Today’s passage: Hebrews 11:1-7
Helpful thoughts:
- After speaking of those who have faith in chapter 10, the writer defines faith in the beginning of chapter 11.
- “The assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
- This chapter features many people of faith, including these in the first seven verses:
- Abel – His faith resulted in righteous obedience.
- God’s commendation means an affirmation. There was fruit in Abel’s life because of faith, and God is pointing out that fruit.
- Enoch – His faith resulted in living in such a way that was pleasing to God (2 Corinthians 5:9).
- Enoch was taken up before death (Genesis 5:21-24), many suspect for a special purpose along with Elijah, who also never died. (Revelation 11:3-13).
- Noah – His faith resulted in the obedience of building (And entering) the ark.
- Noah was saved from God’s judgment through faith, a literal reality and an example of our salvation through faith in Christ.
- Abel – His faith resulted in righteous obedience.
Questions to consider:
- How does the definition of faith given in verse 1 address the present and the future? How does what we believe about the future change the way we think and desire in the present?
- What is the theme of this chapter, awesome people…or faith? Who is the hero of the Bible? Where does our faith come from (Ephesians 2:8-9)? Why will we have to keep this in mind as we read?
- With that being said, what is being shown in the lives of those who have faith? If God has graciously opened a person’s eyes and they have faith, what will happen in their lives? What then should we expect to see in the rest of this chapter, which has been called, “The Hall of Faith?”