I recall reading in Hebrews 11:14-16 tells us that the OT saints, including Abraham, of whom the promises were made, were desiring a better country than an earthly one, specifically one that is heavenly, and in vs.39-40 we read that these did not receive the promises they hoped to receive because God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
This clearly says that those OT saints receive what we receive from God as our hope and fulfillment of what He has promised. We receive the same thing that is better than an earthly eternity.
In Heb. 11:10, we are told that Abraham was looking for a heavenly city, the New Jerusalem made by the hand of God, not by human hands.
Heb. 12:22-24 in speaking to Hebrew believers says that they have come to the heavenly Jerusalem, inhabited with angels and the church of the firstborn, to God, to spirits made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of the New Covenant,
So, as I read these chapters, I understand that believing Hebrews receive the same destiny as believing Gentiles.
I do not see verses that speak of unbelieving Hebrews receiving an earthly destiny.
Please cite Scriptures that support the dispensational viewpoint you presented here.
Day 6 Walking in Faith January 6, 2025 Hebrews 11:1 KJV West Angeles Church Los Angeles California Consecration Calendar
I Pray my body will become like God in my life, Profession to succeed to do what's offered, church, family, marritial,faith supernaturalresponses and results to be done me.Jesus Christ is my heart on my permission,request,confirmations for God wants me to be married.
Hebrews 11 Verse 1
My interpetation
REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY :
Getting you to believe Jesus Christ is Holy God the Father allowing your body to become like God. A reference I Peter 1:13 KJV Not to hurt people also this can come with appertain intentions.Hate and covet, Jesus Christ wants to give you thoughts of peace Jeremiah 29:11KJV. Mind and thoughts to become like God in thinking, conscience mind, making decisions.-A God that is joy. A God that allows you to listen, obey God and instructions, actions. Which a result is becoming a achiever and great achievements.
In my life a Christian( a believer) Jesus Christ is the only sacrifice for your body to have life and become like God.
Hebrews 11:1 also confirms to God's Holy Christian Church sex identity named Christians My Interpetation Reginald Taylor Jr:-life being man making my sex identity shown and known and my faith holy bible to be inspired and only infallible written word of God spoken by me to other men which I seen in Todays Christian Press Highlights wants to be done.Oral tradition Holiness and Pentecostal Church which confirmed by (West Angeles COGIC members manual guide) -can allow you to do and recieve supernatural responses and results to be done.Jesus Christ wants you to offer your heart to God.
Well I'm not sure here who cast their vote on the likelihood of a sequel but here I am once again.
I don't want to draw attention to myself but I am kind of excited about this topic and hopefully others can share this joy. We are according to Revelation kings and priests according to Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. That; my friends is the Word of God along with Hebrews 11:6 as an encouragement and exhortation: 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.
I'm not sure if any of us can begin to fathom what it will be like to rule and reign with Christ. It is unnatural for us; as imperfect humans to even spend whatever limited time we have in fellowship; although I will admit since I spend much time alone I need to ensure that I fulfill my responsibilities in heeding the call for Christian service above and beyond my own interests. As much as some have Christian family around them; of course I consider you guys part of this "forever family" concept-ok I'll stop before I get too mushy.
The formula for Sunday worship should follow some order based on the authority God has given elders and deacons; etc. This is to serve and honor God properly; but if the ritual or routine becomes stale it will fail (and in fact it will if the fervor of love for the Lord is left out of the equation as happened with the Ephesian church starting in Revelation 3:1.
When we look around; some may realize that church isn't a social club (at least for those left out of much conversation). The demographics of my church are of people my age (OLD) and not particularly physically attractive. As a guy frankly I'm glad not to have that distraction but I bring this up so we can all be aware of factors that inhibit close fellowshp as we are called to do.
Hi Bible Alone and thanks for your input. You have shared from Hebrews 11:13-16 as those 'faith heroes' who had their hope to be delivered from the limitations of this Earth, even of life itself, and to look forward to that heavenly city, that city "which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God". That is so true and should be for all who name the Name of Christ, where we should long to be free from sin's effects on us & the evil in the world around us, and be "with Christ which is far better".
And to refer to Matthew 13:34, Jesus indeed spoke to the people in parables, but where He gave them these earthly stories, they came with a heavenly/spiritual meaning & application. We cannot then use that verse to interpret everything seen in the Bible as a parable & thus give our own interpretation to them. It just generates confusion. So yes, there is the "true Israel of God", but we also have to note where national Israel is referred to and why there is a demarcation between the two.
So, if we are to believe that there can be no coming reign of Jesus in Jerusalem, simply because of the verses showing that we ought to be looking for that heavenly city, then we have a major problem with many Scriptures, viz. various Psalms (2, 22, 47,67, 89, 110, 132), Isaiah 9:6,7; Jeremiah 3:17; Micah 1:4-7; Zechariah 14:1-5, & from other prophets, and Revelation chaps 19 & 20). What do you suggest we do with these? Discard them or maybe, reinterpret them? All prophecies coming from a God-appointed prophet will come to pass verbatim, and if not, then both the prophet & prophecy are false. Onto Page 2.
Curious to know how the following passage fits into your idea of an earthly kingdom with Christ ruling from Jerusalem.
Clearly, those spoken about in Hebrews 11 were not looking for an earthly kingdom of any kind.
I suspect part of your misunderstanding stems from the fact that you want to understand "Israel" as always speaking about either Israel the man or National Israel the Jewish nation.
God very clearly defines Israel in many different ways, depending on the context. Remember that Christ spoken parables and without a parable, spake He not.
The Israel, that God is concerned about from a covenant salvation perspective, is the Israel made up of all true believers, both from the nation of Israel, and from every other nation.
These are God's elect. Whom Christ has chosen from before the foundations of the world and fully paid for their sins. These are the elect. God's elect, whom God has applied or will apply salvation to their life by giving them a new resurrected soul, have no interest in an earthly kingdom with Christ ruling from Jerusalem. They seek an heavenly kingdom as talked about in Hebrews 11. But thank you again for your response.
Hebrews 11:13-16 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON THE EARTH. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they SEAK A COUNTRY. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a BETTER [country], that is, an HEAVENLY: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath PREPARED FOR THEM A CITY"
May God in his mercy lead us into truth, as we compare scripture with scripture using the principles that God has laid down in his word.
John 18:36 "Jesus answered, MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."
John 18:33-38 "Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? 34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? 35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault [at all]".
Hebrews 11:13-16 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON THE EARTH. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they SEAK A COUNTRY. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a BETTER [country], that is, an HEAVENLY: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath PREPARED FOR THEM A CITY"
Read 2 Peter 3. "12...wherein the HEAVENS being ON FIRE shall be DISSOLVED, and the ELEMENTS shall MELT with FERVENT HEAT? 13 Nevertheless we, ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE, look for NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH, WHEREIN DWEALLETH RIGHTEOUSNESS."
