I suppose that I have been a runner my whole life.  Long before it was popular to go jogging, I used to run long distances as a young boy. I read a lot as a child, my parents choosing not to have a TV in the house, and I was inspired by some of the stories I read of biographical characters of earlier times.  And I suppose from those stories I was inspired to run.   It’s kind of embarrassing to talk about it now, but I had a great interest in American Indian culture as a young boy, and

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  As we are coming to the end of our study of Hebrews 11, known as the Hall of Faith, you will recall that it was introduced in chapter 10 by the words, “My righteous one shall live by faith.”  We have talked extensively about that statement, examining various aspects of what it means to live by faith. And the heroes of the faith who are listed here are examples of righteous men and women who lived by faith. But such a study begs the question, what is the life of faith?  What is this life which Christ has purchased

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  Today we continue to look at the hall of faith as recorded in the book of Hebrews, chapter 11.   And we have spent several weeks looking at various Old Testament characters who exhibited faith, the kind of faith which Hebrews says in chapter 10 results in righteousness,  which in turn results in life.   Last time we looked specifically at how faith  perseveres unto death, and even beyond death, to lay hold of the promises of God.  The title of that message was Facing death through faith.  I would encourage you to go to our website and read

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In our study of Hebrews we have come to the great faith chapter, chapter 11, and the author is giving a roll call of the heroes of faith.  He introduced this doctrine of faith in chapter 10 vs 38, saying that “my righteous one shall live by faith.”  And we have said that the emphasis given in that verse is on “shall live.”  So he says that righteousness is granted on the basis of faith. Then, you will remember he described faith in chapter 11 vs 1, saying, “Now faith is the assurance of [things] hoped for, the conviction of

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As we finished up the last chapter, you will remember that I said that the writer was making an introduction into the life of faith.  He has spent 10 chapters telling us who Jesus Christ is, and what He came to do, and what He is now doing, and what He will do in the future. And if we are going to be able to draw near to God, it must be through Jesus Christ, and by Jesus Christ. And that is our goal, to draw near to God, to be reconciled to God, to have life through God. But

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  Hebrews, as many of you have probably realized by this point, has some pretty difficult passages.  And we are looking today at what should be the last of such passages that present for many people theological difficulties, or perhaps what they even might consider theological inconsistencies.  And I say inconsistencies, because on the surface it would seem that certain verses in this book are at odds with the teaching of the New Testament as a whole.   But I hope to dispel any such concerns here today by treating this passage in a way that is first of all

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In our study in the book of Hebrews, we have learned much doctrine regarding who Christ is, and what He has accomplished on our behalf.  Now there is a switch of emphasis in the book, and from this point on the emphasis is not primarily doctrine, but application.  And so in this passage we are considering certain duties and responsibilities we have as Christians.  It’s not enough to believe in facts about Christ, but we are exhorted to act in response to them.  Faith requires both the acceptance of facts, and the application of faith.   In the next chapter,

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So far in Hebrews we have been learning the doctrines of our salvation through Jesus Christ. And to that end, we have seen that Jesus is superior to the prophets of old, He is superior to the old priesthood in that He is our great high priest of a different order, an eternal order since He forever lives to make intercession for us. And as our great high priest He ministers in a better sanctuary in heaven, a spiritual sanctuary of which the temple on earth was only a copy. And as our high priest He mediates a new covenant,

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Hebrews, as I have said repeatedly, is actually one long sermon.  I’m not sure if it was originally delivered in one sitting or not. I have a feeling the early church had a bigger appetite for such things than we do today.  Today we are told a sermon should be only about 20-25 minutes long.  That people cannot pay attention longer than 25 minutes.  I’m not sure, from my experience at least, that some people can even manage to pay attention that long.   But in any respects, it’s difficult, especially considering today’s culture, to divide up the book of

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