WEBVTT 00:00:09.640 --> 00:00:13.480 Hebrews chapter 11. We are going to conclude 00:00:13.480 --> 00:00:18.399 our exposition of Hebrews chapter 11 today. And 00:00:18.399 --> 00:00:23.339 we're going to be expositing verses 32 through 00:00:23.339 --> 00:00:29.079 40. In what more shall we say, starting in verse 00:00:29.079 --> 00:00:33.640 32? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, 00:00:33.659 --> 00:00:38.640 Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel. 00:00:39.229 --> 00:00:43.149 and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, 00:00:43.530 --> 00:00:47.530 performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, 00:00:48.289 --> 00:00:51.950 shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power 00:00:51.950 --> 00:00:55.250 of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from 00:00:55.250 --> 00:00:58.530 weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, 00:00:58.710 --> 00:01:02.390 put foreign armies to flight, women received 00:01:02.390 --> 00:01:05.849 back their dead by resurrection, and others were 00:01:05.849 --> 00:01:09.239 tortured. not accepting their release so that 00:01:09.239 --> 00:01:12.920 they might obtain a better resurrection. And 00:01:12.920 --> 00:01:16.579 others experienced mockings and scourgings, yet 00:01:16.579 --> 00:01:20.799 also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, 00:01:20.900 --> 00:01:24.400 torn in two. They were tempted. They were put 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:28.219 to death with the sword. They went about in sheepskins 00:01:28.219 --> 00:01:31.540 and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill 00:01:31.540 --> 00:01:35.359 -treated, men of whom the world was not worthy. 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:39.239 wandering in deserts and mountains and caves 00:01:39.239 --> 00:01:44.939 and holes in the ground. All of these, having 00:01:44.939 --> 00:01:48.640 gained approval through their faith, did not 00:01:48.640 --> 00:01:52.680 receive what was promised because God had provided 00:01:52.680 --> 00:01:57.359 something better for us so that apart from us, 00:01:57.459 --> 00:02:02.000 they would not be made perfect. Let's go to the 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:07.579 Lord in prayer. Father, we come to you this Lord's 00:02:07.579 --> 00:02:13.680 Day. Lord, we know our desperate need for your 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:18.520 help. Father, we know our desperate need for 00:02:18.520 --> 00:02:22.500 your spirit to work in our midst, for you to 00:02:22.500 --> 00:02:26.099 strengthen us, to approach your word as we ought, 00:02:26.319 --> 00:02:30.460 for you to strengthen us, to listen and hear 00:02:30.460 --> 00:02:36.030 by faith. Lord, we need you. Lord, we ask that 00:02:36.030 --> 00:02:38.949 you would give us your spirit in greater measure, 00:02:39.050 --> 00:02:43.129 in greater degree, that he would influence and 00:02:43.129 --> 00:02:46.590 stir up our hearts. Lord, that he would sanctify 00:02:46.590 --> 00:02:51.169 and mature and grow and edify the people of God. 00:02:51.509 --> 00:02:55.270 And Lord, that he would convict and convert those 00:02:55.270 --> 00:02:58.930 who don't know the Lord Jesus Christ by faith. 00:03:00.039 --> 00:03:03.419 Father, we ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:03:03.939 --> 00:03:10.599 You may be seated. As we conclude Hebrews 11, 00:03:10.879 --> 00:03:20.819 the author gives us some final examples of faith. 00:03:21.479 --> 00:03:27.120 And he does this in a sense by giving us an unexhaustive 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:31.520 or an incomplete He essentially says in verse 00:03:31.520 --> 00:03:36.539 32, what more shall I say? For time will fail 00:03:36.539 --> 00:03:40.719 me if I tell of. He said, I don't have time to 00:03:40.719 --> 00:03:43.680 speak of everything. I don't have time to tell 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:47.879 you of everybody that performed feats of faith. 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:54.240 Everybody that endured trials of faith. So he 00:03:54.240 --> 00:04:00.750 lists a few more. He lists. Gideon, a judge. 00:04:01.669 --> 00:04:08.289 Barak, a judge. Samson, a judge. Jephthah, a 00:04:08.289 --> 00:04:14.870 judge. David, a king. Samuel, a prophet slash 00:04:14.870 --> 00:04:21.870 priest. And the prophets in general. Now, what 00:04:21.870 --> 00:04:24.829 the author does in this remaining section of 00:04:24.829 --> 00:04:29.379 Hebrews chapter 11. as he walks us through the 00:04:29.379 --> 00:04:34.560 great triumphs of faith. We see this in verses 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:39.439 33 through 35. He speaks of the mighty deeds 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:43.199 and the great acts of faith performed throughout 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:48.399 history. But he also speaks of the great trials 00:04:48.399 --> 00:04:54.360 and sufferings of faith throughout history. We 00:04:54.360 --> 00:04:59.720 read in verses 35. Through 38. Of the things 00:04:59.720 --> 00:05:05.319 which those of faith endured throughout history. 00:05:06.100 --> 00:05:10.500 That which faith brought upon them. That which 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:14.600 faith led them into. We could even say that which 00:05:14.600 --> 00:05:17.740 was produced or brought about as a result of 00:05:17.740 --> 00:05:23.019 their trusting in God and his word. And all throughout 00:05:23.019 --> 00:05:28.629 this text we see. And we will see there are great 00:05:28.629 --> 00:05:35.709 tensions within it. The author presents almost 00:05:35.709 --> 00:05:41.430 a conflict between a triumphant faith and a faith 00:05:41.430 --> 00:05:46.329 that experiences great trials. We see a tension 00:05:46.329 --> 00:05:50.730 almost between the providences that God puts 00:05:50.730 --> 00:05:53.920 us in. in the expression or the manifestation 00:05:53.920 --> 00:06:00.660 of those individuals' faith. We see a tension 00:06:00.660 --> 00:06:04.800 between those with faith and the world in which 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:09.860 they live and exercise that faith. We see a tension 00:06:09.860 --> 00:06:14.980 between faith and that which God has promised 00:06:14.980 --> 00:06:19.540 to his people. Even in that sense, we see it. 00:06:20.029 --> 00:06:25.629 in this text. But in all of this, the text is 00:06:25.629 --> 00:06:30.629 culminating to verses 39 and 40, where we see 00:06:30.629 --> 00:06:37.069 a great resolution of this tension. We see a 00:06:37.069 --> 00:06:42.069 point in time where Old Covenant saints and New 00:06:42.069 --> 00:06:47.769 Covenant believers will together find a resolution. 