alex1939...Michelle good Question... John 3 :16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on him will not perish but have eternal life.
.....1 st Peter 1:23...Being Born again of an INCORRUPTIBLE SEED even by the WORDS of God that liveth and abideth for ever.
......Nicodemus was teaching that the works of the law wd bring righteousness....But Jesus was teaching that we wd needed to birth a New Heart and a New Spirit...A new innerman...Mankind needs someone Heavenly to guide him...Christ in us..The H.G.
.....Which is the Child of Promise...The woman in Rev. 12:10 is giving birth to the Child of the Kingdom...Now is come salvation and the Kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ...Remember smite the shepard then i will turn my hand to the little ones...The babes and sucklings that are able to praise God with a perfect praise...Our new hearts and new spirits...
.....What Jesus did at Calvary by the shedding of his blood is gonna result in a New Covenant...And a Kingdom is in this Child.
.....Unless you receive the Kingdom of God as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in...Which is the result of the heavenly Birth... Isaiah 60:22 kjv...A lil one is gona become a 1000 and a small one a strong nation...I THE LORD WILL HASTEN IT IN ITS TIME...Which is that which is born of the spirit the H.G...An Israel of God...Which is Christ/the H.G. born in us.
.....Thats y he always refers to himself as the son of man....Mankind is gonna have a spritual baby which is the H.G...That HEAVENLY BIRTH...Thats y Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as a spritual pregnancy...The substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.. is a beautiful picture of a spiritual pregnancy the Child is the H.G...the gift of God...By the seed of the bridegroom...ok lemme go...
Thank you brother Giannis for your input, with illustrations of the thief on the cross & Jairus' daughter.
I don't doubt anything you've narrated about those accounts, including the likelihood of the other events surrounding them. The point is not whether the thief on the cross or Jairus were encouraged & received faith by Jesus to believe, since it is clear that from Jesus Words to them, His Presence & ministry, Jesus would have given them every reason to trust Him for what He was about to do for them. The main point in all this is, was their faith in Jesus to do the seemingly impossible, purely one of faith or intermixed (in whatever ratio) with the human element of a longing & hope that the end result would hopefully be better than their present distress? Maybe a definitive answer cannot be given, not knowing their hearts.
Then at your last paragraph, you touched on this very matter, by sharing that "Faith is the existence (brings into existence) of things we hope for, it is observation of things we do not see". This is where I have it presented differently. Now, as a Greek speaker, your understanding of Hebrews 11:1 certainly would over-rule any Greek Lexicon available, so I might concede to you.
But to explain my understanding briefly:
I read it as, "Faith is now the assurance (hupostasis) of things hoped for": An expression of true Faith demands a 'confidence, a firm trust, or an assurance'. What we may be hoping for or awaiting to happen is evident in all of us (believer or non-believer). But when true Faith is applied, the hope we have becomes an 'assurance' that it is now reality; hope is dispelled & a certainty in our hearts prevail. Your comment is that "Faith brings into existence our hopes" which is true, but here I see it as a minor difference, "Faith gives us assurance to our hopes making it reality (or our present possession), when ordinarily without faith, it remains only as hope".
I agree, that from the perspective you've presented, specifically from your statement, "The faith itself was the evidence of his hope but the assurance came from the Lord", I would agree. However, I sought to bring up the Hebrews 11:1 definition, discussed at length in another thread, which I believe gives a more narrower view of the faith that believers are to have & that expected of the Lord.
Even though the mention of 'faith' can bring up thoughts of the different aspects of expressing faith, such as the one you earlier gave of the London bus arriving at a bus stop, or even one having faith that someone would keep a planned appointment, etc., there's always that element of doubt, or a 'faith' that is more accurately described as 'hope'. There are many Christians, too many I suspect, that only entertain a hope that their salvation is secure, or that they will be found worthy at death to gain entrance into Heaven, and so they teeter on the edge of uncertainty. They might still call it faith, trying with all that's within them to believe that all is well, but in reality hoping that they're good enough or have done enough. Would we say that such folk have the faith that the Lord accepts & as described in Hebrews 11:1? They have trusted in the Lord, faithful in Christian exercises, but when tested on the firmness of their conviction, they falter, knowing that some doubt, even a little, causes them uneasiness.
Whereas Hebrews 11:1 to me, appears more explicit in describing real faith. The use of the words, 'substance' & 'evidence', essentially describes a reality when nothing in the human make-up would permit or entertain such a unswerving belief. Yes, we all go through times of doubt which sometimes brings on fear, but the earnest believer will resort immediately to the Word & prayer to find assurance that what was said & done can never be undone. The thief on the cross had lost everything; his faith in Jesus' Word was not just a word of comfort but of reality.
Great word & Gospel presentation Gerald. Just to add a thought to the thieves' perception of the One hanging betwixt them: it seems that in spite of their sinful life, or occupation, at least one of them appeared to have knowledge of Jesus' Life & Ministry. Maybe, news was carried around then just as fast as it's today on the internet, or maybe he observed first-hand the quality of this Man & His Works that no man could justifiably withstand.
Then after finding that this Man was in the same boat as he, presumably unable to save Himself or the others, his anger & reviling Jesus was his first painful utterance. But as you said, it was then that faith took hold: from what he knew of Jesus, what he saw of himself, turning his reviling into repentance. Death was certain for each of them; the thief's only life-line rested completely in the One Who was called Jesus the Christ, the Son of God.
