[HEBREWS 11]

INTRODUCTION:

 

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 THE FIRST TRUTH OF FAITH

It starts with you….

What is Faith? Hebrew 11:1-3

 

Faith is something you choose to have, first.

 

The Substance of –  Hupo Histemi: Sub- Under. Stance – Placed or established. So together - Being Under the rule – a dependency – a foundation of understanding with confidence (assurance)

The Evidence of – Elegchos: The presence of a truth, a proven reality, therefore it BECOMES a conviction.

Things Not Seen – The intangible. Existential awareness of the sentient knowledge that something is there even though not visible.

Not Made of things Seen – Beyond this physical world (realm, universe)

 

1. FIRST TRUTH: Faith has to begin with You being sure about what you know. Your confidence grows from what you believe is the truth.

Once you are confident about what you believe is the truth, now you have something to build on....and live by.

 

SO, WHAT IS THE TRUTH?

1. Most of those who claim to be Christians accept the bible as truth – some rightly, some incorrectly.
2. All Christians believe in God, and subsequently, in Christ.
3. Most un-industrialized societies accept Naturalism or Spiritualism of Nature.
4. The Superstitious groups/individuals accept the occult (dark magic, karma, crystals, chakra).
5. Many who are abandoned and disenfranchised tend to lean towards “hero faith” or benefit-based trust.
6. Many accept humanism, the enlightened system of belief.
7. There are some who are more passionate in their belief in sacrifice and they commit terrorism and acts of aggression in the name of their beliefs.

Which brings us to the human element about faith.

The Human Element

What you believe is the truth will convince you to behave and act in a manner that reveals what you believe in that perceived truth.

 

All of these individuals and groups believe they have the truth, and their faith is real and proven by what they have experienced.

 

Each of these groups, believe what they hold to is true and they are willing to have the faith in their belief to live by it.

 

Similarly, to all groups….

We who are of Christ we believe too. We Believe that we have the truth, also. We have convicted ourselves that we know God, and the bible that we read is His word. We read that word to gain more understanding about what our God wants from us as his children.

 

But Just like many who were not in the know…we had to start somewhere. Some of us had parents that raised us in the church so in the beginning our faith was actually a reflection of our parents’ faith. At some point we needed to learn for ourselves if what were guided in…was, definitely the truth. And how we would develop and strengthen that faith we had.

 

 

The Human Element…

People tend to wonder:

• HOW would humans know that the things we read in the bible are true?
• How do we know that Noah, Moses, Abraham, David, Prophets, Paul, were all spoken to by God and that they were chosen and given the truth?
• Why couldn’t anyone else be the harbingers of it all?
• Why do we believe our faith is one to believe?

 

Reactively, we want to CONFIRM it because we believe that it is true, because that is what we accept. So, it is because we believe it, that it must be true.

But…that does not answer any of those questions about the truth or the faith.

 

1. Sometimes, Christians throw out a scripture to use as confirmation of the truth THAT WE HAVE….again, the truth that WE have.

 

1. But Christians sometimes are unaware….that the one asking the questions do not have the truth ….so to them… your answer looks like YOUR truth…NOT THE

 

1. Quoting scripture or using scripture does not prove that your answer about faith is right…or that you have the actual truth.

 

We must understand this:

IF THEY ARE ASKING….THEY ARE SEEKING…THEY ARE WANTING TO KNOW TRUTH, TO POSSESS IT FOR THEMSELVES.

SO….

We have to back it up with SUBSTANCE.

The difference between them and us is The Substance of Faith

 

The Human Element: Faith Substances of the World.

There are Three Main Forms of Belief in the Word.

1. Monotheism
2. Polytheism
3. Atheism

Each of these three forms of belief, cultivate different types of beliefs according to specific systems that are comprised of various concepts of values, moral codes, and rationality.

1. Monotheism – Mono meaning One, represents the belief in One supreme being ruler over the universe. The common belief is that Deity is called God.
2. Polytheism – Poly meaning multiple, represents the belief that many gods rule and have impact on the universe. From this form of belief, many accept the value that each belief is equal and bounding.
3. Atheism – Meaning anti-divine, represents the group who do not accept that there is a Deity ruling over us, but that we, the humans are enlightened to rule our own purpose and existence. From this form of belief comes concepts that are viewed as negative.

