Enoch’s Faith

 

"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. 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."  (Hebrews 11:5-6)

 

True saving faith gives believing sinners the witness and testimony of God the Holy Spirit that in Christ, because of Christ, we please God.

 

Enoch was caught up to heaven, not temporarily as Paul, but like Elijah, forever! He was changed from mortality to immortality without dying. There are several things to be seen here.

 

  1. There is an intimate relationship between this life and glory. -- Enoch walked with God on earth, and one day he didn't return. God took him to glory (Phil. 1:21-23; 2 Cor. 5:1-8).

 

  1. Old Testament believers knew, expected, and enjoyed eternal life through faith, just as we do (Rom. 4:3).

 

  1. Enoch went to heaven, as some shall at the coming of Christ, without dying (1 Cor. 15:51-52). – “We which are alive and remain shall be caught up together” with those who have gone before us into heaven.

 

  1. The resurrection of all believers is here exemplified. -- Enoch went to glory as a whole man, body and soul (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:42-44).

 

  1. But the primary thing to be learned here is the fact that Enoch walked with God by faith. -- It is faith in Christ that pleases God (John 6:28,29). – And it is faith in Christ that receives testimony from God that like Christ himself, because we are in him, the Father says of us – “I am well-pleased!”

 

      Like Enoch, God’s people in this world please him, satisfy him, and are accepted by him, only by faith in Christ. Enoch did not please God by his own works of obedience, but by faith in Christ. “Without faith it is impossible to please him.” In other words — Every true believer pleases God, just like Enoch did.

 

      Like Enoch, all who trust Christ, being partakers of the first resurrection, the new birth (Rev. 20:6), shall “not see death.” Then, on that great day of judgment, it shall be declared that we please God, perfectly, completely, without flaw, because we have fully obeyed him and satisfied him in the obedience and death of Christ, our Substitute (Rev. 21:27; Eph. 5:25-27).