“And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets." Hebrews 11:32
It is commonly thought that Paul’s purpose in writing Hebrews 11 is to extol the greatness of those men and women whose names are mentioned in these verses, or at least to extol the greatness of their faith. Neither is true. Paul’s purpose here is to extol the greatness of their God, the Giver and Sustainer of faith. In this chapter the Holy Spirit is encouraging believers, in the midst of great trials, facing great dangers, enduring great opposition, to continue trusting Christ. Let me remind you of some things clearly revealed in the Book of God about faith.
1.
The singular Object of all true faith is the triune
God, revealed and known in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Substitute.
Faith looks to Christ alone for righteousness and atonement. But there is more to faith than trusting Christ as our sin-atoning Savior. Faith trusts Christ as Lord, as the God of all providence and grace, ruling and disposing of all things for the salvation of his people.
2.
True, saving faith is the gift and operation of God (Eph.
2:8-9; Col. 2:12).
Faith
is not a work of man’s free will. It is not something we have a natural ability
to perform. It is the gift of God, the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
3. Faith is given by, arises from, and acts in obedience to the revelation of God in the Scriptures.
Every act of faith described in this chapter, every act of faith described in the entire Word of God, was in direct response to God’s revelation (Rom. 10:17; 1 Pet. 1:23-25).
4. Though faith is the gift of God,
the operation of his grace in us, though we cannot and will not believe apart
from the gift and operation of God’s grace, faith is not a passive, but an
active thing. – Faith acts in response to God’s revelation.
4. The power, strength, and efficacy of faith is not in us, or the strength of our faith, but in our omnipotent God, the Object of our faith.
These were ordinary men, sinners saved by the grace
of God, washed in the blood of Christ, robed in his righteousness, born of his
Spirit, just like us. – Saved sinners, but sinners still! – Ordinary men, just
like us, who trusted an omnipotent God. Faith is not dependent on favorable
outward conditions. Faith rises above circumstances. Faith is sustained and
energized by One who is infinitely superior to all circumstances. Trusting God
our Savior, we shall be delivered from all our enemies, and sustained and
enabled to do his will in this age for the glory of his name. Yes, we can do
all that he would have us do, by his all-sufficient grace in Christ (Phil.
4:12-13).