Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, (speaking of the deadness of the reproduction systems of Abraham and Sara), so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
God produced descendants from Abraham and Sara that were as many as the sand on the seashores, from somebody who's dead.
That's faith because it's humanly impossible. And therefore it's God!
I am thinking that Hebrews 11:12 is saying that Abraham is the "father" of all who follow God by faith as did Noah (mentioned earlier) and all who came after Abraham who truly believed in God as the only way to be saved and the only god who is true to His word and promises, and the only God period. Through Abraham came Jesus, the promised "Seed" from Genesis 3, that will crush the evil one and His power. So, all who believe that it is God who will overcome sin, death, hell, and satan are Abraham's children, whether biologically descended from Him or not. It is those who have faith in God to save them who are truly Abraham's children.
All believers in Jesus are counted among these "children", but even better, all those, like Abraham who fully trusted in God to save them are blessed to be children of God.
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.
...God created man...Adam lived...begot...Seth...and he died
Seth lived...begot Enosh...lived..and he died
Enosh lived...begot Cainan...lived...and he died
Cainan lived...begot Mahalalel...lived...and he died
Mahalalel lived...begot Jared...lived...and he died
Jared lived...begot Enoch...lived...and he died
Enoch lived...begot Methuselah...walked with God...and he was not, for God took him
Methuselah lived...begot Lamech...lived...and he died
Leech lived...begot Noah...lived...and he died
Setting aside Adam for the moment, let's be little children in our thinking and not wise to play the Sesame Street song:
One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?
Did you guess which thing was not like the others?
Did you guess which thing just doesn't belong?
If you guessed this one is not like the others,
Then you're absolutely...right!
The idea that taken = dead is wrong it means both dead and saved/translated depending on if the individual is a subject of God's grace or judgement, just like the words lifted up. To lift someone means both to restore/exalt them and execute/condemned them in scripture often paired together.
Genesis 40:12
Now within three days Pharaoh will LIFT up your head and restore you to your place...
Genesis 40:19
Within three days Pharaoh will LIFT off your head from you and hang you on a tree
John 3:13-14 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
Always keep in mind the Word of God is a double edge sword that cuts both ways. The same word of faith saves Moses and his people but hardens/judges Pharoah and his people.
The author of Hebrews at least is clearly stating that Enoch was translated and did not see death and that this is his understanding of taken.
Hebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
If you choose to dismiss that and say he is still romanticizing physical death, I don't see how that fits any of this author's other examples. Perhaps you should first tell me your position on Christ's resurrection or God's ability to create man from dust to see if we share any common frame of reference for interpreting this portion of scripture (or any scripture for that matter).
I like what you say, but have a problem believing Enoch and Elijah didn't die a mortal death when they're described as "taken" = dead. It's easy to see the author used hyperbole to romanticize their deaths.
(Originally posted under wrong verse, should be Hebrews 11:5-7)
Enoch
Genesis 5:21-22
Hebrews 11:5-6
Jude 1:14-15
Noah
Genesis 6:1 through Genesis 9:29
Matthew 24:37-39
Luke 17:26-30
Hebrews 11:7
1 Peter 3:19-20
2 Peter 2:5
2 Peter 3:3-7
Whether or not a person acknowledges it, Enoch and Noah are fathers to every man, woman and child living today. However, without saving faith they will only be fathers according to the flesh to our generation. That genetic relationship will be undeniably proven before God, but it will not only profit us nothing, it will actually make anyone in our generation more guilty than the people in theirs if they mock or ignore the testimony concerning them in these last days without repenting and believing in Jesus Christ as they did. We need to carefully consider and draw both encouragement and warning from their examples of faith if we want to share any of the benefits of the heritage they have left us.
Jesus Christ is the one who will catch us up to be with Him, like He did Enoch, if we are confirmed by the Holy Spirit to be those who please Him and His Father. He is also the unexpected Bridegroom who will close the wedding feast door that lets in the prepared wise virgins but shuts out the unprepared foolish virgins where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, like He closed the door of the Ark that Noah prepared behind him and his household, shutting out those who were unprepared outside.
Although no one should count on it, if in His grace the Father continues to patiently wait beyond our short lives to send Christ with His holy angels for the final harvest, we still must hold to the fear of the LORD we see in these two ancestors of ours and uphold their testimony so that we may be partakers with them in the pleasure the Father has in their faith and the faith of all those mentioned in this chapter of Hebrews. That is one of the ways we will be able to add our own testimony of faith to theirs.
