WEBVTT

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 We're going to read God's word together now.

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 I'm going to read from the passage that David is going to preach from in Hebrews.

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!

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 You endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach

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 and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.

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 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of

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 your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.

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 Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

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 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive

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 what is promised.

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 For yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay, but my righteous one

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 shall live by faith.

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 And if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.

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 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and

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 preserved their souls.

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 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

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 For by it the people of old received their commendation.

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 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is

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 seen was not made out of things that are visible.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 My name is David Court.

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 I'm one of the ministers here, and as Chris intimated earlier, we're beginning a series

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 in Hebrews chapter 11 this evening.

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 Perhaps one of the most well-known and well-loved chapters of the Bible, certainly I think the

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 most familiar passage in the letter to the Hebrews.

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 And it's a chapter that we're going to work through in our evening services over the next

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 few months, God willing.

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 However, unlike the renowned Puritan preacher Thomas Manton, we will not be preaching 65 sermons

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 on it.

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 You'll be glad to know.

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 Indeed, over the years, the chapter has been given many titles.

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 Manton sermons are compiled in a volume.

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 It's entitled By Faith.

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 Others include Faith Victorious, Heroes of the Faith, The Biography of Faith, God's Hall of

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 Faith, and Faith for Life.

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 And you don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to work out that the great theme of the chapter

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 is faith.

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 Faith, I think the central term faith appears, I think, around 24 times in these verses.

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 And I want just to mention by way of introduction just three things about Hebrews 11.

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 First of all, it's unity.

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 The chapter itself is, I think, carefully constructed as a discrete section.

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 It's bookended in verses 1 and 2, and then at the end in verses 39 and 40 by these two expressions,

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 faith, and were commended.

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 It's a well-defined unit of the letter comprising, I suppose, a list of examples drawn from the

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 Old Testament of those who lived by faith in the living God.

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 It's a unity, and that's why often preachers, ministers will take this particular chapter and

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 preach through it.

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 Secondly, it's structure.

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 It's more than just a series of examples drawn randomly from the pages of the Old Testament.

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 There's a very definite pattern, progression through the chapter.

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 The emphasis here is not merely on the faith of certain individuals, but also on the saving

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 power of God made known in redemption history.

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 There's a chronological movement through the chapter.

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 The men and women of faith that are mentioned all served this unfolding plan and purpose

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 of God.

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 And then it's purpose, thirdly.

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 If the chapter contains this picture gallery of Old Testament saints, then it's a picture

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 that's set in a very definite frame.

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 The chapter is given to us in a particular context.

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 And I think it's important for us to see why the author wrote about these men and women

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 of faith and where that fits in the flow of the letter.

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 The letter to the Hebrews, as many of you will know, was written to a group of first-century

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 Christians, most probably converts from Judaism, and they were being tempted to abandon their

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 allegiance to Christ to drift back to their old way of life and their old religious practices.

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 And much of the letter is given over to highlighting the absolute sufficiency and supremacy of Jesus

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 Christ as prophet, priest, and king, as we were thinking about this morning.

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 And chapter 10 that Chris read for us, you'll notice concludes with a kind of warning and

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 a challenge.

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 The author reminds his hearers of what happened when they first came to faith in Jesus.

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 Recall the former days after you were enlightened.

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 You endured a hard struggle with sufferings, publicly exposed to reproach and affliction,

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 sometimes partners with those so treated.

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 You had compassion on those in prison, accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew

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 that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.

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 So, in those former days, the Hebrews had been zealous for the gospel.

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 They'd been willing to suffer, put up with hardship.

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 They'd put up with opposition and indeed public shame for the sake of Christ.

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 And yet, with the passing of time, things had started to change.

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 And these Christian believers had become tired, weary.

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 They were being tempted to drift away from the gospel and indeed turn away from the living God.

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 They were beginning to subtly, perhaps, move their confidence elsewhere.

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 And that enthusiasm and commitment that they had to Christ had started to wane.

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 And that is a very real danger, isn't it, for Christian believers in every age and generation,

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 ourselves included.

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 Like the Hebrews of old, we too can be tempted, can we not, to be ashamed of Christ and His gospel.

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 Maybe ashamed of Him in our families or in our places of work or education.

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 To withdraw rather than engage.

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 To keep quiet rather than to speak up.

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 To turn back even rather than press on.

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 To blend in rather than stand out.

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 In Hebrews, the writer often likens his readers to being like the children of Israel.

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 Having left Egypt, as they made their way to the promised land,

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 you will remember that they grumbled and they complained.

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 They failed to believe God's promise to them.

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 And they didn't press on.

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 Rather than move forward, they chose to look back to Egypt and to this world.

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 And so, Hebrews 11 really is a chapter that comes amid a strong, sustained, stirring call

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 to perseverance and endurance.

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 To keep on in the way of faith.

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 And that is the context here.

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 Verse 35 and 36 of chapter 10.

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 Do not throw away your confidence, which has great reward.

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 You have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what He has promised.

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 We're not to give up, but to press on.

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 We're not to shrink back, but we're to move forward.

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 We're not to let go, but we're to hold on.

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 We're not to be ashamed, but we're to stand up.

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 And that's what makes this chapter of the Bible so perennially relevant for God's people through the ages.

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 Because whoever we are and whatever our situation may be, if we're Christian believers, we all need encouragement, stimulation to keep on going and to keep on living by faith.

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 Because, of course, faith is foundational to Christianity.

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 You can't be a Christian without faith.

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 It's fundamental to both being and living as a Christian.

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 In Reformed theology, three elements are often highlighted aspects of faith.

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 Often they give them kind of fancy Latin titles, but I don't do very well at Latin.

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 So, knowledge, assent, and trust.

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 And yet, in this chapter, the writer's not so much offering us a kind of definition of faith,

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 as he is encouraging us to join with that great company of Old Testament saints who've gone before us,

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 traveling in the way of faith.

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 And he's showing us here how faith works or operates or functions at a practical level.

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 It's a chapter that reminds us of the need to go on living the life of faith,

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 despite the problems and the difficulties,

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 often presented by a culture or society that's hostile to Christianity.

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 And I hope that as we work through this chapter in the coming weeks,

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 that if we're believers, we will be encouraged, inspired even,

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 to keep on in the way of faith.

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 And if we're not believers,

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 we'll be challenged to put our faith in the God of the Bible,

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 rather than simply live our lives looking to and trusting in ourselves.

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 What I want to do tonight is to look at the opening three verses of the chapter.

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 Let me read them again.

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 Faith is the assurance of things hoped for,

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 the conviction of things not seen,

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 for by it the people of old received their commendation.

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 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God,

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 so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

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 Well, let me mention three things about this great foundation of faith from our text tonight.

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 We'll take each verse in turn.

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 The first is this, in verse 1,

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 Faith looks to the future that God has promised.

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 Faith is the assurance of things hoped for,

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 the conviction of things not seen.

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 Now, the ESV translation that we use here,

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 I think the NIV is the same,

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 translate this verse in such a way that kind of emphasizes

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 what we might call the subjective experience of faith.

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 In this way of reading the text,

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 the author highlights faith's inner sense of assurance and conviction,

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 and that's a perfectly acceptable way of reading the text.

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 But there is another way of reading or understanding the verse,

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 and it's preferred by some of the older translations,

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 including the authorized version.

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 And those of you of mature years who may be familiar with that

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 will remember how that reads.

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 Faith is the substance of things hoped for,

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 the evidence of things not seen.

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 And the emphasis there in that translation

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 is not so much on the subjective,

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 but if I can put it this way,

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 the objective aspect of faith.

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 The writer uses a word here

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 that designates a kind of objective reality.

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 Faith is the substance.

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 It's the guarantee,

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 indeed the title deed of what we hope for.

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 It's something solid.

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 It's something substantial.

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 It's not a mist that evaporates

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 under the heat of life's trials and difficulties.

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 It is the foundation beneath our feet

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 when the ground starts to shake.

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 It's the title deed to the future

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 that God Himself has promised us in Jesus Christ.

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 And those things that are hoped for

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 are not kind of wishful thinking,

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 but rather something that is certain,

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 but not yet fully realized in our present experience.

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 It's the hope.

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 Paul speaks of that in Romans chapter 5, verse 5.

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 He says that the hope of glory will not let us down

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 because we've already tasted the love of God

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 in our hearts through the Spirit.

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 Elsewhere in Hebrews, the writer, chapter 6, 19,

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 tells us that this hope is set before us

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 as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul,

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 sure and steadfast substance.

