Living a Life of Faith: Assurance and Hope
Summary
Hebrews 11 is a profound chapter that teaches us about living a life of faith. Faith, as described, is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. It is both an assurance and a conviction because it believes what God has revealed and trusts what God has promised. Throughout Hebrews 11, we see faith illustrated through various examples, each highlighting a distinct aspect of faith. Faith listens, walks, fears, obeys, receives, submits, worships, hopes, depends, and commits to God. It is like a living tree, bursting with fruit, and when you have faith, all kinds of good things follow in your life.
The chapter lists many heroes of faith, noting their achievements and agonies. Yet, despite their commendable faith, they did not receive what was promised. This is because God had planned something better for us, a promise that would be fulfilled in the future. Old Testament believers, like us, lived and died looking forward to what God had promised. They were forgiven, knew the power of the Holy Spirit, and entered into God's presence when they died, but they still awaited the fulfillment of God's ultimate promise.
This promise is something better than anything we can experience in this world. It is the perfection that will come when we are made perfect in a day yet to come. This is the same for us as it was for them. We live in anticipation of the resurrection, the gathering of the redeemed family, and the restored universe. Our faith, like theirs, looks to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. Jesus is more than an example; He is the one who forms and completes our faith. He enables us to endure and will bring us into His glorious presence.
Key Takeaways:
- Faith is both an assurance and a conviction, believing what God has revealed and trusting what God has promised. It is like a living tree, bursting with fruit, and when you have faith, all kinds of good things follow in your life. [00:29]
- Despite their commendable faith, the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 did not receive what was promised because God had planned something better for us. This promise is something better than anything we can experience in this world, a perfection that will come when we are made perfect in a day yet to come. [08:24]
- Old Testament believers, like us, lived and died looking forward to what God had promised. They were forgiven, knew the power of the Holy Spirit, and entered into God's presence when they died, but they still awaited the fulfillment of God's ultimate promise. [07:51]
- Our faith, like that of the Old Testament believers, looks to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. Jesus is more than an example; He is the one who forms and completes our faith. He enables us to endure and will bring us into His glorious presence. [20:45]
- We live in anticipation of the resurrection, the gathering of the redeemed family, and the restored universe. Our faith joins us to Jesus in a spiritual union, where His life flows into us, giving us righteousness, strength, peace, and endurance. [27:59]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Introduction to Hebrews 11
[00:29] - Faith as Assurance and Conviction
[01:03] - Examples of Faith
[02:00] - Heroes of Faith
[03:34] - Achievements and Agonies
[04:19] - Unfulfilled Promises
[05:20] - Old Testament Believers' Faith
[07:51] - Awaiting Fulfillment
[08:24] - Something Better Promised
[10:01] - Our Shared Position
[12:25] - Waiting Together
[13:13] - With Christ, Yet Waiting
[16:36] - Running Our Race
[18:28] - Looking to Jesus
[20:45] - Jesus: Founder and Perfecter
[27:59] - Faith Joins Us to Jesus
[30:03] - Jesus' Endurance and Our Hope
[34:31] - Glorious Reward Ahead
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: Living a Life of Faith
#### Bible Reading
- Hebrews 11:1-40
- Hebrews 12:1-2
- 2 Corinthians 5:8
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the two key aspects of faith described in Hebrews 11:1, and how are they defined in the sermon? [00:29]
2. According to the sermon, what are some of the achievements and agonies experienced by the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11? [02:49]
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between Old Testament believers and the promises of God? [07:51]
4. What does the sermon say about the role of Jesus in our faith journey, according to Hebrews 12:2? [20:45]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon explain the concept of "something better" that God has planned for us, as mentioned in Hebrews 11:40? [08:24]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the faith of Old Testament believers is similar to our faith today? [10:14]
3. How does the sermon interpret the role of Jesus as both the founder and perfecter of our faith? [20:45]
4. What does the sermon imply about the significance of the "great cloud of witnesses" mentioned in Hebrews 12:1? [17:07]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the idea that faith is both an assurance and a conviction. How can you cultivate these aspects of faith in your daily life? [00:29]
2. The sermon mentions that Old Testament believers lived in anticipation of God's promises. How can you live with a similar sense of anticipation in your spiritual journey? [10:14]
3. Consider the heroes of faith who endured both achievements and agonies. How can their stories inspire you to persevere through your own challenges? [02:49]
4. The sermon emphasizes looking to Jesus as the founder and perfecter of our faith. What practical steps can you take to keep your focus on Jesus amidst life's distractions? [20:45]
5. How does the concept of being part of a "redeemed family" influence your interactions with fellow believers? What can you do to strengthen these relationships? [31:10]
6. The sermon describes faith as a living tree bursting with fruit. What specific "fruits" of faith do you see in your life, and how can you nurture them further? [01:42]
7. Reflect on the idea of running your race with endurance. What are some "weights" or "sins" you need to lay aside to run more effectively? [17:56]
Devotional
Day 1: Faith as Assurance and Conviction
Faith is described as both an assurance and a conviction, a belief in what God has revealed and a trust in what He has promised. This dual nature of faith is like a living tree, bursting with fruit, where all kinds of good things follow in your life. Faith listens, walks, fears, obeys, receives, submits, worships, hopes, depends, and commits to God. It is not passive but active, influencing every aspect of life. When you have faith, it transforms your perspective and actions, leading to a life that reflects God's promises and truths. [00:29]
Hebrews 11:1-2 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust God's promises more fully today, and how can you actively demonstrate that trust?