With respect and affection , u r absolutely correct . God is our Sovereign and His law of love , personified in His Word made flesh , Jesus Christ the Righteous is our example to b followed always and to the very best of our ability . Exodus Ch 1 gives us a great example of people who fear God and recognise His Sovereignty above any human . They also trusted in God's ability to protect them , even from Pharaoh . These ladies knew who was in charge and knew that He is their protector and King who is able to protect us all from any evil that this world and the people of it try to inflict upon us . Proverbs Ch 3 V 5 - 8 .
Hebrews 11:23, I'm reminded by faith at times we must obey GOD & good conscience towards GOD than evil commands of Kings, rulers, Governors, Government. Even here it's considered faith. In days we' are tried & tested, let us be faithful!
Lemme tell ya what Faith really is, Its the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen, Its a pregnancy in the spritual realm, When we have real faith we have a baby Christ in us that no body can see but we know what we have simply b/c we have a living spirit with in us.
Sarahs Faith resulted in a living CHILD ISSAC that Child of Promise....But Faith under the new covenant is gonna result in a baby Christ in us via that good seed the living WORD, that Child
of Promise, Thats what the great Promise was all about the multiplication of Christ via his seed
the WORD,...Thats y Jesus said that which is born of the spirit tis spirit which is our new innerman ....It was God Almighty that swore by himself that Christ wd be multiplied as the stars of heaven, Thus the sower and his precious seed that is gonna form a baby Christ in us which is the Child of Promise . Gestation in the spritual realm ....Thus the Promise of the H.G.
When Jesus said behold i send the Promise of my Father upon you that was MULTIPLICATION the heavenly birth, He is gonna multily himself with his seed the word
of the H.G.....He is truly able to multiply himself with his seed in humanity......Just like God did in Mary .But what does Jesus say about his Mother . He asked who is my Mother, Them that hear the word his seed and keeps it resulting in gestation in our hearts....He wants everybody to be bornagain of his seed the Word ( the living word ) . Now you know what Faith really is...Its THE BEGINNING OF A BIRTH.
No one has ascended to heaven of God yet; but Jesus, Enoch and Elijah; {God News and Bad News. Hear all; the world, this is truth; in the movie of F9; Toretto family; you will hear these. 1. a truth declared by Vin Diesel, his little kid from almost 9 years old ask where is God? And Vin Diesel; declares this; Here and point on the little kid's heart, it's inside of you all the time; (TRUTH) for he is our breath of life. 2, the lie by a women talking to the same little kid; that she said; your Mother is watching you from heaven! (LIE) Just Jesus has ascended toward heaven of our heavenly Father, because he has descended from there first, and after he died and being resurrected at the third day, his body was transformed in a celestial body made out of the light of the Glory of God's Holy Spirit, then he was able to be again as he was the whole eternity, our God Holy Spirit. And for your knowledge Jesus when he was on earth declared this to the best master of Israelites Nicodemus; { John 3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Are you a master of Israel, and know not these things? John 3:11 Verily, verily, I say unto you, we speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and you receive not our witness. John 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? John 3:13 "And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven."}; So the same lie is always confirmed to the relatives of every guys in a funeral service, that the deceased person will be at heaven, but it is not; when he dies he goes to the presence of God; but is sent to; if approved, goes to paradise, Abraham bosom, on the depths of earth, and if is rejected, is sent toward the darkness in Hell; the chambers that incarcerated the wicked people.) means spiritual realm; not heaven, really. God is everywhere, he is omniscient, can be everywhere because he can do it he fill heavens and e
By Faith your Love your eye of your Heart belong to God
By Faith your Strength of faith belong to Jesus
By faith your Heart desire belong to God
By Faith your your walk heart belong to God
By Faith the owner is God nothing in us we be thankful he is the author in the begging and he is the one to end of the Faith too thanks to God he Bless us him. the Narrow of his Heart it is hard to get in we cannot open but God that's y he said he love us First.
Often we see the phrase of : "of the glory of God" as in Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." To me, it could mean the time to be with my Lord in Heaven home? The final stop?
Verse 9- Abraham had a great amount of faith in Jehovah God because he didn't know much about the land he was going to or what he would encounter along the way but he trusted in God completely.
Steven, that's a very worthy desire you have towards God's Word. One can do no better than to store God's Word in one's heart. By it your spirit will be refreshed as you meditate on it wherever you find yourself, & by it God's Spirit can minister His Word when sin prods or difficulties arise. You may not always recall the Bible by chapter & verse, especially as age starts to diminish the memory, but hiding the Word in your heart will bring to mind the needed verse. Psalm 119:11.
