Focal Point

Pastor Mike Fabarez: The kind of faith that we're looking at throughout Hebrews 11 is a confidence that leads to action. It is not enough to say, "I want to build my faith in my heart." Not just for some internal virtue, but for something that that virtue inside had led to. It is always something that is prompting them to do something.

Dave Drewry: And welcome to Focal Point with Pastor Mike Fabarez. I'm Dave Drewry. The most essential element of the Christian life is intangible. We can't hold it in our hands or inspect it under a microscope or weigh it on a scale. So how do we know what faith really is?

To answer that question, Pastor Mike turns to a pivotal chapter of scripture. Rather than simply define it, Hebrews 11 instead describes faith so we can begin putting it into practice. Pastor Mike calls the message "Cultivating the Core Ingredient of the Christian Life."

Pastor Mike Fabarez: As we return to our verse-by-verse study through Hebrews, we're entering into what is naturally a topical series, a series that will help us tie together all of these verses in Hebrews 11 into a nice, cohesive whole. It is a chapter which is for many the richest and one of the most favorite chapters in all of the book of Hebrews. For some, it's their most favorite chapter in all of the Bible, Hebrews 11, as we review some of the heroes, if you will, of the Old Testament.

People exercising faith. They possess it and they exercise some kind of faith that God is commending as great. Now when you see "faith is," we think we're about to get a definition. Really what we're seeing is a descriptive of faith. Biblical faith at a basic elementary teaching level is knowing we're not talking about just nodding at facts. I believe you. No, it's I believe in something. I believe in you. As it relates to Christ, I believe in Christ. That doesn't mean I believe he existed. It's much more than that. It's that I'm willing to put my trust in you.

So let's just start with that basic idea. Let's look at it. Hebrews 11, verse number one. "Now faith is," now here's two phrases and the Hebrew language, they love this kind of logical poetry. There are two phrases and we should in our mind stack them one on top of the other. And here's how it's described. Description number one, it is being sure of what we hope for and, parallel concept, it is being certain, which is like being sure, of what we do not see. And that parallels "hope for," and let me tell you why. Because everything you hope for is in the future.

And everything in the future, guess what, unless you're clairvoyant, you don't see it. So here's logical parallelism. Look at it again. Faith is, the kind of faith we're going to look at in Hebrews 11, is being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see. If we're going to define what we're going to be looking at in Hebrews 11, it is a confidence in something not seen. It is a confidence in something not seen.

Everybody, as we examine it in the book of Hebrews 11, everybody we look at is going to be demonstrating that they have a confidence in something they can't physically see or haven't physically experienced. Which is not craziness, by the way. Because everything that you're hoping for even in the temporal experience of life, forget spiritual things, is stuff that you don't see.

As a matter of fact, a lot of the past you don't see and didn't see and you still put your trust in it and you believe in it. A lot of things about your own history you didn't see. Tell me when you were born. Tell me where you were born. All of that, you didn't see that. There's a lot of this exercise of some level of faith in a lot of things that we do.

But in the biblical realm and in Hebrews 11, it is a certainty or a confidence or an assurance of things that we don't see. Biblical Christianity begins by a confidence in the death of Christ. None of us were there to see that. But we're putting our confidence in the transaction, for instance, in heaven where my resume was expunged of all sin. I'm banking on that. I'm counting on that. I'm assured of that.

That's certainly a part of biblical faith. And in Hebrews 11, they're doing amazing things based on being sure and certain or confident of things that they haven't seen. So if we just think through that basic idea, we start to realize that that is something that requires something quite big. We need it. And when the stakes are high, it puts the focus and the importance even more on that thing, that virtue of being able to trust.

As a matter of fact, go back if you would to Hebrews chapter six for just a second. When it comes to that, it becomes such an internal virtue and strength that you've got to be able to get to a place where you're saying things like this about biblical confidence, biblical faith, or trust. Look at verse 17, Hebrews 6:17. God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose, which is all future for us, very clear to the heirs of what was promised.

