The Cross and Crowns Ministry Nairobi

Jas. 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only…26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.In addition to the truth seen in Paul’s letters to the Churches in Rome and the region of Galatia, James states the following:Faith finds its best expression through works! In this context therefore, merely admitting that one possesses faith without works is insufficient because even demons BELIEVE and tremble–v19. In other words, faith without works is DEAD!To illustrate this, James uses the example of a brother or sister who needs both clothing and food. Mere words to such an individual are of no benefit. Rather, the only benefit that will accrue to such an individual is provision of both clothing and food.James then ropes in Abraham to clarify his point−Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?From Paul’s letter to the Romans and Galatians, we learnt that Abraham was justified BY FAITH, NOT BY WORKS but James ‘seems’ to suggest otherwise i.e., he was justified by works! Is this a contradiction?For the avoidance of doubt, God’s Word DOES NOT contradict itself because it was written by the SAME AUTHOR, the Holy Spirit, about the SAME PERSON, Jesus Christ! Was Abraham justified by faith or by works?To answer our question, let us note that justification is a judicial act of God whereby He declares a person to be righteous. Said differently, justification is God declaring a person to be righteous as a result of acknowledging or recognizing His righteousness in that person, in our case Abraham!When Abraham believed God’s word concerning his descendants, it was accounted to him as righteousness! At this point, Abraham was justified BY FAITH i.e., by believing!When testing Abraham, God allowed an event that would seemingly contradict His promises i.e., God had promised Abraham that in Isaac, his seed shall be called and this is the same son that God asked Abraham to offer as a burnt offering!Abraham obeyed God by offering Isaac on the altar and in this, he was justified by WORKS through which his FAITH was PERFECTED! The Greek word for ‘perfected’ means to complete, i.e. (literally) accomplish, or (figuratively) consummate; consecrate, finish, fulfil. Abraham’s action (WORK) of sacrificing Isaac in obedience to God’s instructions brought his faith to an end or to the intended goal!Through Abraham’s works, the Scripture in Gen. 15:6 was FULFILLED and he was called the friend of God–Jas. 2:23 And the scripture was actually and fully realized… (Wuest)

Having separated themselves from the young men, Abraham and Isaac went together to the top of the mountain−Gen. 22:6.Isaac may have discerned that his father was going to present an offering to the Lord presumably by seeing the wood and the fire. That being the case, his question was a legitimate one because there was a missing ingredient in this equation i.e., the lamb−Gen. 22:7.Abraham DID NOT blink an eye in responding to his son’s question nor did he stutter on the matter! Abraham told Isaac that God would provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering−Gen. 22:8.When Abraham and Isaac finally got to the place of which God had told him about, Abraham built an altar, placed the wood in order, bound his son and laid him on the altar in readiness to slay him as commanded by God−Gen. 22:9-10.The Lord called Abraham, through His angel, restraining him from laying his hand on Isaac or doing anything to him−Gen. 22:11.Abraham had PASSED the TEST because he did NOT withhold his son, his only son, from the Lord. Through his actions, Abraham demonstrated his fear of God−Gen. 22:12. Abraham’s responses demonstrate the outcome of an individual who has undergone transformation by the renewal of his mind−Rom. 12:1-2.As our spirit man is being renewed DAILY, so is our mind−2 Cor. 4:16.Our inner man, the spirit man, is renewed DAILY, ONLY ONE way i.e., in mature knowledge−Col. 3:9-10; Eph. 4:22-24; 1 Pet. 1:13.Why the mind? Strongholds exist in the mind−2 Cor. 10:4-6.God had been speaking to Abraham continuously thus had a rich deposit of His Word which the Holy Spirit used to transform him−Gen. 12-22.Abraham’s transformation, originating from his intake of the Word of God is a demonstration of his spiritual maturity which happened over time, NOT instantly! It had taken him approximately 60+ years of consistently hearing God for him to mature in his faith−Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Cor. 14:20; 1 Pet. 2:2.Through his FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE to God’s command by offering Isaac, Abraham expressed his fear of God, something that must have attracted the Lord’s pleasure in him−Ps 147:11.Abraham’s fear of God caused the Lord to send His Angel to him−Ps 34:7.Abraham’s fear of God would cause the Lord to reveal His secret to him−Ps 25:12-15.Abraham’s fear of God was proven in his choice to keep His commandments by walking in His ways in obedience−Deut. 8:6, 13:4.Abraham’s fear of God was proven in his choice to hate evil i.e. unbelief−Prov. 8:13.Abraham’s fear of God was anchored on the truth that God will judge every Man’s work including his−Eccl. 12:13-14.Abraham must have resolved to FULLY OBEY God, something that God Himself acknowledged at the end of the test−Gen. 22:18; 26:5.