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 He says that the faith is the evidence

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 of things not seen.

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 And indeed, that's a theme that runs throughout the chapter.

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 And we find that contrast things,

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 faith and unseen realities,

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 in verse 3, in verse 7, in verse 13, in verse 27.

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 The word evidence there is something like proof,

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 more than just a feeling or certainty of conviction.

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 Where God grants faith, and through the Holy Spirit,

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 He brings a piece of the future into the present.

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 And faith turns that future hope into a present reality.

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 Of course, we can't know or experience

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 that future reality fully or completely,

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 but we can know something of it in the present.

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 By faith, we take hold of the promise,

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 and we experience the substance

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 of what we will one day receive in full.

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 Thomas Manton writes,

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 a lively faith gives such a reality,

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 certainty, and present being to things hoped for,

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 and yet to come,

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 as if they were already actually enjoyed.

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 So, faith is not something unreasonable

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 or opposed to evidence.

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 The writer's point in this opening verse

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 is to highlight the fact

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 that faith is holding something to be true,

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 even though we have not yet seen it fully arrive.

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 The writer wants his readers to continue

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 believing in something

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 that has not yet been fulfilled.

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 He wants them to go on believing

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 in the promises of God,

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 despite the fact that what has been promised

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 has to date not yet been received in full.

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 And that's a distinction between receiving a promise

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 and receiving what was promised.

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 And we see that distinction later on

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 in the chapter, verses 13.

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 These all died in faith,

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 not having received the things promised,

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 but having seen them

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 and greeted them from afar,

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 and having acknowledged

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 that they were strangers

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 and exiles on the earth.

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 Verse 39,

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 And all of these,

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 though commended through their faith,

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 did not receive what was promised.

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 What was promised?

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 A great Savior in Jesus Christ.

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 A glorious future.

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 A city with foundations

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 whose architect and builder is God.

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 Later on in the letter,

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 that promise is described

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 in terms of a kingdom

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 that cannot be shaken.

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 These men and women

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 had a conviction

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 and a belief

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 in what God had promised to them.

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 Let me try and illustrate.

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 If a father

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 says to his son, for example,

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 that on Saturday afternoon

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 he'll take him to a football match,

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 then at that point

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 the son has received a promise,

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 but not yet received

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 what was promised.

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 He doesn't receive

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 what was promised

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 until the Saturday afternoon.

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 But nonetheless,

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 the boy can rely

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 on the promise

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 the father has made

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 and live in the light of it,

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 looking forward

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 to Saturday,

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 anticipating

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 what lies ahead,

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 preparing himself,

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 perhaps,

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 for the big match.

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 And that's faith.

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 It's not a leap in the dark.

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 It's holding on

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 to the promises

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 given by our heavenly father.

00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:31.519
 It is resting

00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:32.139
 and believing

00:17:32.139 --> 00:17:33.200
 in the promises

00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:34.879
 that God has made to us,

00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:37.500
 promises that are forever sure.

00:17:38.859 --> 00:17:40.639
 John Newton's great hymn,

00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:41.319
 Amazing Grace,

00:17:41.379 --> 00:17:43.220
 there's those famous lines,

00:17:43.460 --> 00:17:45.059
 The Lord has promised

00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:46.619
 good to me.

00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:49.440
 His word my hope secures.

00:17:50.019 --> 00:17:51.079
 He will my shield

00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:52.180
 and portion be

00:17:52.180 --> 00:17:54.279
 as long as life endures.

00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:56.980
 And the life of faith

00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:58.819
 has always meant just that,

00:17:59.139 --> 00:18:01.099
 to live trusting God

00:18:01.099 --> 00:18:03.680
 to do what we cannot yet see

00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:04.359
 in full.

00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:06.339
 That's what happened to Noah.

00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:08.740
 The people laughed at him,

00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:10.720
 but he believed God's promise

00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:11.379
 of a flood

00:18:11.379 --> 00:18:12.440
 even in the desert.

00:18:13.399 --> 00:18:15.119
 Abram was called by God

00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:15.960
 to go a place,

00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:16.519
 go a place

00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:17.960
 he had not yet seen.

00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:20.920
 And so we walk by faith,

00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:21.859
 not by sight.

00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:23.440
 We listen to God's word,

00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:24.920
 and we set our sights

00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:25.980
 on the power

00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:27.100
 and the promises

00:18:27.100 --> 00:18:28.460
 of our God.

00:18:29.620 --> 00:18:30.279
 And the hope

00:18:30.279 --> 00:18:31.759
 of the Christian believer

00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:33.200
 is nothing less

00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:33.860
 than God Himself.

00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:35.259
 His kingdom,

00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.180
 His power,

00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:37.120
 His glory,

00:18:37.380 --> 00:18:38.600
 and the consummation

00:18:38.600 --> 00:18:40.299
 of all His promises

00:18:40.299 --> 00:18:41.960
 that are yes and amen

00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:42.880
 in Jesus Christ.

00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:45.860
 We have received the promise,

00:18:46.059 --> 00:18:47.900
 but we have not fully received

00:18:47.900 --> 00:18:48.820
 what was promised.

00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:51.500
 Like the promise,

00:18:51.639 --> 00:18:51.839
 however,

00:18:51.939 --> 00:18:52.919
 of a human father

00:18:52.919 --> 00:18:54.460
 that can be derailed

00:18:54.460 --> 00:18:55.659
 by illness,

00:18:55.899 --> 00:18:57.539
 unforeseen difficulties,

00:18:57.939 --> 00:18:59.119
 poor planning.

00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:01.579
 That can never be true

00:19:01.579 --> 00:19:03.079
 of our Heavenly Father.

00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:05.139
 And the future

00:19:05.139 --> 00:19:06.700
 He has promised us

00:19:06.700 --> 00:19:08.659
 in Jesus Christ

00:19:08.659 --> 00:19:10.439
 is one of glory and joy.

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:12.179
 It's a living hope

00:19:12.179 --> 00:19:13.419
 in perishable,

00:19:13.779 --> 00:19:14.480
 undefiled,

00:19:14.759 --> 00:19:15.599
 and unfading.

00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:17.659
 There is absolutely

00:19:17.659 --> 00:19:18.859
 no possibility

00:19:18.859 --> 00:19:21.879
 it will not be realized.

00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:24.079
 And so by faith,

00:19:24.159 --> 00:19:25.099
 we are to hold on

00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:26.000
 to the promises

00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:26.919
 that God Himself

00:19:26.919 --> 00:19:27.879
 has made

00:19:27.879 --> 00:19:29.000
 and persevere.

00:19:29.859 --> 00:19:30.679
 We're called

00:19:30.679 --> 00:19:32.619
 to the same kind of life

00:19:32.619 --> 00:19:34.259
 as those saints of old,

00:19:34.379 --> 00:19:35.339
 to be a people

00:19:35.339 --> 00:19:36.919
 looking forward

00:19:36.919 --> 00:19:38.199
 in faith.

00:19:38.659 --> 00:19:39.799
 Because faith

00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:41.179
 looks to the future

00:19:41.179 --> 00:19:42.359
 that God

00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:43.319
 has promised.

00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:45.939
 And that brings me

00:19:45.939 --> 00:19:47.159
 to the second thing here.

00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:49.059
 Faith looks to the future

00:19:49.059 --> 00:19:50.039
 that God has promised.

00:19:50.419 --> 00:19:50.819
 Secondly,

00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:52.119
 you'll notice that faith

00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:53.539
 is what God

00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:54.720
 commends.

00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:56.259
 For by it,

00:19:56.379 --> 00:19:57.399
 the people of old

00:19:57.399 --> 00:19:58.500
 received,

00:19:58.599 --> 00:19:59.740
 the ancients received

00:19:59.740 --> 00:20:01.500
 their commendation.

00:20:02.779 --> 00:20:03.859
 Faith is that

00:20:03.859 --> 00:20:04.619
 which God

00:20:04.619 --> 00:20:05.319
 commends.

00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:06.960
 Faith

00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:07.619
 pleases

00:20:07.619 --> 00:20:08.559
 God.

00:20:09.359 --> 00:20:09.720
 Faith

00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:10.439
 pleased God

00:20:10.439 --> 00:20:11.460
 in the past,

00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:12.840
 and faith

00:20:12.840 --> 00:20:13.819
 pleases God

00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:14.720
 today.

