[Hebrews 11:1] "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." The entire Christian life is based on trust in God and faith in Christ. It is not the amount of faith a person has, but on whom their faith is placed. When our faith is on Almighty God (who performed miracles throughout the Bible and who cannot change; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17), then we can be sure of the hope and certain to receive the promise.

Believers are righteous by their faith in Christ (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11), "Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, ‘The righteous will live by faith.’" Good deeds have always been a by-product of faith and not a means of salvation (which is only by grace through faith in Christ). (Hebrews 10:38), "My righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." Faith in God is a way of life.

The moment Adam sinned, we needed a way back to God, and that way is by our faith in His Son. The only way God allows us to draw near to Him is by our faith in His Son. God established salvation by faith in Christ from the beginning, "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world," (Ephesians 1:4).

[Hebrews 11:2] "This is what the ancients were commended for." From that statement of faith principle (and the long list of Old Testament men and women who lived by faith), we have the definition of real faith. God told His children of a coming Messiah who would take away sin. They were to believe and accept that in faith. Faith is a living hope so real, that it gives absolute assurance of receiving the promise. The ancients believed God and risked their lives on Him. If we take God at His Word, we will do the same.

True people of faith have a presence assurance of the future promise. We follow a God whose voice we have never actually heard (and believe in a Christ whose face we have never actually seen), because our faith is real. It is the genuine faith Jesus spoke about to Thomas (John 20:29), "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

[Hebrews 11:3] "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." No one was there when God created the world (and did not see His act of creating), but they could see His creation and thus believed in Him as the Creator of everything.

One of the most difficult things for the unbeliever to accept is that the understanding of creation comes only by faith. Through faith the believer understands that the worlds were formed by the Word of God. That is a truth the world’s most brilliant scholars cannot discover by human intellect. It is beyond the realm of scientific investigation, but it is not beyond knowing; (however we must be willing to accept God’s Word in order to have that understanding).

The believer cannot be proud because that knowledge is a gift from God (like every other blessing of faith). Faith comprehends that which human intellect cannot fathom. God’s greatest truths are discovered by simple faith. The only way we will ever know God, is by faith. "This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent," (John 17:3).

[Hebrews 11:4a] "By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did." This is the reference of Genesis 4 when Cain offered fruits of the soil and Abel offered the firstborn of his flock. Although no altar is mentioned, one could have existed near the Garden of Eden. The life of faith begins with a sacrifice for sins (which is in the New Covenant of Jesus’ one-time for all-time sacrifice.

The life of faith begins by believing in God, knowing that we are sinners, realizing that we need forgiveness, and accepting His Son’s sacrifice for pardon. With that kind of faith, Abel presented his sacrifice to God and was accepted. When Abel did what God said, he gave evidence that he believed God, but when Cain did not do what God said, he showed his rebellious heart attitude.

Abel knew that offering the firstborn of his flock is what God wanted (and that He promised to forgive his sin if he would do that). Abel believed God, admitted his sin, and made the required offering. Cain knew of God’s requirements, but decided to worship in his own way (as his parents had done). Cain thought he could approach God in his own way.

All false religions say a person can approach God (or obtain salvation) by some way other than what God has said is the only way. "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved," (Acts 4:12). False religions teach that there is another name or another way, but Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me," (John 14:6).

[Hebrews 11:4b] "By faith he [Abel] was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings." The only thing that could obtain righteousness for Abel would be his faith in God, and the only thing that brings us to God is our faith in His Son. It is not what we are, but in whom we trust (that counts). Our trust in God is evidenced by following His Word.

Abel was just as sinful as Cain, but Abel’s sacrifice made all the difference. Abel brought his offering in obedient faith and Cain brought his in rebellious disobedience. Abel’s faith is the kind that makes a person righteous. Jesus said, "To those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.’" (NLT) "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings," (John 8:31). Obedience does not bring faith, but faith brings obedience.

No one can claim to have faith in God but disregard His Word. (James 2:14,17), "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." Cain believed God existed, but even demons believe that (James 2:19). (Vs 21-22) "Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did."

Abel was counted righteous, (not because he was good), but because he believed in God and acted in faith. He stood righteous before God because he exercised an active faith in God. Abel was the same sinner as Cain was, but Abel had God’s approval because he did what God required and offered a blood sacrifice.

[Hebrews 11:4c] "And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead." When the Lord confronted Cain He said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground," (Genesis 4:10). Abel’s faith first spoke by asking for his murder to be avenged. Like the souls "under the altar" (Revelation 6:9) "Who had been slain because of the word of God" (and who asked God how long before they would be avenged), Abel asks for the same.

God had to tell Cain, "Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth," (Genesis 4:11-12). Deliberate sin has its consequences. Abel would speak to his brother even after he was gone.

Abel is still speaking to believers and saying that we can only approach God if we are righteous (and we can only be righteous by faith in His Son). Abel is saying God requires that we believe in the One He has sent, because He made the perfect sacrifice for sin. Abel’s message to the world is: the righteous shall live by faith.

[Hebrews 11:5] "By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God."

Abel gives the example of worshiping by faith and Enoch the example of walking by faith. This refers to Genesis 5, "When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away," (21-24).

Only genuine faith will please God. Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden, but when they disobeyed, they were banished from it and no longer walked with Him. God is only pleased with those who believe in Him and His Son (who says He is God in the flesh). Good deeds are only a by-product of faith. (Romans 3:20) "No one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin." Belief in God and walking by faith in His Word, must be combined.

[Hebrews 11:6] "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Science cannot prove the existence of God, but the earth gives overwhelming evidence of a master designer, creator, and sustainer (which roles could only be filled by God). With all the natural and scientific evidences of God, acknowledging Him is still a matter of faith. Proof comes after belief. (1 John 5:10), "Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart."

It is not enough to just believe God exists. In order to please Him it is necessary to also believe that He is a loving God and will reward those who have faith in Him. Enoch believed that God is a personal, gracious, and merciful God (as we must if we want to please Him). For three hundred years, Enoch had fellowship with God (whom he knew was merciful, caring and forgiving). Many of the Jews acknowledged God, but they did not place their trust in Him. Enoch both knew and trusted God, so he walked by faith in Him.

The Bible is filled with teaching that we can know God personally. King David said to his son Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:9), "If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever." (Proverbs 8:17) "I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me." And (Jeremiah 29:13), "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

It is not enough to just know that God exists and Jesus lives. (Luke 11:10), "Everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." We must truly believe that God rewards those who seek Him with all their heart. The reward for enduring faith is eternal salvation! "Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life," (John 3:16).

Jesus said (Matthew 6:33), "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." All these things would include every good and perfect gift the Father has for His children, such as: joy, peace, love, forgiveness, a clean heart, healing, deliverance, victory, and eternal life. When our trust is in Christ, we become heirs to His kingdom. All that the Father has for His Son is ours as well. Our faith makes us sure of the gift!

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