And all these who were commended through their faith, did not receive the promise, because God for us something better planned that not apart from us they are perfected.Hebrews 11:39
This word for commended, "I witness, bear witness, give evidence" speaks not so much of approval through faith but of a foreseeing, evidence, witness of the mystery of the gospel hidden in God in the beginning. So we see this idea that the promise was through the Seed, Christ. By faith these believed God, gave witness to Christ, and are living stones, the church being built upon such prophets, and the apostles, with Jesus being the foundation stone. God for us something better planned through Christ.
Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to seeds,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your seed,” who is Christ.Galatians 3:16This word for seed is sperma, "seed, offspring, descendants" from speiro; something sown, i.e. Seed by implication, offspring; specially, a remnant. It speaks of sowing, of children, of heirs. This inheritance has always been by a remnant, Noah, Abraham... and now it is promised, commended, through the seed of Christ, thus an inheritance by faith. "In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."4 A great spiritual blessing in Christ is this adoption.
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.Hebrews 11:3Faith begins with the author, the Word, who was with God and was God, the universe was created by the Word. We understand this by faith, "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."6 So we begin our journey of faith by hearing the words of Christ, by hearing and understanding, not our own understanding but trusting in God, believing that he is trustworthy and faithful.
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.Hebrews 11:4
We see faith in Abel, he was commended, he gave witness, foresaw the first born being acceptable as a better promise and sacrifice, pointing to the redemption, salvation of men. Oh, thank you Abel for your faith. It was God's plan or covenant in the beginning, so the new covenant or testament in Christ we can say was the something better planned. We see proof in the hall of faith that the promise was always through the Seed, Christ, "all nations would be blessed."
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.Hebrews 11:6
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death.9 Can we not say Enoch gave witness or foresaw? possibly the resurrection and ascension of Christ into heaven. By faith Noah brought salvation to man, "By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith."10 Can we not say this points to Christ who condemned sin in the flesh bringing the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness for all those who receive?
He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with firm foundations, whose architect and builder is God.Hebrews 11:9
By faith Abraham looked to something better, "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son."12 Can we not see the first born offering of God's Son? a shadow of things to come. We please God by faith thus it is by faith God works through men. Abraham trusted God, he foresaw the redemption of mankind, thus Abraham is the father of those of faith, his faith was great and through his Seed salvation comes to all men. Of course, as Paul writes the gospel was preached to Abraham, the seed, the word, was planted in Abraham's heart.
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar,13
By faith Moses refused to be heir, being adopted by the Pharaoh's daughter, he was looking to something better, "He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward."14 How could he consider the reproach of Christ greater? By faith he gave witness to Christ, as Paul writes, Moses wrote of the gospel, he foresaw into this mystery, thus the Church being founded on him and other prophets and the old covenant a shadow of these to come.
By faith some saw the power of God's might, but others were stoned, mocked and flogged, sawn in two, slain with the sword, "about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth."15 By faith they were looking to something better.
And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.16
The Law as Paul writes could not make men perfect, it did not give life, it was not of faith, but imprisoned those under sin until Christ. Moses dispensed God's laws to the people and Joshua brought them into the land, but we read here the people entered into the land under the Law, but the law was not of faith, thus they possessed the land but "did not receive what was promised?" If the law made perfect those under the Law (and those possessing the land) then the promise would include those of the law and the land but we see they are not perfected apart from. The promise is something better, those who enter are made perfect.
nothing indeed the law perfected, however, introducing a better hope by which we draw near to God.17
We see a better hope, it is an eternal hope, unlike the atonement of animals which was temporary, the sacrifice of the Lamb of God is "once and for all," eternal. It was the indestructible, sinless life of Christ, a spotless lamb, the blood of Christ which seals the covenant. And by the eternal Spirit, Christ remains our eternal High Priest. By faith in Christ, being born of the Spirit we have confidence to approach the throne of Grace.