The profound mystery is that all men are born once into this world but not all are born again by the Spirit of God.
Jesus said to the Pharisees what is also found in Isaiah 6:10 and numerous other scriptures namely:
Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed."
Now what we do interpret with our five senses our minds can accept with sound impartial reasoning. Hebrews 11:1 says Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In John 10:38 Jesus responds to the Pharisees thusly:
But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
This rationale apparently wasn't sufficient for those who would accuse Christ of blasphemy since only God could forgive sins; and this was the unforgiveable sin as the power Christ wielded such as healing the blind no man had been able to do even with God's power in the Old Testament. This is tantamount to Satan himself for he is going to seek worship of the whole world through his Antichrist beast and that has always been his ultimate goal. The enemy of our souls probably gets a perverse pleasure in damning other souls (although his oaths and bondage aren't sufficent to trap anyone God doesn't allow or is predestined for salvation). Since he's going to be suffering and only thinking of his own misery in judgment to come his real joy is seeing further rebellion against God and establishing his own kingdom with his powers and principalities working under him.
We might compare a tare; for instance to an AI of someone. Let me point out in the verse you shall know them by their fruits ( Matthew 7:16-20) means we should exhort one another. In general someone uninterested in challenges or suggestions for growth isn't producing fruit; and vice versa.
I agree that the Church, the Body of Christ, is not the bride; I do not agree that the bride metaphor is rooted in prophecy and tied to Israel. The New Jerusalem is the bride that is dressed in fine linen, pure and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints; Revelation 19:6-8. This is the city that Abraham looked for, Hebrews 11:8-10.
This bride, the New Jerusalem, will not descend until everything is fulfilled and all is made new. Revelation 21:1-3. Then, the marriage and the feast will mark the beginning of our eternity on the new earth with God and Jesus.
Revelation 19:7-9: Let us be glad, rejoice, and honor Him: for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he saith unto me, "These are the true sayings of God."
I also disagree with the teaching of the catching away or the rapture as being carried to heaven. You mention 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, but where does it say we are taken to heaven? This passage describes Jesus returning to earth at the last trump, Matthew 24:29-31, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, and Revelation 19:11-16.
[12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
My Intrepretation: To Rely on Gof by speaking faith Prayers To Be Done
Hebrews 11:1 KJV
[1] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Prayers To be Done
2 Corinthians 2:14 -17KJV [14] Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
[15]For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:[16]To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?[17]For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
Principle To All Religions Psalm 9:1 KJV
[1] I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
So Jesus' death at Calvary would have both a retrospective application (looking back to those awaiting Him), and a prospective application (to those at Jesus' death & resurrection & beyond) - and we stand only by FAITH & not by the Law or of any works we do. I realize that I've repeated some things here (from my previous post), but I hope that I've shown that any disobedience to the Laws given to Israel would have meant punishment or death, but the Law itself could not be used to send men to hell, for then none could ever be saved from it. That the need to cleave to the LORD God & His Word/Promises demonstrated that man's hope did not rest in the Law but by faith alone, trusting in Who God is & in obeying Him. "God having provided some better thing for us (Christians), that they (Israel who waited for this hope from God) without us should not be made perfect (saved/redeemed)" ( Hebrews 11:40). And we who now live & walk in the Holy Spirit are not under the demands (i.e. certain eternal death) that the Law guarantees ( Galatians 5:18).
1. (Earthly Punishment vs Divine Punishment). I think the best way to undergird my response to this is to say, that the punishment meted out by earthly judges pertains only to evident sins (crimes against humanity); that they cannot deal with the condition and intents of the human heart (whether harboring evil thoughts or planning for future evil acts). Whereas, the punishment given by the LORD God, the Righteous Judge, is based purely on our heart's condition & our responses to Him & to His Salvation. Of course, to the truly penitent sinner who has committed a crime, he needs to make restitution if possible (which shows his real heart condition for what he has done) as well as to serve his time (incarceration/other penalty). He might have done all this & be released from his penalty, but still remains under sin's penalty before God, simply because he is a sinner in need of a true, eternal salvation. Cont'd in Page 3.
Thanks. We just had an evening service where brother Steve discussed the balance of the love of Christ and preaching about judgment and he mentioned how sitting at the foot of the cross whittles us all down to size realizing how great a love He had for us when we were yet sinners.
It seems a lot of folks only look at the cross and not at all the other things Christ went through before that. Some look to the 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness in the fast; although Moses actually had to do this TWICE because of Israel's rebellion through supernatural strength. Whether he ate in between no man knows.
There is sort of a discontinuity here; or an unknown place where we can separate suffering from persecution. We can say dogmatically that Christ never sinned hence nothing of his own doing contributed to his miseries; we see that He only said what the Father told Him to say hence knew when not to say things and taught others that as well in regard to not broadcasting certain miracles especially at the onset of His ministry. I won't elaborate but mostly it was to draw away attention from being a great teacher and focusing on forgiveness of sins and of course that could only happen if He was indeed a member of the Godhead.
I am reminded as I write this the verse that says "when I come will there be faith on the earth?" ( Luke 18:18). This looks to when He returns and the justice finally brought to the world's ills in general but addressing those things which we haven't seen answered during our earthly sojourn. That also reminds me of Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
But we have a heavenly place to go to; the alternative being; sadly hell. Having spiritual discernment isn't easy; perhaps you can also pray I learn to use that gift for His glory as many don't want to hear.
c. (cont'd). Or, maybe the illustration that Jesus gave in Luke 12:42-48 is what some might believe are grades of punishment to sinners - the LORD God is always Just in all His doings.
d. Those of Israel who had not the redemptive of Work of Christ done for them as yet, were required to be obedient to God's Commands, fulfil the sacrifices which stayed God's Wrath from them and to await the coming full sacrifice of the Son of God. When they were obedient, this demonstrated a real faith in God's Word to them and God's Work for them. So in Hebrews chapter 11, we see a great number of men and women commended for their faith & martyrs' death, "these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect" ( Hebrews 11:39,40). Both the OT & NT saints will be judged on the same basis: Faith (the one group looking forward to Calvary & the other looking back).
e. There are various beliefs as to when God's Judgements are given, at death or sometime after. From my reading of the Word, I believe there is an immediate judgement for all who die, whose spirit must leave this lifeless body. Jesus gave the account of the rich man & the beggar Lazarus at their respective deaths ( Luke 16:19-31). Here, Jesus (under the OT economy) showed the suffering of the one who lived carelessly & heartlessly in hades & the beggar who struggled to live, but given a place beside Abraham. This appears to be a temporary residence & punishment awaiting further judgement. For the believer post-Cross, our sins have already been judged & we have walked carefully before the LORD. Our only other judgement is given in 2 Corinthians 5:10, otherwise called the "Bema Seat Judgement". Here, our salvation is not in judgement (that was already accomplished at Calvary), but how we have lived this new life & used our gifts for the Lord. To Page 3.