 Testing has a CONTEXT.Having created Man to rule the earth in place of Satan who had since disqualified himself through rebellion, God TESTED him to prove his worthiness to realize this purpose−Gen. 2:16-17; 1:26-28.Joseph had two dreams, both of which were REGAL in nature−Gen. 37:5-11. The Lord TESTED Joseph by orchestrating events which seemed to contradict the REGAL dreams that he had−Ps 105:8-12.The Lord TESTED the nation of Israel after their deliverance from Egyptian oppression and on their journey towards the land of their inheritance−Ex. 15:25-26; 16:4. In TESTING the nation of Israel, the Lord sought to establish the nation’s worthiness to rule as the head over the nations−Deut. 28:1, 13.The context of TESTING is RULERSHIP, the goal being to ascertain the worthiness and subsequent approval of the individual being tested.When the Lord tested Abraham, his response was IMMEDIATE! There was NO DEBATE, NO HESITATION, NO RESERVATIONS, NO PUSHBACK, NO DELAY, NO NEGOTIATION−Gen. 22:3-5.

God TESTED AbrahamGen. 22:1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”It is God’s prerogative to TEST and He does so with the RIGHTEOUS−Ps 11:5 The Lord tests the righteous…Prov. 17:3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts.Ps 7:9 …For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.There are different Hebrew words for ‘test’ all of which mean to try, to prove, to tempt, to prove, to examine/assay, to scrutinize. It carries the idea of testing or proving the quality of someone or something.The ONLY basis by which God TESTS His people is His Word!Ex. 15:25 So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, 26 and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.”Ex. 16:4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.Judges 2:20 Then the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and He said, “Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not heeded My voice, 21 I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died, 22 so that through them I may test Israel, whether they will keep the ways of the Lord, to walk in them as their fathers kept them, or not.” 23 Therefore the Lord left those nations, without driving them out immediately; nor did He deliver them into the hand of Joshua.

The Lord kept His Word, in His time and style, and did as He had promised Sarah who bore Isaac−Gen. 21:1-3.As time elapsed, Isaac grew and he was subsequently weaned, much in every way a baby was−Gen. 21:8-9; 1 Sam. 1:22-24; 1 Kin 11:20; Hos. 1:8.Weaning conveys the idea of bringing to an end, the time a child comes to the end of need for nursing, because he/she has matured.In the Septuagint, ‘weaning’ conveys the picture of ‘to remove from milk.’ Weaning marks the time when a child is introduced to solid food. On the same day that Isaac was weaned, Sarah saw Ishmael scoffing! Although this may pass as any other gesture, it is fraught with significance.In Hebrew, scoffing means mocking, and in the Septuagint, it means to make sport of or to mock and is in the present tense, describing Ishmael as continually mocking Isaac.As long as Isaac was taking milk, Ishmael had NO problem with him but the moment he was weaned, scoffing began.Sarah did NOT take Ishmael’s scoffing lightly! She told Abraham to cast out Hagar, the bondwoman, and Ishmael, her son! According to Sarah, Ishmael would NOT be heir with Isaac−Gen. 21:10.Sarah had finally understood the Lord’s Promise concerning Isaac, Abraham’s chosen heir−Gen. 15:4; 17:19, 21.Sarah’s statement aligned with God’s Word even though it was grievous in Abraham’s sight−Gen. 21:11-12.Abraham obeyed God’s Word by sending Hagar and Ishmael away, something that he did early in the morning−Gen. 21:14.

The Holy Spirit moved the writer of Hebrews to provide a record of specific individuals, who lived by faith, to communicate spiritual truths to bible students like us. Although this list is not exhaustive per se, the truths communicated therein are. Our response must therefore be one of faith IF we are to profit immensely from this revelation, as with the rest of Scripture−2 Tim. 3:16-17; Joh. 6:63.The account of the first three individuals recorded in Heb. 11:4-7 provides a clear chronology of events in God’s calendar as well as His focus according to His divine counsel. What do we mean by this?Abel is a type of Jesus Christ while Cain is a type of the nation of Israel−Heb. 11:4. This foundational record typifies the treatment of Jesus Christ by the nation of Israel i.e., the nation of Israel killed Christ during His first advent−Matt. 16:21; 27:1-25.Enoch is the 7th Man from Adam and his account of being taken away is a type of the future resurrection/rapture of the Church− Heb. 11:5; 1 Thess. 4:15-17.Noah is the 10th Man from Adam and the flood he underwent, where both Man and beast were destroyed, is a type of the future Tribulation that the nation of Israel will undergo yet future−Heb. 11:4. His safely going through the flood with his family typifies the salvation of the nation of Israel during the Tribulation despite many Jews perishing−Matt. 24:1-39; Dan. 9:27.In summary, the account of the first three listed individuals in Heb. 11 provides a sequence of events in God’s calendar i.e., the death of Jesus Christ in the hands of His brethren, the Jews, will be followed by the resurrection/rapture of the Church before the nation of Israel undergoes the Tribulation! All these will happen according to God’s perfect timing!