00:20:16.100 --> 00:20:17.319
 It's by faith

00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:17.980
 that the saints

00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.440
 of old

00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:19.920
 receive commendation.

00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:20.340
 The author

00:20:20.340 --> 00:20:21.200
 of the Hebrews

00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:21.539
 here

00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:22.660
 is not really

00:20:22.660 --> 00:20:23.680
 focusing,

00:20:23.840 --> 00:20:24.100
 I think,

00:20:24.140 --> 00:20:24.799
 on the nature

00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:25.980
 of that commendation.

00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:27.920
 His point

00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:29.140
 really is this,

00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:30.640
 is that it was

00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:31.640
 their faith

00:20:31.640 --> 00:20:32.480
 that was commended,

00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:34.140
 not anything else

00:20:34.140 --> 00:20:34.680
 about them.

00:20:36.120 --> 00:20:37.200
 Later in the chapter,

00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:38.059
 in verse 6

00:20:38.059 --> 00:20:38.920
 of the chapter,

00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:39.319
 he says,

00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:40.119
 without faith,

00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:41.480
 it is impossible

00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:42.839
 to please God.

00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:45.519
 And I suppose

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.319
 there is a danger

00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:48.159
 in a chapter

00:20:48.159 --> 00:20:49.299
 like Hebrews 11,

00:20:49.539 --> 00:20:50.339
 which mentions

00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:51.019
 so many of the

00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:51.679
 Old Testament

00:20:51.679 --> 00:20:53.539
 faithful saints,

00:20:54.339 --> 00:20:54.799
 and kind of

00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:55.899
 reducing everything,

00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:56.399
 I suppose,

00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:56.899
 to a kind of

00:20:56.899 --> 00:20:57.859
 character study.

00:20:58.559 --> 00:20:59.500
 We end up saying

00:20:59.500 --> 00:21:00.399
 to people to try,

00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:00.700
 you know,

00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.460
 try to be a bit

00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:02.240
 more like Noah,

00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:03.099
 or Abraham,

00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:03.799
 or Sarah,

00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:04.339
 or Moses,

00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:04.759
 or whoever.

00:21:05.819 --> 00:21:06.200
 Here are these

00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:06.919
 great men and women

00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:07.400
 of God

00:21:07.400 --> 00:21:08.519
 who did great works,

00:21:08.840 --> 00:21:10.180
 mightily used of God.

00:21:10.740 --> 00:21:12.140
 You need to pull up

00:21:12.140 --> 00:21:12.820
 your socks,

00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:13.720
 be a bit more

00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:14.360
 like them.

00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:15.480
 And I think

00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:15.840
 that would be

00:21:15.840 --> 00:21:16.640
 a great mistake.

00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:17.940
 Because even

00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:19.680
 a cursory knowledge

00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.700
 of the Old Testament

00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.580
 reveals that

00:21:21.580 --> 00:21:22.500
 these men and women

00:21:22.500 --> 00:21:23.560
 were far from

00:21:23.560 --> 00:21:24.800
 being perfect individuals.

00:21:25.500 --> 00:21:26.420
 They had their faults

00:21:26.420 --> 00:21:27.220
 and frailties,

00:21:27.360 --> 00:21:28.259
 just like us.

00:21:28.800 --> 00:21:29.440
 They were all

00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:30.340
 weak, sinful

00:21:30.340 --> 00:21:31.880
 human beings.

00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:34.000
 And it's interesting,

00:21:34.080 --> 00:21:34.900
 the writer of Hebrews

00:21:34.900 --> 00:21:36.620
 has absolutely no interest

00:21:36.620 --> 00:21:37.940
 in their gifts

00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:38.840
 and their skills

00:21:38.840 --> 00:21:40.100
 and their abilities

00:21:40.100 --> 00:21:41.540
 and their pedigree

00:21:41.540 --> 00:21:42.600
 and their intellect.

00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:44.780
 He's only interested

00:21:44.780 --> 00:21:45.640
 in one thing,

00:21:46.040 --> 00:21:46.880
 their faith.

00:21:47.840 --> 00:21:48.740
 This is his point.

00:21:49.660 --> 00:21:50.680
 The reason they were

00:21:50.680 --> 00:21:52.420
 so greatly used

00:21:52.420 --> 00:21:54.240
 to further God's purposes

00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:56.980
 was that they trusted God.

00:21:57.100 --> 00:21:58.180
 They relied on God.

00:21:58.280 --> 00:21:59.620
 They believed in God.

00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:03.000
 We think of those things

00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:03.700
 that our world

00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:04.900
 loves to commend.

00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:06.119
 Think of those things

00:22:06.119 --> 00:22:07.319
 that this world

00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:08.680
 considers praiseworthy.

00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:09.920
 What are they?

00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:12.380
 They are things like

00:22:12.380 --> 00:22:14.519
 status and position,

00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:17.460
 beauty and celebrity,

00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:19.019
 wealth and riches,

00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:21.400
 academic intelligence,

00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.619
 political power,

00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:24.079
 physical strength.

00:22:24.940 --> 00:22:26.000
 These are the kinds

00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:27.140
 of things that are lauded

00:22:27.140 --> 00:22:28.700
 by the world.

00:22:29.500 --> 00:22:30.279
 And it's these kinds

00:22:30.279 --> 00:22:31.700
 of people that our world

00:22:31.700 --> 00:22:33.160
 wants to put on a pedestal.

00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:35.859
 They're the kind of folks

00:22:35.859 --> 00:22:36.720
 that fill the pages

00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:39.180
 of secular history books.

00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:41.279
 Human history is so often

00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.099
 about, isn't it,

00:22:42.099 --> 00:22:42.859
 about the great

00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:43.519
 and the powerful.

00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.359
 And yet God's assessment

00:22:46.359 --> 00:22:47.460
 is so very different.

00:22:48.879 --> 00:22:50.379
 It's those who walk humbly

00:22:50.379 --> 00:22:51.059
 with Him

00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:52.500
 that receive His approval.

00:22:52.700 --> 00:22:53.519
 It's those who choose

00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.639
 the path of a servant

00:22:54.639 --> 00:22:55.920
 and a slave

00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:57.480
 that merit His smile.

00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:59.380
 It's those who travel

00:22:59.380 --> 00:23:00.360
 the way of faith

00:23:00.360 --> 00:23:01.200
 that are commended.

00:23:03.360 --> 00:23:04.599
 And God's commendation

00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:05.500
 comes to those

00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:06.339
 who look away

00:23:06.339 --> 00:23:07.360
 from themselves

00:23:07.360 --> 00:23:08.420
 towards God.

00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:10.339
 They trust in Him

00:23:10.339 --> 00:23:12.120
 rather than in themselves.

00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:13.500
 They lean on Him.

00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:14.660
 They believe in Him.

00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:16.019
 They look to Him.

00:23:18.420 --> 00:23:19.779
 J.C. Ryle was the

00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:21.279
 Bishop of Liverpool

00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:22.900
 in the late 19th century.

00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:24.799
 He wrote a famous book

00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:27.039
 put together

00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:28.399
 entitled Holiness.

00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:30.579
 And it's a kind of series,

00:23:30.700 --> 00:23:31.139
 I think, really,

00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:31.799
 of sermons.

00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:33.379
 But in one of the chapters,

00:23:33.980 --> 00:23:35.119
 he writes this.

00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:37.119
 The true secret

00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:38.700
 of doing great things

00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:39.319
 for God

00:23:39.319 --> 00:23:41.119
 is to have great faith.

00:23:41.919 --> 00:23:43.180
 I believe we are all

00:23:43.180 --> 00:23:45.180
 apt to err on this point.

00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:46.940
 We think too much

00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:48.599
 and talk too much

00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:49.980
 about graces

00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:51.099
 and gifts

00:23:51.099 --> 00:23:52.339
 and attainments

00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:54.619
 and do not sufficiently

00:23:54.619 --> 00:23:55.459
 remember

00:23:55.459 --> 00:23:56.899
 that faith

00:23:56.899 --> 00:23:57.819
 is the root

00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:58.779
 and mother

00:23:58.779 --> 00:23:59.919
 of them all.

00:24:00.939 --> 00:24:02.319
 In walking with God,

00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.699
 a man will go

00:24:03.699 --> 00:24:04.699
 just as far

00:24:04.699 --> 00:24:05.619
 as he believes

00:24:05.619 --> 00:24:07.019
 and no further.

