1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are a chosen family, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 3:13-16
And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their fear, and do not be troubled, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and fear, 16 having a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame.
As we begin to look into the people of faith listed in Hebrews 11 we will notice something common with them all. We will notice that they all faced adversity in life that could have easily led them down a path of unbelief. But when God gives to a person faith to believe then that faith will continue even through the adversity of trials and suffering. We will notice as well that not every situation is the same so there is no cookie cutter formula for success in life. Our success is not determined upon what we have in this life but it is determined on how we live our life by faith in God. Of course none of what we face can be lived out by faith except by the power and strength of God in us. This will be seen over and over again as we look at each of these people in this chapter.
In this study we will look at 2 people, Abel and Enoch. We will see that the faith they had is what pleased God and it was not based off of the way they wanted to live their life. They both lived in a time that brought many problems that led to them being taken from this world, even though their exits were very different. As we look into this study and all that we will look at in this chapter we will visit as much of the original story from the Old Testament accounts. Let’s look now at our first point.
1.The faith of Abel.
Look with me at Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
We will look at the original account of what happened but before we do I want to mention that there is always questions surrounding why Abel’s sacrifice was acceptable and why Cain’s was not. I think what we will see in this part of the study will make that clear. Let’s look at the account as we see it in Genesis 4:3-5 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.
Clearly just as we see in our Hebrews text, we see here as well that God did not accept or have respect for Cain’s offering. People may wonder why is it that God would not accept an offering that Cain brought? Some people may say that at least he brought something, or they may say that he was doing his best. The thing is we can speculate at so many things that we don’t see in the text. Some people may say that Abel brought of the firstborn of his flock and Cain just brought what he wanted of the fruit of the ground but I don’t believe that is completely clear here. Also people may say that they were both to bring an offering of the sheep as a sin offering but we do not have a clear indication of that either, even though I think that is a valid argument. We do not have in the Scripture the exact command to what they were to bring but I do believe they had a command that we just don’t have in the Bible. I believe they had a clear command on what to bring and when to bring it because we know that God always gives to us commands and laws to live by. But again we do not know what they were told exactly concerning this offering.
So what was Cain told concerning his rejected offering? We see in Genesis 4:6-7 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
I think we see in verse 7 here what the real problem was and it is summed up in what God says when He says If you do well, will you not be accepted? The word for the phrase you do well is the Hebrew word yatab (yaw-tab’) that means pleasing. It is this pleasing that really serves as the theme for this study. It brings to us what is it that pleases God. If we jump a couple of verse in Hebrews we will see in Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
So as we put both of these accounts together we see that Cain’s offering was clearly not accepted because he did not have faith. It may be in what he brought but more importantly I believe it is in the attitude in which he brought it. Cain did not bring his offering in faith but dependent on the works of his own hands. I mean we do see that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground in which he was a worker of the ground according to Genesis 4:2. On the other hand we do know that Abel was a keeper of sheep but this offering of Abel’s was not based off of his own work by as we see in Hebrews 11:4a By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain.
So to answer the question is to say that Cain offered with a lack of faith and Abel offered by faith. It was this faith that Abel had which he was commended as righteous. It was not in the work of self righteousness and pride that made Abel righteous, it was not just the act of offering but it was faith that made Abel righteous. Abel is righteous the same way every other person becomes righteous and it is not by our own works. Listen to what Romans 4:13-16 For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.
We know that faith has been the way that any person is made righteous from all time. That faith is a result of the grace that God gives to us. Unfortunately we know that this acceptance of Abel’s gift angered Cain to the point of killing his brother. Hebrews 11:4c says And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
How does Abel still speak and what about? His testimony to us is that living by faith is to be done in spite of the opposition you may face. You may face difficulties in life, you may even face the possibility of death because of your faith but we are to remain faithful in pleasing God by living by faith. This all leads us to our next person that will not have as much content to look at in our second point.
2.The faith of Enoch.
Look with me at Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.
We do not have a lot to build up to concerning Enoch because the mention of Enoch is very little in the whole of Scripture. But Enoch always has a sense of mystery because of what we see in Scripture concerning him. Let’s look at what the Bible says in Genesis 5:21-24 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
Of course the mystery is that Enoch was just taken from the Earth one day. He did not die as we see in our Hebrews text but was taken from the Earth. Some people speculate that he was taken for a specific reason and purpose that is in connection to the 2 prophets of God mentioned in Revelation 11. Of course we have no indication in Scripture that would point us in that direction. I do not want to take to much time to speculate but just notice how he lived in the time he was alive. Our Hebrews text says in Hebrews 11:5a By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death. So for purposes that have never been revealed before God took Enoch from this Earth so that he should not see death. I think it is clear and we need to be okay with not knowing why this happened for sure.