Faith is not dependent on evidences and proofs; it is purely a gift from God, irrespective of merit, intelligence or education. 1 Corinthians 2:5 ..That your faith should not stand (be) in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Ephesians 2:8 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
It is natural to doubt. Even Apostle Thomas had doubts; he could not believe the other disciples until he had personal experience of the resurrected Christ! Personally, I do not think that Thomas believed after examining the crucifixion scar on Jesus' body; there were no marks at all, for a resurrected body cannot have blemishes and marks of the past. Jesus was only interacting with his human nature and raising him to the higher level of faith by referring to his words of unbelief. Thomas, then approached Jesus NOT to verify the crucifixion marks, but to confess him as his Lord! John 20: John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. I think, IF Thomas had searched His body for proof, he would have got disappointed! But Jesus did not let him fail; He wanted Thomas to believe in Him without seeing: That is Faith. (continued)
"Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,"
Hebrews 11:30
"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days."
Hebrews 11:34
"Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens."
Hebrews 11:28 - Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
By faith, not through faith, but by faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. That's what the blood over the doorpost did. It saved their households from the destroyer coming and killing their firstborn. God killed the firstborn of the Egyptians. By faith he did that.
Hebrews 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying, that is, attempting to do, were drowned. And you know the story about the Red Sea. I think it's kind of comical, because the children of Israel get down to the Red Sea, they've got the water in front of them, they look back over the hill, and here come the Egyptians chasing after them.
What would you do? Moses did what anybody would do. He started to pray. And God says now is not the time to pray. Get moving. And God parted the water. And that was by faith. If you go back to the account, which one of those children of Israel made that water do that because "It was by faith?"
It was God that did that. That's why it's called by faith. I have yet to see or hear of a power of positive thinking preacher tell someone to go out and part the waters. They'll part your money from your wallet, but that's about it!
Even the birth of John the Baptist, when Zacharias and Elizabeth were beyond the age of bearing children, the angel Gabriel comes and announces that they're going to have a child. Of course, Zacharias, when he hears this, he says how can this be? It's humanly impossible. And God says you'll be silent and unable to speak until these things happen.
So, for nine months he was silenced and unable to speak until Elizabeth bears her son. And his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak praises and prophecy over the child. He says it was humanly impossible. That's what God does. He doesn't use man's strength.
It's like Gideon. He was called upon to fight the Philistines. And 32,000 able bodied men came to sign up for the military. God said too many! Now how do you have too many? God put these 32,000 through two or three hoops and wound up with only 300 left. God says that's enough, so that everybody will know that it is God and not man!
Why do we think that the more numbers we have in our movement or group is going to be more powerful for God than a few? God has always shied away from big numbers because then man can take credit for it.
So, he received him back in a parable. You see, when Isaac said where's the sacrifice, in the Hebrew, when Abraham said to Isaac God will provide Himself a sacrifice, it was not He will provide for Himself a sacrifice, but that God would provide Himself as a sacrifice. The whole incident was a parable and foretold of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. The word parable means to place alongside of.
Hebrews 11:19 - Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from where also he received him in a figure, or more literally a parable. PARABOLAY is the Greek word. The word accounting is LOGIZOMAI. It's an accounting term. He calculated that since Isaac was the promised son, and God wanted him to sacrifice him, that God was able to raise him from the dead. That's the only way that the promises are going to be fulfilled!
And you know the story is that he went to kill Isaac and God stopped him. He says now I know that you hear my voice, and you are obedient. And there was an animal caught over in the thicket. Abraham had already told his son because his son says "Dad, where's the sacrifice?" Abraham tells him that God Himself will provide the sacrifice. And the animal was in the bushes. And he went and took the animal, which ended up being the sacrifice and not his son after all.
You see, it was all by faith. You'll notice that all these presentations about faith are activities or incidences that have happened in people's lives that were beyond the human ability. That's the way God works. That's why God waited for Abraham and Sarah. He gave them the promise and waited for them to become elderly and unable to produce children themselves naturally, so that when God moved, it would be all of God, not of man. That's how God works!
Hebrews 11:13 - These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
These all died according to faith. That's how it literally reads, which in the Greek means on the basis of faith. Not having received the promises.
Think about it. They lived by faith. They leave their town and relatives. They wander through the wilderness suffering all the things they suffered. They lived in tents in the promised land, just to die and never see the promises. If I were one of them, in the human, right before I died, I would say "This is a bummer. I lived by faith my whole life and what did I get from it? Nothing!"
But having seen them afar off, and were what? Persuaded! That's the word PEITHO, where our word faith comes from.
Hebrews 11:17 - By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
The phrase "only begotten son" is a phrase that is making reference to the only unique son, or the only son upon whom the promises apply.
So, while he was being tested, he offered up Isaac. And it's only through Isaac. Remember Isaac is the promise of God, and Abraham and Sarah waited, and failed at trying to produce him themselves, and God miraculously produced Isaac. But then God says to Abraham, take Isaac your son, and by now he's a teenager. He's not a little child, so he has the ability to get free if he wants to.
But Abraham takes Isaac up on the mountain because God says go and offer him as a sacrifice. Now right away, I would say that doesn't make sense. First you bring him in as the promise, and now you're telling me to sacrifice him? How could he inherit the promises, or there be descendants through him if I'm going to offer him as a sacrifice?
COGIC SUNDAY SCHOOL BOOK APRIL 20, 2025 1Corithians 15:1-11,20-22 West Angeles Church Cogic Cathedral Los Angeles California
From Reading Last week April 6 2025 I will be attending church here for God to Work Showing his Resurrection And Saving Power In my Life, Relationship-Marritial, Ministry, Church.
MY COGIC WORSHIP: 1Corithians 15:3-4 KJV I Worship God that is Introduction Paragraph 1 My Interpetation To Let God Control you.Paragraph Verse 1-5 Paragraph 2 My Interpetation The Only Word of God to Believe Hebrews 11:1KJV. Paragraph Verse 6-11 Paragraph 7 My Interpetation Philippians 4:13 KJV. Paragraph 8 My Interpetation Jesus Christ is God and him Only. Paragraph Verse 20-22 Paragraph 3 -4 My Interpetation God is one Rule For you to trust Jesus Christ is one God only. Paragraph Dig a Little Deeper My Interpetation God that is love with another , others and his Church.
Interpretation Word Is Spoken and Written by REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY
Hebrews 11:6 - 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.