00:06:48.829 --> 00:06:51.589 for the tension that they have experienced in 00:06:51.589 --> 00:06:57.009 their lives of faith. So beginning with the first, 00:06:57.129 --> 00:07:00.850 the great triumphs of faith throughout history. 00:07:01.470 --> 00:07:05.589 We're going to briefly walk through these elements 00:07:05.589 --> 00:07:08.810 that the author lists. I'm not going to give 00:07:08.810 --> 00:07:12.350 exact references for every single one, just because 00:07:12.350 --> 00:07:17.420 there are so many. He's alluding to various examples 00:07:17.420 --> 00:07:23.079 and situations in the Old Testament. He's alluding 00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:25.980 to different circumstances that the prophets 00:07:25.980 --> 00:07:28.360 were in, or the judges were in, or the kings 00:07:28.360 --> 00:07:33.139 were in. He's alluding to different acts. He's 00:07:33.139 --> 00:07:35.959 not always the most precise on exactly what he's 00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:40.720 addressing, but he's alluding to various things 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:45.990 throughout. the history of God's people. He says 00:07:45.990 --> 00:07:50.329 that they conquered kingdoms. Surely he's referring 00:07:50.329 --> 00:07:55.370 to Joshua and taking Canaan, poor God's people, 00:07:55.449 --> 00:08:02.089 or Gideon defeating the enemies of God and overtaking 00:08:02.089 --> 00:08:05.329 and even pushing back Midian, getting them on 00:08:05.329 --> 00:08:10.899 the run. He speaks of Barak. and his defeat of 00:08:10.899 --> 00:08:15.839 Sisera. He speaks of David conquering Philistia 00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:22.399 and Moab and so many others. All of these that 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:25.040 he's listed so far with regards to conquering 00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:30.680 kingdoms are great feats of faith. He says that 00:08:30.680 --> 00:08:34.740 throughout Israel's history, they have performed 00:08:34.740 --> 00:08:38.279 acts of righteousness or they have enforced, 00:08:38.970 --> 00:08:45.129 True biblical justice. We should think of Samuel 00:08:45.129 --> 00:08:50.690 and various situations and occurrences in his 00:08:50.690 --> 00:08:53.450 life. We should think of King David and King 00:08:53.450 --> 00:08:56.649 Solomon and the justice which they administered 00:08:56.649 --> 00:09:01.570 in the kingdom of Israel. He says that they obtained 00:09:01.570 --> 00:09:07.879 promises. Surely he is referring to Caleb. receiving 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:14.059 Hebron, them taking the promised land. Surely 00:09:14.059 --> 00:09:19.860 speaking of so many others. Hannah, who received 00:09:19.860 --> 00:09:24.299 Samuel by way of promise. David, who received 00:09:24.299 --> 00:09:32.000 and was given promises by God. We read that by 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:37.139 faith they shut the mouths of lions. Everybody 00:09:37.139 --> 00:09:40.779 who's heard the Bible stories regarding Daniel 00:09:40.779 --> 00:09:45.299 probably know who he's referring to. Daniel, 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:49.960 by faith and prayer, brothers and sisters, and 00:09:49.960 --> 00:09:53.299 the power of God acting on his behalf shut the 00:09:53.299 --> 00:09:56.480 mouths of lions. But we also see throughout Scripture 00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:59.899 that others were consumed by the mouths of lions. 00:10:00.759 --> 00:10:05.909 We hear of David in the Old Testament. who struck 00:10:05.909 --> 00:10:08.590 a bear and a lion with his bare hands, brothers 00:10:08.590 --> 00:10:11.549 and sisters. Those are mighty feats of faith 00:10:11.549 --> 00:10:14.669 that were performed and carried out in what? 00:10:15.470 --> 00:10:20.789 Faith. We read that they quenched fire. Surely 00:10:20.789 --> 00:10:24.509 he's referring to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 00:10:24.629 --> 00:10:31.210 who went into the fire, yet they weren't consumed. 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:34.779 And those that threw him in the fire were killed 00:10:34.779 --> 00:10:40.799 because of the excessive heat of that furnace. 00:10:41.220 --> 00:10:46.200 It says that they escaped the edge of the sword. 00:10:47.320 --> 00:10:50.200 There's many instances throughout Scripture. 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:55.539 Think of David on the run from King Saul so often 00:10:55.539 --> 00:11:00.460 in his early reign, in his early period of life. 00:11:00.990 --> 00:11:05.429 We could think of Elijah escaping Jezebel. We 00:11:05.429 --> 00:11:09.309 could think of Elisha and Jeremiah who so often 00:11:09.309 --> 00:11:16.649 had to escape the edge of the sword. How? Faith. 00:11:17.769 --> 00:11:21.830 They weren't merely fleeing for their lives, 00:11:21.830 --> 00:11:25.370 brothers and sisters. They were escaping the 00:11:25.370 --> 00:11:28.110 edge of the sword in faith because of their faithfulness 00:11:28.110 --> 00:11:33.080 to the word of God. Because of the promises of 00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:39.419 God that he had made, we see that by faith, some 00:11:39.419 --> 00:11:43.480 from weakness were made strong. We could think 00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:50.139 of Samson, who had his eyes gouged out. But at 00:11:50.139 --> 00:11:53.480 the end of his life, he was strengthened. He 00:11:53.480 --> 00:11:58.250 was empowered to overcome the enemy. Samson, 00:11:58.309 --> 00:12:01.389 brothers and sisters, is an example of faith 00:12:01.389 --> 00:12:05.549 for the new covenant believer. We could think 00:12:05.549 --> 00:12:08.590 of Hezekiah, who had an illness and recovered 00:12:08.590 --> 00:12:12.610 and stood strong in faith. It says that they 00:12:12.610 --> 00:12:16.409 became mighty in war. One of the older translations, 00:12:16.750 --> 00:12:21.629 I love it, it says they waxed valiantly. There 00:12:21.629 --> 00:12:25.350 is a holy boldness that faith produces in the 00:12:25.350 --> 00:12:28.990 old covenant saints. That we could see. I love 00:12:28.990 --> 00:12:33.570 this story. In the book of Joshua. Where Joshua 00:12:33.570 --> 00:12:37.490 is getting ready. For Jericho. He gets up early 00:12:37.490 --> 00:12:41.190 in the morning. And he sees a man approaching 00:12:41.190 --> 00:12:44.789 him. And what does Joshua immediately do. Brothers 00:12:44.789 --> 00:12:47.230 and sisters. He immediately grabs his sword. 