00:24:07.939 --> 00:24:08.740
 His life

00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.720
 will always be

00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:10.740
 proportioned

00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:12.299
 to his faith,

00:24:12.839 --> 00:24:13.539
 his peace,

00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:14.679
 his patience,

00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:15.500
 his courage,

00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:16.419
 his zeal,

00:24:16.679 --> 00:24:17.459
 his works.

00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:19.399
 All will be

00:24:19.399 --> 00:24:19.919
 according

00:24:19.919 --> 00:24:22.019
 to his faith.

00:24:22.339 --> 00:24:24.159
 And friends,

00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:25.199
 that's surely,

00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:25.639
 is it not,

00:24:25.679 --> 00:24:26.980
 a message of hope

00:24:26.980 --> 00:24:28.279
 for us all this evening.

00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:30.279
 God is not looking

00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:31.500
 for men and women

00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:32.799
 of great intellect

00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.679
 or ability.

00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:35.079
 He's looking for men

00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:36.279
 and women of faith.

00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:37.959
 Faith is key.

00:24:38.699 --> 00:24:39.519
 He's looking for those

00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:40.359
 who out of a sense

00:24:40.359 --> 00:24:40.879
 of their own

00:24:40.879 --> 00:24:42.179
 desperate need

00:24:42.179 --> 00:24:44.799
 ever cast themselves

00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:46.039
 and rely

00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:47.399
 on the living God.

00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:48.779
 Looking for those

00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.599
 who'll give up

00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:50.279
 on themselves,

00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:51.839
 who've despaired

00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:52.639
 of themselves,

00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:53.859
 who've abandoned

00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:54.940
 self-confidence

00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:56.779
 and instead

00:24:56.779 --> 00:24:57.519
 thrown themselves

00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:58.379
 upon the mercy

00:24:58.379 --> 00:24:59.539
 and grace

00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:01.180
 of the living God.

00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.460
 I wonder

00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:03.920
 if you've done

00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:05.339
 that tonight.

00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:05.779
 I wonder

00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:06.440
 who or what

00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:07.119
 you're really

00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:09.139
 trusting in.

00:25:11.139 --> 00:25:11.940
 The saints

00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:12.399
 of old,

00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:12.779
 Abel,

00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:13.319
 Enoch,

00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:13.740
 Noah,

00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:14.339
 Abraham,

00:25:14.859 --> 00:25:15.160
 Moses.

00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:17.000
 Their faith

00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:17.480
 was not

00:25:17.480 --> 00:25:18.060
 in their own

00:25:18.060 --> 00:25:18.660
 strength

00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:19.300
 and wisdom,

00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:20.800
 but in the God

00:25:20.800 --> 00:25:21.720
 who spoke

00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:23.480
 promises to them.

00:25:24.360 --> 00:25:24.840
 And friends,

00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:25.720
 God is speaking

00:25:25.720 --> 00:25:27.580
 promises to us

00:25:27.580 --> 00:25:28.019
 tonight.

00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:29.440
 Indeed,

00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:30.000
 the gospel

00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:31.220
 of Jesus Christ

00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:32.940
 is one great

00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:34.320
 and wonderful

00:25:34.320 --> 00:25:35.019
 promise.

00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.620
 For God

00:25:36.620 --> 00:25:37.200
 so loved

00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:37.720
 the world,

00:25:38.180 --> 00:25:38.700
 He gave

00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:39.720
 His only begotten

00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.060
 Son,

00:25:40.360 --> 00:25:41.519
 that whosoever

00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:42.940
 believes in Him

00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:43.960
 shall not perish,

00:25:43.960 --> 00:25:45.240
 but have eternal

00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:45.819
 life.

00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:47.340
 Let me ask you,

00:25:47.380 --> 00:25:48.279
 what are you doing

00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:49.640
 with that

00:25:49.640 --> 00:25:51.600
 wonderful promise

00:25:51.600 --> 00:25:52.039
 tonight?

00:25:53.880 --> 00:25:54.960
 These Old Testament

00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:56.279
 saints were commended

00:25:56.279 --> 00:25:57.600
 not because they

00:25:57.600 --> 00:25:58.400
 were perfect,

00:25:59.240 --> 00:25:59.840
 not because they

00:25:59.840 --> 00:26:00.940
 never wavered,

00:26:01.319 --> 00:26:01.920
 not because they

00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:02.799
 never stumbled

00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.779
 or sinned,

00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.279
 but because they

00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:07.380
 trusted God's

00:26:07.380 --> 00:26:08.220
 Word

00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:10.039
 above their

00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:10.799
 fears,

00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:12.380
 above their

00:26:12.380 --> 00:26:13.380
 circumstances,

00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:15.640
 above the

00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:16.360
 shouts of a

00:26:16.360 --> 00:26:16.920
 world that

00:26:16.920 --> 00:26:17.620
 called them

00:26:17.620 --> 00:26:18.259
 fools.

00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:20.460
 Friends,

00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:20.940
 we're called

00:26:20.940 --> 00:26:21.400
 to do the

00:26:21.400 --> 00:26:21.759
 same.

00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:23.299
 We're called

00:26:23.299 --> 00:26:24.000
 to trust

00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:24.660
 God

00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:26.120
 and His

00:26:26.120 --> 00:26:26.720
 assessment

00:26:26.720 --> 00:26:28.240
 of what

00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:29.600
 is commendable.

00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.319
 Look to Him

00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:31.980
 in all things

00:26:31.980 --> 00:26:32.480
 and in all

00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:33.259
 circumstances,

00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:34.600
 in both the

00:26:34.600 --> 00:26:35.579
 sweet and the

00:26:35.579 --> 00:26:36.360
 sour of life.

00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.500
 Be like those

00:26:38.500 --> 00:26:39.400
 people of old

00:26:39.400 --> 00:26:39.740
 who were

00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.600
 commended for

00:26:40.600 --> 00:26:41.319
 their faith.

00:26:41.319 --> 00:26:42.359
 constantly

00:26:42.359 --> 00:26:42.980
 turn to

00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.259
 Him

00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.099
 and trust

00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:44.460
 Him

00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:45.139
 in all

00:26:45.139 --> 00:26:45.480
 things

00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:46.059
 and for

00:26:46.059 --> 00:26:46.339
 all

00:26:46.339 --> 00:26:46.919
 things.

00:26:47.919 --> 00:26:49.179
 For faith

00:26:49.179 --> 00:26:50.079
 is what God

00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:50.799
 commends.

00:26:52.500 --> 00:26:53.220
 Faith

00:26:53.220 --> 00:26:53.879
 looks to the

00:26:53.879 --> 00:26:55.059
 future that God

00:26:55.059 --> 00:26:55.639
 has promised.

00:26:56.079 --> 00:26:56.779
 Faith is what

00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:57.619
 God commends.

00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:58.500
 And thirdly here,

00:26:58.839 --> 00:26:59.279
 as time

00:26:59.279 --> 00:26:59.859
 disappears,

00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:02.200
 faith understands

00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:02.859
 that universe

00:27:02.859 --> 00:27:04.220
 was created

00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:05.539
 by God.

00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:07.319
 By faith,

00:27:07.399 --> 00:27:08.200
 we understand

00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:09.080
 that the

00:27:09.080 --> 00:27:09.880
 universe was

00:27:09.880 --> 00:27:10.620
 created by

00:27:10.620 --> 00:27:11.140
 the Word of

00:27:11.140 --> 00:27:11.460
 God,

00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:12.720
 so that what

00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.360
 is seen

00:27:13.360 --> 00:27:14.100
 was not

00:27:14.100 --> 00:27:14.799
 made out

00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.380
 of things

00:27:15.380 --> 00:27:16.120
 that are

00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:16.500
 visible.

00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:17.420
 Verse 3,

00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:19.080
 by faith

00:27:19.080 --> 00:27:21.019
 we understand.

00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.500
 Faith in

00:27:22.500 --> 00:27:23.259
 God brings

00:27:23.259 --> 00:27:23.819
 with it a

00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.200
 way of

00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:24.960
 looking at

00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:26.700
 and understanding

00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:27.720
 the cosmos.

00:27:28.680 --> 00:27:29.480
 We understand

00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:30.200
 that this

00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:30.740
 world,

00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:31.860
 what's

00:27:31.860 --> 00:27:32.420
 complexity

00:27:32.420 --> 00:27:33.140
 and its

00:27:33.140 --> 00:27:33.779
 beauty,

00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:34.819
 did not

00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:36.240
 spring from

00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:36.779
 nothing,

00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:38.680
 by chance.

