Those Who Have Faith to the Preserving of the Soul

The righteous live by faith (Hab 2:4; Heb 10:39). There is none righteous, however, not even one (Rom 3:10). All people are sinners from conception (Ps 51:5), by inheriting the original sin of Adam (Rom 5:12). In Adam, all people die (1 Cor 15:22); therefore, death is followed by judgment (Heb 9:27). The judgment/sentence is eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Mt 25:41, 46; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15). This is the terrifying expectation of judgment shared by every unbeliever (Heb 10:27).

There is only one name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12) and salvation belongs to the Lord (Ps 3:8; Jon 2:9; Rev 19:1). The Lord Jesus Christ is our God and Savior (Titus 2:13), who came into the world to save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21). Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:3). He died, the Just for the unjust (1 Pet 3:18). By His precious blood shed on the cross (1 Pet 1:19), He bore in His body, the sins of those chosen of God (1 Pet 2:24); and they are forgiven (Mt 26:28; Eph 1:7).

The blood of Jesus releases us from our sins (Rev 1:5), which means God’s elect, redeemed people are justified by His blood (Rom 5:9). To be justified means one is declared “not guilty” before the holy Law and judgment of God. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1); and it is by His doing that one is transferred from the domain of darkness and into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (1 Cor 1:30; Col 1:13). It is the Spirit of God who baptizes each one into the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:13).

All of God’s work toward the salvation of sinners is called “grace.” For by grace is one saved through faith; it is not the will nor the work of the sinner (Jn 1:12–13; Rom 4:5), for he or she is not able to perform what is required (Rom 8:7). Salvation is the gift of God (Eph 2:8–9). That salvific gift, the Holy Spirit, is received by those who have been appointed to eternal life (Acts 2:38; 10:45; 13:48). God the Spirit sent by God the Father and God the Son to spiritually dead men, yet chosen of God (Jn 14:26; 15:26; 1 Cor 2:14; Eph 2:1; Col 3:12).

Faith is granted by God to those He caused to be born again (Jn 3:1–8; Eph 1:13; Phil 1:29; 1 Pet 1:3). Faith is the life of those indwelt by the Spirit of Christ (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11; Gal 2:20). He Himself is our life — new, abundant, and eternal (Jn 10:10; 2 Cor 5:17; 1 Jn 5:11). Christians walk (live) by faith (2 Cor 5:7); having been justified by faith (Rom 3:28; 5:1). This faith is the evidence of things not seen (Holy Spirit).

The Holy Spirit is the token of God’s love and the pledge of our inheritance (2 Cor 5:5), which is reserved for us in heaven (1 Pet 1:4), where Christ is seated in majestic glory (Ps 110:1; Eph 2:6; Heb 1:3; 8:1). He who began the good work in us will bring it to its proper completion (Rom 8:29–30; Phil 1:6; 1 Pet 1:2); for He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world (1 Jn 4:4). The Spirit working faith in us is our victory in Jesus (1 Jn 5:4), who has Himself overcome the world (Jn 16:33).

The blessed assurance of the saint is based on the promises of God, which are revealed in God’s holy Word of truth. In Christ, all the promises of God are “yes” and “amen” (2 Cor 1:20). Jesus Christ is our only hope (1 Tim 1:1); and the promise of His coming is our very blessed hope (Titus 2:13). Christ in us, never leaving nor forsaking us, is our hope of glory (Col 1:27; Heb 13:5). This indwelling hope will never disappoint the beloved (Rom 5:5) because the love of God poured out in our hearts never fails (1 Cor 13:8).

The imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ is for the men of old (Heb 11:2), too, who believed God when He spoke through the prophets (Heb 1:1). Their faith was reckoned to them as righteousness (Rom 4:5, 9, 11, 13; 9:30; 10:6). An alien righteousness, the perfect work of another, affords right standing (approval) to whomever it is imputed. So, we understand faith was granted; and approved access was secured by the gracious work of God to fulfill the will of God, according to the Word of God.

The writer of Hebrews illustrates how faith apprehends the truth of God’s Word. First, the Spirit of truth enlightens the recipient of the implanted Word of truth (Jas 1:21). One reads or hears the revelation of God, brought forth by the same Spirit who is our Teacher (Jn 14:26; 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20–21). The Lord gives us understanding (2 Tim 2:7; 1 Jn 5:20).

Second, the content of what is revealed and illumined by the Spirit is God’s prerogative. For example, we learn that the world (physical universe) was made by God…ex-nihilo (Heb 11:3). Stated another way, the seen came from the unseen (Heb 11:3). God spoke all things into existence by His Word (Gk. logos). We learn elsewhere that Christ is the creator of all things (Col 1:16; Heb 1:2), being the architect and builder of everything (Heb 3:4; 11:10). He also sustains all things by the Word of His power (Heb 1:3). We believe these truths about Jesus because His Spirit of truth is within us; and God is ever true (Rom 3:4; Jn 14:6).

It is Jesus Christ Himself who is the author and perfecter of the believer’s faith (Heb 12:2). He gives a measure of faith to each believer according to His will (Rom 12:3). He tests the faith of believers (Jas 1:3); and He increases the faith of believers (Lk 17:5). Faith grows with knowledge of the truth; but faith also grows through resistance to it (think: negative reps in gym exercises).

Hebrews 11:6 assures the child of God that faith is the only way to please God. The student of the Bible must ever resist the temptation to embrace the false notion of self-generated faith or self-produced faithfulness. Faith is a gift of God (Eph 2:8–9); and faithfulness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22), who is willing and doing His good pleasure in each one made alive to God (1 Cor 15:22; Eph 2:5; Col 2:13; 1 Pet 3:18).

This world, and all that is in it, is passing away (1 Cor 7:31; 1 Jn 2:8, 17). That which is seen is temporal (2 Cor 4:18). In fact, Jesus Himself promised that heaven and earth will pass away; but His words, which we believe, will not pass away (Mt 24:35). On the last day, the elements being destroyed with a roar and intense heat. The earth and its works will be burned up because it is the day of His judgment and destruction of the physical/visible (2 Pet 3:7, 10).

Christians share in the hope of a better future (Is 65–66; Rev 21–22). We believe that better things, promised in God’s Word, will be fulfilled just as God has said. Our faith is from Him. Our hope is in Him. He, of course, is willing and able to do above and beyond all we can think or imagine. He will do it. We have His Word on it.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

March 26, 2024

Hebrews 10:38–11:3