00:12:47.669 --> 00:12:51.190 He approaches the man. With a fierce holiness. 00:12:51.549 --> 00:12:54.230 All the while he discovers. It's the Lord of 00:12:54.230 --> 00:12:58.629 the armies of Israel. It's the angel of the Lord. 00:12:58.730 --> 00:13:01.870 And what does he do? He falls to the ground because 00:13:01.870 --> 00:13:04.970 of his holiness and his humility and his worship 00:13:04.970 --> 00:13:10.610 towards God. That was faith that animated Joshua 00:13:10.610 --> 00:13:16.649 and his boldness and his power to overcome enemies, 00:13:16.789 --> 00:13:20.750 brothers and sisters. They became mighty and 00:13:20.750 --> 00:13:24.409 were there so many examples throughout Scripture. 00:13:25.480 --> 00:13:28.299 It says that women received back their dead. 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:33.480 We can think of the widow in Zarephath, 1 Kings 00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:38.279 17, or the Shunammite woman who received back 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:44.039 their dead in faith, brothers and sisters. God 00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:48.200 exercised his power. They believed God was able 00:13:48.200 --> 00:13:53.580 and capable, and they received back their dead. 00:13:54.990 --> 00:13:59.590 All of these individuals listed embodied the 00:13:59.590 --> 00:14:03.370 faith that the Lord Jesus Christ speaks of in 00:14:03.370 --> 00:14:06.429 Matthew chapter 17, where he says, even if you 00:14:06.429 --> 00:14:10.289 have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can 00:14:10.289 --> 00:14:14.350 move mountains and nothing will be impossible. 00:14:15.210 --> 00:14:18.750 That's the kind of faith that is presented in 00:14:18.750 --> 00:14:23.279 this text, a triumphant, victorious. conquering, 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:27.860 overcoming faith. And we see this time and time 00:14:27.860 --> 00:14:32.080 again. Throughout the Christian life, the believer 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:38.639 will have many victories. The believer will experience 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:44.120 a triumphant faith. But we also see that we must 00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:50.500 not stop there. He also speaks of the great trials 00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:56.149 of faith. throughout history. We read that some 00:14:56.149 --> 00:15:03.590 were tortured, not accepting release. This is 00:15:03.590 --> 00:15:08.769 likely referring to tradition during the intertestamental 00:15:08.769 --> 00:15:16.289 period. There's several stories in the non -canonical 00:15:16.289 --> 00:15:21.960 books of 1 and 2 Maccabees. which describe and 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:26.360 characterize individuals who are unwilling to 00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:32.879 disobey God's law. And thus, they were literally 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:37.940 tortured to death as a result of their faith 00:15:37.940 --> 00:15:41.799 in God's word. There's a story of Eleazar in 00:15:41.799 --> 00:15:47.379 that content. An old, aged man who was mocked 00:15:47.379 --> 00:15:51.629 and made fun of. who they tried to lure into 00:15:51.629 --> 00:15:56.049 breaking the law of God, yet he refused, he was 00:15:56.049 --> 00:15:59.889 tortured, and ultimately he was executed. There's 00:15:59.889 --> 00:16:02.929 a story of seven brothers during that period 00:16:02.929 --> 00:16:08.690 who were tortured in front of their mother as 00:16:08.690 --> 00:16:13.950 a result of their trust in God and his word. 00:16:14.610 --> 00:16:20.679 They valued God more than life itself. They love 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:27.379 the Lord and his promises more than the breath 00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:31.360 in their lungs, brothers and sisters. They believe 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:37.179 in the word of God. They trusted God and his 00:16:37.179 --> 00:16:42.879 word. Others experienced mocking and scourging. 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:46.519 We could think of Elisha being mocked by the 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:50.379 youth. And we see the repercussions. which came 00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:55.279 upon them. We could think of Jeremiah repeatedly 00:16:55.279 --> 00:17:01.059 throughout his ministry. Over and over and over 00:17:01.059 --> 00:17:05.240 and over. He is shamed. He is mocked. He is berated 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:09.440 by his own people, brothers and sisters. His 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:14.660 own nation that he's ministering to. He's mocked. 00:17:15.819 --> 00:17:19.599 We can think of Nehemiah being mocked by Sanballat 00:17:19.599 --> 00:17:23.700 and Tobiah when they're building the wall. They're 00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:29.640 being made fun of. They're being opposed. And 00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:33.779 so many other examples. Jeremiah was beaten. 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:38.599 Micaiah was beaten and left for dead. They were 00:17:38.599 --> 00:17:43.579 scourged. We also see that some endured chains. 00:17:44.430 --> 00:17:47.710 and imprisonment. The most natural example is 00:17:47.710 --> 00:17:54.210 Joseph. He was imprisoned for a long period of 00:17:54.210 --> 00:17:57.769 his life. He was in chains and shackles for a 00:17:57.769 --> 00:18:01.990 long time. Why? Because God was working out his 00:18:01.990 --> 00:18:07.190 purposes and his plans in life, and Joseph was 00:18:07.190 --> 00:18:11.690 trusting the Lord all throughout it. It says 00:18:11.690 --> 00:18:15.200 they were stoned. We could think of Zechariah, 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:20.279 the son of Jehoiada, or Naboth, who was stoned 00:18:20.279 --> 00:18:24.420 to death because of the vineyard, which the king 00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:28.019 and his wicked wife wanted to obtain for their 00:18:28.019 --> 00:18:33.420 own pleasure. We could think of other examples. 