Automatic Transcript Generated:
Speaker 3
Alright.
Speaker 2
So John is asking, when was the first act of faith described in the Bible? Did it please God.
Speaker 1
First act think Tina had a really good point. Like just a moment ago, I was just going to dive straight into this and say what it was. Tina said first we should talk about what is faith. And I think that is a great question because so many people, I’d say, even pastors, priests, you name it, struggle with what actually is faith. What does that look like even in practical terms? So we have a definition of faith in Hebrews eleven, and it is ready the text, Hebrews eleven, verse one. And it goes like this. Take it away.
Speaker 2
All right. Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Speaker 1
So I like this definition. Other verses stated a little bit differently. But I like how it says it’s the substance of things hope for because you’re hoping for something. Right. But usually you can’t touch it, you can’t handle it. But he’s saying it’s the substance of that thing you’re hoping for, almost like it’s real, but it hasn’t come to existence yet. And then the evidence of things I’ve seen. As a lawyer, I love evidence. Right. Proof. Usually it’s physical, tangible things again. But here it’s still things that are not seen. So we have proof. It’s tangible, it’s practical, it’s touchable somehow, but yet it hasn’t come to pass yet. So that is the definition of faith from the Bible. And I have a verse that really encompasses this. And we look at Matthew 44 and we’re going to have a quote of Jesus actually quoting Deuteronomy 83. And he says, if we got the verse.
Speaker 2
But he answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeded out of the mouth of God.
Speaker 1
Great. So what I like about this verse is it’s encompassing this concept that we shouldn’t be just depending on ourselves. You can’t count on just that which is directly in front of you. But a person of faith is going to trust on every word of God. What are his words? God’s words, especially the most important ones, I would say, are some of his promises. The Bible is full of promises. And faith, I’d say, is depending on those promises, that’s what you live by. That is faith.
Speaker 3
And Tina, did you have a comment that definitely makes me think of a Bible verse when you’re talking about faith and God’s word, like those are absolutely you can’t have one without the other in a sense, because like it says in Romans 1017, the verse goes on to say, so then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. And so we actually get faith from hearing God’s word, whether that’s literal hearing with your ears or reading it with your eyes. I mean, God’s word is what puts that faith in us.
Speaker 1
And if you just think practically right, if faith is depending on God’s promises, if you’re not learning and hear about God’s promises, how can you have a faith to depend on those?
Speaker 3
Exactly. And I think progressing in that faith first in the creation of the world without form and void, you don’t have anything until God speaks things into existence. And then once God speaks something into existence, that’s when things can start to get moving now and then when God made the world, he made things living like he made things alive. And like, if you read in James chapter two, I think it starts in verse 16, if you don’t mind joining me in James chapter two really quick. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to Hightail your answer.
Speaker 1
No, this is great.
Speaker 3
In verse 17. I’m sorry. James 217 says even though faith, if it has not worked, is dead, being alone. So faith is more than just, you know, like, okay, I heard it and I believe it. I have faith in it. It only means something. Or is faith that’s alive if it’s put into action? And so, like, you see in so many people’s lives. I think that’s why that question is so awesome that our friend asked because he’s saying, what was the first act of faith? And obviously it is an act of faith. It’s something active. It’s something you do that even makes it faith. Obviously, like you already quoted Hebrews eleven, but that whole let’s go back to there.
Speaker 1
Let’s go back now and look at some of these examples we’re given.
Speaker 3
Exactly. I mean, it’s the holiday, verse.
Speaker 2
Three. Through faith, we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Speaker 1
So this was interesting to start off with. So what is the act? What’s the work that’s going on in that verse?
Speaker 3
The creation. Right.
Speaker 1
Or I should say, what’s the act of faith by the individual?
Speaker 3
I see. We understand we believe in God.
Speaker 1
Yeah. So by faith, you’re accepting the fact that God is the creator.
Speaker 3
Yeah.
Speaker 1
And who would have been the first person to have done that?
Speaker 3
Probably Adam, since he was the first one around him.
Speaker 1
Exactly. Because he wasn’t around to watch God create. And people even to this day struggle with creation. Right. Because nobody was around to see creation. Nobody was around to see it, but nobody was around to see evolution either. So it’s an act of faith deciding to accept what God tells us that he was a creator or either one.
