April 19, 2009
Morning Service

Hebrews 11:1-6

Review:
1. Chapter 9;

• Old covenant’s sanctuary.
  
• Old covenant’s sacrifices.
  
• New covenant’s sanctuary.
  
• New covenant’s sacrifice.
  
• Quoted Scriptures;
  

Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
vs.22 = and without the shedding of blood there is no remission.
Heb 9:27-28 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (28) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

2. Chapter 10 also has Scripture to remember.
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

THE INSTRUCTIONS NOT TO PRACTICE SIN:
Heb 10:26-27 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, (27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

COMPARISON OF PUNISHMENT:
Heb 10:28-29 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: (29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
VS 30; Vengeance is Mine , I will repay, saith the Lord; and the Lord will judge His people.
Vs 31; It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

ENCOURAGEMENT TO REMAIN FAITHFUL;
Heb 10:32-39 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; (33) Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. (34) For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. (35) Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. (36) For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (37) For yet, a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. (38) Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (39) But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

All these words of encouragement, and instructions, are so relevant for us today. Building our faith, and showing us the will of God for mankind. 

As we enter chapter 11 let’s remember the thought, “Now the just shall live by faith.”

WE START OUT CHAPTER 11 WITH A DEFINITION OF FAITH; IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE GET THIS FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH CONCERNING FAITH. PAUL MENTIONS THE WORD FAITH 34 TIMES IN THE LETTER TO THE ROMANS ALONE. 32 TIMES IN THE HEBREW LETTER.

Heb 11:1-6 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 
· Our Christian walk is built on faith. We walk by faith, and not by sight. Paul said this in 2Cor. 5:7
· And Paul tells us in the Roman letter, 10:17; “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” SO THE MORE WE STUDY, THE MORE WE BUILD OUR FAITH.
· IT IS ALSO SAID, ROM.14:23; “WHATSOEVER IS NOT OF FAITH IS SIN.” SO WE COULD SAY, THAT WHATEVER IS NOT OF THE BIBLE IS SIN.

THINGS HOPED FOR, BUT NOT SEEN: WHAT ARE THEY? THE PROMISES OF GOD!
PETER SAID, “ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE, AND GODLINESS HAVE BEEN GIVEN UNTO US.” HE IS REFERRING TO THE BIBLE, AND ALL THE PROMISES OF GOD. 

1.  The resurrection of the dead.  Act 23:6  But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
   Act 13:32-33 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, (33) God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
2. The Prophet Messiah; who was more than Moses; Deu 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
   
3. HEAVEN; St. Jn. 14:1-3.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HOPE FOR BUT HAVEN’T SEEN YET.

JUST REMEMBER WHAT JESUS SAID;
Joh 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
THAT’S US.

(2) For by it the elders obtained a good report. (3) Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
· The story of creation in Genesis.
· And also John’s account of Jesus being the Word, and Creator.
(4) By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 
· God just showed the two of them what He would accept as a sacrifice, and that was blood.
· This act of offering up a sacrifice to God still speaks to us today, and that being, “without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.” Just as the writer has told us, “that Jesus once and for all offered Himself a sacrifice for sins.” He shed His own blood, to remit our sins.
(5) By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (6) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

ENOCH, AND ELIJAH, ARE THE ONLY TWO THAT NEVER EXPERIENCED PHYSICAL DEATH. THEY ARE SOMEWHERE IN GLORY, WITH THE LORD.

SCRIPTURE YOU HAVE HEARD QUOTED MANY TIMES: 
· Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 
· But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
· Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. 

MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR FAITH, THAT WE MIGHT BE PLEASING TO HIM.