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The Enduring Faith, Part 2 – Hebrews 11:13-14

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.  Heb 11:13-14

Every Christian- in different ways and at varying levels- goes through suffering. Just as gold is refined by fire, trials have melted away the superficial faith of men who ultimately apostatized from the faith, while in others, trials have brought to surface a divine faith that brilliantly endured to the praise, glory, and honor to God.

The author of Hebrews records how the patriarchs of faith- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob- endured in faith. Though they never saw God’s promise of a great nation fulfilled in their lifetimes, they didn’t die in disappointment or hopelessness- they died in faith. How did the patriarchs endure? What can we learn from their examples so that we preserve our faith to the end?

“…having seen them…”

By faith, though the promise was not yet fulfilled, the patriarchs believed God’s Word and saw its fulfillment with assurance. (Heb 11:1; Gen 12:2) God reveals His Will through His Word- our faith must therefore rest on God’s Word, not on emotions or physical evidence. (Rom 10:17) The most important aspect of Christian life is handling Scripture properly. Everything you see as a problem in your life stems from a failure to hear and believe God’s Word. The Holy Spirit is able to give us understanding of God’s Will revealed in His Word so that we can walk by it in faith. We must therefore seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit by depending on God and recognizing Jesus as Lord in every area of our lives. (Col 2:6)

What are the characteristics of those who see Jesus as Lord?

They know what is of utmost value.

Those who honor Jesus as Lord consider Christ to be the highest worth in their lives. When you value something else more than Jesus, you hurt yourself and the church. We must examine ourselves each day and ask ourselves- What do I value most in my life today?

They worship Christ.

We were all born spiritually blind in sin, but now that we can see Jesus, we worship Him as Lord over all. (Jn 9:25, 37-38) The Christian must make matters distinct in his life- in every situation, we must worship Christ. As we honor Christ, we will not fear the world, man, or our circumstances, because we know what is true. Jesus overcame all things by His death and resurrection, so that we can bravely stand in God’s love and truth amidst all trials. (1 Pet 1:8-9; Acts 4:19-20)

They know who they are.

Those who see God and His Word know they are sinners. The Holy Spirit dwells in those who are broken and contrite in spirit. As we see God, we stay humble, and Christ abides in us, and we in Him.

Jesus blesses those who do not see, yet believe in His Word. (Jn 20:27-29) While the patriarchs only saw a glimpse of God’s promise fulfilled, we have a full revelation of God’s redemption fulfilled in Christ through the complete Scripture. Considering this, we ought to live more faithfully than our fathers of faith, with more joy, and more thanksgiving. Let us truly treasure and obey God’s Word. As we live by what is revealed to us in the Bible, our faith will endure.

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The Enduring Faith – Hebrews 11:13-14

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.  Heb 11:13-14

In the life of faith, how you finish matters. Starting is easy- as a young man of faith, you might feel confident to boldly face whatever lies ahead, but to actually fight the good fight, finish the course, and keep the faith requires an enduring faith that only God can endow. Every believer hopes to end well, but most presume their finish line is waiting for them many years ahead- too far to be visible to the eye. But the reality is, we don’t know what tomorrow holds, and for any of us, we may be crossing our finish line tomorrow. (James 4:14) Moreover, we don’t know how man can turn. The Bible says that some will fall away from the faith. (1Tim 4:1) Paul witnessed it himself when Demas, who labored alongside him, suddenly fell away from the faith to go after the world. We may have personally experienced it ourselves, when those whom we believed to be brothers and sisters in Christ abandoned the church and walked away from the faith. They proved that they did not have true faith that endures. Lest we become arrogant, the Bible says let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall. (1Cor 10:12) We must all be watchful, and look to God alone who sustains our faith.

How then can we endure during these wicked times? What does enduring faith look like? Hebrews 11:13-14 speaks of the patriarchs- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob- those who were promised a great nation of descendants who would be set apart for God. (Rom 4:16-17) They didn’t receive what was promised in their lifetimes, but they all died in faith, having only tasted the promise through the birth of their sons.

