A Study in Hebrews-Week 10: The Hall of Faith

(Get your Bible out and read the verses as we study) 

Hebrews Chapter 11

This chapter is often called “The Hall of Faith.” It is important to remember that Hebrews was written to Jews and Jewish Christians. They would have immediately understood the references.

Verse 1 – The definition of faith is found in this verse. In the King James, faith is “substance” (Greek: hupostasis-a scientific term meaning the opposite of a theory or title deed). Faith is also “evidence” (Greek elegchos) is a legal term; it is evidence that is accepted for conviction.

Verse 2 – It was their faith that got the “ancients” (also called “Elders”) that got them “commended” in God’s eyes, not their behavior.

Verse 3 – This is a critical verse regarding the application of our faith. This verse reminds us that God creates, He does not just rearrange what already is.When there was no such thing as light, God spoke it into being.

Verses 4-32a – Each of these people represent a different characteristic of faith:

Abel – the worship of faith (Genesis 4:1-5). For Abel to have faith was amazing. He was the first man to really exercise positive faith in God. He not only believed he bet his life on it.

Enoch – the walk of faith (Genesis 5:21-24). What pleases God is when you walk by faith. Coming to God by faith and walking with God in faith pleases God. Enoch pleased God. Enoch lived in faith, believing God.

Verse 6 – tells us we come to God only by faith. The emphasis is not on His existance or His rewards, but on His being.

Noah – the witness of faith. Is he perfect? Oh no he was guilty of a sin. He was caught naked and drunk. Noah’s not a perfect man before men, but he is a perfect man before God because by faith, righteousness was credited to his account.

Abraham – the obedience of faith. Abraham was not righ­teous because of his personal holiness. He was righteous because he was a man of faith and God imputed righteousness to him.

Sarah – the power of faith.

Isaac – the willingness of faith (Isaac was grown when Abraham offered him on the altar. Abraham believed in the resurrection.).

Jacob – the future of faith.

Joseph – the fulfillment of God’s promises.

Moses – the sacrifices of faith.

Joshua – the irrationality of faith (How absurt to think one could bring down a city by marching around its walls). Faith is not about “reason,” it is about following God’s plan.

Rahab – the unlikely place of faith. Can a harlot be saved? You betcha.

Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, Samuel – faith in action.

David – An imperfect man whom God called “…a man after my own heart” because of his faith. The man from whose line came Messiah (Jesus).

Verses 32b-38 – The persecution in store for people of faith.

Verses 39-40 – These are not necessarily heroes of faith, but this is what faith has done in the history of man under different circumstances in different periods through different individuals.

Faith has no merit in itself. Faith’s merit is in the object of faith, Jesus Christ.

In other words, we musn’t have faith in our faith, but in Christ, His finished work at the cross of Calvary and His resurrection.