The individuals recorded in Heb. 11 are commended because of their faith, to the saving of the soul–Heb. 11:1-2, 39-40.The reality of the matter is that none of these individuals are alive today.Thankfully for each of them, God bore witness that they died in faith i.e., they were still living by faith when they died and/or they died still believing what God had promised them−Heb. 11:13.Our choice to live by faith, to the saving of the soul, ought to be for the entire of our lifetime here on earth! It MUST never be a path we take intermittently, on part-time basis or only when it suits our present circumstances! This MUST be our lifestyle both in the highs and lows of life; the ups and downs of life; the light and dark seasons of life; the sunny and rainy days of life; the hot and cold seasons of life etc.These men DID NOT receive the promises of God, all of which were regal−Heb. 11:13, 39.Although they DID NOT receive the regal promises, the individuals in view SAW THEM afar off, were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.At the time of their individual deaths, they had not realized the fulfilment of God’s promises. They understood by faith that God’s Promises would be fulfilled, but not in their lifetime! These promises awaited the 7th Day!They were confident and convinced about God’s regal Promises which they welcomed. This persuasion caused them to agree with God that they were only but strangers and pilgrims on earth, a period when those promises would not materialize!Paul had this same type of persuasion, expressing his hope regarding the 7th Day−1 Thess. 4:15-17; 2 Tim. 1:12.

The Just Shall Live by Faith-Part-19

Prior to Gen. 16, the Lord has been speaking to Abram ALONE! There is no record of Sarai’s involvement. However, is reason to believe that being childless was a concern to wife Sarai who reasoned that the Lord had prevented her from bearing children since she was barren−Gen. 16:1-2a.a. Unlike Abram who chose to talk to the Lord about his predicament, Sarai took matters in her own hands−Gen. 16:2b.i. The Lord rejected Eliezer as Abram’s heir-designate and instead promised him an heir from his own body. Abram believed in the Lord−Gen. 15:4, 6.ii. Sarai’s formula was an affront to the Lord’s Promise as it sought to engineer a solution outside of the Promise! Herein is a camouflage of Satan’s attempts to derail the fulfilment of the Lord’s Word, something established in foundation in the account of Adam and the Woman. The Lord had commanded man thus−Gen. 2:16-17; 3:1, 4.iii. Through Sarai’s formula, Abram was invited to CHOOSE between standing on the Lord’s clear and unambiguous Promise/Word, which would of necessity require patient endurance AND standing on a human/worldly solution by siring a child with Hagar, which would have been immediate!iv. Sarai’s maidservant was an Egyptian thus a type of the world−Gen. 16:1.

Although Sarah initially did not believe as seen in her laughter, she must have repented and believed in the Lord’s Promise to give her a son, considering Him reliable and true to His word−Heb. 11:11 By faith [to the saving of the soul] Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Himfaithful who had promised.

While the Lord has been speaking to Abram about his descendants, Abram remained childless because his wife, Sarai, was barren−Gen. 11:30.What do we do when REVELATION from God, through HisWord, contradicts the present REALITIES of our lives?

With Lot gone, the Lord spoke to Abram concerning twospecific things; THE LAND AND HIS DESCENDANTS-Gen. 13:14-17.Abram’s journey of faith led him to a place of strength, a place of fatness, dwelling in association with the Lord, building an altar there to Him because of his choice to fully obey the Lord instructions-Gen. 13:18.Heb.11:9 By faith [to thesaving of the soul] he [Abraham] dweltin the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God

Having changed his mind, Abram made an upward journey away from Egypt to Bethel, in the company of his wife, nephew and all that he had. He was a wealthy man in livestock, silver and gold! Lot too had his own flocks, herds and tents!Since both Abram and Lot were well supplied with great possessions, the land could NOT support both of them. As a result, they could NOT dwell together as evidenced by the prevailing strife between their herdsmen.It was at this moment that Abram made the bold, but difficult decision to ask Lot, his nephew, to separate from him−Please let there be no strife between you and me… Please separate from me…