But without faith it is impossible to please God: for he that comes to God must believe two things:
First of all, that He is. In the Greek text, that means He exists. And that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him out. Notice the translation. And just as a side note, because translators have had a problem with the word rewarder, because in the Greek it names the reward, and the one who's doing the reward. It could be either one. It fits better to say, and that He is the reward of them that diligently seek Him out. Either way, you're seeking the Lord.
First of all, you must be convinced and persuaded that God exists, not because of your own belief system, but because God testifies to you that He exists. And secondly, every situation has been designed and planned by God, that we seek Him out, and that He gives us Himself.
There was an interesting thing on the internet quite some time ago where someone said that Jesus doesn't give you life, He is your life. The bible doesn't say we seek Jesus for Him to give us things. He gives us Himself. It's another one of those western culture things where He's like Santa Claus and we ask Him for things. The Lord creates circumstances so that we seek Him out and He gives us Himself. But it's by faith.
Hebrews 11:5 - By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
By faith Enoch was translated (literally transferred), that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had transferred him: for before he was transferred, he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Now here's a perfect example of the application of these two kinds of faith:
I haven't heard any of the "human faith" teachers, which are numerous and many, say "You know, if you had enough faith, you wouldn't have to die, you'd just get transferred up into heaven." Nobody's done that one yet. It was by faith that Enoch was transferred because God transferred him. Faith is the name of the entire process in which Enoch was taken up into heaven. It is a word that describes what God did to Enoch.
It wasn't that Enoch was here on the earth and reached a point in his relationship with God that he had so much faith that he believed that he could be transferred up into heaven and not die, that God says "I'm pleased with that. I think I'll bring you up here." No, it's a word that describes what God did.
But you see, that also means that if I do that, at some time I can come to a point and say "Yea, I don't believe that anymore," and someone can challenge me on that basis of human faith. They say "How can you believe in something when you weren't there? You just believe what it says." Yes, I do! "Well, I believe what this says," and you go back and forth. And my response would be to say that I am possessed by the Spirit of God and God's Spirit convicts me, and persuades me, and proves to me that it's true, even in my own doubt processes.
In fact, in my human, I can disbelieve it all I want to. But I can't get away from it. God's Spirit and His conviction never changes. I can waiver, I can fight against it, I can scream at Him, I can burn my bible, but it doesn't make any difference. It's still true!
So, it's by faith, either by a human faith where one has to persuade themselves that what the bible says is true, or it's coming from a persuasion and a conviction by God's Spirit that what God's word says is true.
You see, I wasn't there. And so, when I take my book, and we'll call it my textbook, the Bible. And somebody else takes their textbook on the theory of evolution. And we have a debate. He's debating what his textbook says, I'm debating what my textbook says, and neither one of us can prove it!
I'm telling him what I believe and that's why he's coming up against me. He doesn't believe what I believe. He believes what his book says. That's human faith.
Now I can go back and forth in a debate with someone on the theory of evolution and get nowhere. But it all boils down to this: If I was not saved, and by that, I mean if I was not born of the Spirit of God, I would probably believe the same thing they do!
But you see, even in my human, I say I know where you're coming from. You're trying to make logic and reason out of a theory, and that's the best that you can come up with. But I believe what God's word says, not because I'm placing my human belief on it, but I have a conviction in me by the Spirit who created the universe.
In my human, I can stand here and deny the whole thing. I can say that I don't even know if Genesis Chapter 1 is true. But God's Spirit brings a conviction to cause the believer to perceive and see God's handiwork, to see His attributes and characteristics, everything in and expressed by creation.
It's not me. The bible is not my textbook. But I read it, and God's Spirit convicts me that it's true. There's an outside spiritual force making its impression upon me that what God's word says is true. It's by faith that we perceive. Now that either means that I in my human faith choose to believe what the bible says about creation verses some other theory, or some other alternative.
Hebrews 11:2 - For by it the elders obtained a good report.
For by it, that is, by faith, the elders obtained a good report, or testimony. All of God's people in the Old Testament, they obtained, they didn't state it, but everybody gave them the testimony that they lived by faith. That is the explanation of faith, both from the original language, and the explanation that the writer of Hebrews is giving.
Hebrews 11:3 - Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Through faith, and literally in the Greek text, it is by faith. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of the things which do appear.
Broken down: By faith we understand. That's the word perceive. By faith we perceive that the worlds were framed, that is put together, created, by the word of God. The word "word" in word of God, is the word expression. When God spoke, he created all things and put them together by His word.
The end result: So that the things which we see didn't come from things which appear. It came from the spoken word of God.
But I can't get away from it. It's a conviction. I can stand before you right now and make the announcement that I am denouncing the Lord and His word, and I'm finished. But I will never be able to get away from Him (Christ), never! I have never been able to get away from it, and I will not now! My beliefs are based on the conviction of God's Spirit that lives in me. That's faith. It's not my faith. My human faith waivers.
But when I look down deep, there's something there that is a stabilizing force that is the basis of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen, spiritual things, spiritual truth.
I have shared in the past that the word faith means persuasion. the word faith in Greek is PISTIS. It is from the word PEITHO which means to persuade. If you're into the study of the Greek culture or Greek mythology, you know that PEITHOS was the goddess of persuasion. But PEITHO is the root word for the word faith. The verb form of PISTIS is the word that means to believe.
People hear the word faith, and they go in all different direction as to what faith is. But faith is PISTIS. And it means persuasion. Also, there are two kinds of faith because there are two sources of faith. One is human, and one is from God as a source. And remember that every time we say faith, we are making reference to persuasion.
Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
That is not a definition. The only definition is found in the meaning of the word itself. In the Greek text, this is a description of what faith does. The description of faith is two things: The substance, or basis of things hoped for, and the evidence, more literally conviction, of things not seen.
Now if I take this description of what faith does, and its definition of persuasion that faith is the basis of things hoped for, why do I have hope for the coming of Christ? Why do I have a living hope that one day when I die, I'm going to go to heaven? Either it's something that I am persuading myself to believe, which means there's a possibility that someday someone will persuade me not to believe, or, my hope is based upon, which the next phrase says, the conviction of things not seen. It's a conviction. That's a persuasion!
There are times when we as human beings doubt what the bible says. Have you ever had those moments when you look over at the bible and you think "It's just a book?" I mean you open it up and it has ink words in it. It didn't fall down from heaven, somebody printed it. How do I know that it's not just our western culture religious book? Other religions have their book, so what's the big deal?
Hebrews 10:38-39 reads, "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
BUT WE ARE NOT OF THEM WHO DRAW BACK UNTO PERDITION; BUT OF THEM THAT BELIEVE TO THE SAVING OF THE SOUL.
As for blind faith, the Lord never asks us for blind faith.
Faith is not a leap in the dark.
Faith rest on real knowledge, it is substance that we have faith in. "God's word!"
Faith originates from hearing the Word of God ( Romans 10:17
Hebrews 11:1reads "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
The word evidence is the Greek word "elegchos" which is a legal term meaning "evidence that is accepted for conviction.
