Scripture Daily

Context No. 3928 of 4322 · Hebrews

Context · Reflection

Hebrews 11:1-6: in context

1Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. 2For by this, the elders obtained approval. 3By faith we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible. 4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks. 5By faith Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn’t see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God. 6Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

The great chapter on faith opens with a description: faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Faith gives substance to what we hope for and certainty about realities we cannot see, God himself, his promises, the world to come. It is by such faith, the writer says, that the people of old were commended.

And then a bracing statement: without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Two truths anchor everything here. Faith is essential; there is no pleasing God, no drawing near to him, without it. We cannot come to God by sight, by achievement, by anything else; we come by believing. And faith has an object and a content: it believes that God is, and that he rewards those who seek him. This is not vague optimism but confident trust in the God who exists and who responds to those who earnestly seek him. To come to God at all, we must come by faith.

Am I drawing near to God by faith, with the conviction that he is real and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him, rather than trying to please him by sight or by my own achievements?

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