By so much also of a better covenant has become the guarantee Jesus.18
This covenant is of grace and mercy, receiving something better. Jesus has become guarantee, this word for "has become" is ginomai, "I come into being, am born" properly, to emerge, become, transitioning from one point (realm, condition) to another. So we see there is a condition of entrance, I am born into the Kingdom. There is no old way to enter, the transition to the new is eternal in Christ, he is the Door to the Kingdom of God, by which we are "born from above" by the Spirit into the Kingdom of God.
who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.19
This is a glorious promise we have, until we take possession of it, whereby we have this hope unseen, the Holy Spirit, sealing us an a guarantee of our inheritance. What a great promise specially for those who are nearing their time here on earth, to have such a hope of a promised land and to have such assurance of this hope within them. "And in Him you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, having heard and believed the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation."20
... so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.21
Christ redeemed us so that we might receive this blessing, "For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever."22 Before the people were slaves, under guardian until Christ who offers them the power to become sons of God, unlike a slave a son abides in the house forever. Exalted to the right hand of the Father, made King of the kingdom, Jesus received the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out this hope to us, this comforter, this teacher, "whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."23
to you is the promise and to the children of you and to all at a distance how many as call on the Lord, the God of us.24
The promise is to all who call upon the name of Jesus, Jew or gentile, there is no distinction. Peter writes here, the promise is the forgiveness of sin and the gift of the Holy Spirit.25 Peter proclaimed, "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."27 This Lord being the promised King, offspring or seed from David, Christ being the Anointed One, the Messiah, so when they heard this they were cut to the heart and asked what they must do.
Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.28
Peter said, the promise was to them if they called upon the name of Jesus, "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus," this was to the Jews, those near, and to those afar, Gentiles, but only those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. The Spirit is the greater testimony, Jesus would baptize with, as John the baptist spoke. Salvation is not by law nor inherited by the Jew of the flesh, it is only by faith and the promise of inheritance is by faith, the Holy Spirit being the seal.
Indeed, as many as the promises of God, in Him the yes, therefore, also in him the Amen, God towards glory through us.28
This verse speaks of something better for all men, to the promise "all nations will be blessed" in Christ. It is God who has established his people in Jesus Christ, "who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee."29 This is the "circumcision of the heart" the true Jew, not of the flesh but of the Spirit. The Church is God's people, not some building nor organization, nor people of the flesh, but each person in Christ is a living stone placed in a spiritual temple being built up to glorify God.
... by which you are able reading to understand the insight of me into the mystery of Christ...30
The gospel is revealing this mystery that was hidden. This word for "you are able" is dunamai, "I am powerful, am able" it speaks of the power through the Holy Spirit. In this specific instance it is the power of the Spirit which gives revelation of knowing and here we see it comes by reading the word. This word for reading, anaginṓskō (from aná, "up, again," intensifying ginṓskō, "personally know") – properly, "to know again" through reading.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.32
Notice, through the word of Christ. Eternal life is in Christ, not the scriptures. We know that faith comes by hearing the words of Christ, he being the Word, and we know from the principle of sowing, the "good soil" are those who hear and understand. Thus we see a personal knowing, of understanding, of faith through hearing and reading the words of Christ. Such understanding being anchored in trust, in leaning on God's understanding.
... you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!33
Jesus speaks of entering this promise, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit."34 Such Isaiah gave prophecy of, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you."35 Jesus would provide as promised, "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever."35a By faith we receive the promise, "and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."35b
Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them."36
Something better speaks of a better country, a heavenly one, a Kingdom that is unshakable, where God has prepared for those of faith a heavenly city, a new Jerusalem.37 "In joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven." This is an assembly of God's children, a congregation of the first born, Christ. Here are "the spirits of the righteous made perfect" heavenly citizens, "our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,"38
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.39
A messenger sent ahead, a voice crying out in the wilderness, prepare you the way of the Lord. He ate locusts and wild honey, wore cloths made from camels hair. "He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light."40 His ministry was only about six months, not the glorious ministry most would envision, but Jesus said he was great.
Truly, I say to you, not among those born of women has there arisen one greater than John the Baptist...41
John had great faith, by faith he anticipated something better, he foresaw something greater than himself. He bore witness, commended, gave testimony, to this Light, he was greatest but like the other prophets "commended through their faith, did not receive the promise," John bore witness of this something better, "something better planned." He bore witness that "the true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world."42 To all who receive this Light, receive something better; born of a living God, a better hope, a better promise, a better country, a better covenant,
to all who did receive Him and who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.41
Behold