THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO LIVE! WHAT IS REAL FAITH? Hebrews 11

Popular definitions of faith 1. Wishful thinking – hoping what we believe might actually prove true Playing the lottery 2. Positive thinking – making what we believe true by simply believing it Star Wars & The Matrix 3. Desperation thinking – faith is there if things get really bad & we can’t hack it on our own Vending Machine

Why is faith a timely topic? “The sweeping charge from non-believers from the 1 st through the 3 rd century was that Christianity was too exclusivistic, narrow, and bigoted. We need to take our cues from the New Testament response to this issue.” -D.A. Carson New Testament response? Endure & live by faith

Why is faith a timely topic? Hebrews 10:33-39  33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way. 34 For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession. 35 So don't throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you need endurance, so that after you have done God's will, you may receive what was promised. 37 For in yet a very little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. 38 But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life.

What is the faith that enables us to thrive? Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 1. The nature of this faith is confidence 2. The object of this faith is unseen… …it is confidence in God & His view of reality 3. This faith leads to action

True faith is active…  The ones with this faith draw near to God & stake their lives on His reality Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

True faith is active…  The ones with this faith live like foreigners in this world Hebrews 11: These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. 14 Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been remembering that land they came from, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But they now aspire to a better land--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

True faith is active…  The ones with this faith endure unavoidable hardship for their faith in Jesus 2 Timothy 3:12 – In fact, all those who want to live a godly life (faith) in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Hebrews 11:32 – 12:3 – “…the world was not worthy of them… let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won't grow weary and lose heart.”

Do you have real faith?  Is your life transformed because of your faith in Christ?  Does your life, decision-making, perspective, values, schedule, spending habits, & way of relating to people look markedly different from those around you?  Do you endure any hardship because of your faith in Christ?

NEXT WEEK… THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO LIVE! LIVING AS LIFE LONG LEARNERS Hebrews 12:3-17