As descendants of the same faith, we face the same challenge as our forefathers. We read the wonderful promises of God, in His Word, but we don’t yet see them fulfilled today. As with the patriarchs, our greatest hope in God is the promise of our salvation. The Bible says we have been predestined, called, justified, and glorified, but we know that in our current state we are not yet glorified. We are in the process of sanctification, and we endure in faith and await our glorification. This is the nature of God’s eternal and immutable promises- it is already, but not yet.

Even though the patriarchs didn’t yet receive the promises, they endured because they knew that the One who promised was faithful. We have eternal life today, because God has promised it. Do you experience, enjoy, and give glory to God because He has given you eternal life? We- along with our forefathers of faith, and with all who have believed- have not yet received the fulfillment of salvation. But we are in the process of it, and as we experience it and enjoy it now, we will live by faith that endures to the end.

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The Power of Faith, Part 2 – Hebrews 11:11-12

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.  Heb 11:11-12

The faith you receive to trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection for salvation is the same faith you are to practice to obey Him as Lord. Whether you have a faith that can move mountains, or a faith that is as feeble as a bruised reed, the object of every genuine believer’s faith is the same- Jesus Christ. Herein lies the power of faith.

By the testimony of Sarah’s faith in Christ, we see what the power of faith can do.

Faith moves. (By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive…)

Sarah received the ability to conceive by clinging on to God’s power and promise. Everyday, whether we are navigating through stormy seas or still waters, we must walk by faith. By faith, we are in Christ. It is a gift of God through which we are saved. Every spiritual blessing that is ours in Christ is realized and claimed by faith- love, joy, peace, strength, and victory in spiritual warfare. (Rom 15:13; Phil 4:13)

How can we improve our faith?

– By the body of Christ. No believer can be spiritually healthy in isolation from the body of Christ. God has given us brothers and sisters in the local church to strengthen and edify one another.
– By practicing love. A truly healthy church practices upholds sound doctrine and practices love. We must love one another in deed and truth, bearing with one another, and forgiving each other.
– By prayer. Faith always prays. Prayer without faith is feeble, infrequent, and unbelieving.

Even the littlest faith can do all things. Look to Christ and seek His wisdom, guidance, and power. By faith, we will receive. (Luke 17:6)

Faith trusts God. (…she considered Him faithful who had promised…)

To conceive at the age of 90 was impossible, but Sarah believed and obeyed God because she considered Him trustworthy. Trusting God is at the heart of powerful faith. We trust in God’s promises because He is the One who promises, and great is His faithfulness- those who trust in God know true peace and rest. (Lam 3:22-23; Ps 23) By faith, we believe God promises as ours in Christ, and His Word becomes the foundation of our hope, joy, and endurance through life.

Faith bears fruit. (Therefore there was born…as many descendants as the stars…)

Who we are today is the byproduct of our faith. Sanctification depends on faith. No matter what your circumstances are today, if you have true faith, you will grow, because God is the source of fruit-bearing faith. To grow is to practice faith. As we live by faith, God will produce the fruit in our lives that glorify Him and identify us as His own. This is the power of faith.
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The Power of Faith – Hebrews 11:11-12

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.  Heb 11:11-12

The greatest illustration of the power of faith is in the believer’s salvation. We, who were once dead in our trespasses and sins, were raised with Christ, having been saved by grace through faith. As astounding and joyful as it would be to see a deceased loved one rise up from the dead, it is even more miraculous to see one who is spiritually dead and alienated from God made alive together with Christ. Yet this is what happened to us by the power of faith. (Eph 2:1, 8)

Having previously looked at the accounts of men of great faith, we come to the testimony of Sarah. Contrary to the opinion of many contemporary Bible critics, the Bible does not discriminate against women. Rather, it upholds God’s special design and high calling for women, which both fallen men and women have rejected. Scripture is filled with accounts that highlight the strength and faith of women- women who defeated evil men, women who supported Jesus’ ministry, and the women who were the first to witness Jesus’ resurrection. As we look into the power of faith in the life of Abraham’s wife, Sarah, we will see that women can have just as strong- if not stronger- faith as men.

How did Sarah’s faith begin?

