FAITH THAT FINISHES WELL
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion.
Sermon Title: FAITH THAT FINISHES WELL
Main Scripture: Hebrews 11:32-12:3; 2 Timothy 4:6-8
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
Today, Pastor Ryan wraps up our sermon series on Hebrews 11 with an encouraging message about faith that finishes well. Through our scripture and the sermon, we learn some critical points about the Christian life of faith and how it’s more of a marathon than a sprint. Faith that finishes well is long-distance faith or persevering faith that trusts in God no matter the results. Faith that finishes well is more about being faithful to obey and trust God than using God like a vending machine for results. Faith that finishes well doesn’t just look at what we can receive on earth but also hopes and waits for what we receive in eternal glory. We pray this message and the notes below build your faith to endure and finish this side of eternity well!
Notes:
Faith Recap:
Faith in Hebrews 11 is belief, trust, and confidence in God that enables the believer to press on steadfastly whatever the future holds.
The Greek word for faith, pístis, is used 24 times in Hebrews 11 and means the sense of a. “confidence,” “certainty,” “trust,” then b. “trustworthiness,” and c. “guarantee” or “assurance." Another form is pisteúō which means “to trust” (also “to obey”). -Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W.
In this chapter, faith is man’s response to what God has said. It takes seriously the message of God’s revealed truth in holy Scripture. It does not merely agree with God’s word but acts upon it. -Brown, R.
Do we believe God and His Word are trustworthy? If so, then there are plenty of situations we can trust God to provide, intervene or work. If so, there are commands from God we can trust to obey no matter the results.
Context
We need to keep in mind that Hebrews was written to people who were being persecuted. Because they had left Judaism for Christ, they were facing intense opposition.There was a danger that they could interpret their suffering as a sign of God’s disapproval, give up, or worse yet, return to Judaism.
This is why the author goes through examples of faith in Hebrews 11. These everyday people served as an encouragement to build their faith and ours today so we may endure.
Hebrews 11:32-12:3 NLT
V. 32-35a
There are numerous examples of faith in the Lord that yielded miracles. The writer has not run out of examples but out of time…
V. 35b-38
Faith has another face. “Others” refers to godly men and women who instead of being delivered, went through severe persecution and hardship for their faith in the Lord. But God was still very pleased with their faith.
Whether there is deliverance in this life or deliverance realized in eternal glory, the outcome of faith in both instances is a triumph!
“True faith not only enables great exploits for God to be realized but also brings believers into great conflict with the world. Genuine faith does not immunize believers from suffering persecution, hardship, ridicule, or death…” FullLife Commentary, pg. 1376
*V. 35 G.H. Morrison writes, “This is also a result of faith, not that it brings deliverance to a man, but that sometimes when deliverance is offered faith gives him a fine courage to refuse it. There are seasons when faith shows itself in taking. There are seasons when faith is witnessed in refusing. There is a deliverance that faith embraces. There is a deliverance that faith rejects. They were tortured, not accepting deliverance–that was the sign and seal that they were faithful…”
“A theology of faith must include both a theology of suffering and a theology of the power of God, which is the coupling together of the theology of the cross and the theology of the resurrection/Pentecost.” FullLife Commentary 1376-77
“Better resurrection” is contrasting the difference between resuscitation to mortal life and resurrection to eternal life. The examples before the resurrection of Christ would be God sparing people from death and coming back to this life (Lazarus). The better resurrection is what we learned about on Easter…
V.36 Jeremiah experienced jeering, whipping, and imprisonment (Jer. 20:1-6; 37:15).
V.37 Sawed in half: Ancient Jewish tradition says the wicked King Manasseh killed the prophet Isaiah in this way.
Persevering faith doesn’t always mean you will face violent opposition but many believers will experience oppression or mistreatment.
“They were too good for this world…” The upside-down Kingdom of God…
V. 39-40
“In the interim between promise and fulfillment, faith must be tough in the hard times, resilient in trying circumstances, obedient to God and his Word at all times, and able (like love) to endure all things, while moving toward the goal embodied in what God has promised. Faith does not shrink back or give up when discouraged. It is always daring, adventurous, and willing to risk all for the sake of the things promised but not yet seen.” FullLife Commentary, pg. 1378
12:1-3
Therefore. This conjunctive adverb connects the examples of faith in chapter 11 to the greatest example in Hebrews 12…Jesus.
