Pleasing God Through Faith I. Introduction: Book of Hebrews a. Purpose of the Book. i. To show these Christians that they needed to follow the New Law, not the Old Law of Moses. 1. With emphasis on the superiority of the New Covenant. b. The Book of Better Things. i. A Better Mediator. 1. Hebrews 1:4, Christ is better than the angels. 2. Hebrews 3:3, Christ is better than Moses. 3. Hebrews 7:7, Christ is better than Abraham. 4. Hebrews 7:17,24, Christ is a better High Priest. 5. Hebrews 9:23, His sacrifice was better. ii. A Better Covenant. 1. Hebrews 7:22, Jesus brought a better covenant. 2. Hebrews 6:9, better things, things that accompany salvation iii. Better Promises. 1. Hebrews 8:6, covenant established on better promises. 2. Hebrews 7:19, brings a better hope. 3. Hebrews 10:34, better and an enduring possession. 4. Hebrews 11:16,35,40, better country, better resurrection, something better. iv. What these Hebrew Christians have is better. c. Reaction to the Book. i. The point is obvious to us, but try to put yourselves in the position of the readers of the book of Hebrews. ii. The Old Law was all these people had ever known. 1. Their whole lives had been spent studying and living the law of Moses. 2. Their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and on and on, had only known the law of Moses. 3. They had grown up hearing all the great stories of the Old Testament. iii. Now, they were being told that the Old Law had been done away. 1. In with the New, out with the Old. iv. What would have been your reaction, if you were in their shoes? 1. Hesitancy to change? 2. Wanting to cling to what you had always known? 3. Wondering what to do now?
d. Focus on Hebrews 11 i. Where does Hebrews 11 fit into this discussion regarding the Old and New laws? 1. What purpose does this chapter serve in the argument that the writer is making? 2. How does it fit into the big picture? ii. The chapter was not written to inform these Christians about all of these great men and women of faith. 1. They knew all these examples well. 2. Then what is its purpose? iii. The purpose of Hebrews 11. 1. To point out that their forefathers looked forward to this same day. a. Hebrew Christians were just like most men: hesitant to change from the way they had always lived. b. The chapter points out their ancestral heroes were looking forward to the day of the coming of Christ and the New Law. i. Hebrews 11:7,10,13-16,26,39-40. 2. To show them that the basics of serving God had not changed. a. Pleasing God begins with faith. i. You still please God in the same way as you always have. b. Their ancestors pleased God through their faith. i. Habbakuk 2:4, the just shall live by faith. ii. Still applicable. c. The Old Law and the New Law are not all that different. i. The fundamentals are still the same. d. Faith is the common thread through both the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. 3. To motivate them to live by faith, just like their ancestors. a. The whole book of Hebrews is about motivation. i. Convinces them they have a better covenant and encourages them to cling to that better deal. ii. A major theme is don t go back. iii. Urges them to stir each other up. Hebrews 10:24-25 iv. Points to Jesus as a motivating example. Hebrews 12:1-2 b. Chapter 11 recounts the diligent example of great men and women of faith.
i. Their lives and examples should motivate these Hebrews to do likewise: live by faith. iv. This morning s lesson. 1. Focus on Hebrews 11. 2. Discuss the fundamental importance of the chapter. II. Teaches the basic principle of pleasing God. a. Faith is the basis for all service to God. i. The first principle of serving God. ii. Vs. 6, 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. iii. This has been in all ages: New Testament, Law of Moses, and even the Patriarchal age. iv. No one is going to accidentally please God. b. Faith is our foundation upon which we live. i. We walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 ii. If you don t have faith, you might as well not do anything else. c. There are Christians who lack in faith. i. They don t know why they believe in God. 1. Might not even be sure if there is a God. ii. They don t believe in all of the Bible events. 1. Look at the Bible as some sort of fantasy story. iii. They aren t confident that God can answer their prayers. 1. They don t ask in faith, believing it will happen. iv. They re not sure there is a Heaven or a Hell. d. Service to God starts with Faith. i. Non-Christians need be taught to have faith. ii. Christians must continue to learn and grow in faith. III. Combats the prevalent false doctrine of faith alone. a. Many people teach the doctrine that faith alone saves. i. Based on certain passages. 1. Acts 16:31, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. 2. Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. ii. People have a misunderstanding about the relationship between faith and works.
