Week 5
READ Hebrews 11:7-12 “Heroes of the Faith”
QUESTIONS:
We see here four more examples of authentic saving faith. First, Noah trusts God and builds an ark for the salvation of his household. Second, Abraham trusts God and leaves his homeland for an unknown place of promise. Third, Abraham trusts God and lives in tents instead of building a city with permanent foundations. Fourth, Sarah trusts God and conceives when she is barren and past the age of childbearing.
Be careful here not to think of these four people as super Christians or a faith that you should aspire to one day. These acts associated with their faith were saving faith! We are quick to believe that saving faith happens at a point in time. If you ask Jesus in your heart or walk an aisle that that means you are saved. This is not the definition the Bible gives for authentic saving faith. Faith is assured of a better possession and an abiding one. This means that it is always moving toward the object of its affection, not just at a point in time when you made a decision. Authentic Saving Faith perseveres and endures. Saving faith receives Jesus to go on trusting Him!
So let’s look at Four Truths About the Life of Faith:
1) A life of faith starts with a promised work that God will do.
What did God promise to do for the 5 examples of faith mentioned above? List each for each person.
How does God promising a future work cause us to exercise faith?
Why does this please God?
2) A life of faith starts with an inner response of faith to God’s promise.
Do all actions start with an inner response? Explain.
In the four people mentioned above, look for an inner response of faith before an outward one and write it below.
3) A life of faith involves an external response, not just an internal one.
In the four people mentioned above, look for an outward response of faith. Write it below.
Why must the response start inward before going outward?
Why must there be an outward response to have true authentic saving faith?
4) A life of faith enjoys some measure of God’s reward now, but most later.
List how each person above enjoyed the reward from God for faith. List each below.
***After doing today’s study, do you have authentic saving faith? Explain.