The article "People Who Believed God" by Don Fortner explores the theological concept of faith, particularly the strength and endurance of faith in the face of adversity. Fortner argues that true faith is not based on personal strength but is a divinely given gift from Christ that empowers believers to persevere through trials and tribulations. He references Hebrews 11:35-36 to illustrate how past saints faced persecution and remained faithful due to their reliance on God's grace. The article underscores the significance of faith as a lifelong journey, where reliance on Christ sustains believers and enables them to confront difficulties with courage and hope, emphasizing that it is God who ultimately reanimates and sustains the believer’s faith.
Key Quotes
“The strength of faith is not in us. The strength of faith is not in faith. The strength of faith is Christ the Giver.”
“Faith given and sustained by God endures all things and endures to the end.”
“With God all things are possible.”
“Faith responds to grace. It does not cause it.”
What does the Bible say about faith in times of suffering?
The Bible teaches that faith in Christ provides strength and endurance during suffering, as exemplified in Hebrews 11:35-36.
Hebrews 11:35-36, John 18:11, Proverbs 24:16
How do we know faith in Christ will sustain us?
Faith in Christ is sustained by God's grace, which equips us to face any adversity.
2 Corinthians 12:9
Why is the resurrection important for Christians?
The resurrection embodies the hope of eternal life and the ultimate victory over death for believers.
Hebrews 11:35, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: - Hebrews 11:35-36People Who Believed God
"Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment." Hebrews 11:35-36
How did these saints of God meet such tribulation with patience, such hardness with meekness, and such persecution with unwavering loyalty? Where can we find such strength of faith?
The strength of faith is not in us. The strength of faith is not in faith. The strength of faith is Christ, the Giver. Faith is a gift of grace that draws strength from its Source. Drawing strength from God, faith in Christ draws down from heaven grace to help in time of need. Faith in Christ gives believing sinners steadfastness of purpose, noble courage, and tranquility of mind in the midst of great adversity. As A. W. Pink put it, “Faith makes the righteous as bold as a lion, refusing to recant though horrible tortures and a martyr’s death be the only alternative.”
Yes, we are weak, weaker than water. Yes, faith often falters. Yes, believers fail oft and fall oft. But though the righteous man falls seven times a day, the Lord raises him up. And faith (divinely given and divinely sustained) will rise to the occasion, saying with Christ, “the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?” (John 18:11). Faith, God given faith, endures all things and endures to the end. Let’s look at the examples (footnote 1) before us in this passage.
The Dead Raised
“Women received their dead raised to life again” (verse 35). The historical reference to this is probably found in 1 Kings 17:22-24 and 2 Kings 4:35-37. Our Lord tells us plainly “with God all things are possible.” As the Lord our God raised those two boys from the dead and restored them to their mothers by the word of his prophets Elijah and Elisha, so he is able to raise our sons and daughters from the dead by the word of his grace today. Bring your children to the Savior like Jarius brought his daughter, like the Canaanite woman brought her daughter, like the man brought his demon possessed son. Tell him, “My child is grievously vexed with a devil!” Bring your children to God’s prophet to hear God’s Word. Pray for God’s blessing upon the Word preached.
Turn Us
There is another application of this to us. You and I, as we look to Christ, have our languishing graces renewed to life through faith. Thereby we "Strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die" (Rev. 3:2). This is God’s Word to his languishing people, "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light" (Eph. 5:14). Still, we know, all too well, that our languishing souls will never take the initiative (Song 5:2). Faith responds to grace. It does not cause it! Let us cry, with languishing saints of old, “Draw us, and we will run after thee…Turn us, and we shall be turned!”
"It may also be observed that the apostle takes most of these instances, if not all of them, from the time of the persecution of the church under Antiochus, the king of Syria, in the days of the Maccabees. And we may consider concerning this reason: 1. That it was after the closing of the canon of the Scripture, or putting of the last hand unto writings by Divine inspiration under the O. T. Wherefore, as the apostle represented these things from the notoriety of fact then fresh in memory, and it may be, some books then written of those things, like the books of the Maccabees, yet remaining: yet as they are delivered out unto the church by him, they proceeded from Divine inspiration. 2. That in those days wherein these things fell out, there was no extraordinary prophet in the church. Prophecy, as the Jews confess, ceased under the second temple. And this makes it evident that the rule of the Word, and the ordinary ministry of the church, is sufficient to maintain believers in their duty against all oppositions whatever. 3. That this last persecution of the church under the O.T. by Antiochus, was typical of the last persecution of the Christian church under antichrist; as is evident to all that compare Daniel 8:10-14, 23-25; 11:36-39 with that of the Revelation in sundry places. And indeed the martyrologies of those who have suffered under the Roman antichrist, are a better exposition of this context than any that can be given in words" (John Owen).
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