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WEEKLY
Volume 4 Number 41
7 March 2010
By Faith We
Understand
(Message delivered by Rev Hien Nguyen at the
Worship Service, 2:00 pm, Mar 7, 10)
Text: Heb 11:3
It is great that you and I can
understand what others say, write or do. When we studied at school, we
felt happy and confident when we could understand what our teachers
taught or explained to us, especially how to solve a math problem. We
were like those who saw the light and were in the light. On the
contrary, if we could not understand a lesson, a matter, a question, a
math problem, we felt confused, perplexed, worried, and insecure like
those who were in darkness.
If someone gives us an article or a
book on a subject we are not familiar with, for example, on microchip or
astrophysics, etc we shall get bored after reading a few pages. How
about reading God’s Word, the Holy Scriptures? Many say that it is
boring. Why? Because they cannot understand God’s Word! My dear friends,
it is so vital to understand God’s Word correctly and properly because
only through God’s Word we may know the truth about God, His creation,
His love and salvation for mankind in Christ, as well as about
ourselves, our future, and so forth. Many go astray from God’s Truth
because they fail to understand God’s Word correctly. It is seriously
worse when they are deceived to believe that what they understand and
believe is right or true!
People usually regard what they cannot
understand as rubbish. It is similar to those who step on or throw away
a diamond in darkness because they cannot see its value. Many ignore
God’s Word and throw away the Holy Scriptures because they cannot
understand it! Many deny God and His creation recorded in the first
chapters of the book Genesis and turn to human theories like Darwinism
or evolutionism due to their lack of understanding. Dear friends, God’s
Word is His Truth (John 17:17) and the spiritual food of your souls
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4; cf. 1 Peter 2:2), if you and I
cannot understand God’s Word, we should not ignore it or take it
lightly, but seriously humble ourselves and cry unto the Lord for a
Biblical understanding. Only when we understand God’s Word can we be
edified (1 Cor 14) and then highly value God’s Word above all things in
this world, “The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of
gold and silver” (Ps 119:72) and “More to be desired are they
than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the
honeycomb” (Ps 19:10).
We have learnt about the saving faith
in God, in our Saviour Jesus Christ and in God’s Word. Today we shall
see that the saving faith will help us understand God’s creation,
“