00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:38.740 Then we come and it says that they were sawn 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:44.900 in two. Nobody... can say that the Bible is not 00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:48.339 captivating and interesting, brothers and sisters. 00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:53.259 There are certain hard truths that the Bible 00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:58.019 speaks realistically about. And this is one of 00:18:58.019 --> 00:19:01.140 them. And they don't always need to be nuanced. 00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:06.400 They don't always need to be softened, brothers 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:09.019 and sisters, for us to hear them, because the 00:19:09.019 --> 00:19:14.309 Bible openly speaks of them. What is this referring 00:19:14.309 --> 00:19:19.289 to? We don't have a biblical example of someone 00:19:19.289 --> 00:19:23.450 being sawed in two. It's referring to tradition 00:19:23.450 --> 00:19:26.549 once again, which says that the prophet Isaiah, 00:19:26.890 --> 00:19:31.130 likely the greatest of all the prophets of God, 00:19:31.230 --> 00:19:34.309 he hid in a cedar trunk and the evil, wicked 00:19:34.309 --> 00:19:37.210 King Manasseh came up and literally sawed him 00:19:37.210 --> 00:19:42.230 in two, not cut, sawed him in two. Is that what? 00:19:42.559 --> 00:19:45.000 Men of God in the Old Testament get for their 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:49.140 faith? Is that what those who are faithful and 00:19:49.140 --> 00:19:51.299 those who trust and those who believe in God's 00:19:51.299 --> 00:19:54.519 word, is that what they ought to receive? Is 00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:58.660 that fair, brothers and sisters? That's what 00:19:58.660 --> 00:20:03.980 Isaiah received. He was literally sawed into 00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:08.759 two pieces by the ruler of the kingdom. that 00:20:08.759 --> 00:20:15.599 he was serving and preaching the gospel to. We're 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:19.220 told that others were killed by the sword. We 00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:23.140 can think of the prophets that Jezebel killed, 00:20:23.339 --> 00:20:29.319 many of them. 1 Kings 18 .4. The prophet actually 00:20:29.319 --> 00:20:34.319 says, they have killed your prophets. We can 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:38.240 think of the priests of Nob. If you recall, King 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:45.039 Saul killed, I believe, 80 to 100 priests because 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:50.559 they aided David in his escape. They suffered 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:54.660 and they endured in faith. They were tempted. 00:20:55.400 --> 00:21:01.720 Again, we can think of Joseph and so many of 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:07.039 the prophets. We're told that They went about 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:10.119 in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:14.259 afflicted, and mistreated. Think of Elijah and 00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:18.559 Elijah. They didn't have fancy clothes because 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:20.880 they had no money. They had no wealth. They were 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:24.019 in poverty, brothers and sisters. They had no 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:30.740 permanent home. They lived the life of a wanderer. 00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:37.019 And often, so many of these individuals, were 00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:41.660 on the run. They were ostracized. They were fleeing 00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:44.759 and wandering. They were hiding. Think about 00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:49.339 David so often. They were wandering in deserts 00:21:49.339 --> 00:21:53.359 and mountains and caves, holes in the ground. 00:21:53.519 --> 00:22:00.740 What a glorious life. What a wonderful existence 00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:08.650 for the faithful of God. but they would not have 00:22:08.650 --> 00:22:15.430 it any other way. They chose to live as they 00:22:15.430 --> 00:22:18.670 did because they chose to trust in the living 00:22:18.670 --> 00:22:25.529 God and his word, regardless of what came into 00:22:25.529 --> 00:22:29.450 their life as a result. The fact that the author 00:22:29.450 --> 00:22:33.509 concludes with the words that they were ill -treated 00:22:33.509 --> 00:22:37.460 or mistreated means that they were all treated 00:22:37.460 --> 00:22:44.359 in this way, in an unjust fashion. They didn't 00:22:44.359 --> 00:22:49.059 deserve any of the treatment that they received 00:22:49.059 --> 00:22:54.240 as those who were trusting in the Lord. Yet they 00:22:54.240 --> 00:23:01.440 did. There are great triumphs throughout history. 00:23:02.829 --> 00:23:06.930 That we see in the life of God's people. But 00:23:06.930 --> 00:23:09.930 brothers and sisters, it is mixed in and it is 00:23:09.930 --> 00:23:17.349 intermixed with many great trials of faith throughout 00:23:17.349 --> 00:23:25.009 history. We see both. Both will be part of the 00:23:25.009 --> 00:23:29.990 Christian life that is lived by faith. The Christian 00:23:29.990 --> 00:23:35.400 will. experience great victories. They will experience 00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:39.220 great overcoming in their life. But brothers 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:42.319 and sisters, as believers in Jesus Christ who 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:45.599 live by faith in this world, we will experience 00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:50.940 great trials in faith as well. You will experience 00:23:50.940 --> 00:23:54.160 hardship and suffering and opposition. You will 00:23:54.160 --> 00:24:00.700 be treated in unjust, unfair ways. Every single 00:24:00.700 --> 00:24:05.000 true believer in Jesus Christ. I think that we 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:08.420 