We will be looking at Hebrews chapter 11. It is a great chapter on faith. It looks as if it is hanging by itself in a very distinctive way in the whole book of Hebrews. It is as if the writer to Hebrews is making a very significant doctrinal statement about faith in the whole chapter of Hebrews 11. It is in fact a great doctrinal statement on faith but then it comes more as an illustrative statement. In fact it is a list of models for us to follow certain consensus in life. It is a model in perseverance. Hebrews 11 is a link between Hebrews 10 and Hebrews 12. In most of chapter 10 of Hebrews there is a call for perseverance. For example from Hebrews 10:19- the end of the chapter the writer talks about several kinds of perseverance to which God is calling us. For example chapter 10:19-23, talks about perseverance in hope. Look at verse 23 "let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promises is faithful." Then verse 24 talks about perseverance in love and good works. Then verse 25 talks about perseverance in fellowship with one another. Then in verse 26-31 he talks about perseverance in holy living. It says that if we keep on deliberately sinning then we have to face a severe judgment from the hands of God. Then in verse 32-34, he talks about perseverance in persecution. He also talks about how the early church Christians when they were in midst of persecution they endured it with a spirit of perseverance. Then from verses 35-39, he talks about our perseverance in the commitment to God. Then he says that, that kind of perseverance will bring us a reward at the end. Look at the several expression of the perseverance. For example verse 35 says "do not throw away, preserve." If you preserve you will be richly rewarded. Then verse 38,"do not shrink back" God says, "I will not be pleased with such a person." Then verse 39 says, "We are not those who shrink back and are destroyed." So the main concern about chapter 10 is a call to persevere. Then in chapter 11 he gives many illustrations of how the saints of God in ages past persevered in their commitment to God. Beginning with Abel, way at the beginning he goes through the whole scripture to talk about the many men and women of perseverance by faith. And having given the illustrations he comes back to the original call in Hebrews 12. Hebrews 12 begins like this "Therefore since we are surrounded by a such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw of everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked for us." What he is saying is, as we face difficulty in coping up with the demands of God in our life, remember we are not alone. He us saying look at the example in chapter 11, beginning from Abel to the last person in the scripture, all these people have gone ahead with the sins of perseverance, so that it gives us a lot of encouragement, we are not alone. And then he says in Hebrews 12:2, "Lets us fix our eyes on the great perseverer ever lived on earth, Jesus Christ our Lord." Therefore I like to share with you this week several models in perseverance by faith in the scripture, so the title for the bible study the whole week would be "Called to persevere by faith".

We can apply this faith in everyday life situation. We can apply this faith in every relationship, in doing so, some saints have paid the price, but eventually they came out victorious. Keeping this in mind let us look at Hebrews 11:1-4. Let me ask you a question? What is faith to you? Let me explain it in a round about way. It has been simply said that faith is being saved of what we hope for and being certain of what we do not see. But verse 3 makes it clearer than verses 1 & 2. In verse 3 we see that by faith we "understand". In other words faith is a means of understanding, a means of knowledge. "Knowledge" and "Understanding" is basic to human existence and human relationship.

Every system of philosophy in the world and every religion is basically dealing about four question of enquiry. Any religion or system of philosophy, is asking four questions pertaining to what is truth? First question is "What is truth?" Our motto for India is "Truth Triumphs" but what is truth? Second question is "How do you know the truth?" Third question is "Who is the one to know the truth?" answer is "man" of course. Fourth question is "What is the value of the truth that you know?"

So, here is truth, and the truth has been known, and the truth has been known by somebody and that somebody is telling us that "I have found the truth." and my response to that person is "So what?" "What is the value of the truth you found out?" Before we determine the value of truth, I want to make sure whether the truth has been known fully well. So how do you know the truth? Traditionally there are three or four ways of knowing the truth as people believe. I am going to use some technical words.

First of all there is "Cognitive Knowledge". This means knowing something by our senses. By see it, by having it, by touching it, by smelling it. Some people are made that way. In other words they are looking for evidences that is visible to their eyes, ears, senses. A typical example of that is St. Thomas. Thomas was a cognitive person. That is how some scientists are. Going along with it is some experimental knowledge. In other words I have to experience some thing in order for it to be real. Unless it happens to me I am not going to believe it happened to you.

The second knowledge is "Intuitive Knowledge". Intuitive Knowledge means, "I do not experience anything, but from within me is the unshakable assurance that this is true." Women are gifted with intuitive knowledge. This is the reason why God in His wisdom he has given women as helpmate to the men, to help them. Men are weak in this area of intuition. By nature men are more cognitive. But women are more intuitive.

The third knowledge is "Inferential Knowledge". The villagers use this type of knowledge commonly. The logic that says where there is smoke there is fire. The inference you draw from seeing a smoke far away, is that there must be a fire. We do not see the fire but we know there is fire! It is just a simple conclusion, where there smoke there is fire, because smoke cannot come without fire.

The fourth knowledge is "Revelational Knowledge". There are things we cannot find out from cognitive knowledge, there is no intuitive knowledge, and logically the conclusion might not be correct, but God reveals it to us. What God gives the revelation we receive by faith. For example by revelation Peter knew that on the Mount of Transfiguration it was Elijah and Moses, who were with Jesus, though Peter has not seen any photograph of them as there was no photograph in those days. By faith Peter declared, this is Moses, this is Elijah. In Mathew 16, Peter confesses Jesus as Christ and the Son of God, through revelation. It is by revelation that God gives us an understanding knowledge, which we receive by faith. Having said all these things, how do we define faith now? "Faith" is "that something within us" that enables us to believe in God's revelation "That something within us enables us to believe". That is what Hebrew 11:3 is talking about. "By faith we understand". We do not understand God by cognitive knowledge or intuitive knowledge or inferential knowledge. We understand God by revelational knowledge, received by faith. It is by faith we understand creation and that God is a creator. Atheist vehemently argues about God is the creator but Christian scientists don't have a problem with that. Some scientists believe that some thing or force created the universe by using inferential knowledge. But faith believes in a person and not in a thing. Therefore Hebrews 11:3 says by faith we understand. We say by faith that the universe was created by Gods command. This statement is in response to a revelation that comes from God. Now what are the implications of faith? Firstly, our subscription to God's sovereignty, He is the Lord of everything. Secondly, we are called into accountability - Hebrews 10:26-31, don't go on sinning after receiving understanding by faith. Thirdly, it implies growth - Hebrews 12:7-12, growth through discipleship. Fourthly, faith means, we have to live by faith in our own comprehensive life. We have to apply this faith to all areas of life.