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HEBREWS – LESSON 7
I. THE NATURE AND WORTHY EXAMPLES OF FAITH (11:1-
A. Faith is as characterized by what it creates (v. 1-
1. Assurance of the things hoped for
2. Conviction of things not seen
3. Understanding that the worlds have been framed by the Word of God
B. Faith in God – Before the flood (v. 4-
1. By faith, Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than what Cain offered (v.4)
2. By faith, Enoch walked on earth in piety before God, pleasing God – was translated from this earth without dying-
3. Without faith it is impossible to please God (v. 6).
a. Must believe that He is
b. Must believe that He will reward those who seek Him in obedience.
4. By faith, Noah moved with godly fear and prepared an ark according to God’s instructions to save his family (v.7).
a. Action that condemned the world.
b. Action through which he became an heir of righteousness.
C. Faith in God’s promises: Abraham and Sarah (v. 8-
1. By faith, Abraham obeyed when called to go to a place he knew not – has as a future inheritance (v.8-
a. as a sojourner along with Isaac and Jacob living in land as sojourners looking for a city with foundations, built by God
2. By faith, Sarah had power to conceive – faith in God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promise of having a son when she is beyond the age of childbearing (v. 11-
3. Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Jacob – all died in faith confessing they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (v.13-
4. Abraham tested when directed to offer up Isaac, his son of promise – knowing God is able to raise him from the dead (v. 17-
D. Faith in God concerning things to come (v.20-
1. By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau (v.20)
2. By faith, Jacob when dying blessed each of the sons of Joseph (v.21)
3. By faith, Joseph at the end of his life gave commandment concerning his bones (v. 22).
E. Fearless Faith manifested by Moses’ parents and Moses (v. 23-
F. Obedient faith manifested by Israel in conquering Jericho (v.30)
G. Saving faith manifested by Rahab in receiving the spies sent by God (v. 31)
H. Steadfast faith manifested knowing God has promised something better than this life in the coming of the Messiah (v.32-
QUESTIONS:
1. What is faith?
2. Faith stands in the place of what?
3. In verse 2, who are the elders?
4. Through what did they have “witness born to them,” or by what did they “obtain a good report”?
5. What two things about our universe do we understand by faith?
6. Why was Abel’s sacrifice “more excellent” than Cain’s?
7. How did God bear witness to Abel that his gifts were acceptable?
8. Does Abel speak today? If so, How?
9. What is necessary in order to be “well-
10. How did Enoch illustrate this principle?
11. What did God do to him as a reward?
12. What must one believe about God if he or she is to come to God?
13. What fact in Noah’s story illustrates that between hearing God’s voice and obtaining final salvation stands a lifetime of faithfulness?
14. How did Noah condemn the world?
15. By faith, Abraham and his descendants looked for and sought for what?
16. What promises did Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Sarah not receive?
17. What did Abraham do that was part of Gods’ plan in bringing about the promises?
18. What did Sarah do that was part of God’s plan in bringing about the promises?
19. What kept Abraham and his family from returning to where they came from?
20. How does this illustration of faith work in the development of the theme of this Epistle?
21. What had faith caused Abraham to do in regard to Isaac even before God stilled the knife?
22. Why did blessing Jacob and Esau and Joseph’s sons require faith?
23. How was Joseph’s bones connected with this faith?
24. Why did it take faith to hide Moses for three months?
25. Define the word “proper.” How does it relate to Moses?
26. In verses 24-
27. Is “sin” pleasurable? What is the “rest of the story”?
28. Explain how Moses could be involved in the “reproach of Christ.”
29. In verse 27, what seemly impossible thing is possible by faith?
30. In verse 27, faith will overcome _________________ and help us ________________.
31. In verse 28, does faith ever accept and act upon unpleasant things?
32. How did faith enter in the crossing of the Red Sea?
33. In verse 30, does “by faith” mean merely accepting facts, or does it include obedience to conditions?
34. How did faith save Rahab the harlot?
35. How does verses 32-
36. Did faith stop the mouths of lions and quench fire by believing that the lions would not bite, and the fire would not burn or was it by living according to the teachings of God?
37. In verse 35, people of faith can accept death. Why?
38. How is verse 6 made more sobering by verses 36-
39. Explain what “of whom the world was not worthy” means.
40. What was “the promise” that these faithful did not receive?
41. How does the writer relate these examples of faith to the current readers?
HEBREWS – LESSON 8
I. THE PERFECT (COMPLETE) AND FINAL FAITH OF THE CHRISTIAN DISPENSATION (12:1-
A. Jesus is the Author and Perfector of our faith (v. 1-
1. The examples of people living by faith witness to us as we walk by faith today (v.1 a)
2. Run the race before us – laying aside the weight and sin which hinders us (v.1b)
3. Look to Jesus for our example in how we should run our race (v. 2-
B. Perils threatening the life of faith (v. 4-
1. Failure to respond to the chastening of the Lord (v. 4-
2. Falling short of the grace of God – like Esau (v. 14-
C. The nature of the old covenant in contrast with that of the new covenant (v. 18-
1. The terror of the old (v. 18-
2. The mercy of the new (v. 22-
D. God’s sobering warning (v. 25-
1. Do not refuse God’s warning from heaven-
2. God will make heaven and earth shake as those things not eternal shall pass (v. 26-
3. Receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken let us offer service to our God who is a consuming fire (v. 28-
QUESTIONS:
1. What physical picture of the life of the Christian is conveyed in verses 1-
2. Who are the “cloud of witnesses” and how do they witness to us today?
3. What is “the sin which doth so easily beset us”?
4. What quality do we need as we journey toward heaven?
5. Why must we look to Jesus as we journey?
6. Was Jesus’ suffering at Calvary merely suffering the physical pain of crucifixion? Explain.
7. To what extent of suffering had the readers of this Epistle not experienced yet?
8. What was the “chastening of the Lord” the readers were receiving?
9. Should we expect to gain heaven without some chastening?
10. In verses 6-
11. Does verse 9 say anything about the nature of man? What does it say?
12. In verses 12-
13. Where was the healing to be found?
14. What two characteristics were the people of God to have in such difficult times?
15. Why should the readers look diligently or carefully?
16. Describe the type of person who was apparently among the readers that Esau exemplifies?
17. What was the tragic event in Esau’s life that exemplifies what some of the readers will experience?
18. In verses 18-
19. To what mount had the readers come?
20. Is the church connected with this mount?
21. Is “the church of the firstborn” referring to Christ or the saints that comprise the assembly?
22. Have the things mentioned as connected with this mount played an important part in developing the theme of this Epistle? Explain.
23. In verses 25-
24. Do we have a greater responsibility to listen to God today than the Jews did in their day under the first covenant? Explain.
25. What is the significance of the “second shaking”?
26. Give “two reasons” why it is important to be in God’s kingdom today?
27. Is the church identified with the kingdom in Scripture? Explain.
28. In summing up this chapter, what two things must occur in everyone’s life if we are to reach heaven?