Hebrews 11:6-10

 

Heb 11:6 (KJB)

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

Without - Apart or separate from

He is - To be or exist

Rewarder - A payer in full of wages

Of them that diligently seek - To seek out or search out

 

This is probably one of the most famous verses in Scripture. It starts off by stating that without faith a person cannot please God. First, we previously saw that faith is a synonym for salvation since it is a fruit of the Spirit and only those who have salvation will have faith. So it stands that those who are separate from faith, that is, separate from salvation can never please God because unbelievers cannot please God because they are at enmity with Him. (Eph 2:15-16 KJV) Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; {16} And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: Once a person becomes saved, the enmity is gone and that person goes from becoming a sinner to a Saint. The unbeliever does not seek out nor search for God because all their solutions are tied to this world. In fact, many unbelievers deny the existence of God and have turned to the “universe” for their guidance. Lately, I have heard many statements concerning the universe which is very New Age. You will hear sayings like “see what the universe sends you” or “let the universe decide.” These people have exchanged the Creator for the creation and this is why the unbeliever will never please God. See Romans 1:18-31.

 

The second type of faith in view is those who are already saved but walk like they are unsaved not utilizing the implanted faith we have through the Holy Spirit. When the Letter of Hebrews was penned, the writer was attempting to dissuade the Hebrews from turning back to the Mosaic Law. This would mean they would be separating themselves from faith and going back to the worldly system of sight. (Hab 2:4 KJV) Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. The Hebrews would have been familiar with the Prophet Habakkuk where he penned that the just, that is, the saved will live by His Faith. God implants faith in the believer so they now have the ability to trust the Lord for every phase of their life. No longer do they have to trust in their physical abilities which always falls short. The believer now has the ability to seek out God for every solution to every situation. Whenever God’s children seek Him out first, God promises to be a rewarder to them that seek Him. This does not mean that they will be showered with money but it means that the one coming to God is guaranteed that He will work on their behalf. The answer may not always be what is expected but God in His perfect wisdom will always work out what is best.

 

Heb 11:7 (KJB)

By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

 

Moved with fear - Moved with reverence or respect

He condemned - Passed sentence on or judge against

 

Here we have an example of Noah who exercised the faith God gave him. Remember in Hebrews 11:1 we were told that faith is the evidence of things not seen. Here we are told that Noah was warned by God that a great deluge was coming, yet, there was no evidence of it at the present and because Noah had deep reverence for God, he obeyed and built an ark and not only was that ark designed to save his family, it also stood as a testimony to the fact that the world was corrupt and under condemnation. This is a principle which every Christian must realize that every time we hand somebody a tract or witness to them, we are, in essence condemning their life because we are telling them they are living a life of godless vanity to their own destruction. We are saying to them that without Christ, their life has been a lie. This is why the people scoffed at Noah while he built the ark and that is why the people scoff at us while we help build the spiritual ark, the body of Christ. Noah was a saved man because we are told that he was an heir of righteousness which comes by faith. Faith we saw is a synonym for salvation because it is a fruit of the Spirit. Just as Noah was warned by God that a great world wide deluge was coming, we Christians, are also being warned that Judgment Day is coming very close. We read it in Scripture and we see these things happening before our eyes. That is why we need to get busy building that ark. As believers we are kept in a great ark which can never lose us. That ark is Christ Himself. Just as Noah was shut in the ark because God closed the door, we are closed in Christ and can never be lost. Once we are saved, God closes that door and we will never have to worry about loss of salvation. (1 Pet 1:5 KJV) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

 

Heb 11:8 (KJB)

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

 

Knowing - Understanding or comprehension

 

Abraham, being a believer, had received a call from God that he was to leave the land he was in to go to a land that God was going to show him. (Gen 12:1 KJV) Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: Abraham had obeyed the Lord in leaving the land of his birth. The Lord did not tell Abraham where he was going but had allowed Abraham to exercise his faith in God by just following God’s immediate call. Sometimes God will call a person and will only show them the immediate circumstances but not what is beyond. This is how a Christian exercises their faith in God by trusting God for what is beyond the horizon. This is what Abraham did, he was only given initial instructions to leave his land and without knowing where he was going or without understanding the purpose of the call, he obeyed and went out. This is not blind faith because faith is not blind when it looks to the Lord. He was told that he was to receive a land for an inheritance and just because God did not tell him where it was, did not mean that Abraham was following blindly because God was guiding him step by step, just as He did the nation of Israel through the wilderness.

 

Heb 11:9 (KJB)

By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

 

He sojourned - Live as a stranger or dwell beside

In a strange country - Belonging to another, foreign, or hostile

 

While Abraham was in the land of promise, he was never a permanent citizen. He lived as a stranger who lived in tents while he sojourned in the land. This is because the true believer does not have a permanent home on this earth and we wander this earth as strangers and pilgrims. (1 Pet 2:11 KJV) Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Peter saw the believers as strangers and pilgrims in this present world. This is why Abraham could not be at home here because once a person becomes saved, our true home is Heaven and this world is a sin cursed world and hostile to believers. Christians today must never feel at home in this world because we are of the same spirit as Abraham. Those who are truly saved yearn for righteousness and not more sin because it wars against our souls and sins against God. (2 Pet 3:13 KJV) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Once again Peter, speaking of God’s promises, living by faith until it happens, states the fact that we look for new heavens and a new earth. That will be the dwelling place of the believer, where they will no longer wander as a nomad. Not only did Abraham himself sojourn as a stranger but so did Isaac and Jacob, who were also in the lineage of the Lord Jesus Christ and were heirs according to the same promise by faith. God’s salvation plan does not differ, all His children are saved by grace.

 

Heb 11:10 (KJB)

For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

 

He looked for - To welcome or look forward to something

Builder - Architect or Designer

Maker - Creator or craftsman

 

Abraham did not look for a city on this earth but once a person is born again and is alive unto God, we look beyond the physical and set our sights on the spiritual. This is what Abraham did as a believer. He looked beyond the physical horizons and looked to the heavenly city where the real home of the believers lie. The heavenly city is referred to as the body of believers. (Rev 3:12 KJV) Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. Those who overcome, that is, those who become saved will be made a pillar in the temple of God and will become part of the New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem is described in Revelation in many beautiful ways. (Rev 21:23 KJV) And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. The builder and maker of this city is God Himself. This city has foundations and it is not like the tents in which Abraham was dwelling in, these were the permanent foundations where the believer will have a permanent home. No longer will there be a wandering on the part of the believer as they will have a permanent dwelling place. Just as in this present world where the believer cannot find a home because of its hostility toward the true Gospel, there will be an eternal rest for the believer in the New City of Jerusalem.

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