Day 2: Something Better Promised
Despite their commendable faith, the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 did not receive what was promised because God had planned something better for us. This promise is something better than anything we can experience in this world, a perfection that will come when we are made perfect in a day yet to come. This future promise is a source of hope and motivation, encouraging believers to persevere in faith, knowing that God's ultimate plan is far greater than any earthly experience. [08:24]
1 Corinthians 2:9 (ESV): "But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.'"
Reflection: What is one way you can remind yourself of God's future promises when you face challenges or disappointments today?
Day 3: Awaiting Fulfillment
Old Testament believers, like us, lived and died looking forward to what God had promised. They were forgiven, knew the power of the Holy Spirit, and entered into God's presence when they died, but they still awaited the fulfillment of God's ultimate promise. This shared experience of waiting and hoping in God's promises unites believers across time, encouraging us to live with an eternal perspective and to trust in God's perfect timing. [07:51]
Hebrews 11:39-40 (ESV): "And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect."
Reflection: How can you cultivate a sense of anticipation and hope for God's promises in your daily life, even when they seem distant or unfulfilled?
Day 4: Jesus: Founder and Perfecter
Our faith, like that of the Old Testament believers, looks to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. Jesus is more than an example; He is the one who forms and completes our faith. He enables us to endure and will bring us into His glorious presence. This understanding of Jesus as the author and finisher of faith provides believers with confidence and assurance, knowing that their faith journey is guided and completed by Him. [20:45]
Hebrews 12:2 (ESV): "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to focus more on Jesus as the source and sustainer of your faith?
Day 5: Faith Joins Us to Jesus
We live in anticipation of the resurrection, the gathering of the redeemed family, and the restored universe. Our faith joins us to Jesus in a spiritual union, where His life flows into us, giving us righteousness, strength, peace, and endurance. This union with Christ is transformative, impacting how we live and interact with the world, as we draw from His life and power to navigate our daily challenges and opportunities. [27:59]
Colossians 3:3-4 (ESV): "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
Reflection: How can you intentionally draw on the life and strength of Jesus in your daily activities and interactions with others today?
Quotes
Faith is an assurance and faith is a conviction faith is sure of what we hope for because these things have been promised by God and faith is convinced of what we cannot see because these things have been revealed by God and so we've seen together that faith believes what God has revealed and trusts what God has promised. [00:00:35]
Faith listens to God, faith walks with God, faith fears God, faith obeys God, faith receives from God, faith submits to God, faith worships God, faith hopes in God, faith depends on God, and faith commits to God so faith is like a living tree and it's just bursting with fruit when you have faith all kinds of good things follow in your life. [00:01:21]
These Old Testament believers, like us, lived and died looking forward to what God had promised. They were forgiven, knew the power of the Holy Spirit, and entered into God's presence when they died, but they still awaited the fulfillment of God's ultimate promise. [00:10:29]
God promised something better for us than anything that we could experience in this world, and just as he promised something better for the Old Testament believers than they could ever experience in this world. The point then seems to be not that their experience is different from ours but that it is exactly the same. [00:09:55]
Our faith, like that of the Old Testament believers, looks to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. Jesus is more than an example; He is the one who forms and completes our faith. He enables us to endure and will bring us into His glorious presence. [00:20:45]
Faith joins us to Jesus in a spiritual union, in which what is in him actually becomes ours. Remember how Jesus described it using this illustration he said, "I am the vine, and you are the branches," and you see what that conveys, something of the life of the vine flows into the branches. [00:27:49]
When Christ lives in you, he gives you a righteousness that you would never have on your own. When Christ lives in you, he gives you a strength that you would never have on your own. When Christ lives in you, he gives you a peace that you could never have on your own. [00:28:54]
The Savior who endured the cross lives in you by his Holy Spirit and because he lives in you, you will be able to endure as you run the race that is set before you. [00:29:37]
Jesus will bring you into his glorious presence. Look at what it says here about the journey of Jesus, and we will follow after him, looking to Jesus, the founder, the perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. [00:30:05]
The message is this: the same faith that was formed in them has also been formed in you, and Jesus is the one who forms that faith. Jesus is more than an example; he is not is the word the founder of our faith. What is a founder? A founder is a person who brings something into being. [00:22:31]
Jesus will perfect your faith, he will bring it to completion, he's going to vindicate your faith by bringing you into all that he has promised and he's going to do this when he gathers all of the redeemed family together. He's the founder and he's the perfecter of our faith. [00:24:51]
Jesus said, "I tell you many will come from the east and from the west and they will recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven." On that day when the Old Testament believers and all who are redeemed in the New Testament era, all of the church of God, all of the people of God from Old and New Testament will all be gathered together. [00:31:28]
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