HEBREWS HEB12
The
examples of faith Hebrews
11
The reference to faith/belief in the context of
persecution (10:35-39), leads naturally into Ch. 11. Remember that the biblical writers didn’t have chapter divisions
in mind, when they wrote their letters.
Chapter 11, therefore, is a section giving practical examples of those
who persevered in the O.T. period, who are to be models and encouragements to
the Hebrew readers. So Chapter 12
follows on to encourage them similarly to persevere (12:1-13). Don’t let the chapter divisions or separate
studies prevent you from seeing the ‘flow’ of the whole letter.
Look first of all at:
1.
The structure of the chapter
a.
1-3: Faith described
b.
4-38: Faith identified – an historical survey
c.
39, 49: Faith completed
2.
Faith described
(1-3)
a. Taking verse 1 as a definition of faith (NIV and GNB translations are attractive), how do we act when we’re ‘sure’ and ‘certain’ of something – a chair, the postal service, God, the doctor, salvation? What does uncertainty in these areas create? How do you react when someone says ‘I can trust God for my salvation, but I find it difficult or impossible to trust Him to help in everyday needs or temptations.’?
b.
Why is v. 3 important to the discussion?
3.
Faith identified – in people who used their
faith (4-38)
a. What are the distinctive elements that you discover in the following people’s faith?
As you think about them, ask yourself such questions
as:
-
What problems had their faith to tackle?
-
What truths did they perceive?
-
What lessons did they learn?
-
What were their priorities?
-
What changes did their faith bring to their lives?
-
Did they ever feel disillusioned?
-
What did their faith achieve?
b.
People involved were:
i. Abel (4) vii. Joseph (22)
ii. Enoch (5,6) viii.
Moses’ parents (23)
iii. Noah (7) ix. Moses (24-28)
iv. Abraham (8-12) x. Israelites (29, 30)
(17-19) xi. Rahab (31)
v. Isaac (20) xii. National leaders (32-34)
vi. Jacob (21) xiii. The unnamed (35-38)
Which individuals do you find attractive or
particularly challenging in relation to their faith? Why?
All the questions under 3a won’t apply to every
individual, nor will there be time to study each one in the group meeting. So you might find it best to study two or
three characters.
c.
Questions and principles that concern us
i.
To what extent is faith a reasonable response to the
known faithfulness of God?
ii.
What encouragement (and responsibility) to acts of
faith can it be to know that your faith may be of help to someone else (see v.
4, last part). Can you illustrate? Has your faith been helped by someone
else’s?
iii.
Why is it impossible to please God without faith? (6)
iv.
How do you feel when the call to faith, like Noah’s,
seems unreasonable? (a boat without water – v. 7).
v.
Should we always expect to see the fulfilment of faith
in our lifetime? (13). What things or
experiences might this refer to for us?
vi.
To what extent should our faith cause us to be
other-worldly? (14-16) But how can this
be balanced so that we’re not open to the charge of being out of touch or
unconcerned with present realities?
vii.
What does the life of Abraham teach us about the
relation between faith and obedience/action? (8, 9, 17-19).
viii.
What do verses 20-23 teach us about faith in relation
to details, factors, events beyond our control?
ix.
How does faith help us to persevere? (27). Try illustrating from modern life or
personal experience. Think also about
Rom. 8:24, 25 and 2 Cor. 4:16-18.
x.
What encouragement do you find from the fact that
faith is not the monopoly of one type of person? Consider the diversity within vs. 31, 32.
xi.
Some victories of faith are obvious (32-35a), but what
do you learn from those whose faith was equally real, though they had to
surrender their lives? (35a-38).
4.
Faith completed
(39, 40)
What had been promised which those O.T. heroes had not received? (39). Verses 13-16 give a clue. In N.T. times what is it which we together with them receive (40), which brings ultimate fulfilment to those heroes’ faith? Think about the significance of Eph. 2:19-22.
5.
For further study
a.
The merits that faith brings:
i.
Divine approval (2)
ii.
Righteousness (4, 7)
iii.
Pleasure to God (5, 6)
iv.
Heirs of the promise (9)
v.
Acknowledgement by God (16).
b.
The work that faith does.
i.
Gives understanding (3)
ii.
Offers acceptable sacrifices (4)
iii.
Conquers death (5)
iv.
Obeys instructions (8,9)
v.
Achieves the impossible (11)
vi.
Makes sacrifices (17)
vii.
Invokes blessings (29, 21)
viii.
Foresees the future (22)
ix.
Conquers fear (23)
x.
Renounces worldly values (24-26)
xi.
Enjoy God’s intervention (27)
xii.
Escapes judgement (28)
xiii.
Receives life (31)
xiv.
Triumphs in every circumstance, even through death
(30, 32-38).
Thought: Faith can’t be conceptualised, it must be embodied.