Lesson 25: By Faith (Part 1) Nothing Better Lesson 25: By Faith (Part 1)

INTRODUCTION: In Hebrews 11, the preacher goes over a list of some of the great heroes in the Old Testament as illustrations for what a life of faith looks like. In today’s passage 11:8-19, he shows us one example after another of how Abraham lived a life of faith.

Hebrews 11:8-10 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.

Hebrews 11:11-12 1 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.

Hebrews 11:13-16 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.

Hebrews 11:17-19 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,”[Gen. 21:12] 19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

FAITH MEANS BELIEVING GOD & ACTING ON HIS PROMISES (Heb. 11:8) 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.

FAITH MEANS BELIEVING GOD & ACTING ON HIS PROMISES (Heb. 11:8) Like Abraham, we are to trust in God, make our life decisions based upon His Word, and follow His call to an unknown country with a well-known Inhabitant.

FAITH MEANS LOOKING FOR OUR ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT SOMEWHERE ELSE (Heb 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.

FAITH MEANS LOOKING FOR OUR ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT SOMEWHERE ELSE (Heb Abraham did not own a single square inch of the Promised Land until the end of his life and only then, it was his burial plot.

FAITH MEANS LOOKING FOR OUR ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT SOMEWHERE ELSE (Heb Abraham was not looking for an earthly city built by man; he was looking for an eternal city built by God.

FAITH MEANS LOOKING FOR OUR ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT SOMEWHERE ELSE (Heb Faith makes us strangers on earth, but citizens in heaven.

FAITH MEANS LOOKING FOR OUR ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT SOMEWHERE ELSE (Heb One of the greatest challenges facing the Church today is that the world is in the Church.

FAITH MEANS LOOKING FOR OUR ULTIMATE FULFILLMENT SOMEWHERE ELSE (Heb The world can’t give us what we really need; only God can and He will. That’s why we’re able to care about and love earthlings; because we don’t need the world to give us fulfillment.

FAITH ENABLES US TO TRUST GOD WITH THE IMPOSSIBLE (Heb. 11:11-12) 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.

FAITH ENABLES US TO TRUST GOD WITH THE IMPOSSIBLE (Heb. 11:11-12) Sarah had faith in God and thus received the power of God to found the posterity of Abraham – the line of promise that would lead all the way to our Lord Jesus Christ.

FAITH ALTERS YOUR SELF-IDENTITY (Heb. 11:13-16) 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.

FAITH ALTERS YOUR SELF-IDENTITY (Heb. 11:13-16) It is our willingness to be strangers here on earth that reflects the reality of God’s grace in our hearts and assures us of future glory.

FAITH DOES NOT HOLD OUT ON GOD (Heb. 11:17-19) 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.

FAITH DOES NOT HOLD OUT ON GOD (Heb. 11:17-19) Isaac is referred to as Abraham’s “only begotton son” for at least two reasons: It indicates how dear Isaac was to Abraham.

FAITH DOES NOT HOLD OUT ON GOD (Heb. 11:17-19) It indicates how dear Isaac was to Abraham. The parallel between Isaac and Jesus Christ.

FAITH DOES NOT HOLD OUT ON GOD (Heb. 11:17-19) The life of faith is a life in which we absolutely entrust everything to God, even the things that are the dearest and most precious to us in the whole world.