Ferris and the reporter believed the machine would work on the basis of what the inventor had said. But knowledge wasn t enough. It was only after the ride could it be said of all three that they had personal faith that the machine worked. So it is with faith in Jesus Christ. Knowledge of the facts is not enough. One must personally commit his life to the truth. Such is the subject matter of the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. Hebrews 11 constitutes God s Hall of Faith chapter. It deals with the subject of faith more extensively than any other chapter in the Bible. Jews in the first century saw everything as a matter of works. Judaism had been reduced to nothing more than a religious system of do s and don ts that had totally missed God s original design. The law and the sacrificial system were intended to point them to faith. Instead, they came to be dependent upon their own performance. John MacArthur By the time of Christ, Judaism was no longer the supernatural system God had originally given. It had been twisted into a works system, with all kinds of legalistic requirements. It was a system of self-effort, self-salvation, and self-glorification. It was far from the faith system that God had given. Salvation has never been by works, but has always been by faith. Habakkuk 2:4 The just shall live by his faith.

2 It was this verse as referenced by the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:17 that sent an arrow into the heart of Martin Luther during what church history refers to as Luther s Tower Experience. Luther was a German monk in a Roman Catholic monastery and was studying in the tower of the University at Wittenberg when he experienced a true conversion to faith somewhere around Martin Luther I greatly longed to understand Paul's epistle to the Romans and nothing stood in the way but that one expression "the righteousness of God," because I took it to mean that righteousness whereby God is just and deals justly in punishing the unjust. My situation was that, although an impeccable monk, I stood before God as a sinner troubled in conscience, and I had no confidence that my merit would appease Him. Therefore I did not love a just angry God, but rather hated and murmured against Him. Yet I clung to the dear Paul and had a great yearning to know what he meant. Night and day I pondered until I saw the connection between the righteousness of God and the statement that "the just shall live by faith." Then I grasped that the righteousness of God is that righteousness by which through grace and sheer mercy God justifies us through faith. Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise. The whole of Scripture took on a new meaning, and whereas before "the righteousness of God" had filled me with hate, now it became to me inexpressibly sweet in greater love. This passage of Paul became to me a gate to heaven... Thus, the key truth that was rediscovered by Luther was that justification is by faith alone. Luther would go on to nail his 95 theses to the door of the church at Wittenberg explaining how the papacy had so strayed from this truth, thus serving as the catalyst which led to the Protestant Reformation. But long before Luther, the writer of Hebrews upholds faith as being the only way of possessing a saving knowledge of Christ. In the first three verses of the chapter, he mentions three things about the faith that will be defined in the lives of those he sets forth as examples. 1. Faith is given a clear DEFINITION (11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Keep in mind by way of context that the writer of Hebrews has just encouraged believers to endure difficulty and demonstrate an enduring faith. Now, he gets specific about that faith which they possess. Faith moral persuasion; speaks of a deep and abiding conviction; reliance upon truth Biblical faith is not blind, but rather is based upon revealed truth.

3 Augustine Faith is to believe what we do not see; and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe. We cannot see God. We cannot see the Lord Jesus. What we know is what He has revealed to us about Himself. Thus, we are to accept it by faith even though it may be contrary to the senses. Illustration One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I'll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: "Jump! I will catch you." But the boy protested, "Daddy, I can't see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters." What the father asked the boy to do was contrary to his senses, but it was essential for his salvation. Faith is committing to God who we are, where we are, and what we have. Faith is surrendering what is seen to Him, and then trusting Him for what is unseen. The best concise definition of faith by far is given in verse 1. According to the verse, faith is: CONFIDENCE that God has promised v. 1a Now faith is the substance of things hoped for Substance word is hupostasis in Greek; confident assurance; real content as opposed to mere appearance; the most solid possible conviction This means that faith is the present essence of a future reality. It is the firm ground upon which we stand while we wait for the fulfillment of God s promise. When a child waits patiently for his father to take him to the game, he gets dressed in his favorite jersey, puts on his favorite ball cap, gets his glove ready all because dad has PROMISED that when he gets home, he is taking his son to the game. That s child-like faith. Such faith rests in the integrity of the one who promises. Kent Hughes The degree of our experience of hope is proportionate to the degree of our faith. The more profound our faith, the more profound our hope.

4 Faith produces hope, and hope produces endurance. Romans 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit CONVICTION that God will perform v. 1b the evidence of things not seen. Evidence word for proof The writer of Hebrews is urging believers to not base their confidence in the things of this world, but in the invisible realities of God. Our faith is the proof of the things that are not seen. This doesn t mean that faith is blind optimism or superstitiously believing something where there is a lack of evidence. It is confident obedience to what has been revealed no matter the consequences. How does this work? Warren Wiersbe God speaks, and we hear His Word. We trust His Word and act on it no matter what the circumstance are or what the consequences may be. The circumstances may be impossible, and the consequences frightening and unknown; but we obey God s Word just the same and believe Him to do what is right and what is best. No matter what may be going on around us, evidence is the inward conviction a believer has from God that what He has promised He will also perform. This is what Peter explains: 1 Peter 1:7-9 That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though not you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith the salvation of your souls. This means that in the life of one who possesses faith, there will be an outward response to their inward assurance. Faith in Jesus manifests itself outwardly in love for and devotion to Jesus. This means that the person who truly possesses faith with live out his or her belief. Their life is committed to what they are convinced is true. 2. Faith is visible through courageous DEVOTION (11:2)