I believe God wants a foundation under our beliefs, which is provided through supernatural signs.
True faith rests upon God's trustworthy character and His revealed Word, not on a lack of understanding or evidence.
Abraham was given covenant promises.
One of those promises is seen in
Genesis 22:18 "And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Abraham was given other verbal promises including a Davidic Kingdom and he was promised a Son from his own bowels. (Issac)
This miraculous birth was not by the will of Abraham but by knowledge of the verbal promise and Abraham believed.
We're also Children of promise. Galatians 4:28.
We can trust and rest on God's word.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
That WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that "WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM" should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:14-16.
Running out of space.
See part 2
I recall reading in Hebrews 11:14-16 tells us that the OT saints, including Abraham, of whom the promises were made, were desiring a better country than an earthly one, specifically one that is heavenly, and in vs.39-40 we read that these did not receive the promises they hoped to receive because God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
This clearly says that those OT saints receive what we receive from God as our hope and fulfillment of what He has promised. We receive the same thing that is better than an earthly eternity.
In Heb. 11:10, we are told that Abraham was looking for a heavenly city, the New Jerusalem made by the hand of God, not by human hands.
Heb. 12:22-24 in speaking to Hebrew believers says that they have come to the heavenly Jerusalem, inhabited with angels and the church of the firstborn, to God, to spirits made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of the New Covenant,
So, as I read these chapters, I understand that believing Hebrews receive the same destiny as believing Gentiles.
I do not see verses that speak of unbelieving Hebrews receiving an earthly destiny.
Please cite Scriptures that support the dispensational viewpoint you presented here.
I Pray my body will become like God in my life, Profession to succeed to do what's offered, church, family, marritial,faith supernaturalresponses and results to be done me.Jesus Christ is my heart on my permission,request,confirmations for God wants me to be married.
Hebrews 11 Verse 1
My interpetation
REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY :
Getting you to believe Jesus Christ is Holy God the Father allowing your body to become like God. A reference I Peter 1:13 KJV Not to hurt people also this can come with appertain intentions.Hate and covet, Jesus Christ wants to give you thoughts of peace Jeremiah 29:11KJV. Mind and thoughts to become like God in thinking, conscience mind, making decisions.-A God that is joy. A God that allows you to listen, obey God and instructions, actions. Which a result is becoming a achiever and great achievements.
In my life a Christian( a believer) Jesus Christ is the only sacrifice for your body to have life and become like God.
Hebrews 11:1 also confirms to God's Holy Christian Church sex identity named Christians My Interpetation Reginald Taylor Jr:-life being man making my sex identity shown and known and my faith holy bible to be inspired and only infallible written word of God spoken by me to other men which I seen in Todays Christian Press Highlights wants to be done.Oral tradition Holiness and Pentecostal Church which confirmed by (West Angeles COGIC members manual guide) -can allow you to do and recieve supernatural responses and results to be done.Jesus Christ wants you to offer your heart to God.
Word Spoken and Written by
REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY
I don't want to draw attention to myself but I am kind of excited about this topic and hopefully others can share this joy. We are according to Revelation kings and priests according to Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. That; my friends is the Word of God along with Hebrews 11:6 as an encouragement and exhortation: 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.
I'm not sure if any of us can begin to fathom what it will be like to rule and reign with Christ. It is unnatural for us; as imperfect humans to even spend whatever limited time we have in fellowship; although I will admit since I spend much time alone I need to ensure that I fulfill my responsibilities in heeding the call for Christian service above and beyond my own interests. As much as some have Christian family around them; of course I consider you guys part of this "forever family" concept-ok I'll stop before I get too mushy.
The formula for Sunday worship should follow some order based on the authority God has given elders and deacons; etc. This is to serve and honor God properly; but if the ritual or routine becomes stale it will fail (and in fact it will if the fervor of love for the Lord is left out of the equation as happened with the Ephesian church starting in Revelation 3:1.
When we look around; some may realize that church isn't a social club (at least for those left out of much conversation). The demographics of my church are of people my age (OLD) and not particularly physically attractive. As a guy frankly I'm glad not to have that distraction but I bring this up so we can all be aware of factors that inhibit close fellowshp as we are called to do.
MOre in next post
Hi Bible Alone and thanks for your input. You have shared from Hebrews 11:13-16 as those 'faith heroes' who had their hope to be delivered from the limitations of this Earth, even of life itself, and to look forward to that heavenly city, that city "which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God". That is so true and should be for all who name the Name of Christ, where we should long to be free from sin's effects on us & the evil in the world around us, and be "with Christ which is far better".
And to refer to Matthew 13:34, Jesus indeed spoke to the people in parables, but where He gave them these earthly stories, they came with a heavenly/spiritual meaning & application. We cannot then use that verse to interpret everything seen in the Bible as a parable & thus give our own interpretation to them. It just generates confusion. So yes, there is the "true Israel of God", but we also have to note where national Israel is referred to and why there is a demarcation between the two.
So, if we are to believe that there can be no coming reign of Jesus in Jerusalem, simply because of the verses showing that we ought to be looking for that heavenly city, then we have a major problem with many Scriptures, viz. various Psalms (2, 22, 47,67, 89, 110, 132), Isaiah 9:6,7; Jeremiah 3:17; Micah 1:4-7; Zechariah 14:1-5, & from other prophets, and Revelation chaps 19 & 20). What do you suggest we do with these? Discard them or maybe, reinterpret them? All prophecies coming from a God-appointed prophet will come to pass verbatim, and if not, then both the prophet & prophecy are false. Onto Page 2.
Curious to know how the following passage fits into your idea of an earthly kingdom with Christ ruling from Jerusalem.
Clearly, those spoken about in Hebrews 11 were not looking for an earthly kingdom of any kind.
I suspect part of your misunderstanding stems from the fact that you want to understand "Israel" as always speaking about either Israel the man or National Israel the Jewish nation.
God very clearly defines Israel in many different ways, depending on the context. Remember that Christ spoken parables and without a parable, spake He not.
The Israel, that God is concerned about from a covenant salvation perspective, is the Israel made up of all true believers, both from the nation of Israel, and from every other nation.
These are God's elect. Whom Christ has chosen from before the foundations of the world and fully paid for their sins. These are the elect. God's elect, whom God has applied or will apply salvation to their life by giving them a new resurrected soul, have no interest in an earthly kingdom with Christ ruling from Jerusalem. They seek an heavenly kingdom as talked about in Hebrews 11. But thank you again for your response.
Hebrews 11:13-16 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON THE EARTH. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they SEAK A COUNTRY. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a BETTER [country], that is, an HEAVENLY: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath PREPARED FOR THEM A CITY"
May God in his mercy lead us into truth, as we compare scripture with scripture using the principles that God has laid down in his word.
