Heb
11:7 (ESV) By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen,
in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he
condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by
faith.
NOTE: The more I
think about this chapter, the more I realize that the actions displaying faith
have a few common characteristics. Very few have anything to do with the 613 OT
commandments (maybe one out of the 30 odd examples). Almost all the exercises of
faith are accompanied by action--action that follows through on what God laid
on the individual's heart. So faith is responding to the voice of God in a our
life. And so also, it can be different for different people as evidenced by
chapter eleven of Hebrews. None of the ancients pleased God out of religiosity
but rather from the heart. Even if you use Abel as an example since he gave an
offering, you have to recognize that Cain did as well, but God accepted Abel's
offering and not Cain's. Some might try to argue that one was a blood offering
and the other was not. But scripture is not completely clear, nor is there any
command in scripture at that point that requires a blood offering. So one would
need to read in something to make a point that the text does not support. But
the text does support a difference in the heart or attitude, as God warns Abel
about sin crouching at the door.
So what is God
speaking to my heart? Where am I required to walk by faith? What do I need to
do?
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