Tag: Hebrews

Christ is both our example and our substitute – read 1 Peter 2:21-24. Hebrews 12:1 is ‘the epilogue to the former chapter’ (Calvin).

1. Sin is the great hindrance in the race of faith.
   • 12:1. The witnesses could be spectators to the race, but more likely they are those who

In verses 30-35a faith overcomes, bur in verses 35b-40 faith suffers adversity. Robert Bruce: ‘We learn that faith does not always bring a temporal deliverance, nor is a temporal deliverance ever promised, so no one can claim from God what his word has not guaranteed.’ Read Acts 12:1-3, 7 …

for weakness, note 11:35b-40 and 2 Cor.12:10. For victory, see 11:30-35a and 1 John 5:4-5.

1. The obedience of those with faith.
   • 11:30. The command is strange for Joshua; same with Gideon, where he is reduced to 300 men. But faith obeys.
2. The imperfection of those with faith.
   • 11:31. Calvin:

In verses 24-26 the focus is more on the decisive shift in Moses’ thinking, but in verses 27-29 the focus is more on what he did as a result of that faith.

1. Faith sees Him who is invisible.
   • 11:27. Moses did fear Pharaoh in Exodus 2:14-15. But this probably

Bonhoeffer commented that grace is free, but not cheap. Faith cost Moses something as it cost Paul something – Phil.3:7-8.

1. Faith puts Christ above worldly honours, sin, and wealth.
   • 11:26; John 5:46; 8:56. Moses saw Christ as:
   1. worth more than worldly honours – 11:24. Philo says that Moses was

Amram married his father’s sister, Aunt Jochebed (Ex.6:20; Num.26:59), which would soon be forbidden under Moses’ law.

1. We are obliged to disobey ungodly laws.
   • see Ex.1:15-2:2. Normally, we are to obey the civil rulers, whether they are Christian or not, and cut them some slack. But they exceed their

Martin Luther: ‘Whosoever professes he has a Father in heaven, confesses himself a stranger on earth; hence there is in the heart an ardent longing, like that of a child among strangers, in want and grief, far from his fatherland.’

1. The believer looks to God’s new heaven and new

Abraham is the father of faith (Rom.4:16; Gal.3:6-9). The background is in Genesis 12:1-3; 15:13-16; 16:1; 17:17; 22:1-2.

1. Faith obeys without knowing everything.
   • 11:8. Faith clings to what Luther called ‘the naked voice of God’. We do not always understand why God has commanded what He has – Gen.2:16-17;

It is probably a general statement on faith which was prompted by the example of Enoch.

1. We must know that faith is necessary to please God.
   • 11:6; Psalm 14:1. James Valentine: ‘I believe in love, hope, truth and my fellow humans… I don’t believe in guilt and shame… Love

Faith is a sure hope, the same in principle in both Testaments, and begins with believing in God as the creator Heb.11:1-3).

1. Faith does not protect us from suffering and trouble.
   • 11:4. God looked after Cain without saving him, while Abel suffered an early death, but was right with