Bible Study - Victory (4) - Victorious Faith - Hebrews 11:1-6 - March 26, 2017

Bible Study – Victory (4) – Victorious Faith – March 26, 2017

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled “Victory.”

Our focus scripture is Hebrews 11:1-6.

My faith in GOD makes me victorious.

We do not know who wrote Hebrews. Some speculate that is was Paul. 

Chapter 11 has been referred to as the “Hall of Fame of Faith.” The writer began Chapter 11 with a definition of faith.

We read in Genesis 15:6-7 how GOD viewed the faith of Abram/Abraham:

6 Abram believed the Lord, and He (GOD) credited it to him as righteousness.

7 He also said to him, "I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess."

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21:

17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.

18 Now everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

19 that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ; certain that God is appealing through us, we plead on Christ's behalf, "Be reconciled to God."

21 He (GOD) made the One (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us (All who will place their faith in JESUS), so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

When a person asks JESUS to forgive him or her for his or her sins, JESUS does. HIS shed blood cleanses that person of all their sins and makes them whiter than snow as recorded in Isaiah 1:18:

18 "Come, let us discuss this," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will be like wool.

A person’s faith in JESUS and what HE did, willingly, upon the cross unto death and HIS resurrection, GOD accrues righteousness to him or her. Yes, Christians do sin but all of their sins are covered by the shed blood of JESUS. But we as Christians are to confess our sins as written in 1 John 1:8-10:

8 If we say, "We have no sin," we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say, "We have not sinned," we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

GOD not only redeems those who place their faith in JESUS but HE also gives them a guarantee. It is a guarantee warranted by GOD. It is a covenant. We read about this warranty/guarantee in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22:

21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us,

22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

We also read in 2 Corinthians 5:5-7:

5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,

7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.

Once a person asks JESUS to forgive him or her for his or her sins and asks JESUS to come into his or her life, JESUS comes into that person’s life. CHRIST in you is what makes a person a Christian not joining a church. That person experiences the miracle of rebirth in his or her spirit and he or she is born into GOD’S family as GOD’S Son or Daughter. When a person asks JESUS to forgive him or her for his or her sins, GOD forgives his or her sins and the Holy Spirit comes into his or her life as the guarantee that he or she belongs to GOD for all eternity.

Christians walk by “faith” and not by “sight.” The faith of our salvation is confirmed by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:14-17:

14 All those led by God's Spirit are God's sons.

15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father!"

16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children,

The Holy Spirit is the third part of the Holy Trinity and dwells in all Christians and confirms and guarntees that they are GOD’S Sons or Daughters by the miracle of rebirth. They have born into GOD’S family and their citizenship is in heaven. They have eternal life and are righteous before GOD because of their faith in JESUS and HIS cleansing blood shed for them.

17 and if children, also heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ-seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Now, let’s explore more!

There are three main points in our lesson:

-         Faith gives substance to hope and assures us GOD’S promises are true.

-         Faith is expressed in our worship of GOD.

-         Faith pleases GOD.

Let’s read Hebrews 10:34-39: (Introduction to our focus scripture.)

34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.

35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

37 For, "Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay;

38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him."

39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

Christians must keep on keeping on by faith. Christians are encouraged by the fact CHRIST is in them and they have the guarantee of the Holy Spirit. This leads us to the “now” in our next scripture.

Let’s read Hebrews 11:1-3:

Heroes of Faith

1 Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

Christians are secured by their faith in JESUS and that faith is confirmed and guaranteed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Faith is the reality of GOD’S presence in the lives of Christians.

2 For by it our ancestors were approved.

Faith is the cornerstone or building block upon which GOD has built HIS Kingdom upon earth. This cornerstone is JESUS and HE aligns all the parameters for the building not made with hands but a Spiritual building, the Kingdom of GOD. GOD’S desire is for HIS children to worship HIM in Spirit and truth that comes from hearts of true faith. Faith is a gift from GOD to all who seek the truth in JESUS.

What is faith? Faith means “conviction of the truth of anything, generally with the included idea of trust.” Faith can vary from one Christian to another. Faith can grow and that is what GOD desires in the lives of all Christians. HE desires for our faith in HIM and JESUS to grow.

What grows our faith in GOD and JESUS? As Christians read the Bible and apply what they read as led by the Holy Spirit, they grow Spiritually and in confidence and trust. Christianity is on-the-job training. There will be ups and downs but through it all, we will learn of GOD and JESUS. We will learn to trust GOD and JESUS more each day as we obediently serve as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible.

We can begin to define our faith as we look around us to see the handiwork of GOD. GOD spoke and the world and universe come into being. GOD’S voice made something from nothing. The power of GOD is manifested in the voice of GOD, HIS Word.

