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January 7 Lesson: Faith and Righteousness
Winter Quarter 2023-2024: Faith That Pleases God
Unit 2: Learning About Faith
Sunday School Lesson for the week of January 7, 2024
By Jay Harris
Lesson Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-4a, 7a, 8, 17-18, 20-23, 32, 39-40
Key Verse: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
Lesson Aims
- To introduce the second unit of our study and this lesson’s emphasis on faith and righteousness
- To lean into the definition of faith that we are given in the first verse and ponder its implications
- To learn more about the connection between faith and righteousness and pleasing God
- To appreciate how people of faith serve as links in the great story of redemption
- To ponder how each generation of believers passes the torch to the next generation
Introduction to Unit 2: Learning About Faith
We are continuing our Winter Quarter Theme, which is “Faith That Pleases God.” In the first unit, we featured various “profiles in faith.” The focus for the second unit is “Learning About Faith.” Each week, this unit will pair the subject of faith with another interrelated subject: first, righteousness, then trust, then encouragement, and then transformation.
So, this lesson pairs the subject of “Faith” with the subject of “Righteousness.” We will be exploring the way that faith and righteousness interrelate. How do we learn more about faith through the lens of righteousness, and how do we learn more about righteousness through the lens of faith? Keep these questions in mind as we work our way through the selected scripture passage.
Our scripture passage comes from the 11
th chapter of the Letter to the Hebrews. This chapter has been called the great Hall of Faith. It presents to us numerous examples of faith. As we move through the chapter, we will see faith and righteousness mentioned together. We will also see faith mentioned in conjunction with the act of pleasing God, which relates to our Winter Quarter theme: Faith That Pleases God. Think of Faith, Righteousness, and Pleasing God as three points on a triangle. Each topic relates to the other. Watch for this to emerge in the chapter.
How do you think of faith and righteousness together? How do you connect the two concepts?
A Definition of Faith that Serves as a Pattern to Guide Us
The key verse for our lesson is the opening verse of our scripture passage. This verse serves as a transitional verse in the Letter to the Hebrews from the discussion that has gone before to the one that is to follow.
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
The word “Now” followed by the word “faith” gives the impression that the subject of faith has already been raised in the previous discussion. Specifically, the Christian community has been encouraged in various ways to keep the faith. More must be said, however, about the nature of faith. What exactly is faith? The writer of this letter recognizes that a definition of faith is warranted.
First, faith is the “assurance of things hoped for.” We base our hope and confidence in the future on our core beliefs and our trust in God. Based on the faith we have, we have assurance that the future for which we hope will come to pass. Our hope is informed by the content of our faith.
Second, faith is the “conviction of things not seen.” The future itself is unseen. Based on our faith, we hope that certain things will materialize in the future that have not happened yet. Faith is not only about the future. It is about the present as well. Faith is the conviction of things we believe to be realities in the present that we cannot necessarily see with our eyes.
We believe in the presence of the Holy Spirit, for instance. We believe in the communion of saints that mystically binds us together with generations of believers past and present throughout redemption history. When we gather at the graveside of a loved one, we believe in the resurrection of the dead. When we gather at the table in celebration of the Lord’s Supper, we believe that we can have a special time of spiritual union with God (Communion), and by extension, communion with each other.
Faith is also about the past and how it affects the present and the future. We believe that Jesus is the Word made flesh, the holy Son of God, who died and rose again for us so that by his death, we can rise again to new life in Christ. The foundations for these realities are based on events that happened 2,000 years ago. We were not eyewitnesses to the events. We did not see them for ourselves with our own eyes. We are, however, eyewitnesses, to the repercussions. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the long passage of time since these events happened has not diminished the strong conviction we have about these realities and their power and relevance to our lives.
As great a definition as this is, this definition of faith is certainly not exhaustive. This definition is powerful however because it sets forth a pattern we will see again in the verses that follow.
2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.
The definition of faith in verse 1 is illustrated again and again by countless ancestors in the faith who have preceded us. We will see the pattern described in verse 1 play out over and over in the 11
th chapter of Hebrews as we review the lives of some notable ancestors.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
It is understandable that faith would be the conviction of things not seen because even the universe itself was created out of nothing (ex nihilo). When there was yet nothing to see, and certainly no one other than God to see it, we believe that God created the stuff of the universe. God spoke it into being and continued through his word to fashion it all into what we see. It’s as if, from the beginning, God intended to establish a pattern where we would pay as much attention to what is unseen as to what is seen. After all, all that is seen began from what is unseen.
You could say that this pattern is what drives science down the path of discovery. Someone has said that science is thinking God’s thoughts after him. This is why many scientists see no conflict between faith and science. There is a divine mystery waiting to be discovered. I love the quote by T.S. Eliot: “We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” Ponder that.
What is your take on faith being the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen? Has believing in the unseen ever been a problem for you? Why? What helped you overcome this problem? What do you think about the connection between faith and science?
Connections Between Faith, Righteousness, and Pleasing God
In the next few verses, we begin to see connections between faith and righteousness and pleasing God.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks.