Powerful faith begins with understanding what is genuine faith. Saving faith and living faith are one and the same- the faith that is at work in your conversion is the same faith you practice as a follower of Christ. Before our conversion, our nature was to love what was evil. But by the grace of God, we heard the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ, and we received the gift of faith to believe and turn away from sin and be converted to Christ. (Jn 5:24) As a child simply trusts and depends on his father, so we have trusted in Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord. This trust that we have in Christ for the salvation of our souls is the same trust we practice in our daily lives. (Lk 18:17)

True faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. By faith, though we do not see, we believe, because we trust in the One who gives us the promise. If you are not yet converted, you have no saving faith, and without saving faith, you can not have living faith. Therefore, believe in the gospel- God has loved the world by sending His only Son to die on the cross for our sins, and He was raised from the dead to be the Lord and Savior of all who trust in Him for salvation. Come to Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and by the power of faith in Him, you will be freed from the power of sin. (1Cor 15:1-4)

Powerful faith is individual. Faith is never credited by inheritance or association- you can never be saved by your parents’ or spouse’s faith. Sarah had her own faith apart from her husband Abraham’s faith. When we read that Abraham by faith sojourned as a foreigner to obey God’s heavenly call, we can infer that Sarah followed her husband because of her own obedient faith in God. (Heb 11:8-10)

How did Sarah own her faith?

Sarah a had a biblical marriage. Wives must submit to their husbands, but only as is fitting in the Lord. Sarah and Abraham were both humble, and as Sarah submitted to Abraham and Abraham loved Sarah, they grew in sanctification and faith together, individually. (1Pet 3:6; Phil 2:3-4) Biblical marriage is the best grounds for growing in holiness, because sins are constantly exposed, forgiven, and repented of. Husbands and wives must mutually teach and support one another- when one falls, the other must support, encourage, and teach their spouse.

By God’s grace. God’s grace is always with those who have faith. Sarah was by no means a perfect woman, but she was upheld by God’s grace. When Sarah laughed at and doubted God’s promise of a sin, God still fulfilled His promise and allowed Sarah to conceive. (Gen 18:10-13; 21:1-2) We always stumble in faith, but God is faithful, and His grace is abundant towards those who trust in Him.

Faith is to obediently trust in the Lord. As we continue to look at the power of faith, we must examine ourselves and look for the reasons why we fail to trust God.

Have you repented biblically? True repentance always bears the fruit of obedient faith. God can not be fooled- He looks into our hearts for sincerity in repentance. Without it, you will always fall into the same sins. (Matt 7:16–17)

Do you still live under bad influences? Anger, disappointment, ignorance, and fear of man are all of our old nature. If we continue in these sins, we can not trust in God. (Col 3:5-8)

Is your conscience hardened? We are trusting in ourselves and hardening our consciences when we shift blame or rationalize our sins before God and man. We must confess our sins, and trust in Christ alone for forgiveness and righteousness.

Do you have idols? We trust in what we desire most. We must always look out for what is competing with Christ in our love and loyalty.

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Is Your Faith Living and Active? Part 4 – Hebrews 11:10

..for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Heb 11:10

The first Westminster Shorter Catechism states that man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. As Christians we are quick to focus on the first part. We labor for the Lord, aiming to glorify Him because of the grace we have received in Jesus Christ. But do we enjoy God Himself? When you feel spent and weary from works and striving, where do you find your rest and solace?

Our Lord Jesus enjoyed God to the fullest. After a long day of ministering to great crowds of lost and needy people, Jesus went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. There, He found all His comfort, rest, and delight in His Father. (Matt 14:23)

Only those who have faith are able to enjoy God, because faith rests in Jesus and treasures Him above all else.  If we have indeed died and have been raised with Christ, we seek the things above, where Christ is. The world no longer captivates us, but like Abraham, we live separated from the world, journeying to reach the better country that the Lord has promised to us. (Matt 6:21; Col 3:1-2) By faith, Abraham looked forward to the city of God- the New Jerusalem. (Rev 21:2) He considered himself a foreigner in the world, living in tents and temporary dwellings, going from place to place as he followed God’s call. As Christians we must examine whether we are living this way. If we have the same faith in the same God as Abraham, God has called us out to walk by faith towards our heavenly home. As we continue to look at the aspects of Abraham’s living and active faith, let the condition of our faith be tested by the Word of God.