Hebrews 11:1 might be evident here also: the little faith that arose in the thief gave him the 'substance' (assurance) of what he hoped would be for him at the end of the line; and became 'evidence' (the proof that fully persuades the heart) of what could not be seen with the human eye or conceivable in the mind. Jesus saw both the man & his heart & gave him the double assurance with the promise that he would be with Him in paradise. This thief made it in just as salvation's doors were shutting on him - the other & so many others then & today, remain resistant to the Love of God in Jesus, will never make it and never get another chance to re-consider their error.
From what I learned, the books of the Bible had to coincide with the other books printed.
There are at least four 'different' men in the Bible named Enoch ( Genesis 4:17; 5:18; 25:4; 46:9). We should note that, in Genesis 25:4 and Genesis 46:9, the NIV gives the name "Hanok," while some other translations, such as the Darby translation, give the name "Enoch" instead. In both verses, the name "Hanok" is from the same Hebrew word translated "Enoch" in Genesis 4:17 and Genesis 5:18. Other translations say "Hanoch" or "Henoch." The only difference is one of English spelling.
Hebrews 11:5 gives a little more detail: "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." This being "taken away" is what Enoch is most famous for. Only two people in the Bible are said to have been chosen by God to escape death, Enoch and Elijah. Enoch appears to have been given this privilege due to being a man who walked faithfully with God ( Genesis 5:24) and pleased God ( Hebrews 11:5).
For what purpose was Enoch taken away? The Bible does not specifically say. The most common assumption is so that he could serve as one of the two witnesses, alongside Elijah, in the end times. Jude 14.
alex1939...Amen Gerald Hebrews 11:1 is the best description of faith, Its simply a spritual pregnancy that precedes the New Birth...The Child is the H.G. THE Child of Promise...When a woman is pregnant she has the substance of things hoped for the Evidence of things not seen...But in the spritual realm the bridegroom is Jesus and his words are his seeds...Thats y he has to know us, Thats when the good seed the living word is sown in our hearts...Forming Christ in us...My lil Chidren of whom i travail in Birth till CHRIST IS FORMED IN YOU...Thats y he always refers to himself as the son of man...Impling mankinds fruit unto God as Romans 7:4 tells us...Thus the Wheat is truly a baby Christ...Simply b/c the sower of that heavenly seed is Christ the bridegroom...Our hearts is the womb in the spirit...Thats y he is saying that which is born of the spirit is spirit thus the Child IS OUR NEW INNERMAN the H.G. the multiplication/regeneration of Christ in us..The Child is the Evidence we have known the bridegroom.
.....But this is gonna initiate war in heaven...Its gonna be Kingdom against Kingdom...Simply b/c satan is gonna sow a tare in
us which is satans seed...Remember satan the dragon the tare wanted to kill the woman with Child Rev 12:5 a great warfare with in us...This war rages in our hearts and minds simply b/c the Kingdom is gonna be with in us...The woman is the world as God so loved the world but she is also bride the good ground where the good seed was sown impregnating her with that heavenly seed...The Children of Promise an Israel of God...But these things are hid from the wise and prudent and revealed unto babes...Thats y Jeremiah saw all men in travail and birth pains... Jeremiah 30:6...Men & women are gonna birth a baby Christ...Kings shall be your nursing father and women are gonna be your nursing mothers..Faith under this New Covenant is gonna fulfill the great promise of multiplication n regeneration in humanity....ok lemme go
You cannot approach God in your natural birth! You are still in Adam and all ethnic groups have to come to God by the blood of the cross. John 14:6.
Salvation didn't come by genealogy religion or ethnic group Salvation didn't come by anything Adam had to offer. Salvation came by the seed of the woman that's Christ.
There's your new birth.
If you belong to any ethnic group, religion, church or political party, without Christ you will be told I never knew you.
Matthew 7:21-23.
Abraham was asked to leave his father's pagan land and was promise a land flowing with milk and honey. In Hebrews it says this is the new Jerusalem. Hebrews 11:8-10.
God said he will make a nation out of Abraham. (There is no value in the pagan land in which he came and there was no value in him when he came) He had to come to God by instrument of faith to receive grace, "as do we".
We are the seed of Abraham and sons of God through faith.
Salvation didn't come by the nation of Israel. The nation of Israel demonstrated there is no good thing in the flesh.
God will put his spirit in Israel and Israel as a nation will be saved as we. Acts 15:8-11.
There will be a new fold and One shepherd. John 10:16.
I would like to give you my view on your question.
Let's look at 1 Peter 3:18-20.
The scripture gives us the answer plainly who he preached to inverse 20. "Those In the days of Noah,"
I believe the key is WHEN did he preached to those in prison. Verse 20 gives us that answer as well. "While the ark was a preparing,"
1 Peter 3:18-20.
18) For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19) By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.
20) Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
The Lord preached through Noah in the building of the ark. Here in many ways the ark is a type of Christ and by Noah preaching the Gospel was presented.
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ( Hebrews 11:1)
The Greek word for "substance" is hupostasis. It is a scientific term, the opposite of hypothesis or theory. It is that which rests upon facts. In chemistry it would be the chemical which settles at the bottom of the test tube after you have made an experiment. Dr. A. T. Robertson translates substance as "title deed." What is the title deed? What is the substance? It is the Word of God, my friend. If your faith does not rest upon the Word of God, it is not biblical faith at all. It has to rest upon what God says. Actually, it means to believe God.
The question is whether you believe God or not. Don't come up with the "I've got intellectual problems" excuse, because that won't work. The thing that keeps men from the Word of God is sin. It is sin in your life that keeps you from coming to God. It is the heart that needs to believe - it is "the heart that believeth unto righteousness." When you are ready to give up your sin, the Holy Spirit will make real to you the Word of God.
