FAITH THAT PLEASES GOD, Dr. Samuel Lee
FAITH THAT PLEASES GOD
Passage: Hebrews 11:1~7  
Key verse: 6
Faith in Action
11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for(A) and assurance about what we do not see.(B) 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.(C)
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command,(D) so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended(E) as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.(F) And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.(G)
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a](H) For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him(I) must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen,(J) in holy fear built an ark(K) to save his family.(L) By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.(M)
Footnotes
- Hebrews 11:5 Gen. 5:24
Cross references
- Hebrews 11:1 : S Heb 3:6
- Hebrews 11:1 : S 2Co 4:18
- Hebrews 11:2 : ver 4, 39
- Hebrews 11:3 : Ge 1; Jn 1:3; Heb 1:2; 2Pe 3:5
- Hebrews 11:4 : ver 2, 39
- Hebrews 11:4 : Ge 4:4; 1Jn 3:12
- Hebrews 11:4 : Heb 12:24
- Hebrews 11:5 : Ge 5:21-24
- Hebrews 11:6 : Heb 7:19
- Hebrews 11:7 : S ver 1
- Hebrews 11:7 : Ge 6:13-22
- Hebrews 11:7 : 1Pe 3:20
- Hebrews 11:7 : Ge 6:9; Eze 14:14, 20; S Ro 9:30
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Source:  BibleGateway
1. What is faith? (1)
Faith is being sure of what we hope for. To have faith means to have hope. Our hope is not in the world, but in the kingdom of God (1Pe 1:3,4). By faith we walk toward this goal (Php 3:4). We must walk with Jesus, whom we cannot see (Mt 28:20), for faith is 'being certain of what we cannot see.' No one saw God create the heavens and the earth out of nothing. But this fundamental fact is the foundation of all truth; it can only be grasped by faith.
2. The ancients who were commended for faith (2-7)
Abel unintentionally died a martyr's death because of his faith. He came to God humbly, bringing his best, believing that God would accept him even though he was unworthy. God saw his faith and commended him as a righteous man. Enoch lived in godless times, but by faith, he walked with God. He had faith that pleased God. Noah believed God's word and obeyed him and was saved.
Prayer: Lord, help me to learn faith that pleases you from the men of old. Help me to live by faith, not by feeling or common sense.
One Word: Faith that pleases God