Abraham saw a city that has foundations. Everything in life is built upon foundations. Whether it be buildings, churches, or marriages, the strength and integrity of all that we build depends on its foundations. Throughout Abraham’s life, as he trekked from city to city, Abraham must have seen the rise and fall of many structures, governments, and men of power. Abraham sought what was beyond the temporary kingdoms of the world, because unlike these, Abraham knew that the city of God was indestructible.

What kind of foundation did Abraham see?

Abraham saw that God is the foundation. No one can overcome what is built upon God- He is unshakeable and unassailable. He is our mighty Fortress, who has even withstood the power of death. (Matt 16:18)

Jesus Christ is the foundation. Jesus is the foundation of the heavenly city. No one can enter it but through Him. Although Abraham lived hundreds of years before Jesus came down to earth, Abraham looked to Christ by faith. (Jn 8:56; Rom 5:1)

The promise of God is the foundation. The New Jerusalem is built upon the promise of God. Our faith is in the promise of God that finds its Yes in Jesus Christ. We can rejoice in all circumstances, because God’s promises are sure.

As Abraham understood this unshakeable foundation of the heavenly city, he became steadfast in faith, hope, and love. This is true for all believers. As we look to our heavenly home founded upon God and His Word, we will become steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord, because no toil for the eternal Kingdom of God will be in vain. (1Cor 15:58; Rom 8:18, 24-25)

Abraham saw a city whose architect and builder is God. Everything that God does is good. He created the heavens and the earth, He designed and accomplished our salvation through the gospel. (Gen 1:3-4; Rom 8:29-30) God is the designer and builder of the heavenly city. By faith, we can see this city. Therefore, we must always be wary of the things that hinder our faith- anger and disappointment, fear, and an ignorance of God. When we distrust God and are ignorant of who He is, we become self-reliant, and fall into fear of man, circumstances, or of God as Judge. God is our good and merciful Father, who has given up His only Son to meet our most pressing need- salvation. He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? We must therefore trust our Father and be steadfast in faith, so that we can live on earth as those who by grace have received a better country that is to come.

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Is Your Faith Living and Active? Part 3 – Hebrews 11:10

…for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Heb 11:10

Abraham was a faithful and obedient man who lived out the will of God in his life. He was by no means perfect- at times he faltered, hesitated, and trusted in his own ways- but his overall direction in life was heavenwards. How did Abraham come to have such great faith? Verse 10 tells us the answer- while Abraham lived in tents, moving from one place to another, his hope and faith remained fixed on heaven. He continually sought the things above, living in a reality that was unseen by sight, yet was grasped and experienced by his living and active faith. (Heb 11:1; Col 3:1-2)

What were the unseen realities of Abraham’s faith?

The city. Abraham looked for the new heaven and earth- a better country that God has prepared for those who love Him. (Rev 21:1; Heb 11:16) In this city there is a full satisfaction that is not found anywhere on earth- where death, pain, and sadness are no more. (Rev 21:4) It is a secured city, which no enemy could ever approach or penetrate, because it is fortified by the Almighty God. (Rev 20:9,15) For all pilgrims, this is the final city. They enter by faith alone, and they never need to move again, for they are finally home.

Abraham did not perceive this city by an extensive knowledge on theology. He simply clung to God’s Word with living and active faith. No matter what was before him, he humbled himself before God and submitted to His Will by obeying His Word. (1Jn 2:16-17) As we continue to examine ourselves and whether our faith is living and active, we must ask ourselves, Where is my city? In heaven, or on earth?

To be continued…

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Is Your Faith Living and Active?, Part 2 – Hebrews 11:8-9

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise… Heb 11:8-9

Faith enables us to obey, trust, and walk with the Lord through all circumstances. As we continue to consider what Abraham accomplished by faith, let us carefully examine our lives to find the same evidence of having a living and active faith.

By faith, Abraham saw what he previously could not see. 