Paul wrote to the Colossian believers, "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding" ( Colossians 1:9). To know the will of God is to know the Word of God. He prayed that they might know the Word of God. The Greek word for "knowledge" which Paul used is epignosis. There were Gnostics in that day who professed to have super knowledge. Paul told the Colossians that he wanted them to have super knowledge which was genuine by knowing that the Bible is the Word of God, and he believed that the Holy Spirit would make it real to them.
Hi GiGi. Another great & important question from you & btw, thank you, my wife & I had a very enjoyable vacation visiting some of the S. Pacific islands.
My attempt to answer your question, takes me first to its root. And the one Scripture that I believe identifies this is Ephesians 2:8,9.
"For by GRACE are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God: Not of WORKS, lest any man should boast."
I see three things at work here:
a. God's Grace. If it wasn't for the Grace of God afforded us, nothing in relation to salvation could ever occur, indeed, could we even continue to exist on Earth without that Grace? As was previously discussed in your other thread (on Mercy & Grace), that only out of God's Holy Character of Love & Mercy for all, can such Love ever be experienced by sinful man. So, first we see that we need a Gracious God ever ready to pour out His Love & ever ready to Forgive (but on His Terms).
b. Of Faith. God knew that man could never generate such faith as to apprehend the glories of God, of Heaven, & of Eternity. Man can, & always had hope of something better than this life, but never knew of it with any certainty. Our fickle faith is limited to what we see & know in our worldview, but to ask us to believe in & apprehend something that is 'impossible to fathom', requires an extra Grace. God has to give us Faith as well as Grace, or else all talk of His Love & Salvation would circumvent our minds. And so Hebrews 11:1 gives us the meaning: this Faith from God to us must be of substance & evident in our hearts & not a wishful hope. If it weren't, then it isn't Faith - Faith brings into reality that which appears unreal.
Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Matthew 21:21 - Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Proverbs 15:29
"The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous."
There are some who think that David was afflicted with some type of venereal disease due to his many relations; and the descriptions of his sufferings in such passages. Others say it could be a bone affliction of old age such as osteoporosis. When he was dying he had care for what some would say are hypothermia. We see similar language of David's ailments in Psalm 32.
Apparently; as verses 8 and 10 indicate; God used his enemies to humble him; which were promised due to him in 2 Samuel 12:9 and following after his downfall with Bathsheeba and causing Uriah to die. These would taunt him for the rest of his days; and also would delay the Temple of the Lord to be built because David's transgressions and whatever was meant by his being a "man of war" ( 1 Chron. 28:3). That could be a veiled reference to causing death to Uriah in war; as well as battles that resulted from enemies that came after him due to his own sin.
God did chasten David as he states in verse 1. David surely was a saint of God; as we see from Hebrews 11:32. His broken and contrite spirit as seen in Psalm 51 allowed him to repent as he did many times; admitting his sin. Hopefully; since all scripture is for instruction ( 2 Timothy 3:16-17) we will avoid certain costly sins in our lives as things are written for examples to us in how to live.
Events seem to be GOD's timing = Noah Genesis 6,7, Abraham 14 generations, to David as references in Matthew 1:17, including within those 400+ years in Egypt, Abraham himself being old before birth of Isaac. & Genesis 15:16.
Revelation 6:9,10,11, Revelation 17:14-17, James 5:7,
it appears to me that the final martyr of GOD's beloved, will ignite. Like the other events in the written Word.
Hebrews 1:13, Matthew 24, Mark 13,
As a loving Father, HE appears to be balancing the mercy of HIS will, that none should perish of the people; Matthew 18:14, 2Peter 3:1-18, & mercy for HIS children, Hebrews 11:6-40,
Ronnette My spirit in me wants to share Happy thoughts to ALL on Hebrews 11 - 1 year ago
I truly now confessed that I am a stranger and pilgrim on the earth. Are you with me? I hope to get at least ten (10) responses. Glory to God and thank you. If more the better, you made Heaven happy. My sincere prayers are for you. Peace to all that understand and does all God's will. Happy Sunday. 09/18/2022. Comfort one another for we have a lot to be excited about Heaven. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Hebrews 11:4 says that by faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of, or literally, over his gifts: and by it he being dead yet he speaks.
What is it about Abel's life that continues to speak in witness and in testimony? It's that by faith, he offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.
Now let me share this to you because there are those who say "Well, he presented a better sacrifice, or more excellent sacrifice because it was an animal, or blood sacrifice, a lamb, vs. Cain's sacrifice which was vegetables from out of his garden."
That's not what the bible says.
As a matter of fact, if you look further back in the law, because there is no law in Genesis Chapter 4, but if you look into the law about God's requirement for sacrifices, it wasn't just animals and blood.
There were herbs. There were meal offerings. So it wasn't that God looked at Abel's and said you got the right kind and Cain doesn't, so we'll reject his and we'll accept yours.
Why was it a more excellent sacrifice?
Because it was given by faith. Abel was governed by the influence of God's Spirit to bring a sacrifice to God.
If you read the account, Cain sees what Abel is doing, and Cain decides he's going to bring an offering too. But his was religious. He wasn't doing it under the inspiration of God's Spirit. His heart wasn't right.
And so when Cain brought his, God rejected it because it was religious and human motivated. Abel showed that he was under the influence of God's Spirit.
God testifying of his gifts: You see, it's by faith. It doesn't make any difference what it is. It's the motive behind it.
Wherefore remember, that YE BEING IN TIME PAST ""GENTILES"" in the flesh, who are called ""UNCIRCUMCISION"" by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
That at that time YE WERE WITHOUT CHRIST, BEING ALIENS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Here's a definition in the Greek and how it's used.
