Title [Text: Hebrews 11:13-19] Perfect Faith
In today's text, two types of perfect faith demonstrated by the forefathers of faith centered on Abraham are recorded. It is something we know all too well, but I hope that we will all receive grace and live a life of faith with the same faith by examining it once more.
1. Longing for one's hometown is complete faith. (13-16)
The hometown here refers to the city in heaven, or heaven. In fact, living a life of faith in order to crave worldly things and possess them is not perfect faith. Worldly things cannot be the goal of an act of faith. However, the reality is that many believers set the focus or purpose of their religious life on worldly things. Therefore, when they are not given according to their purpose, there are times when they become discouraged and stop living their religious life.
As revealed in the text, the forefathers of faith introduced above lived longing not for their hometown in the world, but for the city God had prepared, that is, their hometown in heaven. . The apostle Paul said in Colossians 3:1-2, “Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
We'll definitely go to heaven sooner or later. If so, it is natural to long for that hometown and prepare for it. Only they will be full of joy and receive glory when they go to heaven. Verse 16 says that God is not ashamed to be our God. It means you are happy. To be honest, even though we are our children, we should know that there are times when God is ashamed to call us children, just as there are times when we are ashamed to present ourselves in front of people. The saints who long for heaven and live holy lives will never be ashamed of God, but rather proud. That is a great blessing and glory for the saints.
2. Complete devotion is complete faith (17-19).
The main character of this part is Abraham. We have already looked at the faith of him and his wife. Today we are examining his perfect faith once again. God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac, the son of promise. Abraham offered without hesitation. This is complete devotion and complete faith.
① God often tests us. In other words, it measures our beliefs. The text also says, “Abraham was being tempted.” Genesis 22:1 says, “God called Abraham to test him.” Like Abraham, even those with good faith were tested. God was testing him to know the level of his faith. We often need to measure our beliefs. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, whether ye are in the faith, and prove yourselves.” We need to check our beliefs ourselves and try to have more perfect faith.
② God only tests what we can bear. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 Paul says, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. ” he said. Never be afraid of exams. God is not merciless. He only puts through the tests that he is able to bear, and he opens the way of escape. Therefore, we need to be more confident in the face of the test. Only they win generously.
③ Tests give great benefits to the saints. James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces patience, and work it out to the full, that you may be perfect and complete, so that there will be no shortage.” You cannot live in the world without trials. You cannot be whole without testing. The trial of faith is God's way to make you a complete believer. Therefore, you should be completely happy. They should be the saints who are happy when special devotion is required.
Today, God is looking for people with perfect faith. Let's become saints who long for our eternal hometown. Let's become fully devoted believers. Only they will be recognized as God's children and will receive great blessings in the present and the next life. Let us all become saints who possess such perfect faith.