The only way I know to memorize Scriptures is to select one & repeat it over again until you absorb it. Then continue to recall it over the succeeding days. Which Scriptures to memorize? Start with those that are most meaningful to you as you read the Bible. I think most of us started off with John 3:16, but in time you can begin to memorize more of that chapter. Then each day pick a new verse or verses to memorize.
To understand Scripture, you are wholly cast upon God's Spirit to reveal not only the meaning of the verse, but to apply it to your understanding & life. Of course, there will always be Bible portions that are hard to understand. Firstly, one must know the setting, the people, the era, God's Covenant & His requirements, even the history of the land to properly understand why verses are written the way they are. There are Bible encyclopedias, on Jewish history, even the Web that can provide you valuable information. You will learn over time which web sites consistently provide proper truthful information. Other helps are, Dictionaries, Concordances, Commentaries, Lexicons, Interlinear Bibles, Atlases/maps, & a good Study Bible is very useful as they often have some of the above helps in a condensed format. For sake of space, I can't give more descriptions of the above Bible Tools. I use a Ryrie Study Bible, but there are many great ones available. Visiting a Christian bookshop & discussing your needs with the staff there will certainly bring a good result. Every blessing.
We need YOUR wisdom LORD as our country is in tail spin downward in all areas. FATHER, bless the peace in Jerusalem as the conflict is spreading.
May our prayers reflect the faith, and trust we have in YOU LORD.
Thank YOU LORD JESUS for blessing us and reminding us of the work before us in reaching the lost and hardened hearts.
Thank YOU FATHER for shining YOUR face upon us and blessing us gloriously.
January 12, 2024
Here is my understanding of Hebrews 11:12
Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, (speaking of the deadness of the reproduction systems of Abraham and Sara), so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
God produced descendants from Abraham and Sara that were as many as the sand on the seashores, from somebody who's dead.
That's faith because it's humanly impossible. And therefore it's God!
I am thinking that Hebrews 11:12 is saying that Abraham is the "father" of all who follow God by faith as did Noah (mentioned earlier) and all who came after Abraham who truly believed in God as the only way to be saved and the only god who is true to His word and promises, and the only God period. Through Abraham came Jesus, the promised "Seed" from Genesis 3, that will crush the evil one and His power. So, all who believe that it is God who will overcome sin, death, hell, and satan are Abraham's children, whether biologically descended from Him or not. It is those who have faith in God to save them who are truly Abraham's children.
All believers in Jesus are counted among these "children", but even better, all those, like Abraham who fully trusted in God to save them are blessed to be children of God.
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.
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.
This is the book of genealogy of Adam
...God created man...Adam lived...begot...Seth...and he died
Seth lived...begot Enosh...lived..and he died
Enosh lived...begot Cainan...lived...and he died
Cainan lived...begot Mahalalel...lived...and he died
Mahalalel lived...begot Jared...lived...and he died
Jared lived...begot Enoch...lived...and he died
Enoch lived...begot Methuselah...walked with God...and he was not, for God took him
Methuselah lived...begot Lamech...lived...and he died
Leech lived...begot Noah...lived...and he died
Setting aside Adam for the moment, let's be little children in our thinking and not wise to play the Sesame Street song:
One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?
Did you guess which thing was not like the others?
Did you guess which thing just doesn't belong?
If you guessed this one is not like the others,
Then you're absolutely...right!
The idea that taken = dead is wrong it means both dead and saved/translated depending on if the individual is a subject of God's grace or judgement, just like the words lifted up. To lift someone means both to restore/exalt them and execute/condemned them in scripture often paired together.
Genesis 40:12
Now within three days Pharaoh will LIFT up your head and restore you to your place...
Genesis 40:19
Within three days Pharaoh will LIFT off your head from you and hang you on a tree
John 3:13-14 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
Always keep in mind the Word of God is a double edge sword that cuts both ways. The same word of faith saves Moses and his people but hardens/judges Pharoah and his people.
Hebrews 11:5
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
If you choose to dismiss that and say he is still romanticizing physical death, I don't see how that fits any of this author's other examples. Perhaps you should first tell me your position on Christ's resurrection or God's ability to create man from dust to see if we share any common frame of reference for interpreting this portion of scripture (or any scripture for that matter).
