Hebrews 11 - A Better Object of Faith
Welcome and the Journey Ahead
It is so good to be back here with you. We just completed a biblical study tour in Israel, spending ten days hiking and teaching the Bible on location there. We had a wonderful time, and I am so grateful for our team. As I followed the messages while away, it was great to see that we were in good hands with our campus pastors faithfully handling the Word of God.
I am also grateful for our team because something happens right at the turn of November and December where we just go all out for Christmas. Christmas-ifying our campuses has been so fun to see this week. Hopefully, across all our gatherings, you are enjoying the Christmas trees, lights, and music. We are celebrating the birth of Christ, so let’s enjoy that together. In fact, at the end of our gathering, we are going to share a brief nugget to launch our Advent series and remind ourselves what this season is all about.
Before we get to that, we have some work to do in Hebrews 11. As we journey through the book of Hebrews, we have been focusing on the overarching theme: Jesus is better. Last week, we saw that Jesus is a better sacrifice.
If you glance back at chapter 10 for just a moment, verses 10 through 12 provide a powerful reminder of why Jesus is indeed a better sacrifice. Verse 10 tells us that by this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. If you have a pen, you may want to underline “once for all.” The uniqueness of Christ stands in stark contrast to verse 11, where earthly priests stood daily, offering the same sacrifices over and over again for sin. Jesus, our Great High Priest and the Lamb of God, offered Himself once for all.
Hebrews 10:10-12 (NASB)
By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,
Verse 12 tells us that having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, He sat down at the right hand of God. When Jesus was on the cross, some of His final words were, “It is finished.” He laid down His life so that when we place our faith in Him, our security is as steadfast as His position—seated, sinless, at the right hand of the Father.
Then, in verses 22 through 25, we find three exhortations that serve as an outline for the next three chapters. Verse 22 says, “Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” Verse 23 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope.” And verse 24 tells us, “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love.” Faith, hope, and love. Chapter 11 unpacks faith, chapter 12 deals with hope, and chapter 13 handles love.
Hebrews 10:22-25 (NASB)
let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled [clean] from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging [one another]; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
What Is Faith?
Our theme today is that Jesus is a better object of faith. If you quickly scan Hebrews 11, look at how many times the phrase “by faith” appears. It is mentioned nineteen times. Just for perspective: if I say something once in a sermon, hopefully you are paying attention. If I say it twice, it carries significance. If I say it nineteen times, there is a major point being driven home. The author wants to make absolutely sure we understand what it means to live by faith.
So what is faith? Thankfully, verse 1 defines it for us.
Hebrews 11:1 (NASB)
Now faith is the assurance of [things] hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. That word assurance carries the idea of substance, realization, or absolute confidence in the things hoped for—things expected, awaited, and trusted in.
One defining mark of biblical faith is that we have confidence in things that are yet unrealized. When you read through Scripture, God makes promises and assurances about His plans that can seem almost too good to be true. You read them and wonder, Is that really the case? Are we truly promised that? What if I don’t see it happen in my lifetime? The author reminds us that faith is the assurance of things hoped for. We have a settled confidence in God’s promises, even if they remain unrealized during our earthly days.
When our culture uses the word “hope,” it often means wishful thinking—like hoping your favorite football team wins this weekend. It might happen, or it might not. But biblical hope is not a “maybe.” We have an assurance of things hoped for. It is a promised reality and a conviction of things not seen—meaning proof, evidence, and verification of what is not yet visible.
I would love to tell you that every promise, purpose, and plan of God will be completely fulfilled before your eyes in your lifetime. But that is probably not going to happen. At some point, we will come to the end of our earthly journey, and when that day comes, we must have a faith that endures all the way to the end, even when it looks like God’s promises remain unfulfilled in the present.
Raising Our Sights to the True Object of Faith
The fundamental question is not whether we have faith, but what or who is the object of our faith. We have to learn to raise our sights from the things of this world to the things of God.
Some of you, like me, spent years placing your faith in worldly things, only to find yourself empty. The things of this world are fickle, temporary, and unpredictable. They overpromise and underdeliver. They make terrible functional saviors. You thought a relationship would bring ultimate joy, or that your career, wealth, or status would give you the strength to endure, only to realize that none of those things can sustain you.
Thankfully, our faith does not rest in the things of this world. Our faith rests in the God who created it. In Hebrews 11, the author gives us seventeen named Old Testament characters who lived lives of faith. They wondered if God would remain faithful to His promises. They questioned whether God was still good when tragedy struck. They reached the end of their lives with many promises still unfulfilled, yet they died in faith. They stand as enduring examples for us: if they could hold fast, by God’s grace, so can we.
As the author walks through these characters, he assumes a familiarity with Old Testament history that many of us might not have. He mentions figures like Jephthah as if you went to high school with him! If you ever find yourself wondering who someone is, remember that cross-references are your friend. When you see a name, look up the cross-reference and read their story in context.