We must keep in mind that we can place our faith in something or someone that will not measure up. When tested the object of our faith falls apart and we are disappointed or shattered.

I can hear some thinking that they have put their faith in GOD and HE did not measure up to their understanding of GOD. I know what you mean; been there and thought that. But guess what? GOD left me to wallow in my ignorance until I decided to give GOD another chance. HE led me to see that I had unrealistic expectations of HIM based upon fantasy and my desire for power. 

We define GOD by our notions of who we want GOD to be. Often we think of GOD as our very own genie that we can command to pop out and do our bidding. Or we may have heard others describe GOD in an unrealistic manner. 

For sure Satan will let you build air castles about GOD. We must keep in mind that GOD loves you and HIS greatest desire is for you to love HIM in truth.

How much does GOD love you? HE loves you enough that HE allowed HIS 

only Son, JESUS, to come to earth in the flesh and give HIS life for you. Seek HIM and you will find HIM.

Let’s read Hebrews 11:4:

4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain [did]. By this he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through this.

We know from scripture the story of Cain and Abel. They are the two sons of Adam and Eve. After the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden because of their sin, we read as recorded in Genesis 4:1-10:

Cain and Abel

1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD."

2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground.

3 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground,

4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering,

5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.

6 The LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?

7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it."

After seeing that GOD was pleased with Abel’s offering, Cain would do well to duplicate that which pleases GOD. Instead, Cain allowed jealousy to grow in his heart. Jealousy is a terrible thing in a person’s life.

This verse reflects GOD’S plea to Cain, “Now, you know what I expect. Don’t let the sin in your heart take hold of you and lead you to further sin. Instead, take control of the sin that is in your heart and master it. DO NOT LET IT 

MASTER YOU!”

Who is your master JESUS and GOD or Satan? In our last week’s lesson we studied that the members of our body, which includes our minds, leads us to obey the flesh rather than seeking the power of GOD and mastering the sin that comes our way.

So where does what is in Cain’s heart lead him? Let’s read on.

8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?"

10 And the LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground.

Cain killed Abel because GOD regarded Abel's sacrifice as acceptable over Cain’s offering. We can speculate as why GOD made this distinction. Some believe it was because Abel had sacrificed the best and shed the blood of the first born from his flock of animals. By sacrificing the first born animal, that terminated any future animals coming from the best of the flock. By doing so, Abel reflected trust in GOD to provide for his future needs. Abel trusted GOD. Certainly, such trust was in keeping with GOD’S plan for atoning for sin through the shed blood of an animal and ultimately the shed blood of JESUS.

GOD did allow the firstfruits of a harvest to be offered to HIM.

Cain’s offering was an offering that he chose. But GOD knew the hearts of both Cain and Abel. We know that Cain proved what was in his heart because he killed Abel. Sin was the master of Cain. Apparently, Cain had a very narrow view of GOD because he thought he could hide the murder of his brother from GOD. GOD sees all and knows all. None of us hide anything from GOD. So be open and honest when confess the sin lurking in our hearts.

CHRIST in us gives us the strength to master the sin that crouched at our door. Confess it and ask GOD to help us to be the master of it.

Abel’s gift was offered with the right heart and GOD accepted it. As a result of GOD’S acceptance of Abel's gift, GOD accrued righteousness to Abel. The right gift given with the right heart pleases GOD but the right gift with the wrong heart does not please GOD.

The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 9:7:

7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Let’s read Hebrews 11:5-6:

5 By faith, Enoch was taken away so that he did not experience death, and he was not to be found because God took him away. For prior to his transformation he was approved, having pleased God.

The Bible reveals that two people did not experience physical death; Enoch (Genesis 5:22-23) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11). Enoch was taken because he was approved by GOD and Elijah because he pleased GOD.

6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.

We cannot have faith in GOD if we do not believe that HE exists. We need to read James 2:19:

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe-and they shudder. Or “tremble” as recorded in the King James Version.

Satan and Satan’s domain know without a doubt that GOD is real and they know that it is just a matter of time until they are judged and cast into Hell. They made their choice and it was the wrong choice.

Every person is faced with a choice whether or not to accept or reject JESUS as his or her Savior. How do you choose? Don’t delay for today is the day of salvation. Satan and his followers know that GOD exists. Do you know that GOD exists? If so, the Bible expresses what HE expects from all people. Will you believe what GOD states in HIS Word? Or reject it? Accept JESUS as your Savior and receive eternal life. Reject JESUS and receive eternal death.

JESUS said it best in John 14:6:

6 Jesus told him (Thomas), "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Choose wisely! Blessings!!!