Hebrew 9:27
Enoch
Genesis 5:21-22
Hebrews 11:5-6
Jude 1:14-15
Noah
Genesis 6:1 through Genesis 9:29
Matthew 24:37-39
Luke 17:26-30
Hebrews 11:7
1 Peter 3:19-20
2 Peter 2:5
2 Peter 3:3-7
Whether or not a person acknowledges it, Enoch and Noah are fathers to every man, woman and child living today. However, without saving faith they will only be fathers according to the flesh to our generation. That genetic relationship will be undeniably proven before God, but it will not only profit us nothing, it will actually make anyone in our generation more guilty than the people in theirs if they mock or ignore the testimony concerning them in these last days without repenting and believing in Jesus Christ as they did. We need to carefully consider and draw both encouragement and warning from their examples of faith if we want to share any of the benefits of the heritage they have left us.
Jesus Christ is the one who will catch us up to be with Him, like He did Enoch, if we are confirmed by the Holy Spirit to be those who please Him and His Father. He is also the unexpected Bridegroom who will close the wedding feast door that lets in the prepared wise virgins but shuts out the unprepared foolish virgins where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, like He closed the door of the Ark that Noah prepared behind him and his household, shutting out those who were unprepared outside.
Although no one should count on it, if in His grace the Father continues to patiently wait beyond our short lives to send Christ with His holy angels for the final harvest, we still must hold to the fear of the LORD we see in these two ancestors of ours and uphold their testimony so that we may be partakers with them in the pleasure the Father has in their faith and the faith of all those mentioned in this chapter of Hebrews. That is one of the ways we will be able to add our own testimony of faith to theirs.
Not "works of the Law' : Galatians 2:16,
1 Thessalonians 1:3,
Sarahs Faith resulted in a living CHILD ISSAC that Child of Promise....But Faith under the new covenant is gonna result in a baby Christ in us via that good seed the living WORD, that Child
of Promise, Thats what the great Promise was all about the multiplication of Christ via his seed
the WORD,...Thats y Jesus said that which is born of the spirit tis spirit which is our new innerman ....It was God Almighty that swore by himself that Christ wd be multiplied as the stars of heaven, Thus the sower and his precious seed that is gonna form a baby Christ in us which is the Child of Promise . Gestation in the spritual realm ....Thus the Promise of the H.G.
When Jesus said behold i send the Promise of my Father upon you that was MULTIPLICATION the heavenly birth, He is gonna multily himself with his seed the word
of the H.G.....He is truly able to multiply himself with his seed in humanity......Just like God did in Mary .But what does Jesus say about his Mother . He asked who is my Mother, Them that hear the word his seed and keeps it resulting in gestation in our hearts....He wants everybody to be bornagain of his seed the Word ( the living word ) . Now you know what Faith really is...Its THE BEGINNING OF A BIRTH.
By Faith your Love your eye of your Heart belong to God
By Faith your Strength of faith belong to Jesus
By faith your Heart desire belong to God
By Faith your your walk heart belong to God
By Faith the owner is God nothing in us we be thankful he is the author in the begging and he is the one to end of the Faith too thanks to God he Bless us him. the Narrow of his Heart it is hard to get in we cannot open but God that's y he said he love us First.
The only way I know to memorize Scriptures is to select one & repeat it over again until you absorb it. Then continue to recall it over the succeeding days. Which Scriptures to memorize? Start with those that are most meaningful to you as you read the Bible. I think most of us started off with John 3:16, but in time you can begin to memorize more of that chapter. Then each day pick a new verse or verses to memorize.
To understand Scripture, you are wholly cast upon God's Spirit to reveal not only the meaning of the verse, but to apply it to your understanding & life. Of course, there will always be Bible portions that are hard to understand. Firstly, one must know the setting, the people, the era, God's Covenant & His requirements, even the history of the land to properly understand why verses are written the way they are. There are Bible encyclopedias, on Jewish history, even the Web that can provide you valuable information. You will learn over time which web sites consistently provide proper truthful information. Other helps are, Dictionaries, Concordances, Commentaries, Lexicons, Interlinear Bibles, Atlases/maps, & a good Study Bible is very useful as they often have some of the above helps in a condensed format. For sake of space, I can't give more descriptions of the above Bible Tools. I use a Ryrie Study Bible, but there are many great ones available. Visiting a Christian bookshop & discussing your needs with the staff there will certainly bring a good result. Every blessing.
This verse is really not so difficult when you know God loves you , and he does .
Faith worketh by love .