HEBREWS 11:1–40 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days (Heb. 11:30). If we look at the sequence of topics in Hebrews 11, we find that (1) Abel offered sacrifice, (2) Enoch experienced a kind of resurrection, (3) Noah condemned the world, and (4) Abraham left … Continue reading “FAITH THAT CONQUERS”
FAITH THAT FORSAKES THE OLD
HEBREWS 11:7–28 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith (Heb. 11:7). Hebrews 11 continues to encourage us to leave behind the old world and continue … Continue reading “FAITH THAT FORSAKES THE OLD”
FAITH THAT PLEASES GOD
HEBREWS 11:4–7 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God (Heb. 11:5). Enoch is a contrast with Abel. Abel’s act of faithfulness to God … Continue reading “FAITH THAT PLEASES GOD”
FAITH THAT WORSHIPS
HEBREWS 11:3–6 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead (Heb. 11:4). The author of Hebrews now begins his roll call of the faithful, showing … Continue reading “FAITH THAT WORSHIPS”
WHAT IS FAITH?
HEBREWS 11:1–4 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Heb. 11:1). Today we return to our survey of Hebrews. At the end of Hebrews 10, we have yet another of the author’s dire warnings. He calls upon us to keep going on our spiritual … Continue reading “WHAT IS FAITH?”
SUFFERING AND GLORY
HEBREWS 12:1–6 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:2). Suffering is not supposed to be pleasant. If it were pleasant, it … Continue reading “SUFFERING AND GLORY”
SURPRISED BY RESURRECTION
ISAIAH 25:1–9 He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces (Isaiah 25:8a; see 1 Cor. 15:54). We sometimes hear secular scholars and liberal theologians dismiss the biblical accounts of the resurrection of Christ by asserting that the ancient world was full of stories about people dying … Continue reading “SURPRISED BY RESURRECTION”
REMEMBER GOD’S DEEDS
HEBREWS 10:32–39 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering (Heb. 10:32). Whenever the author of Hebrews utters one of his dire warnings against apostasy, he follows it with words of encouragement. Here he reminds his readers of the … Continue reading “REMEMBER GOD’S DEEDS”
THE MEANING OF HOLINESS
LEVITICUS 20:22–26 You are to be holy to Me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own (Lev. 20:26). What exactly does the Bible mean by the word holy? Most people think of holiness in terms of moral purity, or righteousness. Holiness, however, is … Continue reading “THE MEANING OF HOLINESS”
THE INSANITY OF LUTHER
ROMANS 7:14–25 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (Romans 7:24). If God is holy and man is sinful, what hope is there for man? This is the problem Martin Luther wrestled with for years. It drove him to despair. It caused him to cry out on … Continue reading “THE INSANITY OF LUTHER”