I must say that I struggle with the story of Cain and Abel. Why did the Lord have
regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard? (Genesis 4:4-5) On the face of it, this is an origin story of the ancient rivalry between those who tilled the soil (represented by Cain) and those who raised livestock (represented by Abel). Cain presented to God a sacrifice of his harvest, and Abel presented an animal sacrifice. Perhaps, it was because Abel took more care in the offering by offering the “firstlings of his flock, their fat portions.” More likely, it had to do with what God saw in the heart of both brothers.
The problem is that Cain became insanely jealous. If we go back to Genesis 4:6-7, we see that the Lord tried to warn Cain, asking him, “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen?” The Lord tried to let Cain know that he was being tested: “If you do well, will you not be accepted?” In other words, God wanted to see Cain rise to the occasion. God also warned Cain, “And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.” The door was wide open for Cain to express faith in God by responding well to the situation, and then Cain and his offering would have been accepted. But Cain ignored God’s warning and walked right through the door where sin was lurking, which resulted in Cain murdering his brother Abel. Cain’s story could have been so different.
The tragedy is that Abel’s life was cut so short, but the Letter to the Hebrews does not dwell so much on Abel’s death as it does Abel’s faith. The scripture dwells on the offering he gave, God’s approval of him, and God’s righteousness that was bestowed upon him. Despite his untimely death, Abel’s faith still speaks and will continue to speak throughout time and eternity.
We should keep in mind that it is through God’s prerogative and generosity of heart that God’s approval comes to us. Being declared righteous is not something we can pronounce upon ourselves without God being a part of it. Any righteousness in us proceeds from God’s righteousness. God bestows upon us his righteousness. In God’s righteousness, we are able to be made righteous.
This is the idea that transformed the theology of Martin Luther, the great 16
th century Protestant Reformer. Perhaps surprisingly, it was his study of the Old Testament, particularly the Psalms, that began to transform his thinking. We cannot earn God’s approval. We can, however, become a willing vessel for God’s favor. When we become a willing vessel for God’s grace, our participation enhances our experience of God’s grace so that his grace is able to have its full effect in our lives.
Our scripture lesson skips from Abel to Noah, but I think it is fitting to mention Enoch, although he has to be one of the most enigmatic characters in the Bible. Not much is said about him. It is because of the manner of his death that he is remembered. According to Genesis 5:24, “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him.” In other words, he did not die in the way people normally die. As Hebrews 11:5 says,
“By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death.” It was the manner in which he “walked” with God, and thereby pleased God, that Enoch was allowed to simply walk with God into heaven at the end of his life.
Enoch deserves mention because, according to Hebrews 11:6, Enoch exhibited something about faith that serves as a pattern for the way faith and pleasing God are connected in all believers: “
without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would approach God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Faith is necessary for us to please God. If we want to approach God, we must believe that God exists AND believe that God rewards those
who seek him. God does not break down the door of our hearts, but he persistently knocks on the door, hoping that we will open the door. (Revelation 3:20) In Matthew 7:7, Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.” The
desire to seek God and please God is necessary to please God. This is all a part of faith.
7 By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household…
This is a story that many of us learned as a child. The last part of verse 7 is also significant. It tells us that Noah became
“an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.” Because of Noah’s faith, he inherited the best of the past to pass onto future generations of God’s people. Because of Noah’s faith, he became the link in the great chain of salvation history, so that God’s righteousness could be bestowed onto future generations of God’s people.
What do you think of the idea that the origin of our righteousness is in God’s righteousness? What difference does this make for you? What do you think of the statement that without faith it is impossible to please God?
And the Story of Faith Goes On
We learn that Noah, because of his faith, was God’s link to bestow his righteousness on future generations. As the 11
thchapter of Hebrews continues, other important links are recognized.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance, and he set out, not knowing where he was going.
Abraham and Sarah together serve as important link in salvation history because of the covenant God made with them. What faith that they must have possessed for God to choose them from among all the members of the human family. Their faithfulness in responding to God’s call was so important that we call Abraham, “Father Abraham.” When you read verses 9-16, it underscores the importance of their faith story.
Verses 17 and 18 bring the story of Abraham to perhaps its most climactic moment.
17 By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, 18 of whom he had been told, “It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.”
When it must have seemed like madness, God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Isaac was Abraham’s only son through his wife Sarah. This was the same son whose conception and birth were both miracles because of his parents age and previous inability to conceive. This was the same son who was the all-important heir to God’s promise. This was the one through whom Abraham and Sarah were to provide descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, to form God’s people. God’s people were the ones to model the life of faith for the world. Besides all this, Abraham was a father who loved his son.
We know from the story in Genesis that God was testing Abraham’s faith. Abraham passed the test, and just before Abraham laid the knife to Isaac, God stopped him and provided a ram in the thicket to serve as the sacrifice in place of Isaac.
Faith continues to play a critical role in the lives of those who also became links in the great story.
20 By faith Isaac invoked blessings for the future on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, “bowing in worship over the top of his staff.” 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his burial.
The mention of Jacob and Joseph and the exodus from Egypt remind us of the twists and turns that happened in the story of God’s people. This includes Joseph’s sons selling their brother, Joseph, into slavery. This includes a famine sweeping over the land and Joseph becoming the one to save his family from starvation. This includes God’s people being held in state-sponsored slavery in Egypt for a few centuries.