00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:40.700
 It is not

00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:41.920
 self-existent.

00:27:42.399 --> 00:27:43.099
 It was

00:27:43.099 --> 00:27:44.079
 called into

00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:45.599
 being by

00:27:45.599 --> 00:27:46.480
 the Word

00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:47.460
 of God.

00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:49.139
 And that's

00:27:49.139 --> 00:27:49.680
 a really

00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:50.799
 important

00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:51.539
 perspective.

00:27:52.779 --> 00:27:53.740
 Because when

00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:54.379
 we believe

00:27:54.379 --> 00:27:54.879
 this, we

00:27:54.879 --> 00:27:55.660
 stand against

00:27:55.660 --> 00:27:56.119
 the tide

00:27:56.119 --> 00:27:56.379
 of a

00:27:56.379 --> 00:27:57.339
 culture that

00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:59.000
 often wants

00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:59.460
 to worship

00:27:59.460 --> 00:28:00.539
 the creature

00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:01.940
 rather than

00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:02.559
 the Creator.

00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:04.079
 And the

00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:04.379
 claim of

00:28:04.379 --> 00:28:04.859
 the Bible

00:28:04.859 --> 00:28:05.299
 is that

00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:05.980
 all things

00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:06.539
 were brought

00:28:06.539 --> 00:28:07.319
 into being

00:28:07.319 --> 00:28:08.000
 out of

00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.400
 nothing

00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:09.900
 by God.

00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:11.740
 And in

00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.620
 Jesus Christ,

00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:13.460
 we therefore

00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:14.360
 not only have

00:28:14.360 --> 00:28:14.860
 an anchor

00:28:14.860 --> 00:28:15.660
 for our

00:28:15.660 --> 00:28:16.099
 souls,

00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:17.599
 but one

00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:18.240
 that brings

00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:18.860
 us a

00:28:18.860 --> 00:28:19.360
 true

00:28:19.360 --> 00:28:20.380
 understanding

00:28:20.380 --> 00:28:21.779
 of our

00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:22.360
 world.

00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:24.279
 We live

00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:24.720
 in a world

00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.000
 that

00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:26.920
 frequently

00:28:26.920 --> 00:28:27.360
 is very

00:28:27.360 --> 00:28:27.940
 suspicious

00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:29.079
 of faith,

00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:30.099
 certainly

00:28:30.099 --> 00:28:30.440
 amongst

00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:30.880
 many of

00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:31.099
 my

00:28:31.099 --> 00:28:31.680
 generation.

00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:35.900
 faith is

00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:36.060
 to be

00:28:36.060 --> 00:28:36.600
 found in

00:28:36.600 --> 00:28:37.720
 doubt and

00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:38.560
 skepticism.

00:28:39.360 --> 00:28:39.940
 Faith is

00:28:39.940 --> 00:28:40.340
 deemed to

00:28:40.340 --> 00:28:40.840
 be the

00:28:40.840 --> 00:28:41.779
 preserve of

00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:42.299
 fools,

00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.019
 the gullible

00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:43.700
 and the

00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:44.340
 simple-minded.

00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:46.620
 Their

00:28:46.620 --> 00:28:47.640
 oft-repeated

00:28:47.640 --> 00:28:49.279
 mantra is,

00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:50.060
 we don't

00:28:50.060 --> 00:28:50.539
 believe in

00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:51.039
 God,

00:28:51.360 --> 00:28:52.360
 we believe

00:28:52.360 --> 00:28:53.720
 in science.

00:28:54.820 --> 00:28:55.360
 As if

00:28:55.360 --> 00:28:56.039
 their science

00:28:56.039 --> 00:28:57.380
 or perhaps

00:28:57.380 --> 00:28:57.740
 better,

00:28:57.880 --> 00:28:58.560
 scientism

00:28:58.559 --> 00:29:00.099
 itself does

00:29:00.099 --> 00:29:00.799
 not rest

00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:01.639
 on numerous

00:29:01.639 --> 00:29:03.039
 faith,

00:29:03.339 --> 00:29:03.619
 some of

00:29:03.619 --> 00:29:03.940
 the many

00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:04.519
 questionable

00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:05.000
 faith

00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:06.220
 presuppositions.

00:29:07.419 --> 00:29:07.879
 Biblical

00:29:07.879 --> 00:29:09.159
 faith understands

00:29:09.159 --> 00:29:09.539
 that the

00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:10.000
 world and

00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:10.559
 the universe

00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:11.399
 was created

00:29:11.399 --> 00:29:12.099
 by God.

00:29:12.659 --> 00:29:13.700
 God declared

00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:14.299
 the universe

00:29:14.299 --> 00:29:14.799
 into being,

00:29:15.539 --> 00:29:16.019
 and faith

00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:16.519
 understands

00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:16.839
 that that

00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:17.240
 is true.

00:29:18.059 --> 00:29:18.440
 Creation

00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:19.119
 is God's

00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:19.639
 design.

00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:20.379
 It's an

00:29:20.379 --> 00:29:21.079
 expression

00:29:21.079 --> 00:29:21.519
 of His

00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:21.960
 will.

00:29:22.779 --> 00:29:23.039
 And so

00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:23.740
 purpose

00:29:23.740 --> 00:29:24.500
 and meaning

00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:25.200
 and order

00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:25.879
 and reason

00:29:25.879 --> 00:29:26.700
 have actually

00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:27.379
 been built

00:29:27.379 --> 00:29:28.159
 into the

00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:28.960
 world and

00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:29.820
 the universe

00:29:29.820 --> 00:29:30.640
 that God

00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:31.140
 made.

00:29:32.300 --> 00:29:32.800
 It's not

00:29:32.800 --> 00:29:33.220
 all a

00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:34.000
 kind of

00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:34.620
 cosmic

00:29:34.620 --> 00:29:35.180
 accident.

00:29:36.120 --> 00:29:36.759
 It's only

00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:37.080
 in the

00:29:37.080 --> 00:29:37.519
 light of

00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:37.960
 God's

00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:38.480
 creative

00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:39.560
 acts

00:29:39.560 --> 00:29:40.000
 that the

00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:40.420
 universe

00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:41.440
 can make

00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:41.940
 any sense

00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:42.500
 at all.

00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:43.420
 If there

00:29:43.420 --> 00:29:43.820
 is no

00:29:43.820 --> 00:29:44.259
 God,

00:29:45.279 --> 00:29:45.880
 it's all

00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:46.240
 meaningless.

00:29:48.400 --> 00:29:48.980
 I'm

00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:49.300
 reminded

00:29:49.300 --> 00:29:49.980
 of the

00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:50.160
 word

00:29:50.160 --> 00:29:50.580
 C.S.

00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:50.920
 Lewis,

00:29:51.600 --> 00:29:51.940
 he gave

00:29:51.940 --> 00:29:52.440
 a paper

00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:53.820
 to the

00:29:53.820 --> 00:29:54.340
 Oxford

00:29:54.340 --> 00:29:55.320
 Socratic

00:29:55.320 --> 00:29:55.860
 Club

00:29:55.860 --> 00:29:56.480
 back in

00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:56.779
 the early

00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:57.600
 1960s.

00:29:57.599 --> 00:29:57.799
 I have

00:29:57.799 --> 00:29:58.039
 no

00:29:58.039 --> 00:29:58.439
 idea

00:29:58.439 --> 00:29:59.099
 what the

00:29:59.099 --> 00:29:59.459
 Oxford

00:29:59.459 --> 00:30:00.199
 Socratic

00:30:00.199 --> 00:30:00.500
 Club

00:30:00.500 --> 00:30:01.359
 is or

00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:02.319
 if it's

00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:02.759
 even still

00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:03.299
 in existence.

00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:03.740
 But he

00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:04.559
 gave a

00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:04.719
 paper.

00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:04.919
 I'm going

00:30:04.919 --> 00:30:05.159
 to read,

00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:05.619
 not read

00:30:05.619 --> 00:30:05.879
 the whole

00:30:05.879 --> 00:30:06.099
 of it,

00:30:06.159 --> 00:30:06.379
 you'll be

00:30:06.379 --> 00:30:06.719
 glad to

00:30:06.719 --> 00:30:06.839
 know,

00:30:06.919 --> 00:30:07.459
 but let

00:30:07.459 --> 00:30:07.719
 me read

00:30:07.719 --> 00:30:07.980
 some

00:30:07.980 --> 00:30:08.759
 words that

00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:10.039
 he has

00:30:10.039 --> 00:30:10.339
 in that

00:30:10.339 --> 00:30:10.639
 paper.