Greek:
Transliteration: apallotrio
Pronunciation: ap-al-lot-ree-o'-o
Definition: From G575 and a derivative of G245; to estrange away that is (passively and figuratively) to be non participant: - alienate be alien.
KJV Usage: be alienated with.
Hebrews 11:34 references Israel battles with those alienated from Israel. The Gentiles/Heathen.
"Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, TURNED TO FLIGHT THE ARMIES OF THE ALIENS."
Lamentation 5:2-6.
Here's the aliens in Lamentation.
"Vs 6 We have given the hand to the EGYPTIANS, and to the ASSYRIAN, to be satisfied with bread". They're alienated from Israel.
Zechariah 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day (the day of the Lord: CHRIST IN YOU) on the mount of Olives, which is before (NEW) Jerusalem (Christ in you, the city made of LIVING stones), and the mount of Olives (which is the new Jerusalem) shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west (symbolic); and there shall be a very great valley (symbolic),and half of the mountain (symbolic) shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
This Mountain (symbolic of the people that make up this mountain); half represents the mount of Jacob and half the mount of Esau.
Obadiah 1:18 And the house of Jacob shall be a FIRE (our God is a consuming FIRE: YOU WILL BE: the image of Christ) and the house of Joseph a Flame ( Luke 16:24), and the house of Esau for stubble; and they SHALL KINDLE IN THEM (as Christ did in you), and devour them, and there shall not be remaining any of the house of ESAU ( Zechariah 14:21); for the Lord hath spoken it.
Obadiah 1:21 And saviours (Christ and those called to be HIS IMAGE) shall come upon mount Zion to JUDGE the mount of Esau; and the kingdom SHALL BE the LORD'S.
The called out; I AM the resurrection, will judge the whole world, the mount of Esau, after the resurrection of the dead.
Isaiah 26:9 ...for when thy judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Hebrews 11:20 By faith Issac blessed Jacob and Esau CONCERNING THINGS TO COME.
Genesis 27:40 And by thy (Esau's) sword (not God's sword; the word) shalt thy live (and DIE, and at the resurrection of the dead thou shall ) SERVE THY BROTHER; and it shall COME TO PASS (when God's words shall be fulfilled) that thou (also) SHALT HAVE the dominion (the kingdom of God, Christ in you), that thou (through judgement) shall BREAK HIS YOKE from off your neck.
Psalms 22:All the ends of the earth shall REMEMBER ( Luke 16:25 ...Remember) and turn unto the LORD: (when his judgements are in the earth)
About resurrection It seems to me there are 3 of them.
1. A pretribulation resurrection during the rapture of the saints to meet Jesus in the air. Are OT sains included? There are two opinions (I dont know which is right). The first opinion says they will be included. Those who believe that use the verse in Hebrews 11:40 "God having provided some better thing for us (the christians), that they without us should not be (the OT saints) made perfect. Others says that only the Bride of Christ, the church, will be caught up. Verses about the Marriage of Christ with His Bride church are used by those who have the second opinion.
2. A resurrection of all those that will not accept the mark of the beast and will be slaughtered during the reign of the antichrist. They will be resurrected just before the second coming of Christ, just before the fight of Armagedon. This is obvious since they will reign on earth together with Jesus for 1000 years.
3.The final resurrection of all the rest of people that died thought the centuaries, just before the Final Judgement.
Now, what is your belief about people to whom Christ was never preached (like muslims, budhists etc)? I believe that they will be judged (and be saved) according to their good life/good works as their conscious says to them. Romans 2:11-16
Yes, the 144,000 (signified not literal) is the Old Saints.... Mathew 27:52-53
They have already received (I AM the resurrection) the PROMISE (made perfect, Immortality, resurrected INTO the FORM OF CHRIST: Galatians 4:19)
1 Timothy 16:6 Who (Christ) ONLY hath immortality, dwelling in the light .....
Hebrews 11:39 And all these, having obtained a good report through faith (of Christ), received not the promise (to be made perfect).
Hebrews 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us (we will never see death), that they without us should not be MADE PERFECT (Christ is the ONLY ONE PERFECT).
Luke 46:40 ....but every one that IS PERFECT shall be as his MASTER.
John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they MAY BE PERFECT ......
Dear Virgie, first of all, when you are saved, God seals your savation--you cannot lose it. Ephesians 1:13 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise." Second, we do not walk by feelings or sight, but by faith. We all feel down sometimes, feel abandoned by God, feeling unworthy, but the Bible says in Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." When you get to feeling the way you described in your prayer request, pray through it.
For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 31:17. I pray in JESUS name that Latonya recover from surgery and it will turn out great and she continue to have faith in the LORD. Now faith is the substance of thing hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1. AMEN!
Lemme give ya my take on FAITH as HEBREWS 11: 1 kjv mentions it....Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen...Means the Church is the bride of Christ and he is gona know her ...Today if you will hear his voice his Words...Thats what Peter is telling us Being bornagain of an incorruptible seed even by the Words of God that liveth and abideth for ever..( the living word ) which are spirit and life...When he knows the Church ,..its gonna result in a Heavenly Birth...Simply b/c his words are his seeds....As we have borne the image of the earthy we must also bear the image of the heavenly....Even in the natural when a woman is pregnant she has the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen....Thus there is a Baby Christ in our NEAR future....Whosoever receiveth one such child in my name receiveth ME...Thus the Babes and Sucklings he speaks of that WORSHIP GOD WITH A PERFECT PRAISE....OUR NEW HEART AND NEW SPIRIT...Our new Innerman which is the Kingdom...Unless ya receive the Kingdom of God as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in.