All of these men and women shared a deep knowledge of God. They knew He was faithful, trustworthy, and sovereign. Sovereignty simply means God is in complete control of all things, both actual and possible. They knew He was intimately involved in their lives, actively working out His purposes, promises, and plans, even when they could not see it in the moment.
Hebrews 11:2 (NASB)
For by it the men of old gained approval.
This raises an important theological question: How were people saved before the cross? Today, we know clearly that there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
So how were Adam, Abel, or David saved? Theologians call this progressive revelation. From Genesis to Revelation, salvation has always been by faith. The question is: in what was their faith placed? They believed by faith in the plan of God as it was revealed to them at that time.
Take Adam, for example. After Adam and Eve sinned, Genesis 3:15 promised that one day the seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head.
Genesis 3:15 (NASB)
And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.’
Adam knew only that a male descendant would come to destroy Satan, sin, and death. When Cain was born, Eve said, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the Lord,” thinking maybe he was the promised deliverer. But then Cain murdered his brother Abel, proving he was not the one. Adam did not know the name of Jesus, but he trusted God’s promise of a coming Redeemer. We have the privilege of seeing that revelation in full bloom—like a rose fully opened—and we know that every Old Testament story whispers His name. They were saved by faith in God’s unfolding promise, just as we are saved by faith in the completed work of Christ.
Hebrews 11:3 (NASB)
By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.
This universe is not an accident, a cosmic roll of the dice, or merely the result of random mutations. An eternal Creator spoken it into existence, and our faith rests securely in Him.
You Are Not Alone
Living by faith is not easy. Circumstances happen. Some of you are walking through this holiday season under the heavy shadow of a medical diagnosis. Some of you are caring for ailing parents. Some of you have a child who has drifted far from God, keeping you awake with worry at night. Some of you feel disoriented by doubt and unrealized promises.
If that is where you are today, this chapter was written to encourage you. You are not alone.
Consider Abel.
Hebrews 11:4 (NASB)
By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.
Cain and Abel both brought offerings to the Lord. Cain offered leftovers from his harvest, while Abel brought the firstborn and the fat portions of his flock. Abel gave with a pure heart and righteous motive. Have you ever wondered if God truly sees your actions and your motives? Have you ever wondered if He notices the quiet sacrifices you make, or if your devotion even matters? If you have ever felt that way, you are not alone. Abel felt it too.
Then comes Enoch in verse 5.
Hebrews 11:5 (NASB)
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.
Genesis 5:24 gives us one brief sentence about him: “Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”
Genesis 5:24 (NASB)
Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
Enoch lived in such intimate communion with God that God simply ushered him straight into His presence. Have you ever wondered if God notices your private moments of prayer and devotion? Have you ever questioned whether there is any reward for your intentional, quiet faithfulness when no one else is watching? You are not alone.
Verse 6 gives us the foundational principle of the Christian life.
Hebrews 11:6 (NASB)
And without faith it is impossible to please [Him], for he who comes to God must believe that He is and [that] He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Faith is the currency of our relationship with God. We do not approach Him based on our own merit, good deeds, or moral achievements. We cannot earn an audience with God; we come to Him solely through faith.
Noah demonstrated this kind of faith.
Hebrews 11:7 (NASB)
By faith Noah, being warned [by God] about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
In Genesis 6 and 7, God commanded Noah to build an enormous ark in a landlocked region. It took him decades to construct. Imagine being Noah’s neighbor in that homeowners association! He wasn’t just parking an oversized camper in the driveway; he was building a massive vessel. When asked why, Noah replied that rain and judgment were coming. People had never seen rain, and they mocked him for fifty years while he faithfully swung his hammer.
Have you ever felt led by God to take a counter-cultural stand, only to be ridiculed for it? Have you ever spoken biblical truth around the Thanksgiving table, only to have family members look at you like you have lost your mind? Have you ever stayed faithful in the workplace, only to find yourself excluded? Have you been tempted to quit, wondering if your obedience is worth the cost? You are not alone.
Trusting God in the Unknown
Next, the author turns to Abraham and his journey to an unknown land.
Hebrews 11:8-10 (NASB)
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign [land], dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
God called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees—a pagan, idol-worshipping culture—to go to a land he had never seen. Abraham packed up his household and followed God, not knowing where he was going.
Have you ever felt God calling you to step out of your comfort zone into the unfamiliar? Have you ever obeyed God’s leading, only to find yourself asking, Lord, I stepped out in obedience, but where are You? Will You provide? Are You still with me? If you have ever felt that tension, you are not alone.
Consider Sarah in verses 11 and 12.
Hebrews 11:11-12 (NASB)
By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, [as many descendants] AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.
Sarah was ninety years old when she conceived Isaac, and Abraham was one hundred. Biblically speaking, they were well past the age of childbearing. When God first announced the promise, Sarah laughed in disbelief. Yet, God was faithful, and from one couple as good as dead came descendants as numerous as the stars.
Have you ever felt that God’s promises were too good to be true for you? Have you ever felt that you are past your prime, that God only uses younger people, or that you missed your window of opportunity? Have you ever doubted God’s word and assumed He would simply pass you by? You are not alone.