John 18:33-38 "Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? 34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? 35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault [at all]".
Hebrews 11:13-16 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON THE EARTH. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they SEAK A COUNTRY. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a BETTER [country], that is, an HEAVENLY: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath PREPARED FOR THEM A CITY"
Read 2 Peter 3. "12...wherein the HEAVENS being ON FIRE shall be DISSOLVED, and the ELEMENTS shall MELT with FERVENT HEAT? 13 Nevertheless we, ACCORDING TO HIS PROMISE, look for NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH, WHEREIN DWEALLETH RIGHTEOUSNESS."
The profound mystery is that all men are born once into this world but not all are born again by the Spirit of God.
Jesus said to the Pharisees what is also found in Isaiah 6:10 and numerous other scriptures namely:
Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed."
Now what we do interpret with our five senses our minds can accept with sound impartial reasoning. Hebrews 11:1 says Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In John 10:38 Jesus responds to the Pharisees thusly:
But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
This rationale apparently wasn't sufficient for those who would accuse Christ of blasphemy since only God could forgive sins; and this was the unforgiveable sin as the power Christ wielded such as healing the blind no man had been able to do even with God's power in the Old Testament. This is tantamount to Satan himself for he is going to seek worship of the whole world through his Antichrist beast and that has always been his ultimate goal. The enemy of our souls probably gets a perverse pleasure in damning other souls (although his oaths and bondage aren't sufficent to trap anyone God doesn't allow or is predestined for salvation). Since he's going to be suffering and only thinking of his own misery in judgment to come his real joy is seeing further rebellion against God and establishing his own kingdom with his powers and principalities working under him.
We might compare a tare; for instance to an AI of someone. Let me point out in the verse you shall know them by their fruits ( Matthew 7:16-20) means we should exhort one another. In general someone uninterested in challenges or suggestions for growth isn't producing fruit; and vice versa.
I agree that the Church, the Body of Christ, is not the bride; I do not agree that the bride metaphor is rooted in prophecy and tied to Israel. The New Jerusalem is the bride that is dressed in fine linen, pure and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints; Revelation 19:6-8. This is the city that Abraham looked for, Hebrews 11:8-10.
This bride, the New Jerusalem, will not descend until everything is fulfilled and all is made new. Revelation 21:1-3. Then, the marriage and the feast will mark the beginning of our eternity on the new earth with God and Jesus.
Revelation 19:7-9: Let us be glad, rejoice, and honor Him: for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he saith unto me, "These are the true sayings of God."
I also disagree with the teaching of the catching away or the rapture as being carried to heaven. You mention 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, but where does it say we are taken to heaven? This passage describes Jesus returning to earth at the last trump, Matthew 24:29-31, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, and Revelation 19:11-16.
God bless,
RLW
[12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
My Intrepretation: To Rely on Gof by speaking faith Prayers To Be Done
Hebrews 11:1 KJV
[1] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Prayers To be Done
2 Corinthians 2:14 -17KJV [14] Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
[15]For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:[16]To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?[17]For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
Principle To All Religions Psalm 9:1 KJV
[1] I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
Word Written and Spoken by REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY
So Jesus' death at Calvary would have both a retrospective application (looking back to those awaiting Him), and a prospective application (to those at Jesus' death & resurrection & beyond) - and we stand only by FAITH & not by the Law or of any works we do. I realize that I've repeated some things here (from my previous post), but I hope that I've shown that any disobedience to the Laws given to Israel would have meant punishment or death, but the Law itself could not be used to send men to hell, for then none could ever be saved from it. That the need to cleave to the LORD God & His Word/Promises demonstrated that man's hope did not rest in the Law but by faith alone, trusting in Who God is & in obeying Him. "God having provided some better thing for us (Christians), that they (Israel who waited for this hope from God) without us should not be made perfect (saved/redeemed)" ( Hebrews 11:40). And we who now live & walk in the Holy Spirit are not under the demands (i.e. certain eternal death) that the Law guarantees ( Galatians 5:18).
1. (Earthly Punishment vs Divine Punishment). I think the best way to undergird my response to this is to say, that the punishment meted out by earthly judges pertains only to evident sins (crimes against humanity); that they cannot deal with the condition and intents of the human heart (whether harboring evil thoughts or planning for future evil acts). Whereas, the punishment given by the LORD God, the Righteous Judge, is based purely on our heart's condition & our responses to Him & to His Salvation. Of course, to the truly penitent sinner who has committed a crime, he needs to make restitution if possible (which shows his real heart condition for what he has done) as well as to serve his time (incarceration/other penalty). He might have done all this & be released from his penalty, but still remains under sin's penalty before God, simply because he is a sinner in need of a true, eternal salvation. Cont'd in Page 3.
It seems a lot of folks only look at the cross and not at all the other things Christ went through before that. Some look to the 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness in the fast; although Moses actually had to do this TWICE because of Israel's rebellion through supernatural strength. Whether he ate in between no man knows.
There is sort of a discontinuity here; or an unknown place where we can separate suffering from persecution. We can say dogmatically that Christ never sinned hence nothing of his own doing contributed to his miseries; we see that He only said what the Father told Him to say hence knew when not to say things and taught others that as well in regard to not broadcasting certain miracles especially at the onset of His ministry. I won't elaborate but mostly it was to draw away attention from being a great teacher and focusing on forgiveness of sins and of course that could only happen if He was indeed a member of the Godhead.
I am reminded as I write this the verse that says "when I come will there be faith on the earth?" ( Luke 18:18). This looks to when He returns and the justice finally brought to the world's ills in general but addressing those things which we haven't seen answered during our earthly sojourn. That also reminds me of Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
But we have a heavenly place to go to; the alternative being; sadly hell. Having spiritual discernment isn't easy; perhaps you can also pray I learn to use that gift for His glory as many don't want to hear.
c. (cont'd). Or, maybe the illustration that Jesus gave in Luke 12:42-48 is what some might believe are grades of punishment to sinners - the LORD God is always Just in all His doings.
d. Those of Israel who had not the redemptive of Work of Christ done for them as yet, were required to be obedient to God's Commands, fulfil the sacrifices which stayed God's Wrath from them and to await the coming full sacrifice of the Son of God. When they were obedient, this demonstrated a real faith in God's Word to them and God's Work for them. So in Hebrews chapter 11, we see a great number of men and women commended for their faith & martyrs' death, "these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect" ( Hebrews 11:39,40). Both the OT & NT saints will be judged on the same basis: Faith (the one group looking forward to Calvary & the other looking back).
e. There are various beliefs as to when God's Judgements are given, at death or sometime after. From my reading of the Word, I believe there is an immediate judgement for all who die, whose spirit must leave this lifeless body. Jesus gave the account of the rich man & the beggar Lazarus at their respective deaths ( Luke 16:19-31). Here, Jesus (under the OT economy) showed the suffering of the one who lived carelessly & heartlessly in hades & the beggar who struggled to live, but given a place beside Abraham. This appears to be a temporary residence & punishment awaiting further judgement. For the believer post-Cross, our sins have already been judged & we have walked carefully before the LORD. Our only other judgement is given in 2 Corinthians 5:10, otherwise called the "Bema Seat Judgement". Here, our salvation is not in judgement (that was already accomplished at Calvary), but how we have lived this new life & used our gifts for the Lord. To Page 3.