......Without Faith it is impossible to plz God....Simply b/c without Faith there cannot be a new birth of Christ in us the son of man...The Kingdom....Which is mankinds fruit unto God...That New Born Babe DESIRING THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD.. 1ST PETER 2 : 2 KJV....Is the H.G. THE CHILD OF PROMISE...That Christ might be multiplied as the Stars of Heaven.
...... Rev. 12 : 10...After the woman gives birth to the Baby the Child of PROMISE THE H.G....It says that now is come Salvation and the Power of his Christ and the Kingdom of our God....The Woman had FAITH THE SUBSTANCE OF THNGS HOPED FOR THE EVIDENCE OF THING NOT SEEN....The Child which is the H.G. That Child of Promise...As that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit the H.G....That is gonna be born in us who hear his Words....Thats y he has to know us...Thats y Elijah has to come n turn the hearts of fathers to th chidren.
.....1 st Peter 1:23...Being Born again of an INCORRUPTIBLE SEED even by the WORDS of God that liveth and abideth for ever.
......Nicodemus was teaching that the works of the law wd bring righteousness....But Jesus was teaching that we wd needed to birth a New Heart and a New Spirit...A new innerman...Mankind needs someone Heavenly to guide him...Christ in us..The H.G.
.....Which is the Child of Promise...The woman in Rev. 12:10 is giving birth to the Child of the Kingdom...Now is come salvation and the Kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ...Remember smite the shepard then i will turn my hand to the little ones...The babes and sucklings that are able to praise God with a perfect praise...Our new hearts and new spirits...
.....What Jesus did at Calvary by the shedding of his blood is gonna result in a New Covenant...And a Kingdom is in this Child.
.....Unless you receive the Kingdom of God as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in...Which is the result of the heavenly Birth... Isaiah 60:22 kjv...A lil one is gona become a 1000 and a small one a strong nation...I THE LORD WILL HASTEN IT IN ITS TIME...Which is that which is born of the spirit the H.G...An Israel of God...Which is Christ/the H.G. born in us.
.....Thats y he always refers to himself as the son of man....Mankind is gonna have a spritual baby which is the H.G...That HEAVENLY BIRTH...Thats y Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as a spritual pregnancy...The substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.. is a beautiful picture of a spiritual pregnancy the Child is the H.G...the gift of God...By the seed of the bridegroom...ok lemme go...
Thank you brother Giannis for your input, with illustrations of the thief on the cross & Jairus' daughter.
I don't doubt anything you've narrated about those accounts, including the likelihood of the other events surrounding them. The point is not whether the thief on the cross or Jairus were encouraged & received faith by Jesus to believe, since it is clear that from Jesus Words to them, His Presence & ministry, Jesus would have given them every reason to trust Him for what He was about to do for them. The main point in all this is, was their faith in Jesus to do the seemingly impossible, purely one of faith or intermixed (in whatever ratio) with the human element of a longing & hope that the end result would hopefully be better than their present distress? Maybe a definitive answer cannot be given, not knowing their hearts.
Then at your last paragraph, you touched on this very matter, by sharing that "Faith is the existence (brings into existence) of things we hope for, it is observation of things we do not see". This is where I have it presented differently. Now, as a Greek speaker, your understanding of Hebrews 11:1 certainly would over-rule any Greek Lexicon available, so I might concede to you.
But to explain my understanding briefly:
I read it as, "Faith is now the assurance (hupostasis) of things hoped for": An expression of true Faith demands a 'confidence, a firm trust, or an assurance'. What we may be hoping for or awaiting to happen is evident in all of us (believer or non-believer). But when true Faith is applied, the hope we have becomes an 'assurance' that it is now reality; hope is dispelled & a certainty in our hearts prevail. Your comment is that "Faith brings into existence our hopes" which is true, but here I see it as a minor difference, "Faith gives us assurance to our hopes making it reality (or our present possession), when ordinarily without faith, it remains only as hope".
Even though the mention of 'faith' can bring up thoughts of the different aspects of expressing faith, such as the one you earlier gave of the London bus arriving at a bus stop, or even one having faith that someone would keep a planned appointment, etc., there's always that element of doubt, or a 'faith' that is more accurately described as 'hope'. There are many Christians, too many I suspect, that only entertain a hope that their salvation is secure, or that they will be found worthy at death to gain entrance into Heaven, and so they teeter on the edge of uncertainty. They might still call it faith, trying with all that's within them to believe that all is well, but in reality hoping that they're good enough or have done enough. Would we say that such folk have the faith that the Lord accepts & as described in Hebrews 11:1? They have trusted in the Lord, faithful in Christian exercises, but when tested on the firmness of their conviction, they falter, knowing that some doubt, even a little, causes them uneasiness.
Whereas Hebrews 11:1 to me, appears more explicit in describing real faith. The use of the words, 'substance' & 'evidence', essentially describes a reality when nothing in the human make-up would permit or entertain such a unswerving belief. Yes, we all go through times of doubt which sometimes brings on fear, but the earnest believer will resort immediately to the Word & prayer to find assurance that what was said & done can never be undone. The thief on the cross had lost everything; his faith in Jesus' Word was not just a word of comfort but of reality.
Then after finding that this Man was in the same boat as he, presumably unable to save Himself or the others, his anger & reviling Jesus was his first painful utterance. But as you said, it was then that faith took hold: from what he knew of Jesus, what he saw of himself, turning his reviling into repentance. Death was certain for each of them; the thief's only life-line rested completely in the One Who was called Jesus the Christ, the Son of God.