00:30:10.799 --> 00:30:11.199
 If he

00:30:11.199 --> 00:30:11.599
 says,

00:30:11.819 --> 00:30:12.299
 I swallow

00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:13.139
 the scientific

00:30:13.139 --> 00:30:14.000
 cosmology

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:14.619
 as a

00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:14.959
 whole,

00:30:15.879 --> 00:30:16.439
 then not

00:30:16.439 --> 00:30:17.099
 only can

00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:17.759
 I not

00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:18.500
 fit in

00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:19.119
 Christianity,

00:30:20.279 --> 00:30:20.819
 I cannot

00:30:20.819 --> 00:30:21.579
 even fit

00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:22.500
 in science.

00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:23.740
 If minds

00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.199
 are wholly

00:30:24.199 --> 00:30:25.019
 dependent on

00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:25.500
 brains,

00:30:25.759 --> 00:30:26.259
 brains on

00:30:26.259 --> 00:30:27.079
 biochemistry,

00:30:27.359 --> 00:30:28.400
 and biochemistry

00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:29.059
 in the long

00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:29.900
 run on the

00:30:29.900 --> 00:30:31.319
 meaningless flux

00:30:31.319 --> 00:30:31.839
 of the

00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:32.200
 atoms,

00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:33.720
 I cannot

00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:35.640
 understand how

00:30:35.640 --> 00:30:36.220
 the thought of

00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:37.039
 those minds

00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:38.160
 should have

00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:38.599
 any more

00:30:38.599 --> 00:30:40.200
 significance than

00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:41.240
 the sound of

00:30:41.240 --> 00:30:42.220
 the wind in

00:30:42.220 --> 00:30:42.900
 the trees.

00:30:43.980 --> 00:30:44.879
 And this to me

00:30:44.879 --> 00:30:45.420
 is the final

00:30:45.420 --> 00:30:46.339
 test, he says.

00:30:47.339 --> 00:30:47.759
 And then he

00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:48.119
 goes on,

00:30:48.119 --> 00:30:49.019
 Christian theology

00:30:49.019 --> 00:30:49.919
 can fit in

00:30:49.919 --> 00:30:50.559
 science,

00:30:50.699 --> 00:30:51.000
 art,

00:30:51.159 --> 00:30:51.639
 morality,

00:30:51.939 --> 00:30:53.199
 and other

00:30:53.199 --> 00:30:53.679
 religions.

00:30:54.659 --> 00:30:55.839
 The scientific

00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:56.779
 point of view

00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:58.199
 cannot fit in

00:30:58.199 --> 00:30:59.219
 any of these

00:30:59.219 --> 00:30:59.679
 things,

00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:00.579
 not even

00:31:00.579 --> 00:31:01.579
 science itself.

00:31:02.659 --> 00:31:03.359
 And then the

00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:04.019
 famous line,

00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:05.599
 I believe in

00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:06.339
 Christianity

00:31:06.339 --> 00:31:08.159
 as I believe

00:31:08.159 --> 00:31:08.879
 that the sun

00:31:08.879 --> 00:31:09.639
 has risen,

00:31:10.439 --> 00:31:11.599
 not only

00:31:11.599 --> 00:31:12.439
 because I

00:31:12.439 --> 00:31:13.199
 see it,

00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:15.059
 but because

00:31:15.059 --> 00:31:15.899
 by it

00:31:15.900 --> 00:31:17.200
 I see

00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:18.220
 everything

00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:19.120
 else.

00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:21.480
 And yes,

00:31:21.560 --> 00:31:22.440
 science is good,

00:31:22.580 --> 00:31:23.440
 science is great,

00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:24.440
 but without

00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:25.600
 God's revelation

00:31:25.600 --> 00:31:26.480
 it is ultimately

00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:27.220
 meaningless.

00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:29.160
 It has to be

00:31:29.160 --> 00:31:30.160
 rooted and

00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:30.720
 grounded

00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:32.440
 in Christian

00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:32.820
 faith,

00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:34.060
 because it's

00:31:34.060 --> 00:31:34.540
 faith that

00:31:34.540 --> 00:31:34.780
 brings

00:31:34.780 --> 00:31:35.560
 understanding.

00:31:35.940 --> 00:31:36.600
 Herman Bavinck,

00:31:37.080 --> 00:31:38.019
 I'm allowed to,

00:31:38.580 --> 00:31:39.140
 Corey's not

00:31:39.140 --> 00:31:40.140
 allowed to quote

00:31:40.140 --> 00:31:40.840
 Herman Bavinck,

00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:41.780
 I am allowed to

00:31:41.780 --> 00:31:42.600
 quote Herman

00:31:42.600 --> 00:31:43.160
 Bavinck.

00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:44.720
 He wrote a

00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:45.160
 book on

00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:45.860
 Christianity and

00:31:45.860 --> 00:31:46.019
 science.

00:31:46.100 --> 00:31:46.259
 I think

00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:48.279
 Corey may

00:31:48.279 --> 00:31:48.779
 actually have

00:31:48.779 --> 00:31:49.220
 been one of

00:31:49.220 --> 00:31:49.900
 the translators

00:31:49.900 --> 00:31:50.400
 of the book,

00:31:50.480 --> 00:31:50.820
 so if you've

00:31:50.820 --> 00:31:51.080
 got any

00:31:51.080 --> 00:31:51.740
 questions on

00:31:51.740 --> 00:31:51.860
 it,

00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:52.519
 you can

00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:52.940
 speak to

00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:53.240
 him.

00:31:54.220 --> 00:31:54.720
 And he

00:31:54.720 --> 00:31:56.000
 closes that

00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:56.360
 book with

00:31:56.360 --> 00:31:56.900
 these words,

00:31:57.820 --> 00:31:58.200
 Christian

00:31:58.200 --> 00:31:58.640
 science,

00:31:58.720 --> 00:31:59.019
 he says,

00:31:59.100 --> 00:31:59.380
 that is

00:31:59.380 --> 00:32:00.259
 science conducted

00:32:00.259 --> 00:32:00.860
 on the basis

00:32:00.860 --> 00:32:01.560
 of faith in

00:32:01.560 --> 00:32:02.140
 God's Word.

00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:03.360
 It's a science

00:32:03.360 --> 00:32:04.320
 that investigates

00:32:04.320 --> 00:32:05.380
 all things by

00:32:05.380 --> 00:32:05.960
 the light of

00:32:05.960 --> 00:32:06.660
 that revelation

00:32:06.660 --> 00:32:07.960
 and therefore

00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:09.180
 sees them as

00:32:09.180 --> 00:32:10.480
 they truly are

00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:10.920
 in their

00:32:10.920 --> 00:32:11.300
 essence.

00:32:11.299 --> 00:32:12.899
 In the eyes

00:32:12.899 --> 00:32:13.379
 of the world

00:32:13.379 --> 00:32:13.919
 this might be

00:32:13.919 --> 00:32:14.519
 foolishness,

00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:15.960
 but the folly

00:32:15.960 --> 00:32:16.480
 of God is

00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:16.960
 wiser than

00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:17.259
 men,

00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:18.779
 just as the

00:32:18.779 --> 00:32:19.220
 weakness of

00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:20.180
 God is

00:32:20.180 --> 00:32:21.180
 stronger than

00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:21.539
 men.

00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:23.779
 And that's

00:32:23.779 --> 00:32:25.099
 why those

00:32:25.099 --> 00:32:25.859
 atheists that

00:32:25.859 --> 00:32:26.500
 try to be

00:32:26.500 --> 00:32:27.000
 consistent,

00:32:27.240 --> 00:32:27.859
 like Richard

00:32:27.859 --> 00:32:28.460
 Dawkins,

00:32:29.379 --> 00:32:30.019
 say that even

00:32:30.019 --> 00:32:31.039
 to ask the

00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:31.940
 question about

00:32:31.940 --> 00:32:32.740
 purpose and

00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:33.599
 meaning in

00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:34.419
 human existence,

00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:35.740
 existence is

00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.319
 stupid and

00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:36.740
 irrational.

00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:38.039
 And it's an

00:32:38.039 --> 00:32:39.700
 incredibly bleak,

00:32:40.180 --> 00:32:40.859
 anti-human

00:32:40.859 --> 00:32:41.479
 perspective,

00:32:41.479 --> 00:32:42.039
 and we can

00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:42.799
 see where

00:32:42.799 --> 00:32:43.240
 that may

00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:43.959
 take us as

00:32:43.959 --> 00:32:44.439
 a culture,

00:32:44.559 --> 00:32:45.179
 as a society.

