Abraham: The Life of Faith 亞伯拉罕: 信心的人生 來 Heb 11:8-19 創 Gen 12-23

Hebrews 11:8-19 希伯來書 11:8-19

I. Descriptions of Faith 信心的描述 (來 Heb 11:1-2, 6; 12:1-2; 雅 James 2:26) 1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2For by it the men of old gained approval. (Heb 11:1-2, NASB) 1信就是所望之事的實底，是未見之事的確據‧2古人在這信上得了美好的證據‧

Descriptions of Faith 信心的描述 來 Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (NASB) 人非有信就不能得神的喜悅‧因為到神面前來的人，必須信有神 (祂就是)，且信他賞賜那尋求他的人‧

Warren Wiersbe Description of Faith 信心的描述 True Bible faith is confident obedience to God’s Word in spite of circumstances and consequences. 聖經的信心乃是:”有把握地順從神的話…不管環境和後果如何.”

雅 James 2:26 (NIV) As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. 身體沒有靈魂是死的，信心沒有行為也是死的‧

II. Living by Faith or by Sight 生活憑信心或憑眼見 (林後 2 Cor 5:7) 林後 2 Cor 5:7 (NIV) We live by faith, not by sight. 因我們行事為人，是憑著信心，不是憑著眼見‧

III. Through a life of faith Abraham became the pattern (prototype) of faith for men of all ages. 透過信心的人生亞伯拉罕成為歷世 歷代有信心之人的典範(模型).

A. The life of faith is a pilgrimage. 信心的人生是個棄舊從新朝聖的旅程 A. The life of faith is a pilgrimage. 信心的人生是個棄舊從新朝聖的旅程. (來 Heb 11:8; 林後 2 Cor 5:17; 罗 Rom 12:2) 來 Hebrews 11:8 (NIV) 8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 亞伯拉罕因著信，蒙召的時候，就遵命出去，往將來要得為業的地方去‧出去的時候，還不知往那裡去‧

A. The life of faith is a pilgrimage. (Continued) 信心的人生是個棄舊從新朝聖的旅程 A. The life of faith is a pilgrimage. (Continued) 信心的人生是個棄舊從新朝聖的旅程. (來 Heb 11:8; 林後 2 Cor 5:17; 罗 Rom 12:2) Called by God. (被神呼召) Leaving Ur. (離開吾珥) To the promised (unknown) land. (往神所應許/未知之地去) Lived in tents. (住在帳棚裡) A stranger and pilgrim. (作客旅,朝聖者) An alien in his own land. (在自己的地方作寄居的) (彼前 1Pet 1:1; 2:11)

林後 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人‧舊事已過，都變成新的了‧

罗 Romans 12:2 (NIV) 不要效法這個世界‧只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良，純全可喜悅的旨意‧ 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 不要效法這個世界‧只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良，純全可喜悅的旨意‧

Are you willing to leave your own Ur? 你願意離開你自己的 吾珥嗎?

B. The life of faith requires perseverance. 信心的人生須忍耐地等候 B. The life of faith requires perseverance. 信心的人生須忍耐地等候. (來 Heb 11:9-10) Faith waiting. (信心等候) Waiting 25 years for Isaac. (等候以撒25年) Waiting for the heavenly country. (等候属天国度) Dwelling in tents. (住在帳棚) Never possessed the land. (未曾擁有应許之地) An alien in the land of promise. (在应許之地作客旅,寄居) Waiting expectantly. (期待地等候, 雅 James 5:7-8) Waiting, obeying and persevering. (等候,順服,忍耐)

雅各 James 5:7-8 7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 7弟兄們哪，你們要忍耐直到主來‧看哪，農夫忍耐等候地裡寶貴的出產，直到得了秋雨春雨‧8你們也當忍耐，堅固你們的心‧因為主來的日子近了‧

Faith waiting 信心等候 Noah (挪亞) (Ark: 100 years) Abraham (亞伯拉罕) (25 years + Lifetime) Moses (摩西) (40+ years) William Carey (Missionary to India) (35 years) 凱瑞 (b.1761, 英國去印度宣教士, 1793-1828)

C. The life of faith has power. 信心的人生是有能力的 C. The life of faith has power. 信心的人生是有能力的. (來 Heb 11:11-12; 創 Gen 21:1-7) 11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. 11因著信，連撒拉自己，雖然過了生育的歲數，還能懷孕‧因他以為那應許他的是可信的‧12所以從一個彷彿已死的人就生出子孫，如同天上的星那樣眾多，海邊的沙那樣無數‧

D. The life of faith is guided by a strong vision. 信心的人生是由強烈的異像來引導 D. The life of faith is guided by a strong vision. 信心的人生是由強烈的異像來引導. (來 Heb 11:13-16) Assertiveness. (積極態度) Direction. (有方向) Goal. (有目標) Perseverance. (有持久力) Uncompromised. (不妥協) Heavenly country. (属天國度) No return. (不回頭, 路 Luke 9:62) They lived their faith. (來 Heb 11:1) (活在信心的實際裡)

路 Luke 9:62 耶穌說，手扶著犁向後看的，不配進 神的國‧ Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” 耶穌說，手扶著犁向後看的，不配進 神的國‧

Faith Described. 信心的描述 (來 Heb 11:1-2) 1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2For by it the men of old gained approval. (NASB) 1信就是所望之事的實底，是未見之事的確據‧2古人在這信上得了美好的證據‧

E. The life of faith will be tested. 信心的人生必定經過試驗 E. The life of faith will be tested. 信心的人生必定經過試驗. (來 Heb 11:17-19; 創 Gen 22:1-18; 雅 James 1:12) 17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death. 17亞伯拉罕因著信，被試驗的時候，就把以撒獻上‧這便是那歡喜領受應許的，將自己獨生的兒子獻上‧18論到這兒子曾有話說，『從以撒生的才要稱為你的後裔‧』19他以為神還能叫人從死裡復活‧他也彷彿從死中得回他的兒子來‧

雅各 James 1:12 忍受試探的人是有福的‧因為他經過試驗以後，必得生命的冠冕，這是主應許給那些愛他之人的‧ Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 忍受試探的人是有福的‧因為他經過試驗以後，必得生命的冠冕，這是主應許給那些愛他之人的‧

VI. Personal response 個人回应