Daily Scripture Reading Hebrews 10:23 - 11:6

One of the definitions of faith in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is “firm belief in something for which there is no proof”. Many Christians have adopted the mentality that there is no proof behind our faith. However, today we will read the Biblical definition of faith which does not concede there is no proof.

The 10th chapter of Hebrews draws a contrast between the inability of the Old Testament sacrifices to perfect people and the sacrifice of Jesus which does lead to forgiveness of sins. Therefore, Jesus inaugurated a new and living way to God.

Heb. 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Heb. 10:24 And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,

Look at the word “stimulate”. The greek word that was translated “stimulate” was also used in Acts 15:39 where it was translated “sharp disagreement”. As Christians, we need to “stimulate one another to love and good deeds”. Many Christians have the mindset that Christians should always be polite and never harsh with one another. However, if we are to stimulate one another, and if stimulate can also mean sharp disagreement, then perhaps there are times when Christians need to be sharp, perhaps harsh, with one another.

Heb. 10:25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Notice the correction in this verse. Apparently, some Christians in the 1st century were not assembling with other believers. The author of Hebrews made it clear that was a wrong mindset.

We have a similar problem today. There are people in the 21st century who claim to be Christians, but they don’t attend church. Christians must not forsake assembling with other believers. The purpose of fellowship is to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.

Heb. 10:26 ¶ For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

Heb. 10:27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.

Heb. 10:28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy by the mouth of two or three witnesses.

Heb. 10:29 How much worse punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as defiled the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

Heb. 10:30 For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.”

Heb. 10:31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Heb. 10:32 ¶ But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings,

Heb. 10:33 partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and afflictions, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated.

Heb. 10:34 For you also showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted with joy the seizure of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better and lasting possession.

Heb. 10:35 Therefore, do not throw away that confidence of yours, which has a great reward.

Heb. 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.

Heb. 10:37 FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,

HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.

Heb. 10:38 BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH,

AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.

Heb. 10:39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

Heb. 11:1 ¶ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Heb. 11:2 For by it the men of old gained approval.

Look at the word “conviction”. Faith is conviction. Now look at the words “not seen”. Faith is conviction about things not seen.

One of the definitions of faith in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is “firm belief in something for which there is no proof”. Many Christians have adopted the mentality that there is no proof behind our faith. However, the Biblical definition of faith does not concede there is no proof.

When Christians have faith in something we have not seen, we have conviction because we believe in God’s promises. God has proven Himself. We know the Bible is the Word of God. Therefore, we can have full confidence and conviction about anything stated in the Bible because God said it.

Heb. 11:3 ¶ By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

We did not watch God create the world and everything in it. However, God proved His existence and He used miracles to authenticate all those who wrote scripture. Therefore, we can be fully confident that any passage of scripture that tells us how the world came into existence is true and accurate.

Heb. 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was approved as being righteous—God approving his gifts—and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

Abel offered the firstborn of his flock as a sacrifice to God. Thus, he demonstrated a belief that his animals would bear more offspring and that God would provide for his needs.

Heb. 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for prior to being taken up, he was approved as being pleasing to God.

Genesis 5:22 tells us Enoch walked with God. That statement was not made about the other men listed in Genesis 5. That means Enoch distinguished himself as being faithful to God in ways that other men did not. Because of that faith, he did not die, he was taken up to heaven.

Heb. 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who draws near to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Don’t miss the impact of this verse. It is impossible to please God without having faith in God. Having faith in God means believing God’s statements. Having faith means believing in things we haven’t seen with our own eyes.

Look at the phrase “believe that He is”. In order to draw near to God, we must believe that He exists. Since we haven’t seen God with our own eyes, we must have faith that God exists. We don’t need to believe in God in the absence of evidence. The existence of the world is evidence that God exists. Furthermore, God came to earth as a man named Jesus and rose from the dead in order to prove that He is God. We did not see Jesus rise from the dead, but we have very reliable historical evidence that Jesus rose from the dead.

One of the definitions of faith in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is “firm belief in something for which there is no proof”. However, Hebrews 11:1 says faith is “the conviction of things not seen”. As Christians, our faith is not based on wishful thinking or hoping that God exists. God came to earth as a man and proved His existence. Since He is God, we know that anything written in His word is accurate and reliable.

How should today’s passage change your concept of faith?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”