Our passage for the week is relatively short and sets up the whole chapter. This section could be organized in this way:
- Verses 1-3: Overview/Framework of the Whole Chapter
- Verses 4-7: Framework Applied to Abel, Enoch, and Noah (Genesis 1-11)
Framework of the Chapter
The author isn't providing a dictionary definition of faith here, but does give us a sense of what it looks like. Faith, he says, is:
- The assurance of things hoped for,
- The conviction of things not seen.
These two ideas are clearly linked; assurance and conviction are synonymous. Further, what we hope for is something that looks forward into the future; isn't part of our present reality; since we can't see the future, it is unseen. Are we assured of that which has been promised to us as believers? Do we maintain the conviction that, though unseen, God will bring it to reality? Will Churches in Milwaukee have this type of Faith
What happens when someone possesses such faith? Verse two states that the people of old (those that will be written about in this chapter) received their commendation.
Notice that all the examples throughout this chapter will follow this pattern:
1. A demonstration of OT person's assurance and/or conviction [followed by]
2. God's commendation to the faithful OT person.
Framework Applied
So, by faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain. Why? Abel had assurance and conviction of an unseen hope. What was the result? "[H]e was commended as righteous" (11:4). Use this framework to see how the whole chapter is structured. The ultimate commendation comes at the end of the chapter (and when Christ returns).
The author's main aim is for his audience to have assurance and conviction in an unseen hope that comes to them through the shed blood of Christ. Namely, he want them to endure all things so that they too will receive their commendation that comes to those who hold fast to their assurance and conviction. Let us stir up our group members towards the same aim. Milwaukee Churches we can have this type of faith and see God do amazing things through our churches.
- Verses 1-3: Overview/Framework of the Whole Chapter
- Verses 4-7: Framework Applied to Abel, Enoch, and Noah (Genesis 1-11)
Framework of the Chapter
The author isn't providing a dictionary definition of faith here, but does give us a sense of what it looks like. Faith, he says, is:
- The assurance of things hoped for,
- The conviction of things not seen.
These two ideas are clearly linked; assurance and conviction are synonymous. Further, what we hope for is something that looks forward into the future; isn't part of our present reality; since we can't see the future, it is unseen. Are we assured of that which has been promised to us as believers? Do we maintain the conviction that, though unseen, God will bring it to reality? Will Churches in Milwaukee have this type of Faith
What happens when someone possesses such faith? Verse two states that the people of old (those that will be written about in this chapter) received their commendation.
Notice that all the examples throughout this chapter will follow this pattern:
1. A demonstration of OT person's assurance and/or conviction [followed by]
2. God's commendation to the faithful OT person.
Framework Applied
So, by faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain. Why? Abel had assurance and conviction of an unseen hope. What was the result? "[H]e was commended as righteous" (11:4). Use this framework to see how the whole chapter is structured. The ultimate commendation comes at the end of the chapter (and when Christ returns).
The author's main aim is for his audience to have assurance and conviction in an unseen hope that comes to them through the shed blood of Christ. Namely, he want them to endure all things so that they too will receive their commendation that comes to those who hold fast to their assurance and conviction. Let us stir up our group members towards the same aim. Milwaukee Churches we can have this type of faith and see God do amazing things through our churches.
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