Faith is not dependent on evidences and proofs; it is purely a gift from God, irrespective of merit, intelligence or education. 1 Corinthians 2:5 ..That your faith should not stand (be) in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Ephesians 2:8 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
It is natural to doubt. Even Apostle Thomas had doubts; he could not believe the other disciples until he had personal experience of the resurrected Christ! Personally, I do not think that Thomas believed after examining the crucifixion scar on Jesus' body; there were no marks at all, for a resurrected body cannot have blemishes and marks of the past. Jesus was only interacting with his human nature and raising him to the higher level of faith by referring to his words of unbelief. Thomas, then approached Jesus NOT to verify the crucifixion marks, but to confess him as his Lord! John 20: John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. I think, IF Thomas had searched His body for proof, he would have got disappointed! But Jesus did not let him fail; He wanted Thomas to believe in Him without seeing: That is Faith. (continued)
"Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,"
Hebrews 11:30
"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days."
Hebrews 11:34
"Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens."
Blessings
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Blessings
Hebrews 11:28 - Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
By faith, not through faith, but by faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. That's what the blood over the doorpost did. It saved their households from the destroyer coming and killing their firstborn. God killed the firstborn of the Egyptians. By faith he did that.
Hebrews 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying, that is, attempting to do, were drowned. And you know the story about the Red Sea. I think it's kind of comical, because the children of Israel get down to the Red Sea, they've got the water in front of them, they look back over the hill, and here come the Egyptians chasing after them.
What would you do? Moses did what anybody would do. He started to pray. And God says now is not the time to pray. Get moving. And God parted the water. And that was by faith. If you go back to the account, which one of those children of Israel made that water do that because "It was by faith?"
It was God that did that. That's why it's called by faith. I have yet to see or hear of a power of positive thinking preacher tell someone to go out and part the waters. They'll part your money from your wallet, but that's about it!
Hebrews 11:19 Continued:
Even the birth of John the Baptist, when Zacharias and Elizabeth were beyond the age of bearing children, the angel Gabriel comes and announces that they're going to have a child. Of course, Zacharias, when he hears this, he says how can this be? It's humanly impossible. And God says you'll be silent and unable to speak until these things happen.
So, for nine months he was silenced and unable to speak until Elizabeth bears her son. And his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak praises and prophecy over the child. He says it was humanly impossible. That's what God does. He doesn't use man's strength.
It's like Gideon. He was called upon to fight the Philistines. And 32,000 able bodied men came to sign up for the military. God said too many! Now how do you have too many? God put these 32,000 through two or three hoops and wound up with only 300 left. God says that's enough, so that everybody will know that it is God and not man!
Why do we think that the more numbers we have in our movement or group is going to be more powerful for God than a few? God has always shied away from big numbers because then man can take credit for it.
So, he received him back in a parable. You see, when Isaac said where's the sacrifice, in the Hebrew, when Abraham said to Isaac God will provide Himself a sacrifice, it was not He will provide for Himself a sacrifice, but that God would provide Himself as a sacrifice. The whole incident was a parable and foretold of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. The word parable means to place alongside of.
Hebrews 11:19 - Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from where also he received him in a figure, or more literally a parable. PARABOLAY is the Greek word. The word accounting is LOGIZOMAI. It's an accounting term. He calculated that since Isaac was the promised son, and God wanted him to sacrifice him, that God was able to raise him from the dead. That's the only way that the promises are going to be fulfilled!
And you know the story is that he went to kill Isaac and God stopped him. He says now I know that you hear my voice, and you are obedient. And there was an animal caught over in the thicket. Abraham had already told his son because his son says "Dad, where's the sacrifice?" Abraham tells him that God Himself will provide the sacrifice. And the animal was in the bushes. And he went and took the animal, which ended up being the sacrifice and not his son after all.
You see, it was all by faith. You'll notice that all these presentations about faith are activities or incidences that have happened in people's lives that were beyond the human ability. That's the way God works. That's why God waited for Abraham and Sarah. He gave them the promise and waited for them to become elderly and unable to produce children themselves naturally, so that when God moved, it would be all of God, not of man. That's how God works!
Hebrews 11:13 - These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
These all died according to faith. That's how it literally reads, which in the Greek means on the basis of faith. Not having received the promises.
Think about it. They lived by faith. They leave their town and relatives. They wander through the wilderness suffering all the things they suffered. They lived in tents in the promised land, just to die and never see the promises. If I were one of them, in the human, right before I died, I would say "This is a bummer. I lived by faith my whole life and what did I get from it? Nothing!"
But having seen them afar off, and were what? Persuaded! That's the word PEITHO, where our word faith comes from.
Hebrews 11:17 - By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
The phrase "only begotten son" is a phrase that is making reference to the only unique son, or the only son upon whom the promises apply.
So, while he was being tested, he offered up Isaac. And it's only through Isaac. Remember Isaac is the promise of God, and Abraham and Sarah waited, and failed at trying to produce him themselves, and God miraculously produced Isaac. But then God says to Abraham, take Isaac your son, and by now he's a teenager. He's not a little child, so he has the ability to get free if he wants to.
But Abraham takes Isaac up on the mountain because God says go and offer him as a sacrifice. Now right away, I would say that doesn't make sense. First you bring him in as the promise, and now you're telling me to sacrifice him? How could he inherit the promises, or there be descendants through him if I'm going to offer him as a sacrifice?
Psalm 107:2
John 1:12
John 12:47
Romans 10:13
Hebrews 11:6
1 Peter 2:9
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From Reading Last week April 6 2025 I will be attending church here for God to Work Showing his Resurrection And Saving Power In my Life, Relationship-Marritial, Ministry, Church.
MY COGIC WORSHIP: 1Corithians 15:3-4 KJV I Worship God that is Introduction Paragraph 1 My Interpetation To Let God Control you.Paragraph Verse 1-5 Paragraph 2 My Interpetation The Only Word of God to Believe Hebrews 11:1KJV. Paragraph Verse 6-11 Paragraph 7 My Interpetation Philippians 4:13 KJV. Paragraph 8 My Interpetation Jesus Christ is God and him Only. Paragraph Verse 20-22 Paragraph 3 -4 My Interpetation God is one Rule For you to trust Jesus Christ is one God only. Paragraph Dig a Little Deeper My Interpetation God that is love with another , others and his Church.
