Faith

Hebrews 11:1-2

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of
things not seen.
Heb 11:2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.

STOCKDALE PARADOX

Book: Good to Great by Jim Collins

The author and his team of researchers looked at pairs of companies in the
same industries that at one time had been fairly similar, but where one
company had gone from “good to great” while the other had been left behind.

The goal, of course, was to try to isolate those principles or practices that made
the difference.

One of those principles came to be known as the Stockdale Paradox.

It was named for Admiral Jim Stockdale, who was a prisoner of war during the
Vietnam War.

Collins had interviewed Stockdale at one time and asked him how he was able
to live through such a horrible experience, while others seemingly younger and
more fit wound up dying in the prison.

Stockdale noted that the prisoners who were either complete optimists or
complete pessimists had the most trouble surviving. It was the ones like
himself that combined realism with a long view that finally made it out.

In his book, Collins notes that great companies approach their world in a way
that is very similar to how Stockdale approached being a POW. Collins names
the principle the Stockdale Paradox, and outlines it thusly:
"You must retain faith that you will prevail in the end, regardless of the
difficulties.

AND at the same time…

You must confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever
they might be."

If we substitute YOU to GOD - “God will prevail in the end” in the first part, can
we then use this as a starting point for an adult view of faith?

Go back to the Stockdale Paradox outlined above. Re-read it with the change I
suggested, that God is going to prevail in the end. Now ask yourself, if I really
believe that God and God’s ways win in the end, what does it mean for me
today? Should it affect my thinking, or my actions? Should it change the
decisions I make?

I am convinced that we miss the central truth of Hebrews 11. Most of us read it
and think of it as a list of great deeds by great people.

But what if the real point is that all these people shared one important attribute

— they all believed that God is going to prevail in the end, AND that such
a conviction should inform the decisions they make and the actions they
take.
Let’s take it a step further. Let’s frame up some situations using the second
part of the Stockdale Paradox, and see what faith says.

“My workplace is full of back-biting and fights to get ahead” — but God will
prevail — and I am connected to God — so I will love even the back-biters and
find my security in God.

“My city is going bankrupt” — but God will prevail — and I find my ultimate
security in God — so I will speak out for just use of the finances that remain,
and be a voice for reason instead of despair.

“My family is falling apart” — but God will prevail — and I am called to bring
the love of God into my family — so I will neither gloss over the issues, nor give
up on the possibility of re-birth, but will be a constant source of love, openness,
and honesty.
ETYMOLOGY

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance (Greek: hupostasis) of things hoped for,
the conviction <proof> (Greek: elegchos) of things not seen.
Heb 11:2 For by it the people of old received their commendation (Greek:
martureo).

“Now faith is assurance (hupostasis) of things hoped for” (v. 1a).

ὑπόστασις
hupostasis

hoop-os'-tas-is
From a compound of G5259 and G2476; a setting under (support), that is,
(figuratively) concretely essence, or abstractly assurance (objectively or
subjectively): - confidence, confident, person, substance.

The Greek word hupostasis has various meanings. The one most appropriate
here is not assurance, but reality. For believers, faith is knowing the reality of
things for which they can only hope now. For believers that reality, though only
a matter of hope today, is so real that they can almost reach out and touch it.

“proof (elegchos) of things not seen” (v. 1b).

ἔλεγχος
elegchos

el'-eng-khos
From G1651; proof, conviction: - evidence, reproof.

Some translations use the word conviction for elegchos. However, a better
translation would be proof or certainty. For believers, faith leads to certainty of
things not yet seen. Faith is the certainty that they will be seen.

“For by this, the elders (Greek: presbyteros) obtained testimony (Greek:

martureo)" (v. 2).
Πρεσβύτερος
presbuteros

pres-boo'-ter-os
Comparative of πρέσβυς presbus (elderly); older; as noun, a senior;
specifically an Israelite Sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial
council) or Christian “presbyter”: - elder (-est), old.

The word presbyteros is where we get our word Presbyterian. A presbyteros is

an older person whose maturity and experience fit him/her for leadership. In
this verse a better translation would be ancestors, because the author will go
on to speak of Abraham and other luminaries from ancient Israel’s history.

μαρτυρέω
martureō

mar-too-reh'-o
From G3144; to be a witness, that is, testify (literally or figuratively): - charge,
give [evidence], bear record, have (obtain, of) good (honest) report, be well
reported of, testify, give (have) testimony, (be, bear, give, obtain) witness.

Martureo is one of several similar Greek words from which we get our word
martyr.

Martureo actually means witness or to bear witness, but it came to mean

martyr because those who bear witness to Christ often pay a high price for
their faithfulness. Sometimes they pay with their lives.

In the context of this verse, commendation might be the best translation for
martureo. God has borne witness to the faith of Abraham and these other
ancient people of faith, and has commended them.
CONTINUE

HEBREWS 11:4-7. THE FAITH OF ABEL AND ENOCH

HEBREWS 11:8-12. THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM AND SARAH
HEBREWS 11:13-16. HAVING SEEN THE PROMISES

WHAT THE PREACHER SAYS

This preacher does more than provide a definition, however. He skillfully calls
to mind stories that clothe these two dimensions of faithfulness with flesh and
bones and sinew and breath.

To know fully what faithfulness is, we must remember the stories. In a quick
review, the preacher first tells us about Abel, Enoch, and Noah.

Then the pace slows as the preacher lingers over the story of Abraham and
Sarah. In the lives of this couple, both dimensions of faith shine forth. They
show us that faithfulness requires both holding fast and moving forward.