can start seeing some of the tension that is 00:24:08.420 --> 00:24:12.500 in this text. You can almost feel it a little 00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:16.740 bit as you read through these examples of triumph 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:20.640 and trial in the life of God's people throughout 00:24:20.640 --> 00:24:24.160 history. So what about the great tensions that 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:30.319 are present in and throughout history? Well, 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:32.940 I think there's a few different tensions that 00:24:32.940 --> 00:24:38.960 we see in this text. The first is there is a 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:43.799 tension between providence and the expression 00:24:43.799 --> 00:24:50.619 of the faith of God's people. Think about what 00:24:50.619 --> 00:24:55.759 the author has just walked us through. All these 00:24:55.759 --> 00:25:00.650 individuals are in... A diverse providential 00:25:00.650 --> 00:25:08.369 setting. A diverse providential situation. Some 00:25:08.369 --> 00:25:11.809 are in a situation where their faith manifests 00:25:11.809 --> 00:25:17.569 itself and expresses itself in overcoming. In 00:25:17.569 --> 00:25:22.009 great and mighty acts and deeds of faith. Victorious. 00:25:22.730 --> 00:25:25.670 Triumphant faith, based on the providence of 00:25:25.670 --> 00:25:28.490 God and his good delight in where they are in 00:25:28.490 --> 00:25:33.210 life. While others, their providential situation 00:25:33.210 --> 00:25:39.569 requires that they endure and they persevere 00:25:39.569 --> 00:25:44.529 in faith as a result of their circumstances. 00:25:44.990 --> 00:25:50.950 There is a tension between those two realities. 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:55.660 There's actually a very distinct contrast in 00:25:55.660 --> 00:25:59.920 the text. Notice that the text speaks of those 00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:05.460 who conquered by faith and those who wandered 00:26:05.460 --> 00:26:10.849 about the kingdom. There are those who fled and 00:26:10.849 --> 00:26:12.890 were saved and delivered from the edge of the 00:26:12.890 --> 00:26:16.130 sword. And there were those who died by the edge 00:26:16.130 --> 00:26:18.509 of the sword. There are those, brothers and sisters, 00:26:18.630 --> 00:26:21.470 who received back the dead by faith. And there 00:26:21.470 --> 00:26:25.690 are those who died waiting for a better resurrection. 00:26:25.970 --> 00:26:28.690 There are those who are made powerful and mighty. 00:26:28.849 --> 00:26:31.109 And then there were those who were made strong 00:26:31.109 --> 00:26:36.269 out of weakness. There's a great contrast in 00:26:36.269 --> 00:26:39.089 the text, and I think the author is preemptively 00:26:39.089 --> 00:26:42.710 wanting to address a question that his recipients 00:26:42.710 --> 00:26:48.869 might be wrestling with. Remember, the recipients 00:26:48.869 --> 00:26:52.430 of the book of Hebrews, they're going through 00:26:52.430 --> 00:26:56.309 hardship. They're going through sufferings and 00:26:56.309 --> 00:27:02.799 trials. We read this in chapter 10. Starting 00:27:02.799 --> 00:27:08.279 in verse 32. But remember the former days. This 00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:11.619 is the author speaking of the recipients of the 00:27:11.619 --> 00:27:15.460 letter of Hebrews. The epistle of Hebrews. But 00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:19.339 remember the former days. When after being enlightened 00:27:19.339 --> 00:27:24.160 you endured great conflict of sufferings. Partly 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:28.539 by being made a public spectacle. through reproaches 00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:32.099 and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers 00:27:32.099 --> 00:27:35.779 with those who were so treated. For you showed 00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:39.160 sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully 00:27:39.160 --> 00:27:42.000 the seizure of your property, knowing that you 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:45.420 have for yourselves a better possession and a 00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:48.640 lasting one. Therefore, do not throw away your 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:52.359 confidence, which has great reward, for you have 00:27:52.359 --> 00:27:55.440 need of endurance so that When you have done 00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:58.880 the will of God, you may receive what was promised. 00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:02.740 In verse 39, he says, we are not of those who 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:06.680 shrink back to destruction, but of those who 00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:13.900 have faith to the preserving of the soul. What 00:28:13.900 --> 00:28:17.740 is the author wanting to preemptively address 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:23.049 in his recipients? Individuals are going through 00:28:23.049 --> 00:28:25.809 hardship and suffering and trial and difficulty, 00:28:26.009 --> 00:28:30.170 especially the persecution and opposition that 00:28:30.170 --> 00:28:32.910 is spoken of in Hebrews 11 or Hebrews 10 right 00:28:32.910 --> 00:28:36.269 there. The question may come into one's mind. 00:28:37.369 --> 00:28:42.210 If I really had faith, then God would take this 00:28:42.210 --> 00:28:47.400 from me. If I really had faith. then God would 00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:50.319 deliver me from these circumstances. If I really 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:53.000 had faith, then I wouldn't be in this situation. 