FAITH REJOICES IN UNSEEN REALITIES
Heb 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good
report through faith, received not the promise:
Heb 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us,
that they without us should not be made perfect.
INTRO: 'Hope is the facet of faith which looks
heavenward'
These verses bring us full circle to the truth expressed
in v-1. The unseen goal of our faith.
Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is
seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet
hope for?
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this
grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory
of God.
Rom 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in
tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh
patience;
Rom 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience,
hope:
Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of
God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which
is given unto us.
I. Four things to note in these two
verses.
A. These [all of chapter 11]
received a good report through faith. [are spoken well
of-]
B. Did not receive the promise.
The end of their lives did NOT place them in the eternal
heaven.
Jacob, David, Job, Isaiah, and Lazarus all spoke of
going down at death.
C. Something better for us.
2 Cor 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing
rather to be absent from the body, and to be present
with the Lord.
. Phil 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a
desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far
better:
Jesus waits to welcome us home.
Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost,
looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of
God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
Acts 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened,
and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
D. We shall be made perfect.
1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the
dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed.
1 Cor 15:53 For this corruptible must put on
incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Cor 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on
incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying
that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1 Cor 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where
is thy victory?
1 Cor 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength
of sin is the law.
1 Cor 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
II. Application;
The full force of the argument is that they were
examples of faith, even though they knew that death did
NOT deliver them into the presence of God immediately.
They had a long wait in store, as they waited for us. We
have the promise of coming immediately into his presence
at death. How much MORE then should we walk by faith?
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