First, faithfulness is holding fast to the promises of God. God had promised
Sarah and Abraham countless descendants and a land that God would reveal
to them. But both promises were "things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).

Perhaps Abraham could still father a child, but Sarah knew her child-bearing
days were many, many years in the past.

That is why she laughed so hard the first time she overheard their visitors tell
Abraham he was soon to be a father. That is why their son's name would be
Isaac, "Laughter."

His name marked God's joy in upending human expectations, a contagious joy
they remembered every time that they called out "Laughter, you stop that right
this minute" or "Laughter, it's time for dinner" or "Laughter, your mother and I
need to have a talk with you."
So we need both dimensions of faithfulness. We need to hold fast to the
promises of God and to move forward into the future which is God's.

The power of the example of Sarah and Abraham is that their lives joined these
two dimensions.

In the midst of change and uncertainty, they found God constant and faithful.

Therefore, they too could be full of faith, holding fast to God's promises and
moving forward into that future with God. May their faithfulness shine forth as
an example for us that we too may prove faithful.
FAITH IN THE COUNTRY THAT GOD HAS INTENDED FOR US

Heb 11:16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for
them a city.

I am reminded of the old Gospel song:

“This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through.

If heaven’s not my home, then Lord what will I do?
The angels beckon me through heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world any more.”

We, too, are seeking a country of our own—a heavenly country. We have not
yet experienced the fulfillment of that promise, but we live in faith that we will
do so. We live as aliens in a kosmos world—a world that ignores God and
often stands as hostile to God. We live as strangers and pilgrims in that desert
land.

But we have heard Jesus’ promise that we are as powerful as a tiny mustard
seed and the bit of leaven that leavens the whole loaf (Matthew 13:31-33). We
live under the promise that, if we have faith even as small as a mustard seed,
we can move mountains—and that nothing will be impossible for us (Matthew
17:20-21). We don’t see those things happen every day, but we do see them
happen.

The greater reality is that God is at work behind the scenes. I believe that,
when we get to heaven, God will reveal to us the full range of blessedness that
he has produced through our faithfulness. I am looking forward to that day. I
am prepared to weep for joy when I see how God has used my feeble efforts
and my all-too-often feeble faith. I have already seen some of his handiwork,
and am looking forward to seeing the rest.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for
them a city. (v. 16b).

God is not ashamed of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob. He is pleased to

be known as their God. They were far from perfect, but God chooses to
remember their faith rather than their sins.

Paul says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who
does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2
Timothy 2:15).

Jesus is not ashamed to call faithful people brothers and sisters. He praises
them. He praises us (Hebrews 2:11-12).

Heb 2:11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified
are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Heb 2:12 saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of
the assembly I will sing praise to You."

“for he has prepared a city for them” (v. 16c).

THE WHOLE HEBREWS

Go back with me five weeks and six verses to Hebrews 10:34.

You may remember that some Christians were imprisoned and the others
made the hard decision to identify with them and risk their property and their
lives.

Verse 34 tells what happened. "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."

This is the kind of life the whole book of Hebrews is aiming to produce - a life
that looks at the high price of love (the seizure of our property, perhaps, or the
some other kind of abuse or calamity, best describe in Hebrews 13:3-6)...

Heb 13:3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with
them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
Heb 13:4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage
bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
Heb 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with
what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Heb 13:6 So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not
fear; what can man do to me?"

...and then accepts that possibility joyfully and does what love demands, no
matter what. That's the life Hebrews is aiming at. All the glorious truth we have
seen about Christ -

giving himself once for all as a final sacrifice for our sins (9:14),
perfecting us for all time by a single offering (10:14),
giving us a clean conscience by his own blood (9:14; 10:22),
being our sympathetic high priest before God (4:14-16),
interceding for us day after day in heaven (7:25),
putting his laws in our minds and writing them on our hearts,
being our God (8:10),
remembering our sins no more (8:12),
promising never to leave us or forsake us (13:5-6)
All this great truth that we have been reveling in for over a year is aimed
practically at making us into this kind of people.

People who risk property and life in order to bring the love of God to others.

People who do not look for comforts and ease and security as a necessary
thing in life.

People who are free from the assumptions of style and safety and wealth and
leisure.

People who know there is one life to live and only what's done in the name of
Christ and for the eternal good of others will count in the end.
SONG: GOD IS ALWAYS GOOD!

Fear is faith misappropriated. Fear is faith in the wrong things in the wrong
direction. You see faih is a gift. [This song talks about how our God is always
good.] My faith is not place in my own circumstances at times I place my self
in. My faith is in a God who can do the impossible.

In Romans 8:28 it says that: God works all things together for the GOOD
[because He is always Good] for those who love Him and for those who are
called according to His purposes. You see faith is a gift to us from God. And if
faith can be fear, God forbid I use the gift of faith in a temporary potential
perceived negative outcome as opposed to applying faith for my future. I
applied fear in my present.

In Hebrews 11 it talks about how faith is in a substance of the things we hope

for but is already in the evidence of what you believe that you haven't yet seen.
You see faith and fear cannot co-exist. God forbids that we take away the gift
of faith given by a Good God who always give good gifts. And pray prayers in
fear hoping that the outcomes don't happen as opposed to knowing that as a
Christian I could walk in the faith knowing that a God that can do the
impossible is working on my behalf behind the scenes even when I don't know
it. We cast aside all fear and have absolute faith knowing we have a God who
is right for me. I have a God who is always Good. Even though I walk in the
valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil because my God is always Good.