Author: Charlie Garrett

Sunday, 3 March 2019

But 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 diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

The author now explains what he just said about Enoch. Enoch was noted as pleasing to God. How was it so? It is explained by the words which introduced him in the previous verse, “By faith Enoch.” It was “by faith.” To teach his audience how to be like Enoch, he now provides the words of this verse. “But without faith,” means “apart from faith.” The commonly used Greek word comes from a root signifying an open or detached space. Thus there is a separation between two things and, hence, “apart from.” The author says that in this state “it is impossible to please Him.”

There are several aspects of faith that are encompassed in this thought. There is faith that God exists. He cannot be seen, and yet we are expected to believe that He is as real to us as if He can be seen. Some can take the evidences of His existence, meaning the created order, and deny that God is responsible for it. Others look at what He has done (see Psalm 19:1, for example) and not only accept that God has done these things, but then extend their minds beyond them, understanding that He is even greater than His creation.

There is also faith in what God says. This, like our response to creation, requires faith. It is especially so because there are all kinds of claims concerning what “God” says. Numerous religions claim they possess the word of God. Numerous denominations claim they still receive the word of God. Countless individuals have claimed God has spoken to or through them. In each of these, there is either truth or there is falsehood, and discernment is necessary to differentiate between the two.

These things are actually of great importance because “he who comes to God must believe that He is.” This is speaking of His existence. Because we cannot see Him, there is no mental image that we can produce to say, “This is what God is like.” All there is for us is what He has done, and which is then revealed within the created order. This is what Enoch did. He accepted what he saw around him as a testimony that God exists. And because he did, he lived his life accordingly. In this, “he pleased God.”

And so Enoch’s faith in God was matched with His life which reflected that faith. Many people say they believe in God, but that belief in God doesn’t affect the way in which they live. They separate their knowledge of His existence from what that existence must be like. Enoch combined the two. He had faith in God’s existence, and he had a proper view of, and faith in, God’s attributes. With that, both of these combined into an application of His life before God and for God. The two combined into a pleasing walk of faith; a life of holiness. And how can we know this is true? Because the author next says “that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Enoch is set forth as an example of one who diligently sought out God, and therefore God rewarded him for his faithful search. He “was not found, because God had taken him.” This is what it means that Enoch lived by faith. He believed that God is, he lived his life according to his understanding of what that means, and he believed that in living in this right manner he would be rewarded. If this were not so, then there would be no reason to live in that way. In other words, a real aspect of faith in God is that He rewards faith in Him. This is why merely believing that God exists is not enough to be pleasing to God.

If a person believes God exists, but doesn’t have any faith that a proper life will result in a reward or that an improper life will result in some type of punishment, then there will be no change in how that person conducts his life – “Yes, there is a God, but He doesn’t care.” Or, if a person believes that God exists, but has a faulty view of what He is like, then his actions may be misdirected. A person who believes incorrectly about God may blow himself up in a shopping mall, believing that God will reward him for his actions. But he has pursued a faulty view of God. He didn’t diligently pursue Him.

Theology must be properly directed to consider God as He is. Once that is understood, everything else should follow that correct ideal about God in a life which matches it.

Life application: Hebrews 11:6 is such an important verse that every Christian should not only memorize it, but use it in their daily speech to others. “…without faith it is impossible to please Him.” This single verse excludes all works based religions, and all religions outside of Christianity are in some way works-based. Therefore, either this statement is true and Christianity alone is true, or it is false and there is no assurance in all of human existence for reconciliation with God.

If one thinks it through logically though, it must be a true statement. It would contradict God’s character to be any other way. Only one correct view about God is possible. God will never reward a doubter, a disbeliever, or one who has a faulty view of who He is in relation to His eternal, unchanging attributes. Therefore, this excludes religious pluralism (many paths lead to God); religious syncretism (a mixing of religious systems); and relativism (truth is changing and subjective).

God is and God has spoken. There is no change in Him, no variance, no progression, and no untruth. Therefore, He can and will only reward “those who diligently seek him.” And that diligent seeking will inevitably and only lead to Jesus Christ. Only through Jesus can we truly please God, and only in pursuing and seeking Jesus can we receive reward from God. Have faith and seek the Lord with all your heart.

