Commentary on "Old Testament Faith"

PHIL HARRIS

 

Day 1: Sabbath Afternoon, October 22, 2011 - Introduction

 

Overview

In today’s commentary we will briefly examine the question suggested in the title for this week which is what was Old Testament faith? The real question to be covered this week is, where did followers of God place their faith and was it any different from present day faith that is placed in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Observations

While the memory text for today is Gal. 3:13 there is little apparent connection with this, the title for this week’s lesson and the story of the little boy’s boat that was lost and redeemed. The story does illustrate how we were originally God’s creation, then lost and finally redeemed at the cross.

So, we will turn to Hebrews chapter eleven and examine the contrast between Old Testament faith and faith in our day. All those mentioned by name in this chapter where saints who looked in faith to the coming Messiah and God’s kingdom as the true ‘Promised Land’ without having ever seen it. They died in their faith knowing that God’s promises are true. The only difference in their faith and ours is that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, has come and his work of redemption is now a finished work.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Heb 11:1-3 ESV)

If you study the whole of Hebrews chapter eleven you will soon learn that the faith all of the apostles preached was founded upon the faith of the Old Testament saints. When we study these words of Paul found in Ephesians we find out that there is only one faith which applies to all mankind:

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. (Eph 4:1-7 ESV)

In modern usage the word ‘faith’ can have at least two meanings which are suggested in the passages just quoted. First, it is ‘assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen’ as portrayed in the lives of the Old Testament saints mentioned in Hebrews chapter eleven. Faith also has to do with where we place our faith. The second passage declares that there can only be one true faith. That is, outside of faith placed in the person and work of Jesus Christ, there is no such thing as faith. All other ‘faith’ is a false faith.

In our present day, it is not about where you go to worship God or which denomination you join or even if you accept certain doctrines except for the doctrines that point you to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because we are sinners we are spiritually dead and separated from God. Notice what Jesus has to say to Nicodemus about ‘seeing the kingdom of God’:

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (John 3:1-7 ESV)

We must become spiritually alive by receiving the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to join the kingdom of God. Notice what was required of the Philippian when he asks how he can be saved:

Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:30-31 ESV)

The Philippian Jailer is told to ‘believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved’. Peter declares in Acts 2:38 that when we repent (of our sins) we will receive the ‘gift of the Holy Spirit’ which Jesus told Nicodemus is the one and only requirement for being ‘born again’ and joining the kingdom of God.

 

Summary

1. Faith is the ‘assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen’. However, for faith to be a real faith, it must be placed upon something that is real.
2. The greatest problem for all mankind is that we are all sinners and spiritually dead, separated from the love of God. Real faith is placed totally and solely upon the gospel of Jesus Christ. This gospel is that Jesus died for our sins, descended into the grave as a consequence and arose in triumphant three days later. When Jesus died on the cross, he declared “it is finished”. Jesus Christ, who has been seated at the right hand of the Father ever since, Heb. 12:1-2, gives his promise of the Holy Spirit to all that accept him as their Lord and Savior, John 16:7-14.
3. The inescapable conclusion is that faith, be it placed upon the works of self, manmade institutions of any kind or anything else of this world, no matter how ‘spiritual’ it may seem, is a false faith placed upon something false. Our faith can only be as good as what we place it upon.
4. Old Testament faith and faith in our day are really the same true faith. The only significant difference is that the work of Jesus Christ for our redemption is now complete. Many of the things that were a mystery under the Old Covenant have been made plain in the New Covenant. In the Old they looked forward to the coming Messiah. We now look back upon the finished work of Jesus upon the Cross. We all have and do look forward to when the earth is made new and death and sin are no more. Faith, as is made plain in Hebrews chapter eleven, has always been centered upon the promises of God.

 

GO TO DAY 2

 

Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised October 18, 2011. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.

The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.

 

Official Adventist Resources

Standard Edition Study Guide Week 5

Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 5

Easy Reading Edition Study Guide Wk 5

SSNET Study Guide Week 5

Search the Complete Published Ellen G. White Writings

 

Please Support This Project

ONLINE DONATIONS