Now we see in Hebrews 11:5b Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. Just like we made clear with Abel, we make sure for us to understand that Enoch was not just doing things that were pleasing to God from a ritualistic type of service to God but as it states at the beginning of Hebrews 11:5 By faith. This is the way Enoch lived his life, by faith in God. This faith that he had showed up in the way he lived that is why we saw in Genesis 5:22 and 24 that Enoch walked with God. This walking with God was not something that every person did in the early stages of mankind just like most do not today either. At the end of Genesis 4 we do see in Genesis 4:26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.
So we do see that people began to call upon the Lord but this would not be the flow of life for most people. In fact just 3 generations from the time that Enoch was taken we have the account of the flood. It is said of the condition of mankind in Genesis 6:5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
So we know that Enoch lived in a world of wickedness just as we do and just as every person that has ever lived. But there is something that sets Enoch apart from the rest. It isn’t his translation from this Earth, even though that is pretty amazing, but it is what we have already mention what we see in Hebrews 11:5b Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. The Greek word for pleased here is the word euarestēkenai or euaresteó (yoo-ar-es-teh’-o) that means to please by giving what is acceptable. Nothing in Enoch’s life would show that he did things to earn salvation or favor with God but only that he lived by faith. We get a little glimpse by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to what Enoch would have been up against as we look at Jude verses 14-15 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
Jude is speaking of the false prophets and false teachers that would be rampant throughout history. It was these that Enoch spoke against in his time as well. He lived in a time of rebellion and evil. Just like in our time there will be those that live a vile and wretched life and yet profess to be true followers. It is these that Enoch would have been preaching against and would most likely be threatened by with his life. We don’t know if this is why God took Enoch but what we do know is that Enoch was a man of faith that pleased God, not by his own works but as we a have already seen by faith. Remember as we have already pointed out that Hebrews 11:6 says And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
It is true faith that changes a person’s action from living for self to living for God. It is by faith that a person can live a life that is pleasing to God, it is by faith that brings a person to a place of obedience that pleases God. Only faith and nothing else can show up this way in the life of a person and as we have seen both Abel and Enoch lived by this faith.
Colossians 4:5-6
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, redeeming the time. 6 Let your words always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should answer each person.
Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to keep all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the end of the earth.”
In the last 2 studies we looked at the parable of the soils that showed to us that there are distinctions in how people respond to the Word of God and the Gospel. In this study by the providence of God, we will see that flow continue whether that comes to us in this way because of the actuality of how Jesus taught at this time or whether it is how the Holy Spirit directed Luke when he wrote this letter. Either way what we see is that Jesus moves to teach more on the point of making sure that your practice should line up with your profession. To profess Christ as Lord means nothing if it is not actually a reality in your life. To profess Christ and live a life of religion based off of your own interpretation of Scripture or in a life of justifying sinful behavior is hypocrisy. It is with this that shows the reality of who you are. This Scripture that we will study will help us in seeing how it is that we must live, it will show to us a warning about the dangers of living hypocritically and we will see instructions on how we need to be living on a daily basis. With that let’s dive into our Scripture and our first point.
1.Confessing your profession.
Look with me at Luke 8:16-18 “Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it with a container or puts it under a bed, but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. 18 So beware how you listen, for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”
Coming off of the last parable we really look at this as an addition to what Jesus had been speaking on. He made clear that the only people that are really Christians are those that are actually producing that which comes from God. The point is that many people can be religious and good moral people but only those that are actually Christians are those that are producing the fruit from God. Morality is not proof of salvation, good deeds are not a proof of salvation neither is giving money or time but only the proof that God is changing you throughout your life. You can not tell someone is genuine until you see their life over time. You may think they are genuine and may even feel like they really are but in reality only time will show that. Are they looking more like God or are they remaining connected to sin and the world? It is this that shows the reality.
Jesus brings us to the point of showing the proof of what is on the inside by not hiding what God has done. In reality no true Christian will hide what God is doing by remaining in their sin or by not living out the way that God is changing in them. We all sin but we do not want to remain in that sinful state instead we look to live differently, talk differently and think differently. I believe it is with this that we see Jesus say in verse 16 “Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it with a container or puts it under a bed, but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.
This is a very familiar statement that many people know but we need to understand what He is speaking on here. I think that what we see in Matthew 5:14-16 gives us a clearer picture of this where Jesus says “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
We must not hide what is on the inside, we must not hide what God is doing on the inside of us but rather live it out and speak to others about the light of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul proclaims this truth of what his ministry would be as Jesus outlined to him what he would do in Acts 26:18 where he says he was to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the authority of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.