Lord, give us the strong desire, and the will, to be pleasing to You and to seek You with all our hearts. Let us not trip over the simplicity of what You ask for in order to be reconciled to You – faith and faith alone. Also, may we be found pleasing because our faith is properly directed – toward Jesus! Amen.

Saturday, 2 March 2019

By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Hebrews 11:5

The author now turns to Enoch. Very little is said of him in Scripture, and yet what is said speaks volumes. His life is recorded in Genesis 5. Other than a verse noting his birth, genealogical references in 1 Chronicles and Luke 3, and a reference to him in the book of Jude, this is all that is recorded of him –

“Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. ²² After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. ²³ So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. ²⁴ And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” Genesis 5:21-24

The reference in Jude will note that Enoch was a prophet. It will also cite a portion of his prophecy. He is one of only two people in the Bible who never experienced physical death, the other being Elijah. With so little information on him, it is remarkable that he is recorded here in the Hall of Fame of the faithful. But despite the limited information about him, the author understood that the little said is actually of great importance. Like Melchizedek, a few words are enough to know a great deal.

And so, the author says, “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death.” The word “taken away,” simply signifies a change of place, circumstance, etc. Paul uses it in Galatians when speaking of those who turned to a different gospel. And again, the author of Hebrews used it in verse 7:12 when speaking of the change of the priesthood from Aaron to Christ. Here he notes that Enoch was so changed “by faith.” His life was a walk of faith, and in this, the Lord changed him from the state he existed to one where he would “not see death.” In this, he “was not found because God had taken him.”

What must be inferred from the verses of Genesis, but which is made explicit here in Hebrews, is that Enoch did not die. The records of Genesis 5, and elsewhere, give the birth record, any life information deemed necessary to explain the life of the man, the number of years he lived, and the record of his death. By specifically not recording the death of Enoch, Moses was – in fact – implying that Enoch did not die. The author not only agrees with the implication, but states it as a fact. And this was done for a reason. As the author says, “for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”

The Hebrew says “he walked with God.” It is a way of saying that his life was one which was pleasing to Him. Because of his faithful walk, God took him so that he would not see death. However, this does not appear to be all there is concerning Enoch. Inferences can be made.

As there are two that never died, Enoch and Elijah, and as there are references to two who stand before the Lord and minister to him, it can be inferred that Enoch and Elijah are those two. A particular reference to them is found in Zechariah 4 –

Then I answered and said to him, “What are these two olive trees—at the right of the lampstand and at its left?” ¹² And I further answered and said to him, “What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?”
¹³ Then he answered me and said, “Do you not know what these are?”
And I said, “No, my lord.”
¹⁴ So he said, “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.” Zechariah 4:11-14

Two who are with the Lord are also found in Daniel 12 –

“Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. ⁶ And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?” Daniel 12:5, 6

Daniel specifically records one on each side of the river. As the term “Hebrew” means “to cross over,” it appears to be a reference to one being a Jew, and the other a Gentile. Between them, above the waters, is a third. The symbolism is that of Christ being the One above the waters who unites the two (Jew and Gentile) as one. As this appears to be what is being conveyed, then it makes it clear that the gospel message in the end times tribulation period is still being called out to the whole world, Jew and Gentile. This is because the same two who were seen in Zechariah 4 are also seen in Revelation 11 –

“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

⁴ These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. ⁵ And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. ⁶ These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.” Revelation 11:3-6

As with Melchizedek, much can be inferred from a few scattered references elsewhere in Scripture. Some of it is made explicit by the New Testament writers, other tidbits must be inferred. However, it appears that Enoch is still walking with his God, and he will be back to fulfill that walk, along with Elijah, in the days ahead.

Life application: Simply stated, Enoch had faith and his faith was pleasing to God. And so it will be for all those who are alive and have put their trust in Jesus at His coming – they will never experience physical death. The precedent for this future moment was set in Enoch and Elijah. Enoch isn’t a Hebrew and Elijah is, and yet both were taken away because they pleased God. This pattern was certainly given in part to demonstrate to us that it is not heritage, but faith, that will bring about our eventual glorification. It is believed the world will see more of Enoch and Elijah during the tribulation period when they come to testify to the nations, but until that day Enoch is remembered by us as a true father of the faithful. May we, like him, walk with God all of our days.