By faith, Abraham- whose family was once in the business of selling idols- saw the ultimate reality of God’s kingdom. (Jsh 24:2) Though he was a prosperous man, he considered himself a pilgrim in the world, moving from one foreign place to another, until God would call him to his eternal home. He directed himself towards heaven as he walked with God and followed wherever God led him.

If you have living and active faith, you see the world as a temporary place. Christians are heaven bound people, living on God’s borrowed time. Every believer was once blind, but now by faith, he sees and looks forward to a treasure worth more than all the world. (Matt 13:44) While unbelievers desire to settle here forever without God, believers lose joy when they forget the hope of heaven and concentrate only on this present life.

By faith, Abraham knew he had a heavenly home. 

The hope of heaven sustained and strengthened Abraham’s faith as he sojourned through the world. We live with the same hope as Abraham, because Jesus has made us citizens of heaven. (Phil 3:20) Therefore, we must seek the things above and live a simple life on earth by getting rid of the unnecessary things that distract us from living for God and for others. (Col 3:1-2) A simple life aims to be God-centered, putting all things under the lordship of Jesus Christ. Those who live simply are generous, and they do not worry about the things of the world, but seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Living a simple life is not asceticism, nor is it about being rich or poor; it is a matter of the heart- if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. (Matt 6:30-32; Phil 4:11-13; Matt 6:24)

By faith, Abraham lived wisely.

Abraham was able to rightly count the cost of losing the world in order to gain heaven. By faith, he knew to avoid the judgment that was to come, and lived in self-denial to gain a heavenly reward. (Heb 9:27; 2Tim 4:7-8) This is a true test of faith. Abraham received the same promise that we have received from God- the promise of salvation in Jesus Christ. (Gen 12:7; Gal 3:16) If you believe in the same living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and share the same faith, then you will live in the same way as they did.

Throughout Scripture, all believers suffered under the name of Jesus. They refused to live like the world, but rather went against the world and embraced Jesus’s suffering. (1Pet 1:1-2) Those who suffer for Christ in the world are the ones who treasure God’s promise to heal and restore all things in heaven. (Rev 21:4) They count the worth of their heavenly inheritance far more valuable than anything in this world, even their very lives. Therefore, examine yourself. What kind of life have I lived so far? The life that seeks and treasures the kingdom of God reveals a faith that is truly living and active.

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Is Your Faith Living and Active? – Hebrews 11:8

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.  Heb 11:8

If a church is made up of nominal Christians- that is, people who profess to be Christians but do not have living and active faith- Jesus will consider that church to be dead. (Rev 3:1-2) Genuine faith is more than a profession. Though we are justified by faith apart from works, true faith will sanctify unto works. In this account of Abraham’s life, we see how living and active faith is practical, useful, and manifested in our lives by good works.

Abraham’s faith was living and active because he always lived in the presence of God. (By faith Abraham, when he was called…) 

Like Enoch and Noah, Abraham walked with God, and was therefore able to hear His call to react in obedience. Faith bring us to live in God’s presence. As we first understand God’s holiness through His law, we are able to sense our utter sinfulness and separation from Him. Through the gospel, God convinces us of His forgiveness by His grace in Jesus Christ, and we are drawn to walk with God as His children, forgiven and beloved. God is always speaking through His Word, but we are unable to hear until we have been brought near through the blood of His Son. Without a conviction of the gospel, there can be no affect in you when it comes to the things of God. Abraham heard God’s call because he was forgiven through the gospel to live in the presence of God by his living and active faith.

Abraham obeyed in his living and active faith. (…Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance…)

Obedience is the spiritual fruit of living and active faith. You can not have one with the other- without obedience, your faith is dead; without faith, your obedience is legalism. Obedience puts our faith into practice, by seeking what God requires of us and aligning our lives to it the best we can. Abraham obeyed immediately– as soon as he heard the voice of God, he followed and obeyed. Like Abraham, we must practice obeying God without delay. We must watch out for things that will hinder our obedience. A spirit of ingratitude causes us to complain, preventing us from hearing and obeying God. As prayer is directly connected to obedience, if we fail to obey, we have probably failed to pray. Lastly, a divided heart will hinder obedience, because it always leads to compromise, or to a reluctant and joyless obedience which counts for nothing. God blesses us when we obey, and it is the true Christian’s delight to obey the Lord Whom he loves.