 

There are types of beliefs that are created from the three forms.

The Two major types of beliefs that make all belief forms are:

• Predestination – The belief that everything has its place and is operating according to a design or purpose.
• Free Will – The belief that humans have no set path but that which they set for themselves. The Universe is free flowing with energy and creativity.

 

It is important to learn what your belief system is and how to share it. First, understand that as a Church of Christ Christian, we have both types of belief operating at different levels in our faith.

• There is predestined order for Christianity – Those who obey God and live righteously, we believe will go to heaven. Because God has already decided (predestined, Eph 1) this before creation.
• We have been given free will, but not of our liberal choices…but the freedom to obey God because it is the correct path for humans.

The terminology in the world will try to coin this “pre-ordained” order about heaven as Calvinism.

Taken from the teachings of John Calvin, a reformation of Christianity leader.

Calvinism -  insists that God must do all the work, from choosing those who will be saved to sanctifying them throughout their lives until they die and go to heaven. In addition to this unconditional choosing by God, nothing, not even mistakes will keep them from Heaven because God chose them.

 

Let us look at the truth about being “chosen”!

Ephesians 1:3-14

We learn that God did pre-ordain a chosen people. But there is a specific condition – it can change (vs14 – “until the redemption of”).

John Calvin, a reformation leader – appears to have confusion between a “selected elect” versus selection through “grace and mercy” which gives every human a chance…not just a selected few. Being “ blessed and highly favored” is a concept of Calvinism in modern theology.

 

The fact is that our acceptance of Christ, through belief is just a down payment on heaven. We still have to do something to arrive at the destination with qualifications to enter. (Rev 2:10)

Calvinism is a derivative of Christianity. For context we will stick with the basic forms of belief.

 

Examples of Secular faith structures.

• Egyptian Theology – (Poly) Founded on worshiping the cosmos, their king, and a system of gods. (Polytheism) Many gods represented for various actions and characteristics. They have a fascination with death and being victorious in the afterlife because of accomplishments in the present life.
• Buddhists – (Atheistic) They do not worship a specific deity. They live by a code of behavior that makes one “enlightened.” They spend more time meditating and thinking of questions. This code came from a rich guy who wondered about why he was rich and wanted to search for the meaning of it all. So, he gave up wealth and realized he did not like poverty, so he then started a movement of being just content in the middle.
• Confucianism – (Atheistic) A philosophy that is founded in being enlightened by virtue and morality. Having a great value for communal living and togetherness.
• Naturalists – (Poly) By their reasoning, all things that matter are based on what we discover in the natural world. Scientific research and observation play a great role in this form of theology.
• Native theology – (Poly or Mono) most Indigenous peoples of the earth find their theology based on the world and universe around them. Most of them believe in a singular Spirit or many spirits. And many other deities in between. Mainly taking all their cues and concepts from nature, then try to define what they see and experience through their related practices.

 

THE MISTAKEN TRUTH OF FAITH

Rethought

1. The first truth of faith: It begins with you…what you are willing to accept as truth.
2. What is the truth: what makes our faith the truth?
3. Understanding what makes a faith worthy by its own substance and truth.
4. Acknowledging the difference between the faiths of the world and our faith.

 

WHEN THERE’S NO SUBSTANCE OF FAITH….

People tend to avoid taking the time to learn what the truth is.

• They fabricate their own Romans 10:3
• They accept anything labeled as truth…from anyone claiming to know the truth ACTS 17:19-21
• They go looking for truth in all the lying places Romans 1:25

 

WHAT KIND FOR FAITH will rise from anything  with this level of disorder?

We see how many faiths/religious theologies of the world have structured their system (over four hundred).

 

WHAT ARE THE STANDARDS FOR SIN IN THESE THEOLOGIES?
• Doesn't speak of forgiveness
• NO Abstinence – So how can I gain self-control
• NO Culpability – so who gets the blame?
• NO Responsibility – So why should I seek to learn or keep tasked with
• NO Accountability – So who do I have to apologize or repent to
• No sacrifice – So why should I give anything or pay for anything?
• No propitiation/indemnification – Who should I pray to or seek for guidance or forgiveness, and who’s going to replace what I destroy
• No authority for setting order – So who must I report to?
• No Judgement/Executor of Power to put things back right or to quarantine any wicked or evil – So who will protect me or make justice?