The light is in opposition to the darkness of our sinful lives and nature. It is against the darkness of our culture and fleshly desires, and it is the light that shines bright in the darkness of night. The light is seen clearly in darkness and there is no mistaken when light comes along into the darkness. This shows us that how we live will and should be clearly seen. This shows us that how we speak, how we think and how we share the Gospel is not in some hidden way because no act really can share the truth of the reality of what God is doing on the inside of you.
The fact is that you may try to hide the reality of what is on the inside of you but what is on the inside will show it’s fruit eventually. Jesus continues and says in Luke 8:17 For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.
Many people may fool others with their good works, their nice personality and their financial assistance but you will never fool God. Look with me at what the last two verse of Ecclesiastes says, this is Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 The end of the matter, all that has been heard: fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the end of the matter for all mankind. 14 For God will bring every work to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.
So clear and so true! God will show you your deeds and your motives if all you have is some type of personal reform. God wants us to live lives that are in obedience to what He has commanded. It is with this that Jesus warns and instructs on what we must do in Luke 8:18 where He says So beware how you listen, for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.
Listening is definitely important in the reality of spiritual growth. If you are not listening then you definitely will not know what to do but in the same way if you are only listening to have knowledge and not allowing what you hear to change you then you will not change and only proves your hypocrisy. Notice the words that Jesus speaks here. First He says for whoever has, to him more shall be given.
This is the reality of what spiritual growth will do, this is the reality of what true Christianity will prove. The Christian will find themselves growing in knowledge, growing in maturity and growing in evangelizing. They will not sit dormant in the church, they will not live a life of sinfulness and worldliness but they will be moving away from those things. Secondly Jesus says whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.
To me this seems to fit right along with what we saw in the parable of the soils. Those that seemed to be on the right track were eventually removed out of that place because of not being connected to the vine. They have no root toward God, they have no connection and they fall away and bear no good fruit. What they seemed to have was only superficial and outwardly. What they had fell away or in what Jesus says here, was taken from them. Why did this happen to people that looked so good outwardly? The short answer is that they had no inward change, they were not actually Christians but only wanted the benefits of what following Christ really gives. They want eternal life, they want eternal blessing but they did not want to live the way God demands and commands. It is with this thought that we will look at our second point.
2.Living your profession.
Look with me at Luke 8:19-21 And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. 20 And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.” 21 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
We have looked at how our profession should affect our confessing but it never will stop there. Our profession will always show up in how we are living daily. I see this post on social media that says something like this: If you are not ashamed of Jesus then post this and share with others. It is with that post that people feel like they have fulfilled their duty to confess Christ before others but in reality that is not what Jesus says or means. Yes we need to confess to others but we must also allow our lives to be changed in such a way that proves that we are different that the world.
As we look at our text we need to understand that Jesus is not trying to disrespect His mother or His brothers even though many of them did not believe in Him at this time. His point goes beyond that to a spiritual lesson. I want to point out first that as always Jesus has a huge crowd following Him. This crowd was so big that His mother and brother’s were unable to get close to Him. In fact as we see in verse 20 says And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.”
For some of us that would be a welcoming thing to hear that your family is outside wanting to talk to you. This was not so much the case for Jesus because if we look at Mark’s account I believe we see that some of His family was those that were trying to silence Him. I do not believe that His own mother would be but we are not sure of that at this point because He was saying things and doing things that seemed contrary to what most expected when the Messiah was to come, so she easily could be convinced as well that He was crazy. Mark 3:20-21 says And He *came home, and the crowd *gathered again, so that they could not even eat a meal. 21 And when His own people heard this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, “He has lost His senses.”
It is just a little further down where we see this exchange that we are studying on in Luke. The point of it all is to show the reality of who it is that is really children of God or truly Christians. This is where we see Jesus say in Luke 8:21 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
He wasn’t renouncing His family or deciding to leave them permanently but was showing the people the reality of what being in the family of God is all about. The point of this is to show to us what following Jesus is all about. It is not about you being blessed with financial gain, having perfect health, living like the world but it is in the obedience to the Word of God. Many people think that this type of teaching is legalistic but it is far from that. Legalism says that you receive salvation because of your ability to keep the commandments. Moralism says you can earn salvation by being a good person or as long as your good outweighs your bad deeds. But true Christianity is living outwardly how God is changing you inwardly which shows the reality that you are a follower of Jesus.
James 1:22-25 says But become doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he looked at himself and has gone away, he immediately forgot what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.
You will not continue to live in a way that does not match your profession and confession if you have been truly saved. And when you do fall into those sinful behaviors, as we all do, God will convict you and do what it takes to get you back to where you need to be. Our profession must and will change our confession and our way of living. There is no way we can be indwelt by the living God and remain in the same way of living as we did before.
As we close I want to leave with this final verse from 3 John verse 11 that says Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
Listen, hear, confess and live out the Word of God. It is this that shows that your profession is a reality.
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Disciple's Direction 