Speaker 3
Exactly. Yeah. It’s an act of faith to believe either way. It’s just what has the most evidence, I guess, kind of really what it comes down to. And when you look at the Bible and science, how in history, how well, you know, that all comes together. I mean, to me, the evidence points more towards an intelligent creator. But anyways, exactly.
Speaker 1
I think the reasonable thing conclusion reaches it’s faith across the board, though.
Speaker 2
Yes. What is our faith in? Is our faith in something man made or is our faith in something that God says he made?
Speaker 1
Yeah. Or do you literally believe in just random chance for everything right.
Speaker 3
Now?
Speaker 1
Do you keep going on the list of faith?
Speaker 3
Yeah. Because actually, I think because this question, what was the first act of faith? And I think to me, verse four kind of answers that of Hebrews eleven. But we can discuss that.
Speaker 2
He was eleven forces by faith, Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous. God testifying of his gifts. And by it he being dead. Yet speaks. So by faith, Abel offered a sacrifice to God.
Speaker 1
But so did Kane.
Speaker 3
Exactly.
Speaker 1
So why was Abel’s better? I like the word more excellent.
Speaker 2
Did Cain offer it by faith or did Kane offer it by something else?
Speaker 3
I think that’s honestly, like what it comes down to, because obviously if God was saying, I want to sacrifice, he probably told them what he wanted. I don’t think God is very vague. I don’t think God would just kind of leave it open to interpretation. I think he said, this is what I expect and it would be a lamb or an animal sacrifice. And I think Cain had a spirit of, say, rebellion. But he was saying, hey, aren’t my work good enough? I want to do it my way. And so I think there was definitely a different spirit in Cain than Abel. Who Abel saying, okay, God said this is what he wants. By faith, I’m going to do what God says. And I think that’s really the essence of faith is when God says in his word, this is my commandment. This is what I say. If you’re going to love me, keep my Commandments, obey me, and you do it by faith. Not because maybe it doesn’t always make 100% sense, but it’s because you trust in God and you trust what he says and his wisdom.
Speaker 1
Exactly. And what’s really interesting, if you look at Genesis 42, it tells us that Abel was the keeper of sheep and Cain was the Tiller of the ground. So when both showed up to give offerings, it says Abel brought of the firstborn his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering able is bringing the sheep. He raised the sheep. But Cain, the oldest brother, is given an offer, and he’s supposed to also offer a sheep. But it wasn’t the works of his hands. It was the land that was provided for him. And he rejected that. He’s like, no, I want to offer the fruits of my own labor. And God says, no, that’s not what I want. I want you to accept the lamb and offer the lamb that was provided for you.
Speaker 2
What’s the significance of that offering something that was provided for him rather than of his own works.
Speaker 1
So that’s where it’s interesting about faith.
Speaker 3
Right?
Speaker 1
Because we’re talking about faith has to work, but there’s elements of faith where you can’t just rely on your works.
Speaker 3
Oh, yeah, for sure. And I think the Bible talks about, like a lively hope and a living faith. And it’s not like a faith where you’re trying to do something because you want a reward. Faith is kind of a natural outpouring, like the acts of faith are a natural outpouring of a love connection that you have towards God. And I think of Abraham, I know he wasn’t the first person to do an act of faith, but he is called the father of our faith because he obeyed God and it was considered unto him for righteousness. And so that’s really what it came down to is he had a connection with God, and he really loved God. And so because he loved God, he obeyed God from the heart. And it wasn’t like he was trying to do acts of faith to impress God, to earn Salvation, like people might think, but rather it was just because he had that connection with God. He longed to please him and he desired to do whatever it was that God called him to do. And so I really think that that’s kind of the heart of what is a true faith or a true act of faith is that it comes from a heart that has true, genuine love for God.
Speaker 1
We have a comment that came in from Rachel and she says.
Speaker 2
Perhaps Kane offered by convenience.
Speaker 3
I agree.
Speaker 1
Rachel, thank you for that comment. Yeah, it’s convenience. And I think the starting attitude of I want to give what I have. Yes, I want to give it what I have. I don’t want to use someone else’s stuff.