That's about where we're heading. And he's elaborating on the Abrahamic Covenant in Hebrews 6, as you might remember. He confirmed it with an oath. He promised it in Genesis 12, he starts confirming it in Genesis 14, 15, 17, 22 and hopefully you remember some of that from that sermon. So he takes, he gives, he promises something to Abraham and his descendants. He confirms it with an oath. "I swear to you," he says to Abraham.

Verse 18, God did that so that by two unchangeable things, what are the two unchangeable things? Well, one is the promise and one is the oath. If he promises it, that doesn't change, and if he gives you an oath, that doesn't change. And that was totally unnecessary. Why? Because it's impossible for God to lie. I mean, throw that layer on top of the cake. The icing on the surety of the promise of God is he can't lie to start with. He promised it, he swore to it, and he's going to do it.

And then it says here's our response: "We who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged." Now notice this, verse 19. We have this hope, this surety, this confidence as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters into the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. And get the tape, this was an important discussion about how Christ has gone in for us, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf, verse 20. He's become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek, and that's worth getting a CD to untangle all that.

But the bottom line is we're putting our trust in the fact that God has promised us benefits if we would focus our trust on Christ. And the Bible says that that creates some kind of internal fortitude or strength that God says that's the essence of biblical faith. And it grows and it becomes something that is strong and it prompts certain kinds of action and it prompts you to certain kinds of risks. And those are the kinds of things that we will see highlighted with the quote-unquote heroes of faith in Hebrews 11.

We're looking at people that are confident about things that are, for instance, based on a promise, based on a covenant of God, based on the historic redemption of Christ on a cross. They're doing amazing things, they have a confidence, and we want that to grow. We don't want your confidence just to be enough to secure salvation. We want your confidence in the things that God has said in his word and promised to us to be prompting you to do some incredibly extraordinary ambitious kinds of things. That's what Hebrews 11 is all about.

Now some people are going to listen on the radio or they're going to, maybe they're here today, they're going to go, "Yep, that's just what I thought. Those Christians believing in all kinds of things they can't see. Goblins and ghosts and leprechauns and who knows what else they believe in." Let's govern this for just a second with another statement that we're going to have to go outside of Hebrews 11 to affirm this to you, but jot it down and then I'll try to show you this in scripture.

This confidence that we're talking about, that we're going to see on great display in Hebrews 11, is a reasonable confidence. It is a reasonable confidence. Here's the thing about God. He doesn't want us to have confidence in things that aren't true. He doesn't want us to have confidence in things that aren't real. He wants us to have confidence in things that are actual, things that are, as Francis Schaeffer said, in true truth. That's the only kind of truth the Bible's interested in, is true truth. What does that mean? Truth that corresponds with reality.

If there is no heaven, if there is no kingdom, if Christ never died on a cross, if he didn't rise from the dead, the Bible and God and the apostles are trying to say then that's not what God wants you to put any hope in. Don't hope in false things, hope in true things. True things are by definition reasonable things. People say, "Well, if it's reasonable, then why are you guys believing in things like the resurrection of Christ from the dead? That doesn't happen. I've seen dead people, they don't come back to life."

Okay, listen, here's the deal. We're going to find that even the natural laws themselves, nature, creation, they logically and reasonably beg for at some point a breaking of the natural laws that we observe. In other words, if there is a created order that we can study and observe, the very nature of that study is going to prove to us that it necessitates some kind of outside or extranatural prompting. If God is a God who created the natural order, we should expect that he can break the rules that he made.

God has only really in scripture, this was my count and I did it from beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation, has only suspended the natural laws that he's made, at least recorded in the Bible, 86 times. 86 times. And as a matter of fact, you might say, "Well, there's only 86 miracles in the Bible?" Well, that's not what I said because miracles we saw, quote-unquote miracles, when God intervenes in time and space, happen most often within the realm of natural law. God does it.