23 By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.
The Egyptian Pharaoh’s edict, given during the time when Moses was born, stipulated that all Hebrew male infants were to be drowned in the Nile River in order to control their population. Midwives such as Shiphra and Puah, however, practiced civil disobedience and secretly did not kill the male babies in defiance of Pharaoh’s edict. Likewise, the parents of Moses put baby Moses in a basket so that he floated in the Nile and was found by Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted Moses. Preserving the life of Moses allowed him to be a link in the salvation of God’s people from slavery and to lead God’s people to the Promised Land.
Although the 40-year journey of God’s people through the wilderness was fraught with many twists and turns, God’s people made sure that they carried Joseph’s bones with them so they could be buried in the Promised Land in accordance with the promise made to Joseph. This focus on Joseph’s bones provides a fitting symbol of God providing the necessary links of faith so that the ongoing journey of faith continued uninterrupted despite its many twists and turns.
What do you think of the way that the heroes of our faith served as links between past, present, and future? What if they had not believed or not acted on their faith? What do you make of the twists and turns in the journey of faith? Do they take away from the relationship people have with God or enhance it? Why do you think that?
The Other Links, Both Named and Not Named
As the 11
th chapter of Hebrews unfolds, you begin to see that the list of these living links could go on for a long time. The writer recognized this as he began to summarize.
32 And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets…
Just these last words, “
and the prophets,” evokes more stories than time allows. The writer of Hebrews tried to sum up the impact of these Old Testament heroes and prophets, describing them as people “
who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.” (Hebrews 11:33-34)
Verses 35 through 38, describes those who are too numerous to name or whose deeds might only be known by God. The writer describes the martyrs and the refugees and their experiences to say that their examples of faith deserve to be remembered. He makes the bold and beautiful statement that
“the world was not worthy” of the sacrifices they made because of their faith. (Hebrews 11:38)
Was it surprising to you that the martyrs would be named among the other heroes of the faith? What does it mean to you to include them?
We Too Are Called to Be a Link in the Great Story
The writer of Hebrews makes a very important summary statement about all the heroes of the faith that have been remembered throughout the chapter.
39 Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.
These heroes are commended for their faith. Their deeds give testimony to their faith. You know that their faith was not just a feeling. They lived their faith. Their desire to please God drove what they did and said and sacrificed. Through God’s approval and their response, they became living vessels of God’s righteousness. Because of the way they wore their faith, God was very pleased. They brought delight to the heart of God.
So, why didn’t the writer end with the words,
they were commended for their faith? Why did the writer go on to point out something that was promised but not received? Why did he feel compelled to mention the way they might have remained unfulfilled? To understand these words, it is helpful to go back to what the writer said earlier in the chapter about the experience of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Jacob. We skipped over these verses earlier in our lesson.
The writer brought out how Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob had been called to live out a nomadic existence in a foreign land. They were called to live out their years in tents. They were called to live this way, because leaving their familiar, settled existence in Upper Mesopotamia had always been a part of the package. Their obedience to the call of God meant they would have to depend on God like never before. They were going to claim an inheritance that God had waiting for them. This experience was a central part of their faith story. (Hebrews 11:9)
Yet, we are led not to feel sorry for them, because Abraham and the others “looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11:10) Did they ever live in this city while they lived on earth? The answer is no. According to Hebrews,
“All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them.” (Hebrews 11:13)
Did they therefore die in a state of despair? No, they died in a state of hope. They somehow knew what they were in for all along. They knew that the end for them would not be the end of their story. According to Hebrews
, “They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better homeland, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11:13-16)
They knew that their life of faith was a journey. They knew that the life of faith for them was like a relay race. They were to run their part of the race, and when they finished their part, others were to carry the torch. The race would continue. The journey would continue. God’s grand purposes would continue to be fulfilled.
What God has in mind for believers cannot possibly be completed in one generation. The heroes of the faith who preceded us could die with a full heart in assurance of faith, because although their part of the journey was over, the journey itself would continue. They knew that
“God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:40) The word translated “perfect” means “complete.”
What we need to lean into is the phrase “apart from us.” Those who have gone before us need us to continue the journey of faith they began. They need us to take up the torch and run the part of the race we are called to run. They need us to bring the race closer to completion. The journey will always be fraught with twists and turns. This is why it is journey of faith. Engaging in the journey is what pleases God. It is how God’s righteousness continues to be manifested in the world.
Do you have a sense of the torch being passed to you? What are you doing to prepare the next generation to carry the torch?
Prayer
God of Righteousness and the Author of our faith, we thank you for the heroes of our faith who serve as examples for us. Help us to examine our faith and see where we are growing closer to you or growing apart from you, that we may engage in our journey more and enjoy its blessings, to the glory of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
Dr. Jay Harris serves as the Superintendent of Clergy and District Services for the South Georgia Conference. Email him at jharris@sgaumc.com. Find his plot-driven guide to reading the Bible, the “Layered Bible Journey,” at www.layeredbiblejourney.com.