Hebrews 11:13-16 (NASB)
All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that [country] from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better [country], that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.
These patriarchs understood that earth was not their final home. They confessed that they were strangers, pilgrims, and exiles here. They were longing for a better, heavenly country, and because of their faith, God is not ashamed to be called their God.
In verse 17, Abraham faces the ultimate test of his faith.
Hebrews 11:17-19 (NASB)
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten [son]; [it was he] to whom it was said, ‘IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED.’ He considered that God is able to raise [people] even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.
God asked Abraham to offer Isaac—the long-awaited child of promise—upon Mount Moriah. Abraham reasoned that if God had promised a great nation through Isaac, God was fully able to raise him from the dead. Abraham’s faith was proven by his willingness to obey. God stayed his hand, provided a ram in the thicket, and reaffirmed His covenant.
Genesis 15:6 (NASB)
Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Have you ever felt God asking you to hold something dear with an open hand? Have you ever felt the weight of surrendering what matters most to you? You are not alone.
Verses 20 through 22 briefly recount Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
Hebrews 11:20-22 (NASB)
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, [leaning] on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.
If you read Genesis, you quickly discover that their families were far from perfect. There was deception, favoritism, and dysfunction throughout their family tree. Yet God, in His sovereign grace, redeemed their stories and passed the blessing from generation to generation.
Have you ever looked at your family history and wondered, Am I trapped in these generational patterns? Can God break the cycle? God can hit the reset button in your family narrative. You are not destined to repeat the sins of the past.
Then we look at Moses in verses 23 through 29.
Hebrews 11:23-29 (NASB)
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though [they were passing] through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.
Moses was preserved at birth, raised in Pharaoh’s palace, and later fled to the wilderness after killing an Egyptian. He spent forty years shepherding sheep in Midian before encountering God at the burning bush. When God called him to deliver Israel, Moses felt entirely inadequate, citing his lack of eloquence.
Have you ever felt forgotten in a personal wilderness? Have you ever felt ill-equipped, inadequate, or disqualified by your past mistakes? Moses was a murderer on the run, yet God chose and used him. If you have ever felt unworthy of God’s calling, you are not alone.
And consider Rahab in verses 30 and 31.
Hebrews 11:30-31 (NASB)
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.
Rahab was a Canaanite prostitute in Jericho. Yet, when she heard of the God of Israel, she placed her faith in Him, hid the Hebrew spies, and hung a scarlet cord from her window. God spared her household, and Matthew 1:5 records that Rahab is included in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 1:5 (NASB)
Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse.
Have you ever wondered if your past is too messy for God to redeem? Have you ever felt that your mistakes permanently define who you are? If God can redeem and honor Rahab the harlot, He can redeem your story. You are not alone.
A Better Object of Faith
In verses 32 through 38, the author provides a rapid summary of heroes, prophets, and unnamed martyrs.
Hebrews 11:32-38 (NASB)
And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed [acts of] righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received [back] their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated ([men] of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.
Some conquered kingdoms, shut the mouths of lions, and escaped the edge of the sword. Others were mocked, imprisoned, sawed in two, and destitute. Whether they experienced earthly triumph or earthly suffering, they all held fast to God.
Every single one of these Old Testament saints died without seeing the full realization of God’s redemptive plan in their lifetime. They saw the promise from afar, but they maintained the assurance of things hoped for.
Hebrews 11:39-40 (NASB)
And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.
They looked forward in anticipation to the coming of Jesus Christ. We have the privilege of looking back at the completed work of the cross, the empty tomb, and Christ’s ascension. The entirety of human history pivots around the person and work of Jesus.
Yet, living by faith is still our calling today. The Bible tells us that we will one day be fully free from the presence and influence of sin. Do you feel completely free right now? Not yet. Scripture promises that we will lay aside the perishable and put on the imperishable. Do you feel imperishable today? Not yet. The Bible assures us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Have you seen Him face to face? Not yet.
Like the saints of Hebrews 11, we live and die by faith. We hold fast to a promise we have not yet seen in full physical realization. But we do not grieve as those who have no hope. We know that Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and whoever believes in Him, though he die, yet shall he live.
You may not see every plan and promise fully completed before your earthly eyes close, but God can be trusted. Jesus is the better object of our faith. He is faithful, sovereign, and the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Closing Prayer
Father, we are deeply grateful. You have made extraordinary promises, and Your purposes are far beyond our full comprehension. For all the spiritual riches we possess in Christ, we still live by faith each day.
We remember John the Baptist, who in prison asked, “Are You the One, or should we look for another?” Your answer was simply to remind him of what was seen and heard. Lord, we have witnessed Your faithfulness. You are sovereign, aware, capable, and intimately involved in our lives, even as we walk through a broken world.
Whether we are experiencing seasons of joy or navigating trials and sorrow, grant us steadfast faith—the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. Anchor our hearts in Jesus, the ultimate object of our faith.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.