Hebrews 11:1 might be evident here also: the little faith that arose in the thief gave him the 'substance' (assurance) of what he hoped would be for him at the end of the line; and became 'evidence' (the proof that fully persuades the heart) of what could not be seen with the human eye or conceivable in the mind. Jesus saw both the man & his heart & gave him the double assurance with the promise that he would be with Him in paradise. This thief made it in just as salvation's doors were shutting on him - the other & so many others then & today, remain resistant to the Love of God in Jesus, will never make it and never get another chance to re-consider their error.
There are at least four 'different' men in the Bible named Enoch ( Genesis 4:17; 5:18; 25:4; 46:9). We should note that, in Genesis 25:4 and Genesis 46:9, the NIV gives the name "Hanok," while some other translations, such as the Darby translation, give the name "Enoch" instead. In both verses, the name "Hanok" is from the same Hebrew word translated "Enoch" in Genesis 4:17 and Genesis 5:18. Other translations say "Hanoch" or "Henoch." The only difference is one of English spelling.
Hebrews 11:5 gives a little more detail: "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." This being "taken away" is what Enoch is most famous for. Only two people in the Bible are said to have been chosen by God to escape death, Enoch and Elijah. Enoch appears to have been given this privilege due to being a man who walked faithfully with God ( Genesis 5:24) and pleased God ( Hebrews 11:5).
For what purpose was Enoch taken away? The Bible does not specifically say. The most common assumption is so that he could serve as one of the two witnesses, alongside Elijah, in the end times. Jude 14.
.....But this is gonna initiate war in heaven...Its gonna be Kingdom against Kingdom...Simply b/c satan is gonna sow a tare in
us which is satans seed...Remember satan the dragon the tare wanted to kill the woman with Child Rev 12:5 a great warfare with in us...This war rages in our hearts and minds simply b/c the Kingdom is gonna be with in us...The woman is the world as God so loved the world but she is also bride the good ground where the good seed was sown impregnating her with that heavenly seed...The Children of Promise an Israel of God...But these things are hid from the wise and prudent and revealed unto babes...Thats y Jeremiah saw all men in travail and birth pains... Jeremiah 30:6...Men & women are gonna birth a baby Christ...Kings shall be your nursing father and women are gonna be your nursing mothers..Faith under this New Covenant is gonna fulfill the great promise of multiplication n regeneration in humanity....ok lemme go
You cannot approach God in your natural birth! You are still in Adam and all ethnic groups have to come to God by the blood of the cross. John 14:6.
Salvation didn't come by genealogy religion or ethnic group Salvation didn't come by anything Adam had to offer. Salvation came by the seed of the woman that's Christ.
There's your new birth.
If you belong to any ethnic group, religion, church or political party, without Christ you will be told I never knew you.
Matthew 7:21-23.
Abraham was asked to leave his father's pagan land and was promise a land flowing with milk and honey. In Hebrews it says this is the new Jerusalem. Hebrews 11:8-10.
God said he will make a nation out of Abraham. (There is no value in the pagan land in which he came and there was no value in him when he came) He had to come to God by instrument of faith to receive grace, "as do we".
We are the seed of Abraham and sons of God through faith.
Salvation didn't come by the nation of Israel. The nation of Israel demonstrated there is no good thing in the flesh.
God will put his spirit in Israel and Israel as a nation will be saved as we. Acts 15:8-11.
There will be a new fold and One shepherd. John 10:16.
God bless and good night.
I would like to give you my view on your question.
Let's look at 1 Peter 3:18-20.
The scripture gives us the answer plainly who he preached to inverse 20. "Those In the days of Noah,"
I believe the key is WHEN did he preached to those in prison. Verse 20 gives us that answer as well. "While the ark was a preparing,"
1 Peter 3:18-20.
18) For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
19) By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.
20) Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
The Lord preached through Noah in the building of the ark. Here in many ways the ark is a type of Christ and by Noah preaching the Gospel was presented.
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
I hope this helps God bless.
part 2. J Vernon mcgee
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ( Hebrews 11:1)
The Greek word for "substance" is hupostasis. It is a scientific term, the opposite of hypothesis or theory. It is that which rests upon facts. In chemistry it would be the chemical which settles at the bottom of the test tube after you have made an experiment. Dr. A. T. Robertson translates substance as "title deed." What is the title deed? What is the substance? It is the Word of God, my friend. If your faith does not rest upon the Word of God, it is not biblical faith at all. It has to rest upon what God says. Actually, it means to believe God.
The question is whether you believe God or not. Don't come up with the "I've got intellectual problems" excuse, because that won't work. The thing that keeps men from the Word of God is sin. It is sin in your life that keeps you from coming to God. It is the heart that needs to believe - it is "the heart that believeth unto righteousness." When you are ready to give up your sin, the Holy Spirit will make real to you the Word of God.
Paul wrote to the Colossian believers, "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding" ( Colossians 1:9). To know the will of God is to know the Word of God. He prayed that they might know the Word of God. The Greek word for "knowledge" which Paul used is epignosis. There were Gnostics in that day who professed to have super knowledge. Paul told the Colossians that he wanted them to have super knowledge which was genuine by knowing that the Bible is the Word of God, and he believed that the Holy Spirit would make it real to them.
see part 3.
Hi GiGi. Another great & important question from you & btw, thank you, my wife & I had a very enjoyable vacation visiting some of the S. Pacific islands.
My attempt to answer your question, takes me first to its root. And the one Scripture that I believe identifies this is Ephesians 2:8,9.