Abraham’s obedience was according to what God commanded- when God said, “Go,” Abraham went. Abraham followed Jesus’s call to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him. What has God commanded you to do today? We must do exactly what the Lord tells us to do in His Word. God is gracious- He knows our frame and weaknesses, and what He commands, He enables to us to do by His power. Our Father motivates us, as He motivated Abraham, by promising an inheritance. As Abraham had to go out and walk towards Canaan, we must walk by obedience to receive the crown of righteousness- the inheritance that has been promised to us in Jesus Christ. This is our ultimate goal, the only aim worth striving for. Everything else in this world are lesser things, but if we get swayed and distracted by them, we lose the motivation to obey. We must treasure our imperishable inheritance, so that it motivates us every day to strive towards a life of sanctification.

Abraham trust God in His living and active faith. (…and he went out, not knowing where he was going.)

God is sovereign over every detail of our lives, but He doesn’t disclose how everything works together for our good. Abraham didn’t know where he was going, but he trusted that God was in charge of his life. Like Abraham, we don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but we trust God by faith. Abraham was able to trust God because he knew God loved Him, and considered him a friend. (Gen 18:17-18) In Christ, we are God’s children. God is our Heavenly Father, who delights to give us what is best. He didn’t spare His beloved Son in order to forgive us and adopt us as His own. We can trust Him. His Word is truth and unshakeable, so when all our circumstances seem troubling and hopeless, we can cling to His Word and trust Him.

Abraham was a significant figure in Jewish history and heritage. The Pharisees erroneously clung to their ancestral ties to Abraham as the foundation of their salvation, but Abraham’s true descendants are those with living and active faith, who live in God’s presence, and obey and trust Him in all circumstances. By faith, we look towards the heavenly inheritance that is promised to us in Jesus Christ. (Gal 3:16, 29)

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The Hallmarks of Authentic Faith, Part 2 – Hebrews 11:7

By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.  Heb 11:7

What are the hallmarks of authentic faith? It’s somber and terrifying to think that many who believe they are saved will one day hear from Jesus, “I never knew you.” (Matt 7:22-23) Thankfully, we don’t have to worry or live in constant doubt of our salvation because Scripture describes characteristics of true faith. In this account of Noah’s life, we consider three hallmarks of authentic faith. The first is obedience. Noah took God’s Word seriously and took immediate heed of God’s warning by building the ark. (Gen 6:22) He was full of conviction even when he didn’t yet see the things God had promised or warned him of, because Noah had faith. (Heb 11:1) He trusted God in reverence and love, and knew Him intimately- he knew God was good, and he was assured that whatever God did was out of His goodness. Obedience is of utmost importance, because it is a matter of life and death. By Noah’s obedience, Noah and his family were saved from the flood. All believers are saved because of Jesus’s obedience to the Father. We can not neglect obedience, not because we are saved by our obedience, but because we are saved for obedience to Jesus Christ. Lordship salvation is biblical- it is the only way God describes the nature of true salvation. (1Jn 2:3)

The second sign of authentic faith is that it is not silent or hidden. Noah’s act of obedience in faith condemned the world of its widespread sin. (Gen 6:5) As God’s elect, He considered the building of the ark as his calling, because he knew of God’s imminent judgment and His gracious provision of salvation. The ark- being the only means for man’s salvation- represented Jesus Christ. Like Noah, we are God’s elect who know of His coming judgment and His way of salvation. We must condemn the world by delivering the gospel of Jesus Christ to all men. (Jn 3:16,18-20) Not only must we merely speak of God’s salvation, but we must show it by being salt and light of the world. We must be set apart in holiness, and walk in such a way that reflects Christ and His gospel to this condemned world. (Matt 5:13-16)

Finally, if you have authentic faith, you must be aware of what you have, and what you are. Every Christian is a fellow heir with Christ. (Heb 1:2) He is a child of God, which is an honor that surpasses any worldly position. We were once dead and alienated from God in our sin, but God raised us up with Christ through faith and imputed His perfect righteousness to us. Now that we are in Christ, there is absolutely no separation between us and God, and there is no more guilt. We are no longer defined by worldly circumstances, but by faith, we are heirs of God’s righteousness.

