Faith Justified and Saved Before the Law
Before Jesus, even before the revealed law was delivered, faith is what approved, saved, and controlled the people of God.
Through the examples of Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham, we see how faith works.
Abel was able to offer a better—a more acceptable—sacrifice than Cain through faith. That is to say that his dependance and trust on God is what made his better than his brother’s. It was not what he offered, nor the ceremonial way in which he offered it that made it acceptable while Cain’s was not. It was the condition of Abel’s heart and his trust towards God that made the difference.
Enoch did not die, but rather was taken by God and not seen again. The writer of Hebrews here highlights that it was not something that Enoch did that earned him this privilege, but rather his trust and dependance upon God. He pleased God through his faith.
Noah was able to hear and heed God’s warning because of his trust in God. He not only heard God’s warning but believed it and acted upon the warning. His righteousness was seen in obedience, but that obedience was possible because he trusted God and His word.
Finally, Abraham was able to be the father of nations because he too trusted God and God’s promises. When God commanded him to leave his home, he did. He trusted God and did what God asked him to.
So offering acceptable sacrifices, pleasing God, heeding God’s warnings, and following God’s commands are all possible through this faith—this assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction that the things of God which we cannot see, are real.
Abel was able to offer a better—a more acceptable—sacrifice than Cain through faith. That is to say that his dependance and trust on God is what made his better than his brother’s. It was not what he offered, nor the ceremonial way in which he offered it that made it acceptable while Cain’s was not. It was the condition of Abel’s heart and his trust towards God that made the difference.
Enoch did not die, but rather was taken by God and not seen again. The writer of Hebrews here highlights that it was not something that Enoch did that earned him this privilege, but rather his trust and dependance upon God. He pleased God through his faith.
Noah was able to hear and heed God’s warning because of his trust in God. He not only heard God’s warning but believed it and acted upon the warning. His righteousness was seen in obedience, but that obedience was possible because he trusted God and His word.
Finally, Abraham was able to be the father of nations because he too trusted God and God’s promises. When God commanded him to leave his home, he did. He trusted God and did what God asked him to.
So offering acceptable sacrifices, pleasing God, heeding God’s warnings, and following God’s commands are all possible through this faith—this assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction that the things of God which we cannot see, are real.
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