"For by GRACE are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God: Not of WORKS, lest any man should boast."
I see three things at work here:
a. God's Grace. If it wasn't for the Grace of God afforded us, nothing in relation to salvation could ever occur, indeed, could we even continue to exist on Earth without that Grace? As was previously discussed in your other thread (on Mercy & Grace), that only out of God's Holy Character of Love & Mercy for all, can such Love ever be experienced by sinful man. So, first we see that we need a Gracious God ever ready to pour out His Love & ever ready to Forgive (but on His Terms).
b. Of Faith. God knew that man could never generate such faith as to apprehend the glories of God, of Heaven, & of Eternity. Man can, & always had hope of something better than this life, but never knew of it with any certainty. Our fickle faith is limited to what we see & know in our worldview, but to ask us to believe in & apprehend something that is 'impossible to fathom', requires an extra Grace. God has to give us Faith as well as Grace, or else all talk of His Love & Salvation would circumvent our minds. And so Hebrews 11:1 gives us the meaning: this Faith from God to us must be of substance & evident in our hearts & not a wishful hope. If it weren't, then it isn't Faith - Faith brings into reality that which appears unreal.
Matthew 21:21 - Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Proverbs 15:29
"The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous."
This completion is by the Spirit dwelling in us.
Hebrews 11:39-40. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
The law couldn't make one perfect.
Hebrews 7:19.
I believe Christ fulfilling the law, his righteousness imputed to us and the baptism of the Holyspirit is the consummation of all things.
God bless.
Genesis 5:24, Hebrews 11:5, 1Samuel 15:35, Job 10:21,22, Job 34:22, Job 38:17, Revelation 2:7, Luke 23:33-43, Luke 16:19-31, Psalms 6:5, Psalms 48:14, Psalms 49:14, Ecclesiastes 8:8, Isaiah 38:18, Romans 7, 2Corinthians 7:10,
Psalms 56:13, Psalms 89:48, Proverbs 10:2, Proverbs 14:27, Ecclesiastes 9:4,
Psalms 116:15, Proverbs 14:32, Isaiah 9:2, Isaiah 25:8, Hosea 13:14, Luke 18:33, John 8:51, John 5:24, Acts 2:24-27, Romans 5:10-21, Romans 6:2-23, Romans 8, 2Timothy 1:10, 1John 3:14,
Jeremiah 21:8, Ezekiel 18:31,32, 1Corinthians 15:20-58, Revelation 1:18,
Hebrews 2:9-18, Revelation 20, Revelation 21,
Apparently; as verses 8 and 10 indicate; God used his enemies to humble him; which were promised due to him in 2 Samuel 12:9 and following after his downfall with Bathsheeba and causing Uriah to die. These would taunt him for the rest of his days; and also would delay the Temple of the Lord to be built because David's transgressions and whatever was meant by his being a "man of war" ( 1 Chron. 28:3). That could be a veiled reference to causing death to Uriah in war; as well as battles that resulted from enemies that came after him due to his own sin.
God did chasten David as he states in verse 1. David surely was a saint of God; as we see from Hebrews 11:32. His broken and contrite spirit as seen in Psalm 51 allowed him to repent as he did many times; admitting his sin. Hopefully; since all scripture is for instruction ( 2 Timothy 3:16-17) we will avoid certain costly sins in our lives as things are written for examples to us in how to live.
Revelation 6:9,10,11, Revelation 17:14-17, James 5:7,
it appears to me that the final martyr of GOD's beloved, will ignite. Like the other events in the written Word.
Hebrews 1:13, Matthew 24, Mark 13,
As a loving Father, HE appears to be balancing the mercy of HIS will, that none should perish of the people; Matthew 18:14, 2Peter 3:1-18, & mercy for HIS children, Hebrews 11:6-40,
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
Luke 16:19-31, Matthew 25:31-46, Ezekiel 18:4-32, Luke 20:36-38, Hebrews 9:27-28, James 5:20, 1John 3:14,
John 11:25,26, Romans 8:13, Romans 8, Romans 14:8, 1Corinthians 15:22, 1Corinthians 15,
Revelation 14:12,13, Revelation 2:10,11, Revelation 20:6,13,14, Revelation 21, Revelation 22,
Hebrews 11:5,
Hopefully these are helpful
Hebrews 11:4 says that by faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of, or literally, over his gifts: and by it he being dead yet he speaks.
What is it about Abel's life that continues to speak in witness and in testimony? It's that by faith, he offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.
Now let me share this to you because there are those who say "Well, he presented a better sacrifice, or more excellent sacrifice because it was an animal, or blood sacrifice, a lamb, vs. Cain's sacrifice which was vegetables from out of his garden."
That's not what the bible says.
As a matter of fact, if you look further back in the law, because there is no law in Genesis Chapter 4, but if you look into the law about God's requirement for sacrifices, it wasn't just animals and blood.
There were herbs. There were meal offerings. So it wasn't that God looked at Abel's and said you got the right kind and Cain doesn't, so we'll reject his and we'll accept yours.
Why was it a more excellent sacrifice?
Because it was given by faith. Abel was governed by the influence of God's Spirit to bring a sacrifice to God.
If you read the account, Cain sees what Abel is doing, and Cain decides he's going to bring an offering too. But his was religious. He wasn't doing it under the inspiration of God's Spirit. His heart wasn't right.
And so when Cain brought his, God rejected it because it was religious and human motivated. Abel showed that he was under the influence of God's Spirit.
God testifying of his gifts: You see, it's by faith. It doesn't make any difference what it is. It's the motive behind it.