O Lord, what a wonderful gift you have given us in the story of Enoch. In it, you have shown us that faith is what is pleasing to You. You have also shown us that by faith we can walk in harmony with You. Thank You for this wonderful example found in the person of our ancestor Enoch. Amen.

Friday, 1 March 2019

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. Hebrews 11:4

The author now begins his list of those mentioned in verse 2 as “elders,” meaning those of the past who demonstrated faith, and who then obtained “a good testimony.” The first example takes the reader all the way back to the very beginning of man’s time on earth. The two sons of Adam, Cain and Abel, are recorded in Genesis 4. The author says that “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.” The specific incident referred to now reads –

“Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. ³ And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. ⁴ Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, ⁵ but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.” Genesis 4:2-5

The words translated as “more excellent” simply mean “more.” The word is used in a comparative sense, such as, “I have ten Bibles.” “Oh yeah, well I have more.” The sacrifice of Abel was of more value to God than that of Cain.

Great debate exists as to why God accepted Abel’s offering but not that of Cain. Some say that because Abel offered a blood sacrifice, it was a better sacrifice. But the text never makes that claim. Others argue that both offerings were acceptable based on the acceptable offerings found in Leviticus. Though true, that is, unfortunately, putting the cart before the horse.

Leviticus was written long after the time of Cain and Abel. This type of logic can result in faulty analyses of passages, and it also mixes dispensations. It’s like trying to place a square peg in a round hole. Based on the account itself, it cannot actually be determined if the type of sacrifice was right or wrong.

Rather, and simply stated, Hebrews says that “by faith Abel offered to God.” That is all that is necessary to determine why God accepted Abel’s offering and rejected Cain’s. Abel’s offering was one which was accompanied by faith. The logical question is, “Did these sacrifices restore them to God or was it faith in what they symbolized that did?” Hebrews has already shown that the sacrifices and offerings of past times only look forward to Christ. Such is the case here. Abel believed in God, and he believed God. His offering to God reflected that.

In his act of faith, “he obtained witness that he was righteous.” Again, this set of words confirms what was just deduced about why Abel’s sacrifice was considered acceptable. The author had just said in verse 10:38 that “the just shall live by faith.” His words now in Chapter 11 are given in connection with that thought, building upon it through example. Abel “obtained witness that he was righteous” because he lived in faith and made his offering based upon that faith. This is testified to by the Lord Jesus in Matthew 23:35, where Abel is called “righteous.” In response, we read the author’s next words, “God testifying of his gifts.”

To understand this, think of two people who do good things. We will call one “Bill,” and the other “Franklin.” Bill gives billions of dollars to AIDS research, but he doesn’t believe in God, nor does he make his gifts in honor of God. Franklin, however, offers himself and his time, ability, and effort in helping people in the name of Jesus Christ. He believes in Christ, he highlights Christ in his giving, and he leads people to Christ through his efforts. Which is offering in faith? And to which will God testify of his gifts? The answer is obvious. No reward for Bill; full reward for Franklin for all deeds done in faith.

Finally, the author finishes with, “and through it he being dead still speaks.” This builds upon the thought of verse 10:2. The author said that by faith “the elders obtained a good testimony.” A good testimony is a favorable notion about someone. There is a favorable consideration of Abel because, through his offering of faith which is now recorded in Scripture, his actions still speak to us today.

Life application: Abel’s offering included faith whereas Cain’s didn’t. Abel’s faith resulted in what is considered a more excellent sacrifice. This led to his commendation. The lesson of Cain and Abel comes from real people that really did what was recorded. Not everything that occurred in history is in the Bible, but everything we need to know to live our lives in a manner pleasing to God is. He has left no gaps, nothing necessary has gone unrecorded, and nothing confused – or which will cause confusion in the believer’s walk before Him – is found in His word. Error in bad analysis lies with us and our failure to spend the time, reflection, and prayer needed to properly understand the context of what is written. The record on Abel stands for us today – by faith He was known as a man who pleased God. Reflect on this. The apostle Peter says that our faith is “much more precious than gold.” Have faith in God, and stand on His word at all times.

Lord God, help us to continue on in the faith we first possessed when we heard of Christ Jesus. At that moment, we believed, and we were sealed with the Holy Spirit. We were found pleasing in Your sight by simple faith. Help us to not ruin our walk now by attempting to be justified through our own righteousness, but to continue on in faith in all that we do. May our righteousness come from faith alone. Amen.