Interpretation Word Is Spoken and Written by REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY
Hebrews 11:6 - 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.
But without faith it is impossible to please God: for he that comes to God must believe two things:
First of all, that He is. In the Greek text, that means He exists. And that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him out. Notice the translation. And just as a side note, because translators have had a problem with the word rewarder, because in the Greek it names the reward, and the one who's doing the reward. It could be either one. It fits better to say, and that He is the reward of them that diligently seek Him out. Either way, you're seeking the Lord.
First of all, you must be convinced and persuaded that God exists, not because of your own belief system, but because God testifies to you that He exists. And secondly, every situation has been designed and planned by God, that we seek Him out, and that He gives us Himself.
There was an interesting thing on the internet quite some time ago where someone said that Jesus doesn't give you life, He is your life. The bible doesn't say we seek Jesus for Him to give us things. He gives us Himself. It's another one of those western culture things where He's like Santa Claus and we ask Him for things. The Lord creates circumstances so that we seek Him out and He gives us Himself. But it's by faith.
Hebrews 11:5 - By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
By faith Enoch was translated (literally transferred), that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had transferred him: for before he was transferred, he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Now here's a perfect example of the application of these two kinds of faith:
I haven't heard any of the "human faith" teachers, which are numerous and many, say "You know, if you had enough faith, you wouldn't have to die, you'd just get transferred up into heaven." Nobody's done that one yet. It was by faith that Enoch was transferred because God transferred him. Faith is the name of the entire process in which Enoch was taken up into heaven. It is a word that describes what God did to Enoch.
It wasn't that Enoch was here on the earth and reached a point in his relationship with God that he had so much faith that he believed that he could be transferred up into heaven and not die, that God says "I'm pleased with that. I think I'll bring you up here." No, it's a word that describes what God did.
Hebrews 11:3 Continued:
But you see, that also means that if I do that, at some time I can come to a point and say "Yea, I don't believe that anymore," and someone can challenge me on that basis of human faith. They say "How can you believe in something when you weren't there? You just believe what it says." Yes, I do! "Well, I believe what this says," and you go back and forth. And my response would be to say that I am possessed by the Spirit of God and God's Spirit convicts me, and persuades me, and proves to me that it's true, even in my own doubt processes.
In fact, in my human, I can disbelieve it all I want to. But I can't get away from it. God's Spirit and His conviction never changes. I can waiver, I can fight against it, I can scream at Him, I can burn my bible, but it doesn't make any difference. It's still true!
So, it's by faith, either by a human faith where one has to persuade themselves that what the bible says is true, or it's coming from a persuasion and a conviction by God's Spirit that what God's word says is true.
Hebrews 11:3 Continued:
Here's how this works:
You see, I wasn't there. And so, when I take my book, and we'll call it my textbook, the Bible. And somebody else takes their textbook on the theory of evolution. And we have a debate. He's debating what his textbook says, I'm debating what my textbook says, and neither one of us can prove it!
I'm telling him what I believe and that's why he's coming up against me. He doesn't believe what I believe. He believes what his book says. That's human faith.
Now I can go back and forth in a debate with someone on the theory of evolution and get nowhere. But it all boils down to this: If I was not saved, and by that, I mean if I was not born of the Spirit of God, I would probably believe the same thing they do!
But you see, even in my human, I say I know where you're coming from. You're trying to make logic and reason out of a theory, and that's the best that you can come up with. But I believe what God's word says, not because I'm placing my human belief on it, but I have a conviction in me by the Spirit who created the universe.
In my human, I can stand here and deny the whole thing. I can say that I don't even know if Genesis Chapter 1 is true. But God's Spirit brings a conviction to cause the believer to perceive and see God's handiwork, to see His attributes and characteristics, everything in and expressed by creation.
It's not me. The bible is not my textbook. But I read it, and God's Spirit convicts me that it's true. There's an outside spiritual force making its impression upon me that what God's word says is true. It's by faith that we perceive. Now that either means that I in my human faith choose to believe what the bible says about creation verses some other theory, or some other alternative.
Hebrews 11:2 - For by it the elders obtained a good report.
For by it, that is, by faith, the elders obtained a good report, or testimony. All of God's people in the Old Testament, they obtained, they didn't state it, but everybody gave them the testimony that they lived by faith. That is the explanation of faith, both from the original language, and the explanation that the writer of Hebrews is giving.
Hebrews 11:3 - Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Through faith, and literally in the Greek text, it is by faith. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of the things which do appear.
Broken down: By faith we understand. That's the word perceive. By faith we perceive that the worlds were framed, that is put together, created, by the word of God. The word "word" in word of God, is the word expression. When God spoke, he created all things and put them together by His word.
The end result: So that the things which we see didn't come from things which appear. It came from the spoken word of God.
Hebrews 11:1 Continued:
But I can't get away from it. It's a conviction. I can stand before you right now and make the announcement that I am denouncing the Lord and His word, and I'm finished. But I will never be able to get away from Him (Christ), never! I have never been able to get away from it, and I will not now! My beliefs are based on the conviction of God's Spirit that lives in me. That's faith. It's not my faith. My human faith waivers.
But when I look down deep, there's something there that is a stabilizing force that is the basis of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen, spiritual things, spiritual truth.
I have shared in the past that the word faith means persuasion. the word faith in Greek is PISTIS. It is from the word PEITHO which means to persuade. If you're into the study of the Greek culture or Greek mythology, you know that PEITHOS was the goddess of persuasion. But PEITHO is the root word for the word faith. The verb form of PISTIS is the word that means to believe.
People hear the word faith, and they go in all different direction as to what faith is. But faith is PISTIS. And it means persuasion. Also, there are two kinds of faith because there are two sources of faith. One is human, and one is from God as a source. And remember that every time we say faith, we are making reference to persuasion.
Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
That is not a definition. The only definition is found in the meaning of the word itself. In the Greek text, this is a description of what faith does. The description of faith is two things: The substance, or basis of things hoped for, and the evidence, more literally conviction, of things not seen.
Now if I take this description of what faith does, and its definition of persuasion that faith is the basis of things hoped for, why do I have hope for the coming of Christ? Why do I have a living hope that one day when I die, I'm going to go to heaven? Either it's something that I am persuading myself to believe, which means there's a possibility that someday someone will persuade me not to believe, or, my hope is based upon, which the next phrase says, the conviction of things not seen. It's a conviction. That's a persuasion!
There are times when we as human beings doubt what the bible says. Have you ever had those moments when you look over at the bible and you think "It's just a book?" I mean you open it up and it has ink words in it. It didn't fall down from heaven, somebody printed it. How do I know that it's not just our western culture religious book? Other religions have their book, so what's the big deal?