Hebrews 11 is called the “faith chapter.” It begins in verse 1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Faith Begins When We Believe, and That Belief Leads Us to Hope…
We read that faith involves “evidence” of things that are not seen. What Paul is saying here is Abraham and all people of faith are assured by the word of God. They have not seen the promises come to pass and yet they hope for them to come. Like Abraham, they leave everything behind and head in the way the Lord leads them. Faith starts when we believe, and that belief leads us to hope, and hope leads to obedience, and obedience leads us into being Christ like in every way. This is why the Gospel message is called “The Good News.” Man was destined to return to the dust and be no more until Christ came, lived a sinless life, was battered, was bruised for our transgressions, and died for our sins. This opened a new window of opportunity for mankind.
Jesus Came to Bring Hope and Light
Why did Jesus need to come? There are many reasons, let’s look at a few. John 6:38 says “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent me.” Just as Abraham was told to go out of his country, Jesus went from heaven to earth. Notice they both obeyed. Jesus explained another reason in John 12:46, “I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” Jesus came so the penalty of death could no longer have dominion over this world. Hebrews 2:14 explains, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”
Another reason is found in John 6:51, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” Here Jesus uses an analogy to explain what hope is. His life, His way of life was to be a pattern for all believers. This was called great joy in Luke 2:10 and the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. The good news had him preaching the truth and suffering for the truth and dying for all mankind’s benefit.” Mark 10:45 says “for even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. He came to save sinners from the penalty of sin.”
Jesus’s Death Destroyed The Power of Death
We read in earlier blogs that the wages of sin was death, but now man was going to be able to forget past sin and move on in confidence, that is to say hope, thanks to Christ. Ephesians 2:14 puts it this way, “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” Did you get that? He suffered for our wellbeing, His death destroyed the power of death and we now have access to the Father by the power of Christ. Jesus’s death on that stake brought hope back to life. But our hope has not yet come to fruition, but we hope and pray “thy kingdom come.”
Jesus has laid down a foundation that will lead all those who believe, to the hope of us rising to a new kingdom, where the builder and maker is God. This is a promise that we will explore next time.