Speaker 3
And honestly, that kind of reminds me of there’s a verse in Malachi chapter one, and it’s talking about Israel when they were in a state of apostasy and they were trying to act like we’re still God’s people, we’re still good, we’re still Holy. And it says in Malachi chapter one, I want to see, I want to make sure I get the context if possible. Well, so basically, Israel, God’s calling them out, like, you’re not really obeying me, even though you put on this formality like you are, you do things in the sanctuary, but your heart is far from me. And like it says in verse three, verses seven and eight of Malachi One, verse seven and eight, it says, you offer polluted bread upon my altar. And you say, Where have we polluted you? In that? You say, the table of the Lord is contemptible. In verse eight, it says, and if you offer the blind for sacrifice like a blind lamb, you’re supposed to give a lamb without spot or blemish. It was supposed to represent Jesus, but yet these people were bringing a blind lamb so like one that they didn’t really need or care for.
Speaker 3
It says if you offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil and you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Offer it now to your governor. Would you offer that to your boss at work or somebody above you? Will he be pleased with you or accept your person says the Lord of hosts. So it’s kind of like, yeah, like you’re saying that he’s offering at a convenience. It’s like, well, this is just extra of what I have. Like, it doesn’t even say Cain offered his first fruits, which is what God actually had commanded Israel. Later when you see the law of Moses, but he just offered interesting, whatever he had. And so I think that sometimes we are guilty of that too. Definitely. We’re just like, okay, God, I put my job first, I put my family, I put all these things first. And you just kind of give God what’s left over. And I don’t think that’s really fair, especially when it comes to your time. Jesus gave the example. He came to the Lord first thing in the morning. I believe it’s Mark 125 where it says Jesus waking up a great while before they went to a solitary place and they prayed he made time for his father.
Speaker 3
And I think that so often we as God’s people don’t do that. We give God what’s convenient for us or like, you know, whatever, we kind of it’s just we don’t make God that priority that he deserves and give him that respect.
Speaker 1
So what’s interesting, going back to Hebrews? Well, first we have a comment that came in from Uncle Mg. It says, would a husband give his wife wilted flowers? That’s a really good analogy.
Speaker 3
Wow, I like that. Yeah, that’s right. Don’t do that. Good man.
Speaker 1
Yeah. At the same time, would you do that to the God who loves you so much that he gives you the first of everything he has?
Speaker 3
He gave his son Jesus. I can’t even break my heart.
Speaker 1
Yeah, great point there. So go back to Hebrews eleven four. And I just noticed this. It’s interesting. It talks about Abel. It says he attained witness that he was righteous God testifying of his gifts. So is it talk about just Abel’s offering or is it talking about how he was providing there the lamb for Cain? That was going to be the gift provided for Kane. Kane was supposed to offer that Cain is rejecting this gift. And then it talks about how, though he being dead, yet speaks his death spoke, he was willing to die for his faith, just like Jesus was willing to die for us. And he came as the ultimate gift.
Yes.
Speaker 1
And just going back to Kane, why did Kane not act in faith? If you look at faith as dependence on God’s, promises. The original promise God gave back in Eden before kicking Adam Eve out was, you know, don’t worry, I’m going to send someone through your lineage who’s going to crush that serpent. And in sense, your human race will be saved through him. And that lamb representing lamb slain, a foundation of the world Christ was promised and Cain is rejecting that promise. I don’t want that promise, God. I don’t want to depend on you saving me. I want to save myself. I want to grow my own food, my own offerings, and provide it to you. And you better be happy with what I give you, God.
Speaker 3
Yeah. For whatever reason, that reminds me of remember the Aaron’s oldest two sons when they offer that strange fire may dab in a bite. And Leviticus eleven or three, Leviticus ten. So basically just going back to how does this apply to us kind of today, do we do this now? I think we absolutely do. And we see it even in the Bible times, like it says in Leviticus ten, one nay, Devon Abi, who the sons of Erin. So they were priests, Aaron was high priests, Nadab and Aba, who were priests in the temple. And they took either of them his senses and put fire there in and put in sensor on it, offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And I just think about, I think so many people, we just want to worship God however we feel like it. And I think that’s really coming to the Christian Church on such a huge scale. I don’t know about you and I don’t want to like I’m not going to name names or call anybody out specifically, but I think that’s been such a movement in the Christian Church. I think the devil has really played a part in just saying we want to worship God, however we want to worship him.
