DRAWING NEAR
November 1
The Heroes of Faith
"Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of
things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval" (Heb.
11:1-2).
Christian faith produces righteous deeds.
Hebrews 11 has been called "The Heroes of Faith," "The Faith
Chapter," "The Saints' Hall of Fame," "The Honor Roll of the Old
Testament Saints," and "The Westminster Abbey of Scripture." Those
are appropriate titles because this chapter highlights the virtues of
faith as demonstrated in the lives of great Old Testament saints. It
also reminds us that without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Such a reminder was necessary for the first-century Hebrew people
because Judaism had abandoned true faith in God for a legalistic
system of works righteousness. Its message is valid today since our
devotion to Christ can easily degenerate into a religion of rules and
regulations.
While affirming the primacy of faith, the writer of Hebrews doesn't
undermine the importance of righteous works. Quite the contrary. He
exhorts us "to stimulate one another to love and good deeds" (10:24)
and to pursue holiness so others will see Christ in us and be drawn
to Him (12:14).
Yet righteous works are the by-product of true salvation, not its
means. As the apostle Paul wrote, "We are His workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we
should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10). Apart from faith, all attempts to
please God through good works alone are as useless and offensive to
Him as filthy rags (Isa. 64:6). That's why Paul gladly set all his
Jewish legalistic practices aside, counting them as rubbish. He
wanted only "the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of
faith" (Phil. 3:9).
This month we'll study the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11. As
we do, remember they weren't perfect people. But their faith was
exemplary and by it they gained God's approval. I pray that's true of
you as well.
Suggestions for Prayer:
1.Thank God for the gift of faith.
2.Undoubtedly you know people who are trying to please God by their
own efforts. Pray for them and take every opportunity to tell them of
true salvation through faith in Christ.
For Further Study:
Select one of the individuals mentioned in Hebrews 11 and read the
Old Testament account of his or her life.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Hebrews 12:14
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one
will see the Lord
Isaiah 64:6
6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses
are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like
the wind, Have taken us away.
Hebrews 11
11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of
God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which
are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,
through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God
testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and
was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he
had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes
to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those
who diligently seek Him.
7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved
with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by
which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness
which is according to faith.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place
which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not
knowing where he was going.
9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the
same promise;
10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder
and maker is God.
11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed,
and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged
Him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as
many as the stars of the sky in multitude; innumerable as the sand
which is by the seashore.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but
having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a
homeland.
15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they
had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.
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
who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called,"
19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead,
from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of
Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure
of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his
bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his
parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not
afraid of the king's command.
24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the
son of Pharaoh's daughter,
25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than
to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for
he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest
he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas
the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled
for seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not
believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of
Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel
and 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, became valiant in battle, turned to
flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were
tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better
resurrection.
36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of
chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain
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
mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith,
did not receive the promise,
40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not
be made perfect apart from us.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@gty.org
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@wowway.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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There is a living God. He has spoken in His word. He means just what he says, and will do all that He has promised. - Hudson Taylor
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