Page 83 - Hebrews- Student Textbook

Study Section 13: Chapter 11 – The Response to So Great a Salvation

13.1 Connect

In the USA, there is a city called Canton, Ohio. In this city resides a special building called
the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This building houses the paraphenlia of 326 famous football
players who have been honored as the history’s best players over the years. Forty-eight
members of a committee select a few of the the very best professional football players of
all time to be inducted into the Hall of Fame each year. People come from all over the
world, pay $19 for admission, and take about three hours to walk through the building looking at all the
pictures and souviners of past football players, many who are no longer alive.

God decided to do something like that in the Bible. In Hebrews 11, God listed members of the “Hall of
Faith,” not because of their abilities or accomplishments, but they are listed because they all exercised
extraodinary faith in God during their lives. This list starts all the way back to Abel, Adam’s son and goes
all the way through history to King David. Many are mentioned by name, but some are mentioned by
how their faith was visually demonstrated. They all bore witness of God’s promises through their faith.
Let’s learn about them...

13.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to define what faith is from this chapter.

2. The student should be able to cite many Old Testament saints referenced in this chapter as
having demonstrated saving faith.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN, Read Hebrews Chapter 11 from your Bible...

13.3 Chapter 11 - The Response to So Great a Salvation

Hebrews 11 is one of the best-known chapters in the epistle to the Hebrews because of its
“Hall of Faith.” But these Old Testament and intertestamental men and women are not
included because of some quality they exhibit. On the contrary, they are there simply
because of their faith and belief. It is not only a faith that was completed in the past; it is a
faith that looks more so to the future. In fact, it is through faith and steadfastness that we
inherit the promises of God (6:12), otherwise we will never enter into His promised rest
(4:5–6).
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CONTEXTUAL GUIDE

A. Chapter 11 is a series of OT examples of those who were faithful in difficult situations (the opposite
of 2 Peter 2 and Jude). These are meant to encourage the original readers and believers of every age
to remain faithful no matter what physical circumstances may confront them (cf. 10:32-39).

57 Bruce F. F.
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