00:32:45.319 --> 00:32:45.859
 It's quite

00:32:45.859 --> 00:32:46.419
 literally a

00:32:46.419 --> 00:32:47.019
 dead end.

00:32:48.319 --> 00:32:49.039
 Because it's

00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:49.799
 faith that brings

00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:50.439
 understanding,

00:32:50.599 --> 00:32:51.019
 faith in the

00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:51.679
 living God.

00:32:52.819 --> 00:32:53.519
 It helps me to

00:32:53.519 --> 00:32:54.179
 see that life

00:32:54.179 --> 00:32:54.740
 does have

00:32:54.740 --> 00:32:55.579
 purpose and

00:32:55.579 --> 00:32:56.099
 meaning and

00:32:56.099 --> 00:32:56.679
 significance.

00:32:57.119 --> 00:32:57.939
 And that may

00:32:57.939 --> 00:32:58.579
 not be a

00:32:58.579 --> 00:32:59.740
 cure for those

00:32:59.740 --> 00:33:00.399
 feelings that we

00:33:00.399 --> 00:33:01.139
 have in difficult

00:33:01.139 --> 00:33:01.979
 times, but it

00:33:01.979 --> 00:33:02.779
 provides the

00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:03.959
 basis for not

00:33:03.959 --> 00:33:04.939
 falling into

00:33:04.939 --> 00:33:06.039
 utter despair.

00:33:06.740 --> 00:33:07.219
 Tim Keller

00:33:07.219 --> 00:33:08.079
 writes,

00:33:08.179 --> 00:33:09.139
 the Bible tells

00:33:09.139 --> 00:33:09.919
 us that if you

00:33:09.919 --> 00:33:10.479
 don't let your

00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:11.279
 thinking lead you

00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:12.440
 to Jesus Christ,

00:33:12.599 --> 00:33:14.240
 it will end in

00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:15.000
 despair.

00:33:16.620 --> 00:33:17.480
 By faith we

00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:18.440
 understand that the

00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:19.400
 world and the

00:33:19.400 --> 00:33:20.640
 universe itself are

00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:22.220
 not eternal or

00:33:22.220 --> 00:33:23.759
 self-sustaining, but

00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:25.059
 are utterly dependent

00:33:25.059 --> 00:33:26.079
 on God.

00:33:26.360 --> 00:33:27.420
 The universe was

00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:28.680
 created by the

00:33:28.680 --> 00:33:29.400
 Word of God.

00:33:29.539 --> 00:33:30.140
 The God who

00:33:30.140 --> 00:33:31.039
 brought the cosmos

00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:32.900
 into being, who

00:33:32.900 --> 00:33:34.039
 sustains it in the

00:33:34.039 --> 00:33:35.380
 present, will one

00:33:35.380 --> 00:33:36.960
 day redeem it in the

00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:37.279
 future.

00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:38.420
 That is what the

00:33:38.420 --> 00:33:39.399
 Scriptures teach.

00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:41.160
 We are God's

00:33:41.160 --> 00:33:42.240
 creatures in God's

00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:42.639
 world.

00:33:43.379 --> 00:33:44.139
 And so it's only in

00:33:44.139 --> 00:33:45.180
 looking to God that

00:33:45.180 --> 00:33:46.920
 we can truly make any

00:33:46.920 --> 00:33:48.079
 sense of our lives.

00:33:49.139 --> 00:33:50.299
 Because a believing

00:33:50.299 --> 00:33:51.759
 response to the

00:33:51.759 --> 00:33:52.599
 revelation of

00:33:52.599 --> 00:33:54.460
 Scripture brings

00:33:54.460 --> 00:33:55.240
 understanding.

00:33:55.399 --> 00:33:55.799
 It brings

00:33:55.799 --> 00:33:56.920
 illumination.

00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:58.559
 The light bulb

00:33:58.559 --> 00:33:59.299
 goes on.

00:34:00.639 --> 00:34:02.420
 And yes, the

00:34:02.420 --> 00:34:03.440
 secular scientific

00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:04.660
 method is limited.

00:34:05.620 --> 00:34:06.299
 It cannot

00:34:06.299 --> 00:34:08.280
 explain purpose or

00:34:08.280 --> 00:34:08.980
 meaning on its own

00:34:08.980 --> 00:34:09.480
 terms.

00:34:10.039 --> 00:34:10.780
 And so the ultimate

00:34:10.780 --> 00:34:11.980
 answers to the big

00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:13.559
 questions of life lie

00:34:13.559 --> 00:34:15.559
 not in the world, as

00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:16.380
 it were, but in the

00:34:16.380 --> 00:34:16.880
 Word.

00:34:18.700 --> 00:34:19.780
 That same Word that

00:34:19.780 --> 00:34:21.079
 brought the cosmos,

00:34:21.420 --> 00:34:22.539
 everything into being.

00:34:23.320 --> 00:34:24.679
 That same Word speaks

00:34:24.679 --> 00:34:25.740
 to us the great

00:34:25.740 --> 00:34:26.559
 promises of the

00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:26.940
 gospel.

00:34:27.079 --> 00:34:28.880
 It promises us a new

00:34:28.880 --> 00:34:29.480
 creation.

00:34:30.440 --> 00:34:31.260
 Peter says in his

00:34:31.260 --> 00:34:32.940
 second letter, in

00:34:32.940 --> 00:34:33.960
 keeping with his

00:34:33.960 --> 00:34:35.420
 promise, we are

00:34:35.420 --> 00:34:35.720
 what?

00:34:35.840 --> 00:34:37.599
 Looking forward to a

00:34:37.599 --> 00:34:38.679
 new heaven and a new

00:34:38.679 --> 00:34:39.720
 earth, the home of

00:34:39.720 --> 00:34:40.200
 righteousness.

00:34:42.460 --> 00:34:44.000
 And it is as we by

00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:45.200
 faith become men and

00:34:45.200 --> 00:34:47.179
 women united to Jesus

00:34:47.179 --> 00:34:49.420
 Christ that we become

00:34:49.420 --> 00:34:50.119
 new creatures.

00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:52.659
 If anyone's in Christ,

00:34:52.760 --> 00:34:53.220
 he is what?

00:34:53.340 --> 00:34:54.380
 A new creation.

00:34:54.860 --> 00:34:55.720
 The old is gone.

00:34:55.800 --> 00:34:56.559
 The new has come.

00:34:57.760 --> 00:34:59.039
 And so through faith in

00:34:59.039 --> 00:35:00.440
 Jesus Christ we belong,

00:35:00.800 --> 00:35:02.720
 not in this old world and

00:35:02.719 --> 00:35:04.079
 old age rather that is

00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:06.000
 decaying and dying, but

00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:06.919
 in that new world, that

00:35:06.919 --> 00:35:08.739
 new age that God

00:35:08.739 --> 00:35:10.019
 himself is bringing into

00:35:10.019 --> 00:35:10.419
 being.

00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:15.219
 Faith in many respects

00:35:15.219 --> 00:35:16.959
 cannot really be

00:35:16.959 --> 00:35:17.759
 understood in the

00:35:17.759 --> 00:35:18.119
 abstract.

00:35:18.919 --> 00:35:20.099
 It's always relational.

00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:22.059
 It's faith in, it's

00:35:22.059 --> 00:35:22.959
 faith on, it's faith

00:35:22.959 --> 00:35:23.719
 towards.

00:35:24.739 --> 00:35:25.959
 The Puritans called it a

00:35:25.959 --> 00:35:26.779
 leaning grace.

00:35:28.099 --> 00:35:29.159
 Because there's a sense in

00:35:29.159 --> 00:35:30.159
 which faith doesn't exist

00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:30.719
 on its own.

00:35:30.940 --> 00:35:31.839
 It's always attached

00:35:31.839 --> 00:35:33.559
 itself to something or

00:35:33.559 --> 00:35:33.899
 someone.

00:35:36.119 --> 00:35:37.299
 And here in Hebrews 11,

00:35:37.399 --> 00:35:38.359
 the great object of

00:35:38.359 --> 00:35:39.259
 faith is God himself.

00:35:40.179 --> 00:35:41.119
 The God of the Bible,

00:35:41.259 --> 00:35:42.480
 the triune God, Father,

00:35:42.659 --> 00:35:43.619
 Son, and Holy Spirit,

00:35:43.859 --> 00:35:45.299
 His character, His Word,

00:35:45.500 --> 00:35:46.219
 His promises.

