Here we are given an essay on the importance of faith, with some historical models to imitate. And this is a major point of this letter, for the Hebrew Christians have been facing persecution and wondering where God is in all of this. The response, here, is helpful and discouraging, all in one, for it points out a longterm view that the readers may not have....
Hebrews 11:1-3
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
We open with a description of faith and why it matters. Note that this is not intended as an axiomatic definition (following Euclid) but a statement about the importance of faith for believers. Furthermore, this is not "blind faith". It has reasons, support, arguments. To make that clear, we follow with some examples.
Hebrews 11:4-5
By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
Apparently Abel's dispute with Cain had to do with faith? (This is not clear from Genesis.) Similarly, another ancient hero, predating Abraham, is recommended to us as walking in faith.
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Why is faith a requirement for engagement with God?
Hebrews 11:7-12
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
By faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
Moses and Abraham join our honor roll of heroes. Maybe also Sarah; verse 11 is unclear. Who had faith, so that Abraham became a father? An alternate translation (NIV Footnote) is "By faith even Sarah, who was past age, was enabled to bear children because..." If we read back in Genesis on this account (Genesis 18:1-15), we don't really see much evidence of faith -- Sarah even laughed at God!
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
By faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
Moses and Abraham join our honor roll of heroes. Maybe also Sarah; verse 11 is unclear. Who had faith, so that Abraham became a father? An alternate translation (NIV Footnote) is "By faith even Sarah, who was past age, was enabled to bear children because..." If we read back in Genesis on this account (Genesis 18:1-15), we don't really see much evidence of faith -- Sarah even laughed at God!
Hebrews 11:13-16
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Here is why faith is important. Because we are aliens and strangers here; this is not our "natural" home anymore. There is a much more important citizenship than anything a country on Earth can offer.
We continue on Hebrews 11 in the next post.
I think that vv 13-16 contain one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible. It has been my go-to passage whenever I get discouraged or upset about the bone-headedness of political leadership at any level, and it is the most important reason I have been able to find peace about American political life. I am a resident alien here. When I become inordinately agitated, worried, and consumed with political affairs, it's a symptom of my loss of this perspective. And that's where the really high stakes are. It's a question of whether I'm willing to lose my soul to gain the world. The values are really incommensurable. And the most striking part of this passage is the last statement--God is not ashamed to be called the God of those who have cut the bonds of attachment to this world in order to seek a better country. Which, by the way, they can only do by grace.
ReplyDeleteThe "alien" metaphor and Paul's "ambassador" metaphor fit in well together.
ReplyDeleteI imagine being sent to Moscow as the American ambassador. How would my "ambassador" and "foreigner" role play out? I would learn the language and culture, network with people, form friendships, attend parties. But I would do all this with a distant, critical view. "Oh, I love these Russians! They are so friendly!" I might say. "What a vast beautiful country!" I would go to hockey games, learn to drink vodka.
But I would also be alert to say, "There are some ways in which they are lacking." I would seek to have some influence in providing a whiff of American culture and an American worldview.
In the same way, in this "alien" country that we live in, we are free to say, "I love these people!" and "There is so much good here!" But we should also say, "Ah, they need the Kingdom of Heaven". Americans, just like Russians, and everyone else, need a glimpse of The Eternal Country which is coming some day!
A little off tangent -- I read on a travel StackExchange about learning to drink vodka at parties in Russia. Apparently there are numerous toasts and everyone (especially guests!) are expect to participate in them all. So there are tips on how to *appear* to be drinking many shots of vodka with your friends while merely taking a sip or two. That way, at the end of the night one might have a buzz but not be wiped out. That bit of advice is that of an "alien" looking in to the culture from the outside.
ReplyDeleteYes, there is an art to toasting. We don't do it here much anymore, but there was a time.
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