What makes it a God thing or a miracle is that God is doing it with providential timing. But the times when he actually says, "Okay, laws of buoyancy, people aren't supposed to walk on water, but I'm going to break that," that's one. That's one of the 86 times. And God shows that he can break natural law. As a matter of fact, we saw those 86 breaking of natural law clustered in three periods. Look at every time that he's done this and you'll see most of them clustered around Moses and Joshua, the Exodus.

You'll see them then clustered again around Elijah and Elisha, the prophetic period in the middle. And then you'll see them clustered again around Jesus and the apostles. Three times, only 86 in all, where God is breaking or suspending natural law. What's my point? God does that rarely. And when he does, it's based and predicated on the logical understanding that if the natural laws themselves beg for a supernatural start, then it makes sense that if there is a personal God, he can do that. And he has done that very few times in human history.

Turn with me to Acts chapter 26. Paul, arrested, he's in prison in the city of Caesarea on the Mediterranean Sea. He's called out to give a defense to King Agrippa. And the Herod's tetrarchy had broken up, and if you know Roman history, Festus here is there as political sidekick if you will to Agrippa. And Paul is called out to give a defense. He says, middle of verse 22, Acts 26:22, as he's trying to explain what he's been talking about and why he was imprisoned.

He says, "So I stand here and I testify to both small and great alike." Many people I'm sure had come out to see the king, come out and listen to this preacher, Paul. And so he says, "I don't care who you are, if you're the king or you're just somebody just looking peeking around the corner of the coliseum here, I'm here to testify to you. And I'm saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen," which is another interesting thing about the nature of scripture itself.

One of the things that authenticates scripture as being God's word is that it has this ability and it has throughout time foretold the future. And in this case, the prophets and Moses said this would happen: that Christ would suffer and as the first to rise from the dead would proclaim light to his own people, Israel, and to the Gentiles. Now that was promised. Now there was the rising from the dead part. And that's where Festus interrupted Paul's defense and he said, "You're out of your mind."

Which is where most people are today. As soon as you mention something that you're telling me to hope in that falls outside of naturalism, they say you're crazy. And then he goes on to say this, middle of verse 24, "Your great learning is driving you insane." Which by the way is revealing a little more than I think he wanted to. And that is for us a recognition that Paul's reputation was: you're a really smart guy. You're really well-learned. You're the Mr. PhD and he was on his way to be this leader of Israel in the Sanhedrin. He had his baccalaureates in hand. He was a smart and logical guy.

And he says, "But you know, you must have been studying so hard you blew a fuse and now you're believing in something crazy." And Paul's response, verse 25, "I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying," now underline this phrase, "is true and," here's the important part, "reasonable. Because if it is true, if it's true truth as Francis Schaeffer said, if it corresponds with reality, then it should be reasonable. Even if occasionally some 86 times, God chooses to suspend natural law." And one was very important, the rising of Christ from the dead, for very important theological reasons because that is our problem that needs to be fixed.

Then he says, verse 26, "The king is familiar with these things. I can speak to him freely. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice because," and I love this, "it was not done in a corner." This is not something where just a secret huddled few come out and say, "Well, you just have to take our word for it." First Corinthians 15 testifies that Jesus after his resurrection even at one time was out there preaching and revealed himself to 500 people at one time. Not mass hallucinations, Christ has gone out there to prove this in an objective tangible way.

He says it's not done in a corner. This is not some secret society that came up with this. "King Agrippa," and then I love this, what a good preacher. He turns it right to King Agrippa, "Do you believe the prophets? I know you do. You believe the Bible, I know it, you've read it, you believe it." Then Agrippa said, and I love this, typical non-Christian throw up your defenses response, "Do you think you're going to in such a short time persuade me to become a Christian?"

And Paul said, verse 29, "Well, short time or long time. I just pray that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am." One who affirms the truth of the gospel, one who puts their trust in Christ. A Christian affirming the truth of the resurrection, the truth of the gospel. My point in all of that is never, 1 Corinthians 15, is God calling you to believe in something that doesn't fit reality, something that doesn't reasonably add up.