Since Abram left Haran when he was 75 years old, we can safely conclude that he delayed his journey for 5 years until Terah died.Besides the delay arising from Terah’s presence, there was neither sustenance for Abram’s spirit man nor cleansing because he dwelt in Haran.Lot went with Abram. The Hebrew word for ‘Lot’ comes from another word which means a veil, covering.Abram was partially obedient to the Lord’s instructions and yet the Lord commends him−Heb. 11:8.

The Lord commended Abraham for his choices to live by faith, to the saving of the soul, in a twofold manner−Heb. 11:8-10.i. Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place he would receive as an inheritance.ii. Abraham dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country because his focus was on another city.

When Noah was divinely warned regarding the impendingflood, he moved with godly fear thus prepared an ark for the saving of his household-Heb. 11:7.Noah's reverential attitude led to his obedience in the action of building the ark.Jesus Christ was heard because of His godly fear-Heb. 5:7-8.We are to serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear-Heb. 12:25-29.Godly fear is the disposition of the heart of an individual who after hearing God speaking to him/her, through the Scriptures, makes a conscious decision to faithfully obey Him!The days of Noah provide a prophetic word picture of the return of Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, with the nation of Israel in view.Noah and his family going through the flood while the rest of mankind were destroyed foreshadows the nation of Israel going through the Tribulation where many Israeli will die but the nation will NOT be destroyed−Isa. 43:2-5.

Heb. 11:7 By faith [to the saving of the soul] Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.i. Noah was divinely warned of things not seen i.e., the flood.ii. Noah moved with godly fear to prepare an ark for the saving of his household.iii. Noah’s obedience had a two-fold outcome: he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Enoch is the seventh man from Adam−Jude 1:14.After Enoch begot Methuselah, he walked with God threehundred years and this is a matter that is repeated in the text−Gen. 5:22, 24.a. He walked in habitual fellowship with God! He walked inreverent fear and obedience with God.b. He lived/walked in close fellowship with God.c. He walked faithfully with God.By so doing, Enoch pleased God!God taking Enoch away after the death of Abel butbefore the flood of Noah typifies the resurrection/rapture of the Church to the judgment seat of Christ, something that is sandwiched between the death/resurrection of Christ and the Tribulation!

Gal. 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.Christians are sons because of creation – 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:15. Being heirs to the promise [Gal. 3:29] resulting from spiritual maturity [Heb. 5:14] is with a view to Christians being adopted as sons i.e., God the Father sent His Son with REGALITY in sharp focus.Christians adopted as sons at the JSOC will be placed as firstborns thus enjoy rights of the firstborn like Jacob−Gen. 25:33; Deut. 21:15-17.

The account/record of Cain and Abel typifies the nation of Israel and Christ respectively.

The writer of Hebrews was led/moved by the Holy Spirit to provide a record of Old Testament saints who acted by faith-Heb. 11:2.Heb. 11:4 By faith [to the saving of the soul] Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.How did Cain and Abel arrive at the decision to bring offerings to the Lord?The most common teaching promulgated in Christendom toexplain the Lord’s antithetical responses to Abel and Cain and their offerings is that while the former brought a blood offering the latter brought a plant (non-blood) offering! Is this persuasion correct?

Heb. 11:3 By faith [to the saving of the soul] we understand that the worlds [lit. ages] were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.The ages were equipped and fitted by the Word of Godto accomplish His Own divine purpose.The first part of Heb. 11:3b, describes ‘that which we see,’‘what is seen,’ ‘what we now see’ and/or ‘the things which are seen.’ These are different ways of describing what can be seen in the natural through our naked eye i.e., the ruin arising from the fall of Man! This realm is associated with sight.The second part of Heb. 11:3b, gives an explanation regarding the first part i.e., that which is visible in the realm of sight, ‘did not come into being out of that which is visible,’ ‘hath not been made out of things which appear,’ ‘did not come from anything that can be seen,’ and/or ‘were not made of things which are visible.’This latter part describes what is visible in the realm of FAITH ONLY; this is the realm of the spiritual NOT natural.The present-existing RUIN, which God MUST have knownright from the beginning when He arranged the ages around the pre-planned activity of the Son within the framework of these ages, is NOT part of God’s orderly structure. This RUIN has to do with the disorder which entered on account of the fall of Man!