The race of the Christian life.
The persevering obedience of faith in Christ was the race set before the Hebrews and before us.
One of the reasons we believe Paul wrote this letter is because of these verses. Paul loved to illustrate the Christian life with races and running. The author includes himself in the race.
Finishing a race or marathon requires discipline, focus, and dedication, the same goes for the Christian life.
Witnesses.
Hebrews 11 and Jesus serve as excellent examples for the marathon of faith…
What is meant by witnesses? It’s not that they watch us, but that we have a huge crowd of examples who testify to what it means to have faith in God in all circumstances. One writer said it could be both, like a stadium of heroes of the faith watching us now that we studied them (not likely but cool if it was true).
When the life of faith gets hard we can review the old testament and new testament believers to glean inspiration.
*Think of the Old Testament heroes who didn't know yet see Jesus Jesus' life but they lived with incredible faith in God. Think of their thrilling triumphs, exploits, overcoming trials, and endurance. Yet, they lived on the other side of the cross and we live in the full glory of the cross. They didn’t see Jesus, nor His fulfillment of hundreds of prophecies which included the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ, but their faith was strong and commendable. How are we doing? It’s convicting but also inspiring to live with greater faith in God than we do now.
Run unhindered (dressed right, free of weight or things that would trip you up)
Consider real runners preparing for a marathon. They purchase the proper clothing, take off warmups, and wear light shoes. They refrain from unhealthy food, drinks, and PEDs so they are not disqualified.
There’s a difference between the weight that slows us down or hinders us and the sin that entangles or trips us up. “Hinders” means any kind of weight, cumbersome things that may not be a sin but hinders running the race to win. Athletes shed any unnecessary body weight and carry no baggage in a race. In like manner, Christians must avoid distractions, laziness, the ease of comfort, and even good ambitions that keep us from doing God's will.
“The sin that so easily trips us up…” is unbelief (the opposite of faith) and sins of any kind. Some things in life aren’t sins but they hinder. Then other things are sins that cause us to fall (disqualify us) and take the wrong path. The meaning here is to even miss the prize which is God’s gracious gift of eternal life (See Hebrews 3:12-14).
Run with endurance or perseverance
It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Faith isn’t one decision, it’s a life decision.
The Forerunner of Faith
Jesus is our greatest example and role model of the faith.
Fix our eyes on Jesus. The champion, the pioneer, the author, who initiates faith and perfecter or finisher of faith.
Consider all that Jesus went through, we’ll never go through. But Jesus endured and resurrected. Therefore, let us not become weary or give up.
Follow Jesus in every way. He ran before us but now goes with us on this journey.
APPLICATION
Faith in God doesn’t always produce the same results on this side of eternity.
Not all results of faith bring supernatural deliverance here on earth but all were and will be commended for their great faith.
This is why we must be careful not to judge someone as having little faith when they weren’t healed or dealt with more trials in their lives.
Faith in God is being faithful to God in every circumstance no matter the results.
It takes faith for the miracle and faith to trust God’s will.
This is where endurance or long-distance faith comes in. This is where we fix our eyes on Jesus who experienced suffering and resurrection. We are partakers of His life in all aspects.
This is when we must not be discouraged by short-term pain but fix our eyes on eternal long-term gain!
Faith in God is being faithful to God on the narrow path leading to eternity.
Noah chose righteousness and obedience so he built an ark. Joseph chose fidelity instead of sin and received prison. Daniel chose prayer to God and received the lion’s den. Job chose faithfulness instead of cursing God. The disciples chose to follow Christ and received persecution and death. Paul chose Jesus and was beheaded.
This journey of faith in God will mean we will always contend with distractions, temptations, and sinful entanglements we must refrain from or throw off.
Faith in God may produce different results now but full redemption will be realized in eternity.
2 Timothy 4:6-8 NIV 6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Romans 8:35-37 NLT 35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
Discussion:
What did God use in this sermon to speak directly to you?
Hebrews 11 ended by exposing that faith doesn’t always produce the same results we hope for…how does this shake up your understanding of faith in God?
What does faith in God mean according to THIS scripture and Pastor Ryan’s application points?
What are all the things Hebrews 12:1-3 teach us to do to have faith that finishes well?
What other notes did you write down that you would like to share?
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed? We encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!