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Last week, we began a series based on Hebrews 11 about what faith does. Let’s pick up that series again this week and start in verse 11. There, the Bible reads, “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” The Hebrew writer says something amazing and powerful happened through Sarah’s faith. An older couple past the age of childbearing became the ancestors of innumerable people!

Faith trusts that God will fulfill His promises—promises that are simply beyond our ability to bring about, like forgiveness and eternal life. Faith calls us to do what we can—follow God—and to trust in God to do what we cannot. Genuine faith is powerful because it points us to God’s power.

Yesterday, we considered Abraham’s example of obedience. Hebrews 11 lingers on Abraham, so let’s do the same. Abraham’s faith also helped him develop a proper perspective on life. Faith helped Abraham look beyond the here and now to something greater. Hebrews 11:9-10 says, “By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.”

The faithful children of God know this world is not their home. This world is not all there is. No, our home lies beyond this vale of pain, tears, and death. Satan will do his best to distract us with pleasures and discourage us with pain, but faith will lift our eyes to heaven and give us the focus and the strength to live as pilgrims in this land on our way to be at home with God.

Many religious people want to separate faith and obedience. They often make faith mandatory and obedience, well, a nice idea but not necessary. But that isn’t how the Bible portrays the relationship between faith and obedience.

Hebrews 11, that great chapter about faith, demonstrates this in the example of Abraham. Hebrews 11:8 says, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” Abraham is an excellent example of faith. Thus, he is an outstanding example of obedience. Had Abraham believed God’s promises but disregarded God’s call and command, I doubt we would read about him in Hebrews 11. But his faith was no mere mental agreement. Abraham’s faith was an active, obedient faith.

If we want to inherit God’s promises, our faith must be the same. Our belief and trust must move us to obey the Lord’s commands. That is genuine, saving faith.

Faith, a potent force, is far from a naive, nebulous mentality. It actively shapes and molds our lives. This week, our study of Hebrews 11 has revealed that faith is a tool for worship and seeking God. Today, let’s delve into how faith also instills in us a reverent fear.

Hebrews 11:7 says, “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household…” We may not consider faith and fear complimentary, but they are. Genuine faith is found in those who fear God, that is, those who revere God. Many people like to think of God’s mercy and grace, and rightly so! God’s loving kindness is beyond comprehension, and we should thank God daily for His mercy. But many want to enjoy God’s mercy without respecting, fearing, or obeying God, and that will not do. We must have faith not only in God’s mercy but also in God’s holiness.

Yesterday, we began a series in Hebrews 11 about faith. We noted that genuine faith worships God, as we learn from the example of Abel. Today, let’s move forward and consider Enoch’s example. Hebrews 11:4-5 explains that Enoch had a faith that pleased God. Verse six says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Many believe faith is a blind belief, but that isn’t true. Real faith pursues and seeks God. Genuine faith loves truth and seeks to learn and know it. Saving faith seeks to know God’s will and obey it wholeheartedly. Yes, we must believe in God—that is, we must believe that He exists.

But we must also draw near to Him. We must learn His will, follow His commands, and be transformed by His Word. Genuine faith believes in God, and moves us to seek Him and walk in His ways.

People often think faith is nothing more than mental agreement to some idea. But biblical, saving faith is much more. James 2:26 bluntly says, “…faith without works is dead.” And so, throughout Scripture, we see that faith is not merely a mindset, but genuine faith is active faith. One of the best demonstrations of this is Hebrews 11. That chapter highlights several Old Testament examples of faith. Over and over again, it talks about faith—but in every example given, the Hebrew writer talks about what those people did. I want to consider those examples in a brief series on what faith does.

First, genuine faith worships God. Hebrews 11:4 says, “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts.” Faith that is not obediently worshipful towards God is more akin to Cain’s mindset than righteous Abel’s. If we are people of faith, we should be worshipful people.

This week, we’ve studied how God forgives. While the how is important, why God forgives is perhaps the greatest lesson we need to learn.

For many people, forgiveness helps them get over hurts they’ve suffered. Others view forgiveness primarily, if not solely, as being pardoned from consequences and punishment. These are aspects of forgiveness, but they are not the whole picture.

God forgives us to heal what is broken, primarily the relationship between us and Him. God forgives so that we can be reconciled to Him. God’s forgiveness is relational in nature. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5 that through Christ, God has not counted our trespasses against us but has reconciled us to Himself. How thankful we should be that when God forgives, He does not just let go of anger. He does not just forego vengeance. No, when God forgives, He goes much further than that, and he restores and reconciles us so we can be with Him again.

What a wondrous blessing it is to be forgiven by God! This week, we’ve been discussing how God forgives and noted that He proactively pursues forgiveness, is abundantly merciful, and that God’s forgiveness is others-focused, not self-focused. Today, we need to consider an essential aspect of God’s forgiveness—as freely, mercifully, and proactively as offered, God’s forgiveness is not granted unconditionally. God doesn’t “just forgive.” God requires our repentance.

In Luke 13:3, Jesus says, “… unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” In 1 John 1:9 John writes, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Other Scriptures teach this concept also—there are conditions we must meet to be forgiven. God’s mercy and forgiveness are freely extended, but we must accept God’s offer, acknowledge our sins, and repent. As gracious and merciful as God is, Scripture never teaches that He forgives unconditionally.

This week, we are considering how God forgives us. We’ve already seen God proactively pursues forgiveness and forgives abundantly and mercifully. Today, I want to notice a fundamental way we sometimes try to forgive, which differs from how God forgives.

See, many ideas of forgiveness revolve around self-healing. Forgiveness is considered a way of letting go of hurt, bitterness, and anger so that we can live a happier and healthier life. Most people view forgiveness as something that helps them—their forgiveness is inward-focused.

But God’s forgiveness is outward. God does not forgive so that He will feel better. God does not forgive for His own benefit. No, when God forgives, we, the sinners, are blessed. God’s example teaches us that forgiveness is, amazingly, sinner-focused, not self-focused. How thankful we should be that God does not forgive in a way that focuses solely on Himself but instead practices a forgiveness that pardons, heals, and helps us, even though we are the guilty party.

Yesterday, we began a series on How God Forgives, and we noted that even though God is always the innocent party, He has taken the first step toward forgiving us. He proactively pursues forgiveness. Today, let’s consider another trait of how the Lord forgives. As we reflect on Scripture and our own lives, we are struck by the sheer abundance of God’s mercy. It’s a mercy that surpasses our understanding and cannot be adequately expressed in words.

God is a God of justice and judgment, but He is also a God of mercy. Sin angers God, but God offers mercy instead of immediately dispensing judgment. And God is not meager in His mercy and forgiveness. His willingness to pardon is greater than we can imagine. Psalm 103:10 says, “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.” How thankful we should be that God has given us mercy instead of what we deserved.