To our ancient, wavering, Jewish, Christian, brothers and sisters, the Hebrew writer speaks of the absolute necessity of having faith in God, if one is interested in pleasing God. Faith is taking God at His word and charting life’s course accordingly. Twenty-four times in Hebrews 11, the phrase “by faith” is used. In that chapter the writer briefly scopes the history of the world down to his day, along the way pointing out the importance of Bible-based faith in the hearts of people. The ancient people who were commended by God were commended not on the basis of their performance record, or their pedigree, or their positive mental attitude, or any such thing. They were commended by God for their faith (11:2)!
Read again the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. Remarkable things were endured, wonderful victories were gained, unbelievable suffering was faced and violent deaths were experienced. The people who are singled out in the chapter were by no means sinless. They were all sinners, as are we. Some of them sinned in terrible ways that became public and caused great harm, as, maybe, some of us have. And yet here they are written into the Bible record of the faithful.
How is that possible?...