Regeneration, Forgiveness, Satisfaction

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. substance...: Or, ground, or confidence For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. - Hebrews 11:1-3

    "Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." Hebrews 11:1-3

    In Hebrews 10 the Spirit of God gave us words of warning, encouragement, and instruction about true persevering faith, that faith by which chosen, redeemed sinners are experimentally united with Christ, that faith which does not draw back unto perdition, but perseveres and continues to the salvation of their souls. In this 11th chapter the inspired writer speaks of the nature of faith, the works of faith, and the response of faith to the Word of God. Then, the chapter concludes by giving us numerous examples of Old Testament saints who believed God.

    “Things Hoped For”

    In verse 1 the Holy Spirit tells us that “faith is the substance of things hoped for.” What are the things for which we hope? – Deliverance and eternal salvation, -- preservation in Christ, -- eternal glory, and – everlasting fellowship with God. Faith is the ground, foundation, and support of our hope. We have a reasonable, well-grounded hope of these things, of eternal salvation and all that it includes, because we believe God, because we have confidence in his Word. Faith gives us the possession of these things beforehand. Faith gives us the reality of them, the first fruits of them (Rom. 8:23). These things are certain, as certain and sure as the very throne of God. It is our faith in Christ that gives us confidence concerning them (Rom. 4:17-25; Acts. 27:21-25). With Paul, all who trust Christ have reason to be of good cheer, because we can honestly say, “I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”

    “Things Not Seen”

    “Faith is the evidence of things not seen.” Faith looks not at the things that are seen, but at those things that are unseen (2 Cor. 4:17-18). “Things not seen” are things done in eternity: the counsel, covenant, and decrees of the triune God. They are things done in time: the incarnation, obedience, death, resurrection, ascension, and exaltation of Christ our Mediator. They are things being done now: the intercession of Christ in heaven, the works of God the Holy Spirit in grace, and the goodness and wisdom of God’s providence. They are also things yet to be done: the resurrection of the dead, the judgment, and eternal glory.

    These are all unseen things; but faith in Christ gives our hearts proof and evidence of them. His Word, his Spirit, and his work of grace in us assure us of all (Rom. 10:17; Heb. 13:5,6).

    “The Elders”

    In verse 2 we are called to remember that God’s saints of old walked by faith just like we do. The only difference between their faith and ours is this: – They didn’t have near as much to go on as we do. We have the whole Revelation of God in Holy Scripture. They didn’t. But they had the very same faith we have. -- "For by it the elders obtained a good report."

    These elders were men of faith who lived in the earliest days of the Old Testament: Abel, Job, Enoch, and Noah. These men were justified and accepted in Christ, through faith, just like we are, not because of their works, but by faith alone. Paul mentions this because the Jews tended to elevate the elders too highly. Here the Holy Spirit tells us that Abel, Enoch, and Noah were all saved by grace, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, just like we are (John 8:39).

    “We Understand”

    In verse 3 we are told that true, saving faith is given understanding in the things of God. -- "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."

    All who believe God understand how all things were created. The visible creation was formed from nothing. It all came into existence by the command of our God, who made all things out of nothing and gave it form as it pleased him (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16-18).

    As we understand the works of God in creation and providence only by faith in his Word, only by bowing to his Word, so we understand the works of God in grace and in judgment, because we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:12-16).

    This is not something we have achieved by research and study, or even by prayer. This is the gift of God. It is that which we have received by faith in Christ. -- "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."