Dr John Oakes taught a class titled Living By Faith in Las Vegas 9/9/2012. It is an exposition on Hebrews 11, with the theme that faith is belief in things unseen.

1. The Book of HebrewsThe Book of Hebrews
Living by FaithLiving by Faith
John Oakes,John Oakes,
Las VegasLas Vegas
Sept 10, 2012Sept 10, 2012

2. IntroductionIntroduction
• Audience: Christians in general, but especiallyAudience: Christians in general, but especially
those who are of Jewish descentthose who are of Jewish descent
• Second generation disciples who are tempted toSecond generation disciples who are tempted to
lose heart in light of coming persecutions.lose heart in light of coming persecutions.
– Remember those earlier days… Hebrews 10:32Remember those earlier days… Hebrews 10:32
– A hint: Those who are from Italy greet you. Hebrews 13:24A hint: Those who are from Italy greet you. Hebrews 13:24
• Date of writing: AD 60-70, probably closer toDate of writing: AD 60-70, probably closer to
AD 70.AD 70.

3. By calling this covenant “new,” he
has made the first one obsolete;
and what is obsolete and aging will
soon disappear. Hebrews 8:13

4. Introduction cont.Introduction cont.
• Purpose: To give heart to Christians who have enduredPurpose: To give heart to Christians who have endured
but are being tempted to waver in their faith.but are being tempted to waver in their faith.
– Warnings against “falling away.”Warnings against “falling away.”
• Theme: The preeminence of Jesus Christ!!!Theme: The preeminence of Jesus Christ!!!
– His deityHis deity
– The greatness of his ministryThe greatness of his ministry
– The greatness of his sacrificeThe greatness of his sacrifice
– The greatness of his covenantThe greatness of his covenant

5. The Greatness of JesusThe Greatness of Jesus
I Jesus is greater than all the prophetsI Jesus is greater than all the prophets
II Jesus is greater than the angelsII Jesus is greater than the angels
III Jesus is greater than MosesIII Jesus is greater than Moses
IV Jesus the great High PriestIV Jesus the great High Priest
V The Priesthood of Melchizedek (and therefore of Jesus) isV The Priesthood of Melchizedek (and therefore of Jesus) is
superior to the Priesthood of Aaronsuperior to the Priesthood of Aaron
VI Jesus is greater than AbrahamVI Jesus is greater than Abraham
VII The New Covenant (in and through Jesus) is superior to theVII The New Covenant (in and through Jesus) is superior to the
Old Covenant (through Moses)Old Covenant (through Moses)
VIII The heavenly Tabernacle is greater than the earthly Tabernacle.VIII The heavenly Tabernacle is greater than the earthly Tabernacle.
IX The sacrifice of Jesus is of far greater worth than the OTIX The sacrifice of Jesus is of far greater worth than the OT
sacrificessacrifices

6. Exhortations In HebrewsExhortations In Hebrews
• Exhortation #1 Pay attention Heb 2:1-18Exhortation #1 Pay attention Heb 2:1-18
• Exhortation #2 Make every effort to enter Heb 3:6-4:13Exhortation #2 Make every effort to enter Heb 3:6-4:13
• Exhortation #3 Grow up. Become mature Heb 5:11-6:20Exhortation #3 Grow up. Become mature Heb 5:11-6:20
• Exhortation #4 Live by faith. Hebrews 10:19-12:29Exhortation #4 Live by faith. Hebrews 10:19-12:29

7. Hebrews 11 Heroes of the FaithHebrews 11 Heroes of the Faith
The key to perseverence is faithThe key to perseverence is faith
Hebrews 11:1, 11:6 Definition of faithHebrews 11:1, 11:6 Definition of faith
Heb 11:1 Faith is being certain of what we do not see.Heb 11:1 Faith is being certain of what we do not see.
It requires that we deny our senses.It requires that we deny our senses.
Heb 11:6 Faith… must believe that he exists and thatHeb 11:6 Faith… must believe that he exists and that
he rewards those who earnestly seek him.he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

8. Why were these men and women commended byWhy were these men and women commended by
God?God?
• They refused what the world calls greatness and stakedThey refused what the world calls greatness and staked
everything on God.everything on God.
• They chose what is unseen rather than what is seen.They chose what is unseen rather than what is seen.
Lesson: In many ways, our worst enemy is success andLesson: In many ways, our worst enemy is success and
prosperity. What the world seeks is what will destroyprosperity. What the world seeks is what will destroy
everything that is important.everything that is important.
Example: Shadrach, Meshach and AbednegoExample: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
Daniel Ch. 3 What could they see?????Daniel Ch. 3 What could they see?????