1. They reason, If salvation is a gift of God, and cannot be obtained by works, then I can be saved without works. 2. Therefore I am saved by faith alone, not by any works that I do. b. Chapter 11 helps to combat that teaching. i. Consider the many great examples used to demonstrate to people how faith and works go together. 1. By faith, Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice. Vs. 4 2. By faith, Noah prepared an ark. Vs. 7 3. By faith, Abraham went to a strange land. Vs. 8 4. By faith, Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice. Vs. 17 5. By faith, Moses suffered with his brethren. Vs. 24-27 6. By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down. Vs. 30 ii. There are many other passages that teach that man has to do something in order to be saved, that faith alone will not save. 1. Most notably James 2:24, You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. c. Biblical Faith includes Action. i. Faith without works is dead. d. Biblical Faith requires Obedience. i. Faith without obedience does not save. IV. Provides motivation for a righteous life. a. Chapter 11 gives us many great examples. i. Abraham, Moses, Joseph. ii. Examples that we need to learn from. b. The chapter shows men and women who lived acceptably to God. i. Despite the challenges that were before them. ii. They did it. c. The message to the rest of us: i. You can do it. ii. We did it. iii. Just follow us. d. The climax of the point of the chapter is actually found in the first two verses of chapter 12. i. Notice the word therefore. 1. Shows that these verses are building upon what had previously been said. ii. Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.
1. Because of the testimony of all of these great people. iii. These stories of faith should motivate the hearer to: 1. lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that is set before us. iv. Picture of a race. 1. Christian running the race of life. 2. Surrounded by a great throng of cheering fans. v. The message should be clear: 1. If Moses can do it, I can do it. 2. If Rahab can do it, I can do it. 3. If Sarah can do it, I can do it. 4. So I keep fighting, so I keep running. V. Teaches a tool to apply in all facets of our lives. a. Faith overcomes temptation. i. An increased belief in an all-seeing and all-knowing God will help you to resist temptation. ii. An increased realization of an eternal Heaven will help you to remember what you re giving up at the time of sin. iii. An increased realization of an eternal Hell will help you to realize what the consequences of sin will be. b. Faith eases your fears. i. In times of sickness or sorrow or even facing death, increased faith will soothe your spirit through the comfort of a compassionate God. ii. In times of trial and persecution, increased faith will remind you of the eternal reward that awaits you, and that your suffering will soon be over. c. Faith improves your prayer life. i. An increased belief in an all-powerful God will cause you to look to Him for help instead of relying on yourself or others. ii. An increased belief in an approachable God will motivate you to talk to Him frequently and cast all your cares upon Him. d. Faith puts you to work. i. Upon believing the God is, you will come to realize that He expects you to obey His commandments and bear fruit for Him. ii. As your faith in God and Heaven/Hell increase, you will be motivated to work for God not out of requirement but out of desire.
VI. Conclusion. a. Consider the examples of faith. i. These men and women believed in God. ii. They believed that God would reward them. iii. Because they believed in God and in a reward, they did something. iv. What did they do? They did exactly what they were told to do. b. Application. i. Do you believe in God? ii. Do you believe God will reward you? iii. If yes to both of those questions, you should be motivated to do something. iv. What should you do? Exactly what God has told you. 1. What has God told you to do? 2. Hebrews 1:1-2, God has in these last days spoken to us by His Son 3. So what has God told us through His Son? a. He has told us how to become a Christian. b. He has told us what to do as a Christian. v. Thus, if you have faith, your response should be automatic. 1. Do you believe? 2. If so, what should you be doing this morning?