a. Angels are sons of God−Job 38: 7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?b. Adam was the son of God−Lk. 3:38 …Adam, the son of God.c. The nation of Israel is the son of God, His firstborn−Ex. 4:22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “ Israel is My son, My firstborn. 23 So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.” ’ ”d. In this lesson, we study Jesus Christ, the Son of God−Heb. 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

The Scriptures are replete with the phrase ‘the heavensand the earth.’The heavens refer to the realm from where rulership emanates while the earth is one of the provinces in God’s universe−Dan. 4:26.If God created Man to rule, which He did, and a saved individual has his/her spirit saved, which it has, THEN what should such a saved individual be instructed in for the entire of his/her life here on earth?

God created Man a perfect tripartite being and therefore, this DEATH affected all the three parts.Man’s spirit died! The spirit lost communion with God.Man’s soul died! The soul became corrupted thus knew evil experientially.Man’s body died! The body lost the covering of glory hence became totally naked and became susceptible to physical decay.In this ruined state, Man was separated from the purpose of his creation i.e., rulership.God began a restorative work for Man which would place him in a perfect state so that he may rule.

God had PURPOSE when He formed the earth and therefore, Satan’s rebellion and the resulting ruin of the earth DID NOT thwart His plans and purposes−Isa. 14:24, 27.God initiated the work of restoring the earth which had since become ruined but before that, the Lamb, Jesus Christ, had FIRST to be slain−Rev. 13:8.On Days 1-4, God did a RESTORATIVE work with respect to the earth−Gen. 1:2b-19.On Days Five and Six, God performed a CREATIVE work i.e., He spoke and created/made−Gen. 1:20-31.The first 34 verses of the Bible reveal God’s perfect pattern [Creation, Ruin, Restoration, Rest] and God’s perfect established SEPTENARY arrangement of the Scriptures seen in Days One to Seven.

God performed a creative work in Jacob-Isa. 43:1 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.Therefore, the nation of Israel is a son of God-Ex. 4:22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Israel is My son, My firstborn. 23 So I say to you, let My son go that he may serve Me. But if you refuse to let him go, indeed I will kill your son, your firstborn.” ’ ”Hos. 11:1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.God has chosen the nation of Israel to be the head over the nations-Ex. 19:5-6.

Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?God rules over the universe through angelic beings in a delegated capacity!When He created the earth, God created and anointed a ruler over it i.e, Lucifer.Since NO human being was present at the time the heavens and the earth were created, then sons of God are angels.God created Man to replace Satan as ruler over the earth. This explains why Adam was the son of God-Lk. 3:38 …Adam, the son of God.

It is NOT automatic for faith to come merely because one is hearing the Word of God.For faith to come, a Christian MUST hear CORRECTLY hence the admonition to take heed HOW we hear−Lk. 8:18.A Christian can ONLY hear CORRECTLY when the Word of God is rightly divided−2 Tim. 2:15.To rightly divide the Word of God is to studying God’s Word the way God gave it by beginning at Moses and comparing Scripture with Scripture, focusing on Jesus Christ, all the while relying on the Holy Spirit.

FAITH is believing that which God has SAID about amatter in His Word!Rom. 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.Does faith AUTOMATICALLY come merely because one is hearing the Word of God?”When an individual adds to or removes from God’s Word,it NO LONGER becomes feasible for him/her to exercise biblical faith!When an individual develops a negative attitude towards God’s perfect provision of His Word by consuming it in a different format from what He instructed, it is NOT feasible for him/her to exercise biblical faith!When an individual quotes/interprets God’s Wordoutside of its context, it NO LONGER becomes feasible for him/her to exercise biblical faith!

Heb. 11:1 Now faith (to the saving of the soul) is the substance ofthings hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.The Holy Spirit picked certain individuals who, by having faith to the saving of the soul, pleased God and as a result, they obtained a good testimony.Contextually, God Himself testified, bore record and/or had a good (honest) report of the individuals mentioned in Heb. 11.Heb. 11 begins and ends with the same statement regarding the individuals in view having obtained a good testimony on account of their faith, to the saving of the soul–Heb. 11:2 For by it (faith to the saving of the soul) the elders obtained a good testimony…39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith (to the saving of the soul), did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

Heb. 11:6 But without faith (to the saving of the soul) it is impossible to please Him...According to this verse, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God without faith, to the saving of the soul.On the flipside, it is very much possible to please Him ONLY by faith, to the saving of the soul.A Christian who chooses to live according to the fleshhabitually by setting his/her mind on the things of the flesh resulting in death CANNOT please God-Rom. 8:5-8.In God’s economy, unbelief is evil. ‘Unbelief’ literally means ‘not believing’ and thus describes a lack of faith.Failing to believe or lacking faith is evil in God’s eyes and it is no wonder that such a CHOICE does NOT please Him.