By Noah’s example, let us examine our lives for these hallmarks of authentic faith. By faith, Noah obeyed God’s Word, proclaimed and lived by the gospel, and became an heir of God’s righteousness.

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The Hallmarks of Authentic Faith – Hebrews 11:7

By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.  Heb 11:7
 
What is fake can often times seem deceptively real. Take fake news for instance- media outlets create bogus, sensational stories for the sake of drawing readership, and they deceive readers into believing them to be factual. The consequences of being fooled by fake news, however, is nothing compares to the eternal consequences of being self-deceived by fake faith. In the end times, many individuals who have believed their faith to be sincere will be turned away by Jesus. Therefore, God urges us to examine our faith through the light of His Word. What are the marks of authentic faith? We can highlight three key aspects of faith in this account of Noah’s life- obedience, true righteousness, and God’s righteousness. Here, we will consider the first hallmark of obedience in the life of a genuine believer.

Noah was a man who walked with God. (Gen 6:8-9) When God spoke, Noah reacted in obedience. To obey is to comply with everything God has commanded. Although we know that true faith is evidenced by obedience, we may often find ourselves struggling to obey the Lord. What hinders obedience? What is needed to obey?

You need to prepare. (By faith Noah, being warned by God…)

Obedience begins with how you view God’s Word. Being warned by God, Noah was sober-minded to take God’s Word seriously and obey. (Gen 6:11-13) Throughout Scripture, God continually provides warnings and instructions to His people, but how one regards God’s Word determines whether or not he will obey. What is your attitude to God’s Word? God’s Word must have the ultimate authority over your life, but we fail to obey when we prefer to turn to ourselves or to the world rather than to God. We live in a fallen reality of self-sufficiency, rather than submitting to the ultimate reality of God that is revealed in His Word. We must be prepared by God’s Word with a readiness to obey.

You must be convinced by the Word. (…about things not yet seen…)

Though Noah didn’t yet see the things that God warned him of, he trusted God and believed in His Word. He was able to trust and obey before he saw anything with his eyes. This is something we must truly wrestle to attain. In God’s dispensation, the Old Testament prophets did not understand the things revealed to them, but nevertheless, they relentlessly struggled and sought to understand them, because it was God’s Word. Without this kind of attitude, you can not obey. Mere knowledge has no power to compel our wills to obey- like Jacob’s tenacious struggle with the angel, we must wrestle with the Word of God until we are absolutely convinced in our hearts. Daniel was able to risk his life to live obediently in faith because he trusted in God’s Word. (Dan 6:10, 9:1-2) We must not give up on God’s Word. Faith is bold only when it is rooted in the Word of God.

You need holy fear. (…in reverence…)

Noah had a reverential attitude to God’s Word. Mere knowledge of God’s Word can not help us obey. Our hearts must be affected by holy fear and godly emotions to be moved to obedience. Noah was affected by God’s Word, and it resulted in his reverence and love. Scripture is filled with accounts of godly emotions- Jesus’s life was full of love and aching compassion, bearing in full the fruit of the Holy Spirit. He teaches us that without love, all works are disqualified. Holy fear and love can only come from loving Jesus above all else. Unless you love Christ distinctly, you will not love His Word. Like the church of Ephesus, we could have robust programs and activities within the church, but without a passionate love for Christ, all would be in vain. (Rev 2:2-5) By the Holy Spirit, we have understood how desperate, miserable, and poor we were. He brought us to the cross, where the death and resurrection of Jesus prevailed over all to cover us with His love and forgiveness. Jesus can not be forgotten in our hearts- He is our first love. How do you know you love Jesus distinctively? Those who love Christ are ready to immediately abandon all for Him. This is Jesus’s call to all Christians, and the ultimate test of your love for Him- will you deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Him?

Through Noah’s example, examine why you fail to obey. When Noah was warned by God, he trusted, feared, and loved the Lord. He therefore prepared an ark.

 

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