00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:56.140 If I really had faith, my possessions wouldn't 00:28:56.140 --> 00:28:58.680 have been taken. If I really had faith, then 00:28:58.680 --> 00:29:01.359 I wouldn't be persecuted and opposed as I am. 00:29:02.119 --> 00:29:04.579 But what is the author wanting to remind them 00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:09.839 of? That's always been a part of being a believer 00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:14.480 in this world. And it always will be, brothers 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:19.599 and sisters. He's wanting to remind them to take 00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:22.539 heart and to press on and to keep on in Christ 00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:26.779 and to hold fast their confession of faith. Because 00:29:26.779 --> 00:29:30.259 part of having faith in a fallen world is being 00:29:30.259 --> 00:29:34.720 opposed by those who don't have faith in a fallen, 00:29:34.920 --> 00:29:39.920 in a sinful world. He's wanting to address that. 00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:46.740 But it's important to recognize that there is 00:29:46.740 --> 00:29:51.240 resolution for this tension that is spoken of. 00:29:51.819 --> 00:29:57.380 Now, there's another tension in the text, and 00:29:57.380 --> 00:30:03.740 this is a tension between those with faith and 00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:12.299 this unbelieving world. Notice in verse 38, possibly 00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:14.950 one of the greatest... Parenthetical statements 00:30:14.950 --> 00:30:21.930 in all of Scripture. Men of whom the world was 00:30:21.930 --> 00:30:28.390 not worthy. He's speaking of the fact that those 00:30:28.390 --> 00:30:32.210 who have triumphed in faith and those who have 00:30:32.210 --> 00:30:35.130 suffered and been martyred because of the faith, 00:30:35.369 --> 00:30:41.849 they are not accepted by the world. They are 00:30:41.849 --> 00:30:46.839 rejected. by the world they're ostracized by 00:30:46.839 --> 00:30:51.759 the world they're spoken ill of by the world 00:30:51.759 --> 00:31:01.900 yet God deems them worthy God is pleased with 00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:06.099 them The world has its verdict regarding the 00:31:06.099 --> 00:31:09.319 church of Jesus Christ, and God has his verdict 00:31:09.319 --> 00:31:11.680 regarding the church of Jesus Christ, brothers 00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:15.180 and sisters. Who do you lean to? Who do you look 00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:22.160 to? Whose verdict do you walk in light of? God. 00:31:22.819 --> 00:31:26.859 The Lord Jesus Christ, who is pleased with those 00:31:26.859 --> 00:31:31.920 who do triumph in faith and who suffer and die. 00:31:32.569 --> 00:31:38.349 because of faith. There's a tension in this text 00:31:38.349 --> 00:31:43.829 between those whom God deems as worthy because 00:31:43.829 --> 00:31:50.470 of faith and the world that has no faith that 00:31:50.470 --> 00:31:55.789 rejects the church and the believer with faith. 00:31:57.430 --> 00:32:02.640 There's a resolution for that tension. that will 00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:07.740 come as well. Now there's another tension in 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:13.440 the text. And we see this in verse 39. All of 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:17.180 these, having gained approval through their faith, 00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:24.079 did not receive what was promised. We hear that, 00:32:24.180 --> 00:32:27.539 and what do you think? Do you wonder and ask, 00:32:27.619 --> 00:32:32.559 why didn't they receive what was promised? Should 00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:37.220 they have received what was promised? There is 00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:41.339 a tension for all those with faith between living 00:32:41.339 --> 00:32:45.420 by faith in this world and that which God has 00:32:45.420 --> 00:32:49.680 promised with regards to redemption, its full 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:54.279 and final realization. There's almost a discrepancy 00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:58.660 between the grand and glorious realities that 00:32:58.660 --> 00:33:01.950 God has promised And our possession of them in 00:33:01.950 --> 00:33:07.269 this life. Do you ever feel that tension? Do 00:33:07.269 --> 00:33:10.549 you know the tension that I'm feeling? God says 00:33:10.549 --> 00:33:13.609 that his people are sons and daughters of God. 00:33:15.410 --> 00:33:18.349 That you are raised up and seated at the right. 00:33:18.450 --> 00:33:20.390 That you are raised up and seated with Christ 00:33:20.390 --> 00:33:23.329 in the heavenly places. That's what I read in 00:33:23.329 --> 00:33:28.920 Ephesians. Yet do you feel. Like a son or daughter 00:33:28.920 --> 00:33:32.480 of God in this world that you walk by faith in? 00:33:34.539 --> 00:33:39.039 God has promised, brothers and sisters, all the 00:33:39.039 --> 00:33:43.680 world, all that is in Christ to the believer, 00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:47.640 the new heavens and the new earth. Do you feel 00:33:47.640 --> 00:33:52.579 the tension of that lacking? The hostility and 00:33:52.579 --> 00:33:55.400 the enmity and the difficulty that arises either 00:33:55.400 --> 00:33:58.180 from our own hearts because of sin and transgression 00:33:58.180 --> 00:34:01.859 or corruption or because of the fallenness and 00:34:01.859 --> 00:34:04.420 judgment and curse that is on the world around 00:34:04.420 --> 00:34:08.159 us? Do you feel the tension and the air at times 00:34:08.159 --> 00:34:14.840 that is present in this world? I do. And I believe 00:34:14.840 --> 00:34:21.409 that you do as well. But take heart. A resolution 00:34:21.409 --> 00:34:28.010 is coming where that discrepancy or that discontinuity 00:34:28.010 --> 00:34:32.170 between what God has promised to the believer 00:34:32.170 --> 00:34:35.170 and their experience in full possession of it 00:34:35.170 --> 00:34:44.610 will be reconciled. Resolution is coming. And 00:34:44.610 --> 00:34:46.449 this is the last thing that we have to consider. 00:34:47.130 --> 00:34:51.599 The great resolution of all things, at the end 00:34:51.599 --> 00:34:57.460 of history. Now, before we can understand the 00:34:57.460 --> 00:35:01.400 nature of the resolution in some degree, we almost 00:35:01.400 --> 00:35:05.500 need to understand the reason that a resolution 00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:13.179 is needed. So, God has been working a single, 00:35:13.239 --> 00:35:20.420 unified, redemptive purpose all throughout history. 