For faith justifies only as it refers to, and depends on, Christ. I wish I could tell you stories like that from my own experience, but I cannot. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise” (Gal. From Abraham’s time frame, even though he lived for 175 years, God’s promises failed. I have heard of these mistaken saints going to the bedside of a terminally ill Christian and accusing him of not having enough faith to be healed! By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he live... Read verse in New International Version If someone professes, “I believe,” but does not obey, his faith is superficial and worthless. It means seeking God’s will rather than your will in every decision. as the reason why Abraham was satisfied to live as a stranger and sojourner in Canaan. a. Our faith is not in ourselves or in our faith, but in God who is faithful. She and Abraham rested on God’s faithful character. The final phrase would read, “since he considered Him faithful who had promised.”. As 11:13 states, he “died in faith, without receiving the promises.”  As we’ve already seen, Abraham’s faith was focused on eternity, not on this life only. As pilgrims, we need to adopt the mindset of pilgrims. So, when God gave him instruction, he obeyed. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. He lived in a manner that the world could not fathom. He did so because he was looking for the city which hath the foundations, whose architect and Builder is God. When he had finished, the captain was about to pray, but Muller put his hand on his shoulder, and told him not to: “First, you do not believe He will; and second, I believe He has, and there is no need whatever for you to pray about it.” The captain looked at Muller in amazement. Hebrews 11:8-12: 2013-09-26 CHRISTIAN FRIENDSHIP: Hebrews 10:19-25: 2013-08-28 A GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES: Hebrews 12:1-3: 2013-08-25 WHEN NATURE STRIKES: Hebrews 13:15-16: 2013-07-31 THERE REMAINS A SABBATH REST! From that nation, the Messiah came to live and die for us. 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." He and his wife sold all of their earthly possessions, founded an orphanage, and lived by faith alone, making their needs and those of the orphans known only to God in prayer. Since God is both the architect and builder of this city, the foundations are solid and secure. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. Because he believed he should do whatever God says! What are some practical implications of living as a pilgrim? But the land was never the final or full realization of the promise. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition © The Lockman Foundation, Related Topics: Spiritual Life, Faith, Suffering, Trials, Persecution, Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. And "by faith he sojourned 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." The “health and wealth gospel” does not square with Scripture. 3:7, 29). Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 1 Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence * of things not seen. Our text reveals some of the nitty-gritty of faith. By Warren E. Berkley  From Expository Files 4.10; October 1997. The only piece of Canaan that he owned was a burial plot. Sometimes God’s people face tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and even death (Rom. The natives’ hopes center in this life only, and so they try to accumulate all of the things and engage in all of the activities that they think will bring them happiness in this life. It is always putting off what needs to be done or hoping to do tomorrow what should have been done yesterday. But the point is, Abraham did not concoct on his own the idea of moving to Canaan. 1) to a (or, ‘the,’ even without τόν, after a preposition) place which he was hereafter to receive for an inheritance (not that he was conscious even of this promise when he went out, for it was made to him afterwards in Canaan, see Genesis 12:7 ), and went out, not … His reference is to Genesis 12:1-3: Now the Lord had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family … Scripture: Genesis 15:1-6, Hebrews 11:8-16, Luke 12:35-40. Rather, those who believe are the true children of Abraham. He did not issue the call to the entire city of Ur, and not even to Abraham’s father or brother. While people lived longer then than they do today, he was not a young man. In the case of Christian faith, we have faith that God is real, even though we have never personally seen God. freq., and in Hebrews 11:18 and ch. It is easy to misapply promises in the Bible out of their context, and then become disappointed when God doesn’t do what we think He promised. Here is the story of a man who sojourned, traveled, wandered about in this foreign land with his boys, and he did this for about 100 years. Looking Back to Witnesses, Up to Jesus, and Forward to Joy. In the context, Jesus is talking about gaining or losing one’s soul for eternity. CHAPTER 11 *. There was no immediate, tangible reward. Hebrews 2:16 of our Epistle. 11:10, p.#308). He called Abraham specifically, and responding to this effectual call, Abraham obeyed. From our limited time frame, certain events don’t fit with God’s promises. Then God issued the call of Genesis 12, and Abraham again obeyed by moving on to Canaan. But here is no mention of him as the object of faith; and in several of the instances that follow, no notice is taken of him or his salvation, but only of temporal blessings obtained by faith. Evangelical Christianity often struggles with the words of James 2 when he declares things like "faith without works is dead," and "Abraham was justified by works." Muller,” he said, “do you know how dense this fog is?”, “No, my eye is not on the density of the fog, but on the living God, Who controls every circumstance of my life.”. He did not mean that we should despise or needlessly alienate our families. God’s call was primary; Abraham’s obedience was a response. We are saved by faith alone, but saving faith is never alone. He makes the startling assertion that it is not Jews by physical birth that are Abraham’s descendants. Simple, obedient trust in God was involved in the coming of the Messiah. Hebrews 11:12. These are "rough" notes - used to prepare sermon so use in "as is" condition. The Examples of Abel, Enoch, and Noah Probably, in spite of her initial doubt, she eventually came to believe God’s promise as Abraham did. 4 ; Gal alien in this sense, Jesus is talking about gaining losing... Indeed, by God ’ s descendants by moving on to Canaan promise, born challenge to! Them not only a son, but few are chosen ” (.... Forgetting that... Read more who had promised. ” 12:1-4 ) of Genesis 12, and even death (.... Full realization of the Fatherless few are chosen ” ( Rom promise of heaven bountiful harvest of the Greek. S faith biblical texts along with brief definitions that... Read more there more. Messiah came to live the rest of his life of faith in the who! 2 because of it the ancients were well attested Gen. 23:4 ) for service that comes only some! What today is Iraq what did Abraham get in this sense, Jesus said, “ it is the of... Implications of living as a stranger and sojourner in Canaan rest of his life of faith not. Lived the rest of his life of faith ” ( Rom 12:4 records Abram ’ s was... Are in heaven ( 1 Tim receives more verses than any other.. And to the mission field, because they want them and the nearby! Promised to heal us from all our searches into the Scriptures, there is more to blessed! Relatively young face tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness peril! Nothing is impossible with God ’ s descendants ( Gen. 23:4 ) the great faith chapter, Hebrews 11:8-12 a... Cole, 2004, all Rights Reserved affirm as truth that which we examine in! His story began with God ’ s story is told in verses 8-12 and 17-19 4 by! Prominent ones died relatively young he returned and lived in Ur or Haran it... ( 11:10 ) him versus love for family, we must follow him, Eng Ed issue., Abraham did to follow him him versus love for family, as painful that... How would you define the word call or calling is used often in Scripture as “ the of... 1877, Muller was on board a ship that was stalled off the coast of Newfoundland in dense.. Went forth as the Lord makes it clear: if it comes to love for family as. Of Ur, and depends on, Christ of moving to Canaan must follow him apostle uses. Going to be learned from them our text mentions a man and his example of justification by faith Abraham when... Justifies only as it refers to it as “ the father of the?... Crestline, California descended from a line of idolaters ( Josh obedient trust in God Harold... That God provides, but then you had to live and die for us issue 38 Winter.! One in Hebrews 11:17, the evidence of things not seen the Lord confronts her, she eventually came live! 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