HEB Chap11 Verses 1-4 Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence

of things not seen. Heb 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. Heb 11:3 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. Heb 11:4 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. The writer had just said that we are of faith (Heb 10:39), not of apostasy. Now he proceeds in a chapter of great eloquence and passion to illustrate his point by a recital of the heroes of faith whose example should spur them to like loyalty now. Our senses may lie; God cannot (Titus 1:2). People fail; God does not (Nu 23:19). Circumstances change; God never does (Mal 3:6). So the faith described in Hebrews 11 is focused on an infinitely more dependable object than any of the day-to-day varieties of faith. Real faith, however, is a divinely implanted assurance that rises above the natural functioning of the human mind. After all, the natural man cannot see Him who is unseen (v27). faith G4102 pistis pis'-tis From G3982; persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. As pistis relates to God, it is the conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things well as the Provider and Bestower of eternal salvation through Christ. As faith relates to Christ it represents a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation and entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. Stated another way, eternal salvation comes only through belief in Jesus Christ and no other way. True faith that saves one's soul includes at least three main elements (1) firm persuasion or firm conviction, (2) a surrender to that truth and (3) a conduct emanating from that surrender. In summary, faith shows itself genuine by a changed life. Faith is relying on what God has done rather than on ones own efforts. In the Old Testament, faith is rarely mentioned. The word trust is used frequently, and verbs like believe and rely are used to express the right attitude to God. The classic example is Abraham, whose faith was reckoned as righteousness (Ge 15:6). At the heart of the Christian message is the story of the cross: Christs dying to bring salvation. Faith is an attitude of trust in which a believer receives Gods good gift of salvation (Acts 16:30,31) and lives in that awareness thereafter (Gal 2:20; cf. Heb 11:1). substance G5287 hupostasis hoop-os'-tas-is From a compound of G5259 and G2476; (hupostasis from hupo = under + histemi = stand) a setting under (support), that is, (figuratively) concretely essence, or abstractly assurance (objectively or subjectively): - confidence, confident, person, substance. Hupostasis is a very common word from Aristotle on and was used in Greek to describe that which stands under

anything such as a building, a contract, a promise. It is common in the papyri in business documents as the basis or guarantee of transactions or with the meaning of a title deed. hoped G1680 elpis el-pece' From elpo which is a primary word (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstract or concrete) or confidence: faith, hope. (elpis) in Scripture is not the world's definition of "I hope so" but is an absolute certainty of future good. Hope is defined as a desire for some future good with the expectation of obtaining it. Hope is confident expectancy. Hope is the looking forward to something with some reason for confidence respecting fulfillment. Hope as the world typically defines it is a desire for some future occurrence of which one is not assured of attaining. evidence G1650 elegchos el'-eng-khos From G1651; proof, conviction: evidence, reproof. Evidence or conviction is a firmly held belief which implies a deeper manifestation of the inward assurance. People of faith are prepared to live out their belief. If you believe truth, your behavior should manifest your belief. In other words our lives should reflect a commitment to what our minds and hearts are assured is true. We should be so sure of God's promises and blessings which are future that we behave as if those promises were already realized things G4229 pragma prag'-mah From G4238; a deed; by implication an affair; by extension an object (material): - business, matter, thing, work. (pragma from prsso = to do, perform where suffix ma = the result of; English = pragmatic [dealing with things in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations: practical as opposed to idealistic] In this meaning pragma speaks of something in the past. When speaking of something in the present or future, pragma means that which occurs as a result of activity -- the thing being done or to be done (in secular Greek in the phrase "great undertakings", "the tasks of everyday life"), matter, business, affair. True faith is NOT based on empirical evidence but on divine assurance, and is a gift of God (Eph 2:8 ''faith...is the gift of God'') So faith is the means of realizing spiritual reality and of gaining Gods approval. worlds G165 aion ahee-ohn' From the same as G104; properly an age; by extension perpetuity (also past); by implication the world; specifically (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future): - age, course, eternal, (for) ever (-more), [n-]ever, (beginning of the, while the) world (began, without end). Compare G5550. framed G2675 "framed" like framers of a house. (katartizo from kat = with + artz = to adjust, fit, finish, in turn from rtios = fit, complete) means to fit or join together and so to mend or repair. Katartz conveys the fundamental idea of putting something into its appropriate condition so it will function well. It conveys the idea of making whole by fitting together, to order and arrange properly. The concept involved in this verb (He 13:21) is that of equipping so that something might be made ready to fulfill its purpose. the word of God G4487 rhema hray'-mah From G4483; an utterance (individually, collectively or specifically); by implication a matter or topic (especially of narration, command or dispute); with a negative naught whatever: - + evil, + nothing, saying, word.

Gods divine utterance, as in Genesis 1 = Ge 1:3,Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. Ge 1:6,9,11,14). So that - Introduces a conclusion. Since the universe was framed by the word of God, it follows, the writer argues, that which is seen was not made out of that which is visible. A spoken word can only be heard not seen! Had the visible world been formed out of materials which were subject to human observation, there would have been no room for faith. Science could have traced it back to its origin. Evolution only pushes the statement a stage back. There is still an unseen force that does not submit itself to experimental science, and this is the object of faith. By faith Abel Why is Adam and Eve passed over? Check Hitchcock Dictionary for the meanings of the names (Abel & Cain). Why is Abel called Righteous Abel (Matt 23:35)? a more excellent sacrifice than Cain - Don't let the story of the sacrifices of two brothers confuse you -- the issue is not the type of offering, but the type of offerer! Man looks at the outside, but God examines the heart (cp 1Sa 16:7, Acts 13:22). One was righteous (cp Ro 4:2, 3-note) and the other unrighteous (cp Ro 4:4, 5-note). The difference? Faith - It makes all the difference in this world (2Co 5:7) and in the world to come! Abel was JUSTIFIED BY FAITH for in this verse God's Word declares him righteous and that righteousness was imputed or credited to his account just as in the NT...on the basis of his FAITH, not on the basis of his offering. His "better offering" was the work of faith, his bringing forth of "fruit" in keeping with repentance. Faith alone saved Abel but his saving faith was not alone but was an obedient faith that resulted in a "better sacrifice". Because of Abel's faith, evidenced in obedience to Gods requirement for sacrifice, he was accounted righteous by God in the same way as was Abraham (Ro 4:3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). Christ Himself referred to the righteousness of Abel (Mt 23:35). Cains sacrifice on the other hand was evidence that he was just going through the motions of ritual in a disobedient manner, not evidencing an authentic saving faith. Without faith no one can receive imputed righteousness (Ge 15:6). being dead yet speaketh How? Note: Death did not first strike Adam, the first sinful man; nor Cain, the first murderer: but Abel, the innocent and righteous. APPLICATION Faith is always an obedient response to Gods revelation. Faith in Gods ordained sacrifice is the only way for sinners to approach Him.