Speaker 3
So if we want to play music that’s completely irreverent and something that would make Angels blush, we want to dress to Church, however we want to dress immodestly or whatever, it’s kind of like you might think you’re worshiping God, but are you really in line with what his word is telling us? And I think that that’s such a huge part of being an act of faith and kind of getting into the second part of the question of did it please God? And when we’re doing an act of faith, an act of worship, an act of obedience to God, that does please him. And I think that that’s the biggest thing is just that true obedience. And not just like Cain’s way, which is like self, it was Abel’s way, which was God’s will be done. And I think that that’s such a huge factor in what is a true act of Godly faith.
Speaker 1
It really takes humbleness to realize you need to depend on God. You can’t do anything, as Jesus said, without me, you can do nothing. And that really needs to be the mindset that we have. But that at the same time should be liberating. If we can’t do really anything without Jesus, that means the pressure is off of us and it’s really on him. And he’s there to back us up. He’s going to help make it happen. We have to do our part. But really, again, it’s just accepting that he can do it through us and we need to let him do it through us. We’re making a decision to let him lead to depend on him, and then God will get us across that finish line.
Speaker 3
Amen.
Sorry.
Speaker 3
Just to make sure we’re answering the questions. I know having a discussion. I like this discussion. I could discuss faith all day and all night because I think it’s such an important thing. You’re saved by Grace through faith. We obtain Grace through faith. Basically that claw or the hand that grabs hold of the Grace that God is designed to give us. So when we look at the second half of the question, did it please God? It says able offered and you got a more excellent sacrifice. And like you said in Genesis four, it says that God had respect on to unto able sacrifice. And I think that’s a very interesting point because in the New Testament, it says God is no respect of persons. So why does it say that God respectable sacrifice as opposed to Canes? God did not have respect into it. But I was looking at again, blue letter Bible. I love blue letter Bible.
Speaker 1
I have it open right now.
Speaker 3
I know, it’s awesome. So anyways, just going back to the root meaning of those words in the New Testament when it says God is no respect for persons, like you read about an act, that word for respect is a word in Greek. I can’t pronounce her. It’s like, yeah, it’s a big word, but it basically means favoritism. So it’s showing only exclusive favoritism. It’s like I only like you. And whether or not you’re right or wrong, I like you and I won’t like anybody else. And God is not that way. But when it’s talking about the respect that God showed to able sacrifice, it’s a completely different word. And I’ll make sure I’m saying this right.
Speaker 1
It’s interesting in the Hebrew that word respect is like Shah, and it means to look at, to gaze at. So I think it’s almost like God is just going to ignore. He’s not going to acknowledge Cain’s sacrifice. That didn’t happen because you didn’t listen to me is what I sort of saying.
Speaker 3
Yeah. The word respect means to look, to see. It’s not even like a feeling of respect. Like, oh, I respect this. It’s more like, yeah, like you’re saying an acknowledgement. I actually looked at it. That’s what I want to see. That’s correct. And that does please me. And you think of who pleased God the most obviously Jesus, like we think about his baptism, and it says after he got up out of the water, like, by faith, Jesus must have been baptized. Like he had no sin to repent of. Like John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. Jesus had no sin to repent of. But yet he did it by faith because it was the will of his father, so that he could one, be a good example and two, do that for everybody maybe who wasn’t able to be baptized in their life. Christ baptism covered him like this thief on the cross who wasn’t able to be baptized. But through Jesus’ life and death, they can obtain Salvation through faith in him. But sorry.
Speaker 2
We have a question here from Uncle Mg. Can we bring that up?
Speaker 1
Probably more rhetorical, because I think he’s making a good point.
Speaker 2
Could it be said that Abel sacrifice was an evidence of his love for God.
Speaker 1
His love and his faith?
Speaker 3
Absolutely. Yeah, I definitely agree with that for sure.
Speaker 1
Yeah. Because he probably definitely took notice that Cain was upset. He probably knew Cain’s demeanor, and this is not going to fly well. But he still went to Cain in the field.
Speaker 3
Yeah.
Speaker 1
Of course, nobody had ever been murdered then either.