00:35:20.440 --> 00:35:27.099 All throughout history. We often think about 00:35:27.099 --> 00:35:30.280 our situations and our lives and our circumstances, 00:35:30.579 --> 00:35:34.460 our town, our church, our family, and we fail 00:35:34.460 --> 00:35:40.679 to look at the grand scheme of everything. The 00:35:40.679 --> 00:35:48.139 reality is history is not random. History is 00:35:48.139 --> 00:35:52.650 not aimless. And brothers and sisters, history 00:35:52.650 --> 00:35:58.570 is not endless. God has been working a single, 00:35:58.610 --> 00:36:03.309 unified, redemptive, historic plan all throughout 00:36:03.309 --> 00:36:08.130 the world. History is progressive. It builds. 00:36:08.429 --> 00:36:12.130 It is climactic in a sense. It is anticipatory. 00:36:12.190 --> 00:36:16.789 It is working towards a full and final culmination 00:36:16.789 --> 00:36:22.000 at the end of history. And at the center of it 00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:26.440 all is the Lord Jesus Christ and the gospel which 00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:31.400 he has accomplished. So we think about what the 00:36:31.400 --> 00:36:37.219 author is saying here in verse 40. Because God 00:36:37.219 --> 00:36:43.119 had provided something better for us, so that 00:36:43.119 --> 00:36:48.420 apart from us, they would not be made perfect. 00:36:51.980 --> 00:36:56.739 The old covenant saints lived in a distinct era 00:36:56.739 --> 00:37:02.800 with regards to God's redemptive purposes. They 00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:07.559 lived prior to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:37:07.659 --> 00:37:12.079 yet they had the same kind of faith that new 00:37:12.079 --> 00:37:17.699 covenant believers have in Jesus Christ. They 00:37:17.699 --> 00:37:21.659 lived before the gospel had... historically taken 00:37:21.659 --> 00:37:26.480 place. They lived in the era of types and shadows, 00:37:26.519 --> 00:37:28.920 brothers and sisters, where everything was in 00:37:28.920 --> 00:37:33.179 promissory form. They did not live in the era 00:37:33.179 --> 00:37:37.059 where those types and shadows became substance 00:37:37.059 --> 00:37:40.239 and reality in Jesus Christ and his historic 00:37:40.239 --> 00:37:44.579 work in this world, in his life, his death, his 00:37:44.579 --> 00:37:49.480 resurrection. They lived before that But new 00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:55.059 covenant believers live in a distinct era of 00:37:55.059 --> 00:37:59.840 God's redemptive purposes. We don't live in the 00:37:59.840 --> 00:38:03.960 old covenant as ministers of the gospel, brothers 00:38:03.960 --> 00:38:07.519 and sisters. Every minister that's in existence 00:38:07.519 --> 00:38:13.239 today is a minister of the new covenant, not 00:38:13.239 --> 00:38:15.920 a minister of the old covenant. Why is that? 00:38:16.429 --> 00:38:20.349 Because we live in a different era than the old 00:38:20.349 --> 00:38:24.489 covenant saints. The old covenant was distinctly 00:38:24.489 --> 00:38:30.650 marked by the law of God. By condemnation and 00:38:30.650 --> 00:38:36.230 wrath. And the new covenant is the manifestation 00:38:36.230 --> 00:38:40.710 of the provision that God has made in the Lord 00:38:40.710 --> 00:38:45.559 Jesus Christ. And they are superior. better realities 00:38:45.559 --> 00:38:49.079 because they are accomplished they are final 00:38:49.079 --> 00:38:53.099 they are full they are done they are completed 00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:58.539 we have greater and further light than old covenant 00:38:58.539 --> 00:39:05.179 saints it is not by accident that any believer 00:39:05.179 --> 00:39:11.500 today was born into the new covenant era of god's 00:39:11.500 --> 00:39:16.929 redemptive purposes As a believer today, you 00:39:16.929 --> 00:39:20.730 were not born into the old covenant. You were 00:39:20.730 --> 00:39:24.210 born in the new covenant. And there are distinct 00:39:24.210 --> 00:39:28.670 advantages and privileges and blessings associated 00:39:28.670 --> 00:39:34.429 with that reality. You have the canon of scripture, 00:39:34.610 --> 00:39:38.579 brothers and sisters. You can understand and 00:39:38.579 --> 00:39:41.739 grasp the gospel and the mystery of the gospel 00:39:41.739 --> 00:39:45.500 that was proclaimed for ages past. We have the 00:39:45.500 --> 00:39:49.599 truth, which means that the spirit of God illumines 00:39:49.599 --> 00:39:53.420 and enlightens our minds in a far greater capacity 00:39:53.420 --> 00:39:57.280 than any old covenant saint because we have more 00:39:57.280 --> 00:40:02.280 truth, brothers and sisters. We know more, brothers 00:40:02.280 --> 00:40:05.300 and sisters, by faith than the old covenant. 00:40:06.119 --> 00:40:09.920 There's distinct blessings and privileges to 00:40:09.920 --> 00:40:19.380 being on this side of Christ's work. Yet, there's 00:40:19.380 --> 00:40:22.800 also a cohesiveness with regards to God's people. 00:40:23.139 --> 00:40:28.239 Look in verse 40. So that apart from us, new 00:40:28.239 --> 00:40:32.780 covenant believers, they, old covenant saints, 00:40:33.440 --> 00:40:37.840 would not be made perfect. What's it referring 00:40:37.840 --> 00:40:41.719 to? It's referring to something where Old Covenant 00:40:41.719 --> 00:40:45.500 saints and New Testament believers all enjoy 00:40:45.500 --> 00:40:49.639 and participate in that thing at once together. 00:40:50.719 --> 00:40:56.079 There's one covenant people of God throughout 00:40:56.079 --> 00:41:01.699 all history. This text makes that abundantly 00:41:01.699 --> 00:41:07.369 clear. And they've all had one thing in common, 00:41:07.489 --> 00:41:14.010 faith. So though they lived in the old covenant 00:41:14.010 --> 00:41:17.750 and we live in the new covenant, all God's people 00:41:17.750 --> 00:41:23.849 are waiting for the full and final realization 00:41:23.849 --> 00:41:31.670 of all God's purposes in this world. Every single 00:41:31.670 --> 00:41:39.039 one. What is verse 40 referring to exactly? What 00:41:39.039 --> 00:41:43.000 does it mean when it says they would not be made 00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:48.199 perfect apart from us? I think he's referring 00:41:48.199 --> 00:41:53.119 to two distinct things. I believe he's referring, 00:41:53.300 --> 00:41:58.960 one, to a person's death and their entrance into 00:41:58.960 --> 00:42:02.869 the intermediate state. Because chapter 12 of 00:42:02.869 --> 00:42:13.250 Hebrews says this. We read this in Hebrews 12, 00:42:13.329 --> 00:42:18.989 starting in verse 18. For you have not come to 00:42:18.989 --> 00:42:23.409 a mountain that can be touched in a blazing fire, 00:42:23.630 --> 00:42:27.929 