00:35:48.399 --> 00:35:49.500
 Time is almost gone.

00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:49.920
 R.T.

00:35:50.019 --> 00:35:52.440
 Kendall was the minister in

00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:53.480
 the late, I think, mid to

00:35:53.480 --> 00:35:55.199
 late 70s, followed the

00:35:55.199 --> 00:35:56.259
 famous Welsh preacher,

00:35:56.399 --> 00:35:57.799
 Martin Lloyd-Jones, at

00:35:57.800 --> 00:35:59.420
 Westminster Chapel in

00:35:59.420 --> 00:35:59.700
 London.

00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:01.820
 And he recounts in one

00:36:01.820 --> 00:36:02.400
 of his books the

00:36:02.400 --> 00:36:03.420
 occasion he was planning

00:36:03.420 --> 00:36:04.820
 to preach through this

00:36:04.820 --> 00:36:05.800
 particular chapter,

00:36:05.940 --> 00:36:06.480
 Hebrews 11.

00:36:06.820 --> 00:36:09.260
 And he was driving Lloyd-Jones

00:36:09.260 --> 00:36:10.400
 to some preaching

00:36:10.400 --> 00:36:11.800
 engagement in the

00:36:11.800 --> 00:36:12.280
 Cotswolds.

00:36:13.060 --> 00:36:14.420
 And he asked them for a

00:36:14.420 --> 00:36:15.300
 good definition of

00:36:15.300 --> 00:36:15.640
 faith.

00:36:16.240 --> 00:36:17.140
 And they discussed the

00:36:17.140 --> 00:36:18.340
 matter at some length as

00:36:18.340 --> 00:36:19.480
 they drove there and as

00:36:19.480 --> 00:36:20.280
 they drove back.

00:36:21.200 --> 00:36:22.440
 After about four hours of

00:36:22.440 --> 00:36:24.220
 driving, they seemed no

00:36:24.220 --> 00:36:26.340
 closer to a definition.

00:36:26.340 --> 00:36:29.059
 But the next day, the

00:36:29.059 --> 00:36:29.640
 phone rang.

00:36:30.120 --> 00:36:31.380
 And before Kendall could

00:36:31.380 --> 00:36:33.680
 even say hello, a voice

00:36:33.680 --> 00:36:35.400
 on the other end said,

00:36:36.059 --> 00:36:37.440
 Believing God.

00:36:37.960 --> 00:36:39.260
 That's your definition.

00:36:40.920 --> 00:36:42.500
 Hebrews 11 is full of

00:36:42.500 --> 00:36:44.660
 men and women who believed

00:36:44.660 --> 00:36:45.360
 God.

00:36:46.579 --> 00:36:47.740
 They believed in Him.

00:36:47.800 --> 00:36:48.680
 They believed His Word.

00:36:48.780 --> 00:36:49.800
 They believed His promises.

00:36:50.860 --> 00:36:51.900
 They staked their whole

00:36:51.900 --> 00:36:53.320
 existence on those promises.

00:36:53.500 --> 00:36:54.160
 They left homes.

00:36:54.740 --> 00:36:55.559
 They built arks.

00:36:55.559 --> 00:36:56.739
 They offered sacrifices.

00:36:57.259 --> 00:36:58.039
 They fought enemies.

00:36:58.179 --> 00:37:00.219
 They wandered this world as

00:37:00.219 --> 00:37:01.420
 strangers and pilgrims

00:37:01.420 --> 00:37:03.840
 because they believed God.

00:37:05.340 --> 00:37:06.619
 Biblical faith is not some

00:37:06.619 --> 00:37:07.820
 kind of blind optimism.

00:37:08.699 --> 00:37:10.019
 It is believing God.

00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:13.219
 Believing who He says He is

00:37:13.219 --> 00:37:15.480
 and that He will do what He

00:37:15.480 --> 00:37:16.500
 has promised to do.

00:37:17.659 --> 00:37:18.960
 It's believing His Word.

00:37:20.199 --> 00:37:21.759
 Faith looks to the cross of

00:37:21.759 --> 00:37:22.579
 Christ and says,

00:37:22.579 --> 00:37:24.340
 here is the evidence of God's

00:37:24.340 --> 00:37:26.119
 love and the substance of His

00:37:26.119 --> 00:37:27.699
 promise to me, a sinner.

00:37:28.420 --> 00:37:29.880
 Faith looks at the empty tomb

00:37:29.880 --> 00:37:31.259
 and says, here is the victory

00:37:31.259 --> 00:37:33.519
 of God's power and the guarantee

00:37:33.519 --> 00:37:35.420
 of my hope of eternal life.

00:37:37.179 --> 00:37:38.420
 And yes, much in this present

00:37:38.420 --> 00:37:40.599
 world is fading and dying.

00:37:41.279 --> 00:37:42.920
 But the Word of God endures

00:37:42.920 --> 00:37:43.279
 forever.

00:37:44.119 --> 00:37:45.619
 And the promises of God are

00:37:45.619 --> 00:37:46.239
 unshakable.

00:37:46.239 --> 00:37:48.679
 And Jesus Christ is the same

00:37:48.679 --> 00:37:49.519
 yesterday,

00:37:50.519 --> 00:37:51.179
 today,

00:37:51.959 --> 00:37:52.579
 and forever.

00:37:54.619 --> 00:37:56.039
 So let me encourage you this

00:37:56.039 --> 00:37:57.039
 evening, if you're a believer,

00:37:57.439 --> 00:37:58.959
 to look to Him in faith

00:37:58.959 --> 00:38:00.179
 and to press on.

00:38:01.179 --> 00:38:02.159
 It can be hard

00:38:02.159 --> 00:38:03.519
 in the face of bereavement,

00:38:04.059 --> 00:38:04.399
 illness,

00:38:04.719 --> 00:38:05.579
 other difficulties.

00:38:07.059 --> 00:38:08.579
 But the call is to stand

00:38:08.579 --> 00:38:10.039
 as a child of the promise,

00:38:10.339 --> 00:38:11.699
 to fix your eyes on Him,

00:38:11.819 --> 00:38:12.619
 Jesus Christ,

00:38:13.039 --> 00:38:14.099
 your soul's reward,

00:38:14.099 --> 00:38:15.880
 to keep running the race,

00:38:15.940 --> 00:38:17.440
 to keep walking by faith,

00:38:17.500 --> 00:38:18.239
 not by sight.

00:38:19.980 --> 00:38:21.239
 And if you're not a Christian,

00:38:22.880 --> 00:38:23.799
 well, let me encourage you

00:38:23.799 --> 00:38:25.159
 to come to Him with all your

00:38:25.159 --> 00:38:27.199
 doubts and fears and questions,

00:38:27.860 --> 00:38:30.619
 to trust Him with all that you are

00:38:30.619 --> 00:38:32.920
 and all that you have.

00:38:34.380 --> 00:38:37.000
 And so join that great company

00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:38.679
 of men and women

00:38:38.679 --> 00:38:40.940
 who down through the years

00:38:40.940 --> 00:38:44.179
 lived by faith.

00:38:44.780 --> 00:38:45.639
 Let's pray together.

00:38:53.679 --> 00:38:54.740
 Lord, we thank You

00:38:54.740 --> 00:38:56.240
 that You are a God

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 of grace

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 and mercy

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 and rich

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 and abundant love.

00:39:01.639 --> 00:39:02.420
 We thank You

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 that You're a God

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 who reveals Himself

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 and has revealed Himself

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 in Scripture,

00:39:07.480 --> 00:39:08.260
 in the world

00:39:08.260 --> 00:39:09.780
 that He has made,

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 and in the person

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 of our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:39:14.620 --> 00:39:18.019
 Lord, may You work in us

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 by Your Holy Spirit.

00:39:20.580 --> 00:39:22.100
 May You work in us

00:39:22.100 --> 00:39:23.740
 that which is pleasing to You,

00:39:25.000 --> 00:39:26.220
 that together

00:39:26.220 --> 00:39:28.280
 we may be men

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 and women

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 of faith

00:39:30.780 --> 00:39:32.019
 in You,

00:39:32.700 --> 00:39:33.140
 the living

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 and eternal God,

00:39:35.380 --> 00:39:36.560
 as we pray these things

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 in Jesus' name.

00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:38.320
 Amen.

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 Amen.

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