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.

How Have You Defined Faith?

Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is the ¹substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things unseen."

What does that mean? Theologians will repeat it as though repeating it explains it. That is linguistically impossible. You can't define something by repeating it.

SUBSTANCE

"Substance" is the essence of something. It is the basis of something, hence, assurance guarantee, confidence. (Greek: hupostaseos, fem. noun from huphstemi - that which underlies the apparent, hence, reality, essence.”)

In Hebrews 1:3, the person of Christ is defined as the very image of God. It speaks of the Divine essence of God existent and expressed in the revelation of His Son. Substance is what it is made of. "Substance" is the constituency of something.

Substance is the real nature of a thing which underlies and supports its outward form or properties. It describes the nature of the Son as the image of God’s essential being.

Understanding the word ‘substance’ can be difficult, because we today do not have a word that expresses its exact meaning. The Jews and Jewish Christians would have understood it quite well.

So what "substance" is hoped for in faith?

The context of the book of Hebrews tells us. Remember, Hebrews is the revelation to the Jews of the person of the New Covenant, Jesus; Messiah. The idea of a New Covenant would be understood by the Jews, although they would be surprised by it. 

Up to chapter 11, Hebrews has been about the superiority of Jesus as a sacrifice for sin. In chapter 11, it continues to be about the same thing. The "Hall of Faith" is an extension of that premise. 

Therefore, the "substance" is the person of Christ. Each of the “Hall of Faith” members was hoping for Messiah, God’s Savior.

EVIDENCE

What, then, is the "evidence of things unseen?" Well, what had the elders not seen? They had not yet seen Messiah, their Savior. The evidence of Him, though was all around them. The salvation of Noah in the flood, the priestly robes, the crossing of the Red Sea and the fall of Jericho were all evidences to the Jews of God’s plan of salvation through Messiah. They had confidence that He was coming.

Abel believed Messiah would bring right standing with God. Enoch believed Messiah would bring right standing with God. Noah believed Messiah would bring right standing with God. Abraham believed Messiah would bring right standing with God. Isaac believed Messiah would bring right standing with God. Jacob believed Messiah would bring right standing with God. Joseph believed Messiah would bring right standing with God. Moses believed Messiah would bring right standing with God. Even Rahab believed Messiah would bring right standing with God. So did Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all of the prophets.

Each member of the "Hall of Fame" had faith that God was working out of his salvation through the person of the Messiah. So must we have faith

Are you still looking for salvation? Are you still hoping for Messiah? If you are, you are not saved.

For an in depth discussion of “substance,” click HERE. 

¹Some translations use “being sure,” or some other word or words. In this, the King James has the better translation. The word “hupostaseos” is best translated “substance.”