Thursday, 28 February 2019

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:3

The previous verse mentioned that it was by faith that the elders obtained their testimony. The author now begins to give examples of what it means to exercise faith, but he does not begin with that of the elders. Instead, he begins with the framing of the universe. Thus, what he says here includes something that requires faith in all men at all times.

“By faith” signifies that even now, what is recorded concerning creation requires a mark of faith to accept. There is, and there always will be, an unknown aspect of the working of God in creation. But Scripture has given us an account of what God did. As this cannot be fully comprehended by us, then “By faith we understand.” In other words, “The Bible says these things, and it is by that word that we understand that they came about, but it is only by faith in that word that we can fully accept what is written. And that is speaking of “the worlds.”

The word in Greek is aiōnas, ages. This is more than just the worlds which fill the universe, but everything associated with the universe. In other words, before God created those things which comprise the universe – time, space, matter, etc, there was only God. The author is saying that we cannot comprehend the act of God’s creation as it is, but can only, by faith, accept the account as given by Scripture which says that the ages “were framed.”

The Greek word signifies “to prepare,” or “to mend.” It is used, for example, of the apostles mending their nets. The nets needed to be fixed in order to work properly again. In the same manner, God “prepared,” or “fashioned,” the universe in such a way that all things work properly. Everything is as it should be, and every discovery we make fits into that woven tapestry of the universe. This is from its overall size and structure, down to the smallest conceivable particle (quark, string, or whatever is claimed to be the minutest thing in existence). Further, the entire framing of the ages (meaning time) must fit into this construction. God created time, and therefore all time is known and apprehended by God – even into eternity itself. Nothing is unknown to Him from age to age. Thus, all redemptive history was known to Him before He spoke the first word of creation. All were “framed by the word of God.”

God spoke, and the universe came into being. Nothing apart from God existed, and now these things exist. Einstein demonstrated that time cannot exist without space or matter, space cannot exist without time or matter, and matter cannot exist without time and space. They are all interdependent on one another, and are all a part of what God created ex nihilo or, “out of nothing.” He did not create them out of Himself (ex Deo), nor did He create them out of preexisting matter (ex hules). These things are a fabrication of His wisdom and are by His spoken word, just as the Genesis account demonstrates. As it repeatedly says there, “Then God said…”

Next, the author continues with, “so that the things.” Some manuscripts say, “the thing.” In other words, it is speaking of all that exists in the singular. It is one giant tapestry that is beheld by man, despite having innumerable parts. All things are interwoven and interconnected into one THING. Whether this is correct, or whether it is speaking of “things,” the intent remains the same, because these things are still a part of one THING. It is a universal expanse of things “which are seen,” and which come together to form a whole. And these things, the author says, “were not made of things which are visible.”

This takes faith for us to accept. Einstein, after developing the Theory of Relativity, went on in his work attempting to discover a “theory of everything.” This is because he, and those who have followed after in this same search, did not have faith that God did what the Bible claims. Instead, they continue to look for a naturalistic explanation of the universe’s existence. But the Bible says that we are to have faith in the account. That certainly means “the account as written.”

To varying degrees, countless Christians have the same lack of faith in the biblical account that these scientists and philosophers have. They say they believe that God created, but they then say that it didn’t occur as the Bible records. But if the author of Hebrews is citing this very Genesis account (and which he will continue to cite), then it is something that continues to require faith in each word.

The Book of Genesis and people in Genesis will be referred to until verse 22. From there, Moses will continue to be cited until verse 29. The thing is, it is Moses who received the Genesis creation account. Therefore, everything written through verse 29 requires faith that it occurred as has been recorded. And, logically, because all that is recorded in this chapter, even to the very last verse, is a part of “the ages” of what God has prepared, then we are to have faith in everything the author has presented, and will present, as it is written.

What is being relayed in this verse is not a trivial thing. Rather, his words which speak of faith in the Genesis account ask us to have faith in the entire Genesis account, and the Exodus account, and the words of Leviticus, and etc.

