FAITH THAT PLEASES GOD

Passage: Hebrews 11:1-7

Key verse: 6

NIV

Faith in Action

11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for(A) and assurance about what we do not see.(B) 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.(C)

3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command,(D) so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended(E) as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.(F) And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.(G)

5 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.”[a](H) For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him(I) must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen,(J) in holy fear built an ark(K) to save his family.(L) By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.(M)

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Footnotes
  1. Hebrews 11:5 Gen. 5:24
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

By Faith

11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of (A)things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by (B)the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of (C)things that are visible.

4 By faith (D)Abel offered to God (E)a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And (F)through his faith, though he died, he (G)still speaks. 5 By faith (H)Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God (I)must believe that he exists and (J)that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith (K)Noah, being warned by God concerning (L)events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of (M)the righteousness that comes by faith.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. What is faith? (1)

Faith is being sure of what we hope for. To have faith means to have hope. Our hope is not in the world, but in the kingdom of God (1Pe 1:3,4). By faith we walk toward this goal (Php 3:4). We must walk with Jesus, whom we cannot see (Mt 28:2

), for faith is 'being certain of what we cannot see.' No one saw God create the heavens and the earth out of nothing. But this fundamental fact is the foundation of all truth; it can only be grasped by faith.

2. The ancients who were commended for faith (2-7)

Abel unintentionally died a martyr's death because of his faith. He came to God humbly, bringing his best, believing that God would accept him even though he was unworthy. God saw his faith and commended him as a righteous man. Enoch lived in godless times, but by faith, he walked with God. He had faith that pleased God. Noah believed God's word and obeyed him and was saved.

Prayer: Lord, help me to learn faith that pleases you from the men of old. Help me to live by faith, not by feeling or common sense.

One Word: Faith that pleases God