A LESSON ON FAITH: "Who came up with the idea?"

Of Abel it is said that he offered unto God “BY FAITH”. How or where did Abel get his faith?

Faith, in the bible ONLY comes in one way – that is from God speaking and man believing and doing as God spoke.

We see this stated in Romans 10:17 – “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”

This means that, in the Bible, when anyone did anything “by faith”, it meant that God FIRST spoke, and those to whom God spoke, obeyed His word.

Others mentioned in the 11th chapter of Hebrews acted “by faith” and were commended for their OBEDIENCE to what God told them to do.

Notice, how Abel’s obedience evidenced his faith in God’s word:

Heb. 11:4 - By faith Abel OFFERED unto God a more excellent SACRIFICE than Cain, BY WHICH (THE SACIRFICE) HE OBTAINED WITNESS THAT HE WAS RIGHTEOUS, God testifying of HIS GIFTS: (the sacrifice).

It was thru the sacrifice that Abel obtained witness that he was righteous.

How did Abel know to offer an animal sacrifice? Who came up with the idea, himself or God?

If faith comes by hearing God’s word, then God told Abel what to offer. Again, Romans 10:17 teaches us this.

Likewise we see this pattern in the others that are listed in Heb. 11.

For example: Enoch

Heb. 11:5 - By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him:

NOTICE: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Another example:

Noah - Heb. 11:7 – “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Who came up with the idea to build an ark…Noah or God?

ABRAHAM: Heb. 11:8-9 – “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise..."

Who thought of the idea to sojourn…Abraham or God?

Again, we see commands from God; and obedience which evidenced faith in those commands.

In Heb. 11:17, we read of Abraham, “By faith Abraham…OFFERED up Isaac…”

Who came up with the idea to offer Isaac?

It was God, who gave a command, and Abraham had to obey what was commanded; which gave evidence of his faith in the command.

On and on from Heb. 11, we see this same pattern.

Conclusion: saving faith is a faith that obeys what is commanded. The command preceeds the faith, for “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

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