The Joy in Responsibility

(An In-Depth Study of Hebrews)

Commentary

Faith’s Journey

Hebrews 11:23-28 

Outline 

Moses takes center stage as our text spotlights a large portion of his life. It begins with his birth and moves forward through his life until it comes to rest at the Passover during the exodus. Surveying the first 23 verses of chapter 11, one can easily see that Moses and Abraham hold the most prominent places in the roll of faith; and the central event of both their lives, as Hebrews presents them, is a journey. The author of Hebrews doesn’t attempt to show these heroes of the faith in a single snapshot. The reason our author unfolds this view of the faithful by looking at life’s journey should now be obvious. Our faith has many aspects. Studying the life of faith cannot be done with sweeping generalizations.

The role of faith in life’s journey… justification by faith alone, working out our salvation, bearing fruit in the Spirit, resting in the promises, and looking forward to the reward for our works, is the beautiful panoramic picture painted by chapter 11. Even though the aspects of faith in chapter 11 are many and diverse, they fit together like hand in glove and are by no means contradictory. If you take any one of them and treat it as the whole picture, you will be lead astray. Tonight we continue our journey as students of this full, grand, and glorious truth.

How HOPE and FAITH work:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

The Picture: Faith in Crisis

Kill the baby boys

Disobey and you die

Life Risking Faith (vs 23)

Faith delivers from fear

The future provides all our satisfaction (Assurance of things hoped for)

Value placing Faith (vs 27)

Enduring the chosen path of life

Looking for reward

LIFE APPLICATION

Faith is a desire for God that burns bridges to sin, fear, and comfort

Faith is reflected in loving what God loves in the power of the Spirit