Occasionally, as CS Lewis wrote a whole book on this, occasionally the breaking of natural law is the most reasonable explanation for things. And we need to come to the realization that anti-supernaturalism, naturalism doesn't really make sense. And so we as Christians aren't just saying, "Well, our mind is wide open and if you want to say leprechauns exist next or UFOs or whatever, yeah well we'll just believe whatever because that's what faith is." No, faith is reasonable faith. It's convictions and confidence that are based on reason and fact.

All right, understand biblical faith. It's confidence in something not seen. That leaves us open for criticism, let me just clarify. It's a reasonable confidence. Number three, back to Hebrews chapter 11. What we'll find in Hebrews 11, and I don't even think you need to scan your eyes through this to know, although if you start you'll see Abel, verse four, Enoch, verse five, you'll see Noah and Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, you'll see Moses, you'll see the Exodus, you'll see the conquest.

All of these people are being praised and commended, as verse two says. Not just for some internal virtue, but for something that that virtue inside had led to. It is always something that is prompting them to do something. They don't sit around and say, "Well, you know, in the depths of Moses's heart, man he sure had a great and wonderful trust in God." That's not what's praised. What's praised is how the faith prompts them to action.

So the kind of faith that we're looking at throughout Hebrews 11, let's put it down this way, letter C, is a confidence that leads to action. It is not enough to say, "I want to build my faith in my heart." Great, let's build our faith in our spirit and our minds. But that faith, if it's going to be commendable or praiseworthy, the kind of ambitious faith we're talking about, it must prompt to action. If it doesn't prompt to action, as James chapter two, verses 14 through 22 tell us, if it doesn't prompt us to action, it's not the kind of faith the Bible's interested in.

As a matter of fact, and you can finish this verse, but it simply says this: faith without works is dead. Which means it's not real useful faith. It's not biblical faith. Biblical faith is always faith that does something, it works. There's an action that comes from it. It prompts us to action. It's like a lot of people that say they believe in a lot of things. "I really believe in saving money and I believe in saving money to save money for my kids' college and it's expensive. I really believe in that."

Well, show me your bank accounts. Are you saving for your kids? "Well, no. I just got a lot of reasons I haven't. I mean we've been busy and vacation last year and things have come up and no, I haven't done it." Don't tell me you believe in something if it doesn't result in action. That's not the kind of belief the Bible's ever interested in. As a matter of fact, the Bible calls that hypocrisy when you say you believe in something and it never affects your behavior.

We're not talking about that. We're talking about a conviction, a confidence, an assurance, a certainty that then will motivate you to do something. And in Hebrews 11, it's a real exciting risk-oriented doing. It's a kind of "I'm willing to do something that the world may think is crazy, but I'm going to do it because I have confidence in God." That was James chapter two, and the heart of it really is 17 through 19. Faith has got to be active.

Good. Hebrews 11. Are you still there? Hebrews 11, verse two. This is what the ancients were commended for. The ancients were commended for this. And then we start. We talk about creation, verse three, Abel, verse four, Enoch, verse five. And then he kicks out of Enoch in verse six and he describes something that not only applies to Enoch, it really applies to the entire chapter. And that is an exploded view if you will, an explanation of the commendation of God in verse two.

This is what the ancients, we're talking about the Old Testament people, were commended for. Not condemned for. This is not the condemnation, it's the commendation. The commendation of God is explained to us in verse six. He starts with a negative statement, verse six. "Without faith it's impossible to please God." Invert the negative to a positive statement. What can you say about faith? Faith pleases God. Right? When you have faith, that is a well-pleasing thing. That's what commending someone means. The guy's got something, thumbs up, I'm going to commend you for that.