Heb. 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”It is inferred that if the just live by faith, to the saving of thesoul, the Lord’s soul has pleasure in such a one.Isa. 46:9 Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’Lk. 12:32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is yourFather’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.Heb. 11:6 But without faith (to the saving of the soul) it is impossible to please Him…

Heb. 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.What is Faith? For many a Christian today, Heb. 11:1 defines faith, but does it?The definition of ‘faith’ is found in the word itself i.e., simply put, faith means belief. However, within the confines of the Scriptures, BIBLICAL FAITH is believing that which God has SAID about a matter. What God has said about a matter is recorded in His Word, ruling out the possibility for anyone to have faith or believe minus the Word of God–Rom. 10:17.

Paul preached the gospel/good news of the Christ to the Churches of Galatia much in every same way as he did with the Churches of the Thessalonians and the one at Corinth–Gal. 1:11.Nevertheless, a false doctrine soon found its way among them–Gal. 1:6-9.This doctrine emphasized the persuasion that justification is by works of the law–Gal. 2:14-16.However, Paul instructs the Churches of Galatia that justification is ONLY by faith–Gal. 3:11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”

Rom. 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed fromfaith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”The phrase ‘from faith to faith’ stresses the necessity for therecipients of this epistle (us today) to continue believing the gospel of the Christ AND highlights the maturing process of a saved individual with respect to the salvation of his/her soul.Paul stresses the importance and necessity to believethe gospel of the Christ and continue in it–Col. 1:21-23; 2:6-7.Peter writes to newborn babes (those who recentlyunderstood the Word of the Kingdom) inviting them to intensely yearn for the unadulterated spiritual milk which will enable them to make progress in [their] salvation (of the soul)–1 Pet. 2:1-3.

Paul wrote the letter called ‘Romans’ while residing in Corinth at the end of his third missionary journey. He addressed it to the church in Rome-Rom. 1:1, 7.Paul expressed his readiness/willingness to preach the gospel−Rom. 1:15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready topreach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.Paul was ready and willing to preach the gospel of the Christ which he was not ashamed of, because it is the power of God to everyone who believes-Rom. 1:16.It is ONLY the gospel of the Christ which has the POWER of God to transform every willing Christian who makes the CHOICE to believe it! The righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel of the Christ from faith to faith-Rom. 1:17.

The writer of Hebrews contrasts TWO CHOICES availableto his recipients, partakers of the heavenly calling [Heb. 3:1] i.e., the CHOISE to either live by faith or to draw back−Heb. 10:38.Biblical faith, which is in view in God’s Word, meansbelieving what God has said in His Word.A CHOICE to draw back is a CHOICE to live apart from believing what God has said in His Word and this brings NO pleasure to the Lord!A CHOICE to live by faith is a CHOICE to believe what God has said in His Word and this brings pleasure to the Lord!The TWO CHOICES available to the just/righteous willresult in TWO OUTCOMES−Heb. 10:39.The just who choose to live by faith will receive thesalvation of their soul while the just who choose to draw back do so to perdition!

b. Immediately after the fourth warning, the writer of Hebrews invites the recipients of his letter to ‘recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated’ pointing to a time immediately following their coming into a mature understanding of the gospel of the glory of Christ−Heb. 10:32-34.Prior to his death, Moses spoke to the second generation of the Israelites who would soon enter the Promised Land and among many things, he invited them to remember the days of old-Deut. 32:7-9.Prior to the nation of Israel being taken captive by the Assyrians, the Lord sent His servant Isaiah inviting the nation to remember the former things of old-Isa. 46:8-10.Why did the writer of Hebrews admonish the beneficiaries of his letter to recall the former days; not to cast away their confidence and to have need for patient endurance?It is because of the imminent return of Jesus Christ-Heb. 10:37 For yet a little, a very little while, and He who comes will come and will not delay. (Wuest)

The letter of Hebrews is written to believers whounderstood their heavenly calling i.e., the purpose for their redemption, matters to do with the coming kingdom, the 7th Day, the Word of the Kingdom−Heb. 3:1, 12: 10:19; 13:22.This epistle is about a salvation to be inherited in the age to come for which Christ is bringing many sons to glory−Heb. 1:14; 2;5, 10. Sonship and glory portend RULERSHIP.The letter provides five warnings which we MUST constantly remind ourselves IF our desire is to inherit salvation in the age to come, being part of the many sons that Christ is bringing to glory.Carrying on the thought from the fourth warning, the writer of Hebrews admonishes the recipients of his letter to ‘recall the former days’ which refers to the time ‘after you were illuminated.’ This is a time immediately following their coming into a mature understanding of the gospel of the glory of Christ-Heb. 10:32-34.

