Hebrews 11

 

God’s word framed the worlds

 

1  Now faith is the substance/concrete of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 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 that are seen were not made of things that are visible.

 

  • The building blocks of the universe are made of, are too small to be seen by the human eyes.

 

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it though he is dead, he still speaks.

 

  • Fire from heaven consuming the sacrifice was the sign of God’s approval.
  • Leviticus 9:24 And a fire came out from before the LORD, and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

 

5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and was not found, because God had transferred him: for before his transfer he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those that seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness that is by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out to a place which he would later receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he went. 9 By faith he lived in the land of promise, as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

 

  • Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God: and her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, as clear as crystal

 

11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Because of this there sprang into being from one, and him as good as dead, a multitude like the stars of the sky, and as the sand that is by the seashore, innumerable. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded about them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were foreigners and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a fatherland. 15 And truly, if they had been thinking of the country they came from, they had time to return.

 

God is not ashamed to be called our God

He has prepared a city for us

He is able to raise the dead

 

16 But they desired a better country, that is, a heavenly one: therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he has prepared a city for them. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, In Isaac will your seed be called: 19 Considering that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from where also he received him as an illustration.

 

  • Abraham was 100 years old when he received the son God had promised him.
  • He enjoyed Isaac for 27 years.
  • Then God said, Go sacrifice your son, your only son on the mount I will show you (Genesis 22:2).
  • It took 3 days to travel to Mt. Moriah. In Abraham’s mind, his son was dead for three days.
  • Abraham believed that God would immediately raise him up.
  • God interrupted the sacrifice because He does not condone human sacrifice.
  • But this was an illustration of God giving His only Son for the sins of the world.
  • From then on Abraham had just a small taste of how this felt for God and how much God loved him.

 

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying blessed both the sons of Joseph, and worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he died, remembered the departing of the children of Israel; and gave a commandment concerning his bones.

 

  • Genesis 50:25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and you will carry up my bones from here.

 

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three month by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 He chose to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, 26 concluding the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: he was looking to the reward.

 

  • Nothing on earth comes close to God’s eternal reward for those who believe.
  • Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, Do not fear, Abram: I am your shield, and your exceeding great reward.
  • Revelation 3:21 To him that overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne, even as I overcame, and have sat down with my Father on his throne.
  • Revelation 21:7 He that overcomes will inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he will be my son.

 

27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: he became strong supernaturally because he kept on seeing the one who is invisible. 28 Through faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, so that the one who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as though they were passing on dry land: but when the Egyptians tried to do it they were swallowed up.

 

  • Moses endured the wrath of Pharaoh by keeping his eyes fixed on the Lord.
  • Matthew 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore your eye (focus) is single, your whole body will be full of light.
  • Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

He has provided something better for us

 

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab, when she had received the spies with peace, did not perish with those that did not believe.  32 And what more can I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, of Barak, of Samson, and of Jephthah; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:  33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, grew valiant in battle, put to flight the armies of the foreigners. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance so that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others underwent the trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, also bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were killed with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, did not receive the promise: 40 God has provided something better for us: that they would not be made perfect without us.

 

  • 1Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those that love him.

 

                                             Hebrews 12

 

The Lord endured much for us and is seated with God

 

1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  3 Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, so that you do not grow weary, fainting in your minds.

 

  • Hebrews 11 was about great men of faith. They are the great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. 

  • The joy set before Jesus was the reality of having all of us taken back from the grasp of Satan to Him.

  • God had lived with the pain of being separated from those He made in His image for thousands of years.

  • He endured the cross and its shame for us.

  • Thinking about what Jesus had to endure makes our lives seem easy.

  • Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
  • Revelation 3:21 To him that overcomes I will grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

 

Our Lord corrects those He loves

 

4 You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.  5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that speaks to you as to children, My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, or faint when you are corrected by him: 6 For whom the Lord loves he corrects and child-trains every son whom he receives. 7 If you endure discipline, God deals with you like sons; for what son is there whom the father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all are partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we respected them: should we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they truly disciplined us for a few days as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

 

  • God’s holiness is glorious.
  • Exodus 15:11 Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

 

11 All discipline for the moment does not seem joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who are exercised by it. 12 So lift up the hands that hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, that the lame not be turned aside; but rather let it be healed. 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man will see the Lord: 15 watching diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and through this many are defiled; 16 So that there not be any fornicator or profane person, like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no way to change his (father’s) mind, though he sought it carefully with tears. 18 For you have not come near the mountain being touched, that burned with fire, or to blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice, those that heard begged that the word not be spoken to them any more:  20 (For they could not endure what was commanded, And if even a beast touched the mountain, it would be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I fear and am terrified:) 22 But you have come to mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

 

  • God has built His own dictionary into the scriptures.
  • He defines each word that He uses by examples and statements.
  • We need to find God’s definitions rather than man’s explanations.
  • This verse explains, defines, Mt. Zion.
  • Revelation 21 describes in detail the heavenly Jerusalem.

 

Our God is a consuming fire

 

23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, who are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel. 25 See that you do not refuse him that speaks. For if they did not escape who refused him that spoke on earth, much more we will not escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven.

 

  • There are many voices in this world.
  • What God has said is written in His word.
  • If voices you hear in your mind do not match what is said in His word it is not from God.

 

He is giving us a kingdom

 

26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he has promised, saying, Still once more I shake not only the earth, but heaven also. 27 And expression, Still once more, makes plain the removing of those things which can be shaken, so that the things not shaken remain. 28 Therefore we receiving a kingdom that cannot be moved, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:  29 For our God is a consuming fire.

 

  • John 5:22 For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son
  • Psalm 96:13 (rejoice) Before the LORD: for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth: he will judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.
  • 2Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are in it will be burned up. 12 Looking for and hurrying to the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens being on fire will be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

 

                                             Hebrews 13

 

The Lord helps us; He will not fail us or forsake us

 

1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget hospitality: for through this some have unknowingly entertained angels. 3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.

 

  • 1Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

 

4 Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed pure: but male prostitutes and adulterers God will judge.  5 Let your way of life be without loving money; and be content with what you have: for he has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man does to me. 7 Remember your leaders who have spoken the word of God to you: imitate their faith, considering the end of their conduct— 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever.

 

  • ‘not at all in any way will I leave you or forsake you’, is the correct Greek translation.
  • The end of the good conduct of our leaders is the Lord himself.
  • God in Jesus Christ is the source and destiny of all who believe.
  • Romans11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.

 

9 Do not be carried about with various and strange teachings. For it is a good that the heart be stabilized with grace; not with rules about foods, which don’t help those who follow them. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.

 

Jesus sanctified us with His own blood

 

12 Therefore Jesus also, that he might purify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 So let us go to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15 By him let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey those who rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as those that must give an account so that they may do it with joy and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

 

  • Romans 14:12 So then every one of us will give account of himself to God.

 

He completes us

He works in us what is well-pleasing in His sight

 

18 Pray for us: for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience and in all things determined to live properly. 19 But much more, I urge to do this so that I may be restored to you sooner. 20 Now the God of peace, that lead up from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 complete you in every good work to do his will, working in you what is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom is glory forever and ever. Amen. 22 I urge you, brothers, hold yourselves to the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter to you in few words. 23 Know that our brother Timothy is freed; with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you. 24 Salute all those that have the rule over you, and all the saints. Those of Italy salute you. 25 Grace be with you all. Amen.

 

  • In verse 20 God brought Jesus back from death by the blood of the everlasting covenant.
  • The victory of this is enormous.
  • God is infinitely holy. That will never change.
  • Sin brought death or separation from God.
  • Jesus paid for all sin of all beings with His own blood, defeating, canceling the power of sin.
  • This makes Him the mightiest warrior, the most glorious conqueror ever.
  • Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things to himself; by him, I say, whether they are things in earth, or things in heaven.

 

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SUMMARY: Hebrews 11-13

 

  • God’s word framed the worlds
  • God is not ashamed to be called our God
  • He has prepared a city for us
  • He is able to raise the dead
  • He has provided something better for us
  • The Lord endured much for us and is seated with God
  • Our Lord corrects those He loves
  • Our God is a consuming fire
  • He is giving us a kingdom
  • The Lord helps us; He will not fail us or forsake us
  • Jesus sanctified us with His own blood