WHY MUST THERE NEEDS BE FOR ALL OF THESE?

1. Abstinence – Why should I stay away from certain things?
2. Culpability – Why is it important me to be the one blamed for my own actions?
3. Responsibility – Why should I want to have things I need to do or to steward?
4. Accountability – Why should I give an answer for myself and actions?
5. Propitiation – How can an atonement benefit me?
6. Indemnification – Why should there be any liability for my soul? What is my soul worth to me?
7. Authority Figure – Why is it important for me to answer to a higher being? What do I need a superior being for?
8. Judge/Executor – Why is it important for me to be cautious and defended?
9. SACRIFICE – Why must there be something exchanged for anything for me or anyone? Why must it be transactional? Why is this my position?

 

WITHOUT ANY OF THESE COMPONENTS – HUMANKIND MAKES UP THEIR OWN STRUCTURE OF FAITH

 

1. GENESIS 3: 9-19; 6: 5-7 – SOMETHING IS BROKEN
2. JOB 40:10-14 – BUT THERE IS STILL A WORTHY CAUSE FOR CORRECTION
3. EPHESIANS 1: 3-14, 15-19 – GOD’S VISION

• Because all things emit energy and leave evidence of something happening - there has to a power that can reorder, replace, reset, replenish, restate, remove, reveal all things. When we walk into a space/room the universe reacts to our presence on the from form that you are all the way down to the molecule. We can see it in people too. When do they walk in do they light up or dim down at our presence?

PRIDE IS THE DARK FORCE - And the more we get, the more prideful, the more negative energy we emit and resonate into the universe. Eventually our energy infringes on other objects and spaces. Then the last space it touches is the line between righteousness and wickedness. Once it touches that line...we are invading God's space. And he will defend holiness and righteousness.

• Instead of making us disappear or explode into nothing.
• God disciplines us to calm us out of frequency energy.
• You came in innocent and have left a wake of things that have gone bad or worse or barely acceptable. The vision that God set was that of perfection and righteousness. EPH 1: 3-14,15-19.
• Something has to cover what we owe for damages and destruction and the impression we are leaving on the universe and time.
  Job 40:10-14 - The One who requires order and justice.

HOW WILL I ANSWER?

HOW SHALL YOU ANSWER?

WHAT MUST BECOME THE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS FAITH?

What about us?

• What can We present for qualification?
• ROMANS 1: 17, Righteousness is at the heart of this faith.
• Hebrew 10:38 – Not being afraid to go the distance. A faith worth our loyalty
• Galatians 3:11 – Jesus used himself as the atonement. We had no positive equity for ourselves.
• How can we show what the difference is?
• 1 Peter 2:1-3, 9-12 – We are willing to change for this faith.
• TITUS 2: 1, 7-8 – There is nothing that anyone can prove wrong with this faith.
• PHILL 3: 7-10 – There is nothing left for us to know or worth us knowing but this faith and everything we know to hold it.

 

1. BELIEVE THAT HE IS….

Our Substance Barometer: Hebrew 9 gives us some powerful points for us to have the principles needed to know where we stand.

HEBREWS 9: 14,15 – Christ willingly gave his life for the transgressions of the world. In doing this…there was a redeeming action made by God: That those who understood the sacrifice and accepted this Jesus as one sent by God….” Might receive the promise of eternal heritance.

Why Might I Receive? What is it called? And what must take place to be the called?

Romans 10:1-5

ROM 10: 1-5 – First let us start with initial response God and how it affects your purity of your faith.

 

Hebrew 11

VS 32-36 Identifying the evidence that faith is present: Are You ready for the fight? Are You willing to take a few shots, knowing they are coming, and you know this is a war between God and the devil. This war is fought in us…and the battle is attacks at us.

Stephen found Himself in the fight and He became a hero of faith. Acts. 7:57-60

 

Stephen endured in his faith till the end. His faithfulness to Christ is just a sample of all the substance that our faith is and has. We can name more in the Old Testament and New Testament.

Also, you probably can name a few things in your life that prove your faith is the real, truth faith.

 

Take a moment to think of these events and please share in the message box below if you are willing to share. There will be a corresponding reply from the author of this lesson.

 

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