Faithfulness is NOT automatic in the life of a believer! This is part of the outworking of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer who chooses to cooperate with the Lord thereby be transformed by the renewing of the mind−Rom. 12:1-2.Automatically, a believer who expresses a desire to be faithful with the end in mind finds himself in warfare against the enemies of the faith who will work either independently or together to ensure that the believer does not realize this goal−Gal. 5:16-17.Thankfully, if the believer chooses to engage in warfare according to the instructions that the Lord has provided in His Word, he/she will be victorious, bringing forth fruit−Gal. 5:22-25.The emphasis in the four parables we have looked at is the CLARION CALL to FAITHFULNESS−Matt. 24:40-25:30; Lk. 19:12-26.Prov. 20:6 Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?Ps. 12:1 Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.

Jesus Christ Himself said He will build His Church−Matt. 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church… These words that Jesus spoke constitute the Word of God!The Lord is actively watching over His Word to fulfill it i.e., to perform it, to do it−Jer. 1:12 Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am [actively] watching over My word to fulfill it.” (AMP)As far as the building of His Church is concerned, Jesus Christ is actively watching over His Word to fulfill it!i. Abraham sent his oldest servant to go to his family to take a wife for his son and this is a picture of God the Father sending the Holy Spirit to search for and procure a bride for Jesus from among believers. This is synonymous with the building of the Church seen in the foundational type in Gen. 2:21-23.ii. The wife whom the servant would take for Isaac pictures believers who will form the Church that Christ is presently building, who will be His Bride!With respect to the building of His Church, Christ declared that the gates of Hades shall NOT prevail against it−Matt. 16:18 ...and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.Christ used the phrase to mean that although He had to die, death COULD NOT prevent Him from building His Church!

The wedding guest who showed up without a garment was bound hand and foot, taken away and cast into the darkness, the outer.He represents believers who will be adjudged unfaithful and thereby excluded from Christ’s coming rule because they did NOT cooperate with the Lord and therefore, NOT part of the Church He was/is building.Matt. 22:14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”This verse highlights the truth that while MANY believers are CALLED, through the proclamation of the Word of the Kingdom, FEW will be CALLED OUT from them−Matt. 7:13-14.Believers who avail themselves of the BLOOD and WATER constitute the Church that Christ is presently BUILDING and they will be presented back to Himself−Eph. 5:27-32.

The Scriptures affirm that God is faithful - Deut. 7:9 “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God...A choice to be FAITHFUL, is a choice to imitate God! Eph. 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.i. In the type, Moses was faithful in God’s house (Israel) as a servant.ii. In the antitype, Christ is faithful as a Son over His Father’s house.The Scriptures are replete with descriptions of Jesus Christ as faithful.Jesus ascended to heaven, a far country to receive for Himself a kingdom and to return−Matt. 25:14; Lk. 19:12. He is inviting us to imitate Him by being FAITHFUL−1 Cor. 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.Our FAITHFULNESS must be our LIFESTYLE! There is NO ROOM to take breaks−Rev. 2:10.Should anyone of us choose to be unfaithful, the Lord will remain faithful for that is Who He is−2 Tim. 2:11 -13.IF we are FAITHFUL in the present as servants (like Moses), then the day will come when we will experientially become sons (like Christ)−Heb. 2:10.

The chastisement of the two servants who didnothing with their talent/mina was twofold; firstly, they forfeited the positions of authority/rulership that could have been theirs and these were given to the faithful servants and secondly, they were cast into the darkness, the outer.After the destruction of the cities, Abraham representing a faithful Christian, is seen on the mountain from where he looked toward the destroyed cities and all the land of the plain.After the destruction of the cities, ii. Lot and his daughters, representing unfaithful Christians are seen dwelling in a cave in the mountains.No sooner had Isaac finished blessing Jacob than Esau came in from his hunting and having made savory food, he presented it to his father with a view to being blessed by him.However, Isaac told him that he had eaten hunted game and subsequently blessed Jacob.In that very instant, Esau KNEW without a shadow of doubt, that which could have been his but was once and for all taken away from him! This realization left him with no recourse but to let out an exceedingly great and bitter cry−Gen. 27:34.After realizing that he had lost the birthright and that it was irretrievable, he was completely beside himself and he became unglued, so to speak, longing to be blessed by his father.

