“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.”
—Hebrews
11:13
Who are
these of whom the Apostle says, “These all died in faith”? Perhaps he is
speaking only of those believers who lived after the flood and before the
giving of the law, of those who lived in the patriarchal age (Abraham, Sarah,
and their immediate descendants). But I think that places a limitation on the
text that is unnecessary. The words “these
all” refer to all who have been mentioned as examples of faith.
The faith in
which all these believers died is that faith defined in verses 1-3. It is that
faith which is the substance of our hope. – The revelation of the Gospel! It is
that faith which is the evidence of our salvation. – Faith in Christ, the
evidence of election, redemption, and calling. It is that faith which gives us
an understanding of all things spiritual (Pro. 28:5; 1 Cor. 2:12, 14-15).
Abel
died in faith. Though he was murdered by his
own brother, he died believing God (v. 4). It does not matter how we die, when
we die, or where we die, so long as we die in Christ, so long as we die believing
God. It is written, “Precious in the
sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” This faith in which Abel
died is that faith by which he received witness that he was righteous. His
faith did not make him righteous. Christ alone has made us righteous. By faith
we receive the witness of God the Holy Spirit that we are righteous (Rom.
4:25-5:2; 5:10-11).
Can
Enoch be included among these all who died in faith? I am sure he can. Enoch died in the same sense that all believers do
(v. 5). It is true, he did not see death; but none of God’s elect ever die. We
simply depart from this life into glory (John 11:25-26). Like Enoch, we walk
with God by faith. Like Enoch, we have testimony that we please God by faith
(Heb. 11:6). Like Enoch, if we believe God, we shall soon be translated into
heaven. Being absent from the body, we shall be present with the Lord. Yes, our
bodies shall die, unless the Lord Jesus comes again beforehand; but we shall
not die.
Abraham and Sarah, and Isaac and Jacob, also died in faith. They died as believers, expecting the fulfillment of God’s promises. “These all died in faith.” Because they
were born of God, they believed God. Because they believed God, they died as
they lived, “in faith.” That which is
true of these is true of all who live by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. All
of God’s elect die in faith