Faith is the key. Now it says this: "Anyone who comes to him must," and here's the first level, believe in a scent to facts like believing that he exists. And more than that, he believes that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Earnestly seeking him, we can start to tie this web together. You're not going to do that unless your faith is genuine and real and prompts you to action. But that pursuit of God is always according to this something that God rewards. And that's part of what motivates people to be ambitious with their faith, that God is a God who rewards faith.

So let's just jot this down. Number two on your outlines. Let's jot it down. Number two, we need to remember that biblical faith has its perks. And that's not just an indicative statement, that should be a motivating statement. God always is a God who rewards ambitious biblical faith. He rewards it. He rewards it even at level one. Let's jot this down, letter A, level one biblical faith, and that is the first step we take with biblical faith. He frees us or releases us from sin's penalty. We call that salvation.

That's the first thing that happens. And that's not really the point of Hebrews 11, but before we talk about ambitious faith as it relates to all these exploits of these heroes in the Old Testament, let's at least say, "Hey, you know what, they all had a kind of faith in God that released them from their penalty of sin." And I'm talking to people in the 21st century. I don't know what your background is, but let me at least say to you: let's not have ambitious faith to do great things for God in the world unless you're sure you have saving faith in Jesus Christ so that you're not going to hell.

That would be a good thing. But you need to realize it fits in the category of commendation and reward. You can put it this way: that God ultimately is rewarding faith, first of all, by not sending you to hell. He rewards you in that biblical faith by removing from your account the sin that should toss you away from his presence. And that's grace, but it is faith that God is saying is activating that grace. And of course it all comes from God, don't get me letters from the theologians in the group. I realize God is the source of this, but the point is that biblical faith humanly speaking is responded to by the best perk of all. You and I don't go to the lake of fire, and that is the gift of God.

And so let's just, though that's not the point of Hebrews 11, let's just at least for a minute underscore the fact that faith is the key.

Dave Drewry: Faith is the key to our present and future transfer of trust that gets us out of hell. You're listening to a study in Hebrews from Mike Fabarez on Focal Point, and it's called "Cultivating the Core Ingredient of the Christian Life." You can find this lesson waiting for you anytime online at focalpointradio.org, or download the free Focal Point app and subscribe to the podcast.

This month, Pastor Mike is pointing us to a book that pairs well with everything Hebrews has been putting in front of us: *The Journals of Jim Elliot*, edited by Elisabeth Elliot. Jim Elliot was a young man with an old soul, and these journals let you sit in with him as he worked out what it really meant to belong fully to God. He wasn't writing for an audience; he was writing to stay honest.

And that honesty has a way of holding a mirror up to your own faith. If the passage of Hebrews 11 has been pressing on you, if you've found yourself asking what it actually looks like to take God at his word in the everyday, these journals are worth your time. Request *The Journals of Jim Elliot* when you give over the phone. Just dial 888-320-5885, or go online to focalpointradio.org. You can also send your donation by mail. Just write to us at Focal Point, PO Box 2850, Laguna Hills, California 92654.

And friend, this program stays on the air because there are listeners who've decided that solid, text-driven teaching is worth putting something behind. If that's you, thank you. You're genuinely part of what keeps this going. And if a monthly commitment has been on your mind because these messages have been doing real work in your life, we'd be glad to have you join us. Sign up as a Focal Point partner with a monthly gift of any amount by calling 888-320-5885, or by going to focalpointradio.org. Well, I'm Dave Drewry. Be sure to tune in tomorrow when Pastor Mike Fabarez concludes our message about real faith. We're learning about cultivating the core ingredient of the Christian life Thursday here on Focal Point.

Pastor Mike Fabarez: Pastor Mike here. It's an honor to be with you every day, helping you explore the depths of scripture. But I want to be clear: no amount of Bible knowledge is ever going to save you. Be sure where you stand with God. Get in touch with us; we'd love to pray with you and for you. Visit us today at focalpointradio.org. We look forward to hearing from you.

Today's program was produced and sponsored by Focal Point Ministries.