There are ONLY two outcomes that await a Christian at the judgment seat of Christ; either receiving a reward or suffering loss! The former is associated with faithfulness arising from trading/doing business with one’s talents/minas while the latter is associated with unfaithfulness arising from doing nothing with one’s talents/minas!Contextually, suffering loss is in relation to one’s soul i.e., unprofitable servants will suffer the loss of their souls−Matt. 16:24-26.Being cast into the darkness, the outer is therefore synonymous with suffering the loss of one’s soul.Since a parable is one truth cast alongside another to explain previous truth, let us examine the previous three parables to understand how suffering the loss of one’s soul is presented-Matt. 24:40-25:13.In the first parable, the unfaithful servant was left i.e., not received as a close associate by the master. In the second parable, the evil servant was appointed his portion with the hypocrites where there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. In the third parable, the five foolish virgins were denied entry into the wedding festivities, the door being shut on them.Perhaps Peter’s account presents a poignant picture of what being cast into the darkness, the outer entails.

Our being found FAITHFUL at the time of settling accounts starts with being instructed in the Word of the Kingdom−Matt. 13:10-13.Having been instructed in the Word of the Kingdom, our being found FAITHFUL depends on our choice to do business with our talents/minas, the Word of the Kingdom. If we do, we will realize profit i.e., bearing fruit−Matt. 13:23; Mk. 4:24-25; Lk. 8:18.The unfaithful servants were rebuked by their master who described them as wicked and lazy. They also forfeited their positions of authority/rulership. Last of all, they were to be cast into the outer darkness!The grammatical construction of the phrase ‘outer darkness’ is one that places emphasis on the ‘darkness’ and not ‘outer.’ As such, this phrase is literally translated, ‘the darkness, the outer’ and this is how it should be understood whenever it is used in the Scriptures.The darkness, the outer is a realm immediately outside of another realm! Those cast out are removed from a sphere associated with light and placed outside in a sphere associated with darkness. While faithful believers who receive positions of authority/rulership will be in the Lord’s Presence, associated with light, the unprofitable servants will be cast out from the light into the darkness−Rev. 22:14-15.The darkness, the outer does not refer to a literal place. Rather, this phrase is a metaphor and/or figure of speech used to describe the dreadful outcome that awaits the unfaithful Christian AND to demonstrate the severity with which the Lord will regard those who have rejected that which He has offered to them, by doing NOTHING with the talents/minas delivered to them!The darkness, the outer is associated with ‘the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth’ which is a phrase used to express the excruciating pain, the extreme anguish and utter despair of those believers who will be excluded from the millennial rule of Christ!

Part of the chastisement of the wicked and lazy servants is that their talent and mina were taken from them-Matt. 25:28; Lk. 19:24.Since the faithful servants were rewarded by being made rulers over many things i.e., having authority over a given number of cities, then it goes without saying that the unfaithful servants were reprimanded by not being made rulers, thus denied positions of authority! In other words, the unfaithful servants forfeited positions of authority/rulership which could have been theirs!It is these forfeited positions of authority/rulership that were taken from the unfaithful servants to be given to the faithful servants.Satan forfeited his position as ruler over the earth and it would be given to Man.King Saul forfeited his position as king over Israel and it was subsequently taken from him to be given to David.Queen Vashti forfeited her position as queen and it was subsequently taken from her to be given to Esther.Rev. 3:11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

The faithful servants arrived at the goal, namely, the out-resurrection from the dead, were brought to a good goal and obtained a BETTER resurrection!The master described the two servants who did nothing with their talent/mina as wicked and lazy−Matt. 25:26; Lk. 19:22.The master also expressed his expectation which was unmet by the servants−Matt. 25:27; Lk. 19:23.The two servants represent believers instructed in the Word of the Kingdom who make choices that aligned them with the wicked one and not the Lord!

Being COMMENDED by their master, the faithful servants in the two parables received the prize and the crown, the inheritance−Matt. 25:21, 23; Lk. 19:17, 19.Christ gives SEVEN promises that constitute the COMPLETE COMMENDATION for believers found faithful at the JSOC-Rev. 2-3! If we take this to the two parables under study, we might as well draw the conclusion that this is exactly what each of the faithful servants received from their master!