9. Daniel Chapter ThreeDaniel Chapter Three
 Righteousness in a religious context:Righteousness in a religious context:
Standing up for God and for the truthStanding up for God and for the truth
 The fires of persecution.The fires of persecution.
 ““I will bow my head, but not my heart.”I will bow my head, but not my heart.”
 What would you have done?What would you have done?
 App’n: Persecution of DiocletianApp’n: Persecution of Diocletian

11. By Faith….By Faith….
• By faith Abel gave a better sacrifice.By faith Abel gave a better sacrifice.
• By faith Enoch pleased God.By faith Enoch pleased God.
• By faith Noah built the ark, condemned the worldBy faith Noah built the ark, condemned the world
and saved his familyand saved his family

12. By Faith….By Faith….
• By faith Abraham left everything behind….By faith Abraham left everything behind….
• By faith Abraham became the father ofBy faith Abraham became the father of
many nations.many nations.
• By faith Abraham offered up his one andBy faith Abraham offered up his one and
only son.only son.

13. Chrysostom on AbrahamChrysostom on Abraham
““The things of God seemed to fight against theThe things of God seemed to fight against the
things of God and faith fought with faith and thethings of God and faith fought with faith and the
commandment fought with the promise”commandment fought with the promise”
Yet…. Abraham obeyed the command.Yet…. Abraham obeyed the command.
Heb 11:19 HeHeb 11:19 He ReasonedReasoned

14. Those of whom the world was not worthyThose of whom the world was not worthy
• Hebrews 11:13 Still living by faith (not by sight) when theyHebrews 11:13 Still living by faith (not by sight) when they
died.died.
• xenoixenoi foriegners, aliens, strangers, refugees in this world.foriegners, aliens, strangers, refugees in this world.
• parepidemosparepidemos sojourners, temporary residents, green cardsojourners, temporary residents, green card
holders, people who do not put down roots.holders, people who do not put down roots.
• Lived by faith despite never seeing the promise fulfilled.Lived by faith despite never seeing the promise fulfilled.
• Therefore, God is not ashamed to call them his.Therefore, God is not ashamed to call them his.

15. Diognetus (2Diognetus (2ndnd
Century Apologist)Century Apologist)
• The Christians dwell in cities of Greeks and barbarians asThe Christians dwell in cities of Greeks and barbarians as
the lot of each is cast, and follow the native customs inthe lot of each is cast, and follow the native customs in
dress and food and other arrangements of life, yet thedress and food and other arrangements of life, yet the
constitution of their own citizenship, which they set forth,constitution of their own citizenship, which they set forth,
contradicts expectation. They dwell in their own countries,contradicts expectation. They dwell in their own countries,
but only as sojourners. They bear their share in all thingsbut only as sojourners. They bear their share in all things
as citizens and endure hardships as strangers. To them,as citizens and endure hardships as strangers. To them,
every country is a fatherland, and to them, every fatherlandevery country is a fatherland, and to them, every fatherland
a foreign country. They live on earth, but their home is ina foreign country. They live on earth, but their home is in
heaven. They love all men and are persecuted by all. Theirheaven. They love all men and are persecuted by all. Their
strangeness is not strange clothes or lack of technology. Itstrangeness is not strange clothes or lack of technology. It
is their embrace of an ethic the world considers nonsense.is their embrace of an ethic the world considers nonsense.

16. By Faith…By Faith…
• By faith Moses gave up worldly success andBy faith Moses gave up worldly success and
fortune.fortune.
• By faith Moses saved Israel.By faith Moses saved Israel.
• By faith the walls of Jericho fell.By faith the walls of Jericho fell.
• By faith ordinary people did great things forBy faith ordinary people did great things for
God.God.

17. More Men and Women of FaithMore Men and Women of Faith
• Shut the mouths of lions: Daniel.Shut the mouths of lions: Daniel.
• Quenched the fury of the flames: Shadrach, Meshach andQuenched the fury of the flames: Shadrach, Meshach and
AbednegoAbednego
• Escaped the edge of the sword: ElijahEscaped the edge of the sword: Elijah
• Women received back their dead: Elijah (1 Kings 17:17) andWomen received back their dead: Elijah (1 Kings 17:17) and
Elisha (2 Kings 4:8Elisha (2 Kings 4:8
• Stoned: Zechariah (2 Chron 24:20-22)Stoned: Zechariah (2 Chron 24:20-22)
• Sawn in two: Isaiah (Jewish legend)Sawn in two: Isaiah (Jewish legend)
• Put to death by the sword: (1 and 2 Maccabees)Put to death by the sword: (1 and 2 Maccabees)
• None of them received what was promised in theirNone of them received what was promised in their
lifetimes. None!!!lifetimes. None!!!