The Hall of Faith in the Light of the Beatitudes – Hebrews 11 & Matthew 5:3-12

11/21/21 Hebrews Chapter 11, the “Hall of Faith” Prior context: ● About Jesus Christ as the focal point of the New Covenant, and of our faith ● Chapter 10: Brad Mann covered the perfect sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice. ● Hebrews draws us toward Christ The Hall of Faith ○ in the Light of the Beatitudes Michael McNally South Bay Christian Church Nov 20, 2021 1 Has three strident warning passages -- don’t drift away! Following context: ● Chapter 11, the Hall of Faith, is leading up to the climax of Chapter 12 ○ But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come …. to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 2 Hebrews 11: the Hall of faith 3 Abel Moses Enoch Rahab Noah Gideon Abraham Barak Sarah Samson Isaac Jepthah Jacob David Joseph Samuel 4 The beatitudes are not commandments... … but announcements of good news for people in various situations In those situations -- God pours out grace Beatitudes are genuine good news! Reading Psalm 88 motivated this message. Re: “poor in spirit” and “mourning”. 1/3 of the psalms are lamentations. 5 6 1 11/21/21 The Beatitudes as moments in our relationship with God Incarnational Trinitarian Theology Verses 3-5 Coming into relationship poor in spirit mourning meek Verses 6-9 Being transformed by relationship hunger and thirst for righteousness Verses 10-12 merciful Suffering with Christ : Relationally one pure in heart persecuted because of righteousness peacemakers insulted, slandered, evil-spoken of God is Love God is inherently relational Relationships are eternally a part of who God is He is a god of covenant relationships Being incarnational God brings his eternal love-relationships into our lives Christ lives in us, in the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we come to know the Father God includes us into his family The beatitudes promising many blessings … they are actually only one blessing: knowing God. 7 Verses 13-14 Remaining true, not drifting or backsliding Remaining salt and light 8 Two things about the heroes of the Hall of Faith Abel Moses Enoch Rahab Noah Gideon Abraham Barak Sarah Samson Isaac Jepthah Jacob David Joseph Samuel Two things about the heroes of the Hall of Faith 1) They were some seriously flawed human beings. (Like us.) 2) But in the same situations that match each of the beatitudes -they showed FAITH. FAITH is our part of connecting with God. 9 10 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” 11 Abel Moses Enoch Rahab Noah Gideon Abraham “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Rahab - a prostitute, a shameful profession. Abel Moses Humbled herself, in fear. Submitted. Obeyed. Enoch Rahab Heb 11:31, Joshua 2. Noah Gideon Barak Abraham Barak Sarah Samson Sarah Samson Isaac Jepthah Isaac Jepthah Jacob David Jacob David Joseph Samuel Joseph Samuel Barren. Suffered family conflicts. Doubted and laughed at God. Stirred up family conflict. Persecuted in-laws. Prolonged decades of mourning, of hope deferred, still kept faith. Obedient, called Abraham “Lord.” 12 2 11/21/21 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Abel Moses Enoch Rahab Noah Gideon Abraham Barak Sarah Fearful. Told lies. Played favorites between his sons. Abel Moses Enoch Rahab Noah Gideon Abraham Barak Samson Sarah Samson Isaac Jepthah Isaac Jepthah Jacob David Jacob David Joseph Samuel Joseph Samuel Was meek. Obeyed his father -- even when we was to be offered as a sacrifice! Faithful to God. Faithful to one wife Rebekah. 13 Noah ● Alienated from his people, probably considered a fanatic or a conspiracy theorist. ● Blameless in his generation, a preacher of righteousness, condemned his generation Jacob ● “Supplanter,” competitive, deceptive (stole birthright) ● But he was passionate seeking God’s blessing, wrested with the angel of God. Was granted the messianic vision of Jacob’s ladder. 14 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Abel Moses Enoch Rahab Noah Gideon Abraham Sarah “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Could be arrogant, a know-it-all. Abel Moses Enoch Rahab Noah Gideon Barak Abraham Barak Samson Sarah Samson Isaac Jepthah Isaac Jepthah Jacob David Jacob David Joseph Samuel Joseph Samuel But time and again he showed mercy: to captives in prison, to the nation of Egypt (saving from drought), to the brothers who betrayed and rejected him. 15 Died young (compared to his contemporaries); misunderstood by the world. Walked with God - a unique and unprecedented intimacy Was “translated” and did not see death. Revealed in Jude 1:14 as a prophet proclaiming God’s judgment on a sinful world. 16 “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness.” Abel 17 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Moses Enoch Rahab Noah Gideon Abraham Barak Sarah Samson Isaac Jepthah Jacob David Joseph Samuel What of the “Father of the Faithful?” Abel: ● Envied and murdered by his brother Cain ● Because he gave to God generously. Moses ● Forsook luxury, chose persecution, to stand with the defenseless. A stammerer, inarticulate, struggled with inadequacy, struggled with impatience ● Became by grace a superstar of faith (Lived many beatitudes.) Abel Moses Enoch Rahab Noah Gideon Abraham Barak Sarah Samson Isaac Jepthah Jacob David Joseph Samuel Abraham: ● Was fearful, lied about his wife, brought down curses on his neighbors due to his misconduct, had a household of jealousy and discord, at times doubted God. ● But … was a peacemaker with his brother Lot (and on several other occasions), was meek and gave way to bless others. Ultimately believed and obeyed God at the most critical moments. 18 3 11/21/21 The last five: Hebrews 11: the Hall of faith Abel Moses Enoch Rahab Noah Gideon Abraham Barak Sarah Samson Isaac Jepthah Jacob David Joseph Samuel ● Gideon -- doubtful, demanded many miracles before he believe God. ● Barak -- fearful, rejected his role as general, demanding that a woman (Deborah) lead him into battle ● Samson -- violent, terrible judgment in his relationships ● Jepthah -- swore a reckless vow leading to the needless death of his daughter ● David -- conspired in seduction and murder. ● Samuel -- annointed one lousy king 19 All flawed humans - like us. But at critical moments, they lived the Beatitudes. God is the true hero of the hall of faith. 20 Summation of the Heroes of Faith Whichever moment you are in: turn to God in faith as the members of the Hall of Faith did. Verses 3-5 Coming into relationship poor in spirit mourning meek Verses 6-9 Being transformed by relationship hunger and thirst for righteousness Verses 10-12 merciful Suffering with Christ : Relationally one pure in heart persecuted because of righteousness peacemakers insulted, slandered, evil-spoken of Hebrews 10:14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Hebrews 11:39-40 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Hebrews 12:22-23 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect Verses 13-14 Remaining true, not drifting or backsliding Remaining salt and light 21 22 4