Life application: As has repeatedly been the case throughout history, science has had to catch up with the Bible. In addition, science validates the veracity of the Bible, and it disproves all other religious systems along the way. All things came into being at a set point in time, before which they didn’t exist. Simply stated, only monotheism is possible because of this scientific revelation. All other religious systems are proved false in the process. The details of the creation account are given in Genesis 1 and 2 and are to be held as truth, not merely considered a myth or fairy tale. There is only one truth and that truth is immutable. If science conflicts with the revelation given in the Bible, then either the science is faulty, or our understanding of the biblical account is wrong, but the Bible – as recorded – is accurate. It is therefore of great importance that we study and properly analyze the creation account if we are to know and understand what it reveals. As an interesting parallel to this verse, the same concept of creation ex nihilo is also recorded in the psalms –

For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast. Psalm 33:9

Think on these things and know – with certainty – that there is one God, the Creator.

Lord, let us not be so foolish as to think all religions are equal. You, O God, are logical, orderly, and infinitely wise. To assume that all religions lead to You is to assume You are incompetent and like shifting shadows. Let us never come to that conclusion. You are One, You are the God of Scripture, and You alone are to be worshiped! All other “gods” are false. Glory, majesty, splendor, and honor belong to You alone. Amen.

Wednesday, 27 February 2019

For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. Hebrews 11:2

The word “For” introduces a real-life explanation of what was stated in the preceding verse. “By it” is speaking of faith, the main subject of verse 1. In order to show the value of faith to the reader, the author then chooses a subject concerning faith which will continue to be used throughout the chapter, which is “the elders.”

The word in Greek is presbuteros. It signifies “a mature man having seasoned judgment” (HELPS Word Studies). How to correctly translate this is a bit difficult. Vincent’s Word Studies argues that “Fathers” is better. However, that isn’t so. There are a couple of women (Sarah and Rahab) who will be cited by name as examples in this list, and the general term “women” will also be used in verse 35.

Some translational choices have been: the ancients, the people in days of old, the people of old, the men of old, the elders, our ancestors, people of ancient times, the saints of old, etc. As seen, some are rather good paraphrases, such as “our ancestors.” Others fail to include the women, such as “men of old.” Maybe the word, “elders,” is the best. As the masculine of such words in both the Greek and English traditionally stands for all those spoken of, including women, it properly defines the term while not making the error of excluding women entirely. Regardless as to the word chosen, the author is speaking of those of faith from the past. It is they who, by demonstrating faith, “obtained a good testimony.”

From this, the author will go on to give a noble list of names of those who simply took God at His word, and who were considered as pleasing to Him because of it.

Life application: It must have been both interesting and hard to grasp for the early Hebrew Christians to read this verse and to reflect on what the author was saying. After 1500 years of observing the law, they had surely come to think that they participated in their righteousness before God. But the writer says otherwise, as does the rest of the New Testament.

After defining faith in the previous verse, the author now states that it is faith which pleases God, and it is that for which we receive commendation. If you think about it logically, it must be so. God told the Israelites to put blood on their doorposts at the Passover. Did the blood save them or was it that they had faith, believing in what God asked them to do in applying the blood? God later asked them to sacrifice for their sins at the temple. Did these sacrifices restore them to God or was it faith in what they symbolized?

How you answer these questions is of no small matter. In fact, the same debate rages on in Christianity today. A large percentage of those who follow Christ believe that we participate in our justification. In fact, it’s one of the principle differences between Roman Catholicism and Protestant theology. Roman Catholicism says that we must participate in our justification. In their poor theology, if we fail to die in a righteous state, it’s off to purgatory with our soul.

But the term “justification,” as used in the Bible, literally means, “to declare righteous.” In other words, Paul says that the moment we put our faith in Christ, we are justified. Only one option is correct – that we are justified by Christ alone, through faith alone, by God’s grace alone. There is nothing we can add to this justification. When we attempt to do so, we state “God, what you did in the Person of Jesus, your Son, was insufficient to save me.” In essence, we reject the very salvation that He has provided.

Don’t be deluded – there is nothing you can do to add to the work of Jesus Christ. Stand firm in what He has done and… Have faith!

Lord, our souls praise You for the great and awesome deeds which You alone have accomplished on our behalf. Forgive us for ever-striving to add to what You have done when, in fact, what You have done is fully sufficient to restore us to You and to keep us eternally secure. We trust in You, we rest in You, we glory… in You alone. Amen!