in the darkness and gloom and a whirlwind. And 00:42:27.929 --> 00:42:30.269 to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words, 00:42:30.349 --> 00:42:35.829 which sound was such that those who heard begged 00:42:35.829 --> 00:42:39.929 that no further would be spoken to them. For 00:42:39.929 --> 00:42:44.630 they could not bear the command. Even if a beast 00:42:44.630 --> 00:42:47.849 touches the mountain, it will be stoned. And 00:42:47.849 --> 00:42:52.050 so terrible was the trembling. But you have come 00:42:52.050 --> 00:42:55.389 to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God. 00:42:55.980 --> 00:42:59.639 the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 00:42:59.739 --> 00:43:03.280 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn 00:43:03.280 --> 00:43:06.139 who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge 00:43:06.139 --> 00:43:09.480 of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made 00:43:09.480 --> 00:43:16.179 perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new 00:43:16.179 --> 00:43:19.340 covenant, and the sprinkled blood which speaks 00:43:19.340 --> 00:43:24.019 better than the blood of Abel. There is a... 00:43:24.230 --> 00:43:29.130 Partial perfection that takes place upon the 00:43:29.130 --> 00:43:31.730 believer's death and their entrance into the 00:43:31.730 --> 00:43:36.769 intermediate state. Our spirits are made perfect. 00:43:37.070 --> 00:43:41.909 But why do I say that's only partial? Because 00:43:41.909 --> 00:43:46.690 we will no longer have our bodies. We will be 00:43:46.690 --> 00:43:50.519 incomplete. It will only be partial. And what 00:43:50.519 --> 00:43:53.519 will make that transformation, that perfection, 00:43:53.539 --> 00:43:57.300 whole and complete and absolute? When Jesus Christ 00:43:57.300 --> 00:44:01.380 returns to this world in glory and power and 00:44:01.380 --> 00:44:04.699 you are given a resurrected body that is righteous 00:44:04.699 --> 00:44:09.659 and perfect and complete, that comes together, 00:44:09.719 --> 00:44:16.500 we could say, with your righteous spirit. So 00:44:16.500 --> 00:44:21.320 it's referring, partially to our entrance into 00:44:21.320 --> 00:44:24.900 the intermediate state, but it's referring ultimately 00:44:24.900 --> 00:44:29.820 to the eschaton of all things, brothers and sisters. 00:44:31.179 --> 00:44:36.320 That point in time in history where all of God's 00:44:36.320 --> 00:44:40.159 purposes will be brought to their intended end. 00:44:40.659 --> 00:44:44.760 Do you know when that day is? It's when Jesus 00:44:44.760 --> 00:44:48.119 Christ, the Son of God, comes on clouds in power 00:44:48.119 --> 00:44:53.400 and glory. It's when he gathers his people together. 00:44:54.360 --> 00:44:58.380 And it's when he judges unbelievers who don't 00:44:58.380 --> 00:45:01.159 know the Lord Jesus Christ. That, brothers and 00:45:01.159 --> 00:45:04.940 sisters, that day where he fully and finally 00:45:04.940 --> 00:45:07.940 delivers his people from the presence of sin, 00:45:08.000 --> 00:45:11.389 not just the power of sin. That day where he 00:45:11.389 --> 00:45:14.309 purges the earth and he renews all things and 00:45:14.309 --> 00:45:16.670 the new heavens and the new earth comes into 00:45:16.670 --> 00:45:19.429 existence, brothers and sisters, that is the 00:45:19.429 --> 00:45:24.210 day he is referring to. That is the eschaton, 00:45:24.329 --> 00:45:28.469 when God brings all things to their intended 00:45:28.469 --> 00:45:36.309 goal. That is the end of history as we know it, 00:45:36.369 --> 00:45:42.670 brothers and sisters. There is a real resolution 00:45:42.670 --> 00:45:49.949 to the tensions that we experience as we walk 00:45:49.949 --> 00:45:55.170 by faith. There is a true resolution, brothers 00:45:55.170 --> 00:45:58.090 and sisters, to the difficulties of your heart 00:45:58.090 --> 00:46:02.789 that will last and be eternal. Brothers and sisters, 00:46:02.929 --> 00:46:08.090 it is the return of Jesus Christ in glory and 00:46:08.090 --> 00:46:14.340 the renewal. of all things. Faith does not guarantee 00:46:14.340 --> 00:46:22.639 you or I prosperity. It does not guarantee you 00:46:22.639 --> 00:46:28.679 a life free from pain or suffering. Faith does 00:46:28.679 --> 00:46:32.260 not guarantee you a life where you are free from 00:46:32.260 --> 00:46:36.769 the edge of the sword. Faith does not guarantee 00:46:36.769 --> 00:46:39.510 you a life where you are free from the loss of 00:46:39.510 --> 00:46:43.489 loved ones. Faith does not guarantee you a life 00:46:43.489 --> 00:46:46.650 where you are free from cancer or suffering or 00:46:46.650 --> 00:46:49.610 sickness or illness or disease or whatever it 00:46:49.610 --> 00:46:52.250 might be. Faith does not guarantee you, brothers 00:46:52.250 --> 00:46:55.329 and sisters, a life free of difficulty and hardship 00:46:55.329 --> 00:46:58.889 and pain and opposition and suffering and trials. 00:47:01.320 --> 00:47:05.739 But faith guarantees you something far, far better 00:47:05.739 --> 00:47:11.260 and far grander than any of those things. It 00:47:11.260 --> 00:47:18.719 guarantees you God in Christ. An eternal life 00:47:18.719 --> 00:47:23.099 with him. Eternal joy with him. The new heavens 00:47:23.099 --> 00:47:26.820 and the new earth and glory and joy with the 00:47:26.820 --> 00:47:32.550 Lord Jesus. It guarantees. That upon your death, 00:47:32.769 --> 00:47:36.969 you will go to be with God in heaven and that 00:47:36.969 --> 00:47:40.570 you can face that one last great enemy, which 00:47:40.570 --> 00:47:48.630 is death. It guarantees you eternity. Enjoying 00:47:48.630 --> 00:47:54.269 and living in the new creation with Christ and 00:47:54.269 --> 00:47:59.309 God and angels and your brothers and sisters 00:47:59.309 --> 00:48:06.530 in heaven. All things will be brought to their 00:48:06.530 --> 00:48:12.889 intended end. There is a lasting resolution that 00:48:12.889 --> 00:48:19.110 will solve every tension in your heart. There 00:48:19.110 --> 00:48:23.090 is a lasting resolution that can resolve every 00:48:23.090 --> 00:48:28.369 problem in this world. It is faith in Jesus Christ. 00:48:29.480 --> 00:48:32.300 And it is trusting in him for eternal salvation 00:48:32.300 --> 00:48:36.659 and looking to him by faith and trusting that 00:48:36.659 --> 00:48:40.199 God will bring about every single one of his 00:48:40.199 --> 00:48:44.739 redemptive purposes, not just in your life, but 00:48:44.739 --> 00:48:47.480 in this world, brothers and sisters.