Speaker 3
Yeah, that’s true. I don’t think he was expecting that. But I think, like it says in Hebrews four that his sacrifice was more excellent and that he being dead yet speaks. And I think in a sense, Abel was kind of like the first martyr. I’m sure he could have told Kane, Let me talk to God and work something out and see if he can’t accept your sacrifice instead. He could have done something cowardly. But I really think that Able stood for his principle and the truth. And I think that’s why Cain just couldn’t handle it and just murdered him, because I think Able could have backed down in some way, and I think he didn’t. I think Able really stood for the truth, which is why he was willing to just not maybe hurt came first or something. He didn’t have it in him. He had the spirit of Jesus. Like I said, I think in a sense, he was at first martyr and martyr’s blood, it speaks in a way that nothing else can. I think nothing has more evidence of the gospel than those who are willing to not just live and die for their faith.
Speaker 1
And maybe that’s a good transition to this first one to talk about, because when we’re talking about what does it mean God respects, and that is God is looking at that person and what they’re doing. I didn’t boom. This verse came to my head. Psalm 30 415, the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous. And there’s many other verses along those lines. And so now it’s like, oh, I’m understanding that now God is sort of acknowledging that person. He’s saying, you’re following what I’m saying to do. I will therefore look at you and knowledge you. In contrast to what he did with Kane, where he says, I’m not going to look at your sacrifice.
Speaker 3
I know this is a random point, just about looking at all these stories in Hebrews eleven, which we call the hall of faith, which is all these amazing people of faith. He did awesome things. And in my opinion, I do think Abel was probably the first, in a sense, active face that’s high whites listed here first in Hebrews eleven. But I think it’s just kind of interesting how Abel’s Act of faith was obedient sacrifice and then death because of it. But yet the next person you see who had an act of faith was by faith, Enoch. In verse five, it says, by faith, Enoch was translated that he should not see death and was not found because God had translated him before his translation. He had this testimony that he pleased God. So Enoch was the first one that the Bible specifically says he pleased God. But I think that able sacrifice definitely pleased God as well. But you kind of have this dichotomy of both things pleased God that Abel dying for his faith and Enoch never seen death, but just that he had a testimony. And if you kind of keep going on these stories too, the next story being Noah, he built the Ark.
Speaker 3
And in order to build the Ark, he had to stay in one place. He wasn’t able to go anywhere because he had to stay in that one spot, building this one arc for 100 years. But then in verse eight, you see the story of Abraham and Abraham by faith, went to a far country that he didn’t even know where he was going. And so just kind of looking at what does it mean to have faith? It’s not like a one set thing. Faith can mean different things to different people depending on what God is specifically telling you for your life.
Speaker 1
Enoch never died.
Speaker 3
Exactly. That was stayed Abraham went. It’s not like one calling for every single person. Everybody has a different calling and a different act of faith that God wants to live out in their life. And I think that the only way you really know what that is for you is by having that living connection to God through prayer and just kind of the circumstances and you being faithful to God’s word in the circumstances of your life that God’s placed you in, if that makes sense.
Speaker 2
Absolutely. I think that spot on. I couldn’t agree more with that. I have a question, though, here. The question that we’re tasked with answering is what was the first act of faith described to the Bible? So this is the first one that’s really talked about as about Ken and Abel. Yes. And we’ve talked a lot about it. But is this truly the first act of faith.
Speaker 1
In an absolute sense, even if they might not be discussed in the budget.
Yeah.
Speaker 2
And the reason I asked is you think about okay, when Eve ate the fruit from the tree she was obviously operating from a lack of faith there. Right. So then would they not have been living by faith or operating by faith prior to that in that they weren’t taking that fruit if God told them not to?
Speaker 1
Yes, exactly. It would have been an act of faith. Right. Because God said if you eat this, you’re going to die, right. And so right there they don’t know what death is, don’t fully comprehend it and they haven’t take God at his word. And then if you go to Genesis three the serpent is trying to cause doubt. God didn’t say that or God is lying to you. God just doesn’t want you to be got. So he’s sowing all these seeds of doubt trying to destroy her faith. So yeah, really? In essence, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil wasn’t just a test of obedience. It was also a test of faith.
Speaker 2
Now, are there any other acts of faith prior to that?
Speaker 1
Yeah. As I mentioned at the beginning when Adam was first created, he sees God and God is going to say, Adam, I created you.
Speaker 2
And that is faith.
Speaker 1
Yeah. Because what did Adam see that happen?
Speaker 2
Oh, faith.
Speaker 1
Okay.
Speaker 2
I see what you’re saying. That Adam is believing that God created him.
Speaker 1
Yeah. And that’s what I think in part the Bible is getting in Hebrews. When it talks about through faith, we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.
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