Let's use Ephesians 2:11-12 to get the context.
Wherefore remember, that YE BEING IN TIME PAST ""GENTILES"" in the flesh, who are called ""UNCIRCUMCISION"" by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
That at that time YE WERE WITHOUT CHRIST, BEING ALIENS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
Here's a definition in the Greek and how it's used.
Greek:
Transliteration: apallotrio
Pronunciation: ap-al-lot-ree-o'-o
Definition: From G575 and a derivative of G245; to estrange away that is (passively and figuratively) to be non participant: - alienate be alien.
KJV Usage: be alienated with.
Hebrews 11:34 references Israel battles with those alienated from Israel. The Gentiles/Heathen.
"Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, TURNED TO FLIGHT THE ARMIES OF THE ALIENS."
Lamentation 5:2-6.
Here's the aliens in Lamentation.
"Vs 6 We have given the hand to the EGYPTIANS, and to the ASSYRIAN, to be satisfied with bread". They're alienated from Israel.
I hope this helps.
God bless.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made complete.
"some better thing" is a vast understatement.
Zechariah 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day (the day of the Lord: CHRIST IN YOU) on the mount of Olives, which is before (NEW) Jerusalem (Christ in you, the city made of LIVING stones), and the mount of Olives (which is the new Jerusalem) shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west (symbolic); and there shall be a very great valley (symbolic),and half of the mountain (symbolic) shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
This Mountain (symbolic of the people that make up this mountain); half represents the mount of Jacob and half the mount of Esau.
Obadiah 1:18 And the house of Jacob shall be a FIRE (our God is a consuming FIRE: YOU WILL BE: the image of Christ) and the house of Joseph a Flame ( Luke 16:24), and the house of Esau for stubble; and they SHALL KINDLE IN THEM (as Christ did in you), and devour them, and there shall not be remaining any of the house of ESAU ( Zechariah 14:21); for the Lord hath spoken it.
Obadiah 1:21 And saviours (Christ and those called to be HIS IMAGE) shall come upon mount Zion to JUDGE the mount of Esau; and the kingdom SHALL BE the LORD'S.
The called out; I AM the resurrection, will judge the whole world, the mount of Esau, after the resurrection of the dead.
Isaiah 26:9 ...for when thy judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Hebrews 11:20 By faith Issac blessed Jacob and Esau CONCERNING THINGS TO COME.
Genesis 27:40 And by thy (Esau's) sword (not God's sword; the word) shalt thy live (and DIE, and at the resurrection of the dead thou shall ) SERVE THY BROTHER; and it shall COME TO PASS (when God's words shall be fulfilled) that thou (also) SHALT HAVE the dominion (the kingdom of God, Christ in you), that thou (through judgement) shall BREAK HIS YOKE from off your neck.
Psalms 22:All the ends of the earth shall REMEMBER ( Luke 16:25 ...Remember) and turn unto the LORD: (when his judgements are in the earth)
Jesse
About resurrection It seems to me there are 3 of them.
1. A pretribulation resurrection during the rapture of the saints to meet Jesus in the air. Are OT sains included? There are two opinions (I dont know which is right). The first opinion says they will be included. Those who believe that use the verse in Hebrews 11:40 "God having provided some better thing for us (the christians), that they without us should not be (the OT saints) made perfect. Others says that only the Bride of Christ, the church, will be caught up. Verses about the Marriage of Christ with His Bride church are used by those who have the second opinion.
2. A resurrection of all those that will not accept the mark of the beast and will be slaughtered during the reign of the antichrist. They will be resurrected just before the second coming of Christ, just before the fight of Armagedon. This is obvious since they will reign on earth together with Jesus for 1000 years.
3.The final resurrection of all the rest of people that died thought the centuaries, just before the Final Judgement.
Now, what is your belief about people to whom Christ was never preached (like muslims, budhists etc)? I believe that they will be judged (and be saved) according to their good life/good works as their conscious says to them. Romans 2:11-16
God Blessings.
Yes, the 144,000 (signified not literal) is the Old Saints.... Mathew 27:52-53
They have already received (I AM the resurrection) the PROMISE (made perfect, Immortality, resurrected INTO the FORM OF CHRIST: Galatians 4:19)
1 Timothy 16:6 Who (Christ) ONLY hath immortality, dwelling in the light .....
Hebrews 11:39 And all these, having obtained a good report through faith (of Christ), received not the promise (to be made perfect).
Hebrews 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us (we will never see death), that they without us should not be MADE PERFECT (Christ is the ONLY ONE PERFECT).
Luke 46:40 ....but every one that IS PERFECT shall be as his MASTER.
John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they MAY BE PERFECT ......
God Bless YOU.
......Without Faith it is impossible to plz God....Simply b/c without Faith there cannot be a new birth of Christ in us the son of man...The Kingdom....Which is mankinds fruit unto God...That New Born Babe DESIRING THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD.. 1ST PETER 2 : 2 KJV....Is the H.G. THE CHILD OF PROMISE...That Christ might be multiplied as the Stars of Heaven.
...... Rev. 12 : 10...After the woman gives birth to the Baby the Child of PROMISE THE H.G....It says that now is come Salvation and the Power of his Christ and the Kingdom of our God....The Woman had FAITH THE SUBSTANCE OF THNGS HOPED FOR THE EVIDENCE OF THING NOT SEEN....The Child which is the H.G. That Child of Promise...As that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit the H.G....That is gonna be born in us who hear his Words....Thats y he has to know us...Thats y Elijah has to come n turn the hearts of fathers to th chidren.