5 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. The writer of Hebrews shows us how faith is given a clear definition, and he also explains how faith is visible through courageous devotion in the lives of those who possess it. There is no such thing as a secret faith. True faith is always visible. It is tangibly seen in the life of the man or woman of faith. First, notice the EXAMPLES of faith. Elders a reference to those saints of old who are upheld throughout the remainder of the chapter as being examples These men and women were approved by God because of their faith in Him, not by anything else: Not by their talents and abilities Not by their superior intellect Not by their credentials Not by their impressive accomplishments It was only by their faith that the saints of old obtained a good testimony. Second, notice the ENDORSEMENT of faith. It was only by way of faith in God that the elders obtained a good testimony or report, meaning they were approved by God. Obtained a Good Testimony means that they were witnesses They are witnesses to us because God was witness to them. In each example that he gives, the writer of Hebrews shows how God gave witness or divine approval to the person s faith. It means that their life had His divine approval. It means that they passed on their report card with flying colors. Their life had heaven s stamp of approval because of their faith. John MacArthur Since the time of Adam, some men have believed in God and believed what He has said. For them life has been meaningful; it has had assurance, substance, and confidence. They did not

6 make a blind leap of faith, but put their faith in a future reality that, because of their faith, God made certain and sure for them. How did these elders of old obtain their report? Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice through faith. Enoch walked with God through faith. Noah was moved with godly fear and built an ark through faith. Abraham obeyed God and left his homeland through faith. Moses gave up luxury in Egypt and identified with God s people through faith. It was through faith that the walls of Jericho fell down flat. It was through faith that David stood before Goliath. It was through faith that the prophets stood against the ungodliness of their culture. It was through faith that Daniel went into the lions den. It was through faith that God s Hall of Fame heroes willingly faced their own deaths and held on to what they knew to be true. It was only through faith that they demonstrated such fearless, courageous devotion to Him. As I look back and consider the testimony of the elders, of those who have gone before us, I have to ask this question: What about us? How is faith clearly defined and courageously displayed in our lives? Luke 18:8 Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth? 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith For the most part, what many call faith in our day looks extremely weak and sickly compared to the faith that is being upheld in Hebrews 11. Perhaps our prayer ought to be, Lord, help my unbelief! George Mueller God delights to increase the faith of His children...i say, and say it deliberately trials, difficulties and sometimes defeat, are the very food of faith...we should take them out of His hands as evidences of His love and care for us in developing more and more that faith which He is seeking to strengthen in us. 3. Faith is not without conscious DECISION (11:3)

7 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Faith involves looking at the evidence and making a conscious, calculated decision based upon that evidence. First, it LEADS to understanding. v. 3a By faith we understand Neither God nor the things of God can be understood or known apart from saving faith. For many, the gospel is a stumbling block because it asserts that salvation cannot be received apart from faith in Christ. The world abounds with people who dismiss the gospel as superstition or myth all because it demands faith. They foolishly assert that faith is the enemy of reason. Their effort leads them to seek understanding from philosophy, science, and other ideas. Man in his search for meaning comes up empty. So he grasps at theories in an attempt to justify his rebellion against God. This is why evolution is so widely popular. Not because of science, but because of the fact that it rules out the existence of God. It gets them off the hook. T.L. Moore, Physics Professor at the University of Cincinnati To talk of the evolution of thought from sea slime to amoeba, from amoeba to a self-conscious thinking man, means nothing. It is the easy solution of a thoughtless brain. Faith in God is the most reasonable decision that a person can make. But those who have been blinded by Satan can t understand faith in Jesus Christ because it can only be spiritually understood, which is impossible for a natural man to do. 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Second, it LOOKS to revealed truth. v. 3b that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

8 Faith is not blind, for it looks to the revealed truth of Scripture. The Bible says that God spoke the worlds into existence through His Word. God did and does nothing apart from His Word. John MacArthur Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, a truth the world s most brilliant thinkers have not discovered and cannot discover on their own. It is beyond the realm of scientific investigation, but it is not beyond knowing if we are willing to be taught by the Word of God. Where there is no willingness to believe and submit to God s Word, there is no faith. Each of the examples that the writer of Hebrews goes on to mention in the chapter were men and women who believed the Word of God. They took Him at His Word and believed His promise. Oswald Chambers Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time. We may not understand, but we always trust the One who does. Illustration I read the story of two little boys who were involved in a terrible accident. One of the boys was mangled up while the other had suffered some head trauma. One said to the other, Say, Tommy, I heard in Sunday School about a Man named Jesus. They taught me that if you believe He died on the cross for your sins, He will come and take and take you to heaven with you die. Tommy replied, But what if I m asleep when He comes and I can t ask Him? The other little boy said, Just hold up your hand. That s what we did in Sunday School. I just guess that Jesus sees it. Since Tommy was too badly hurt to hold up his own arm, his little friend propped it up with a pillow. During the course of the night, Tommy died, but when the nurse came in the next morning, she found him with his arm still propped up. That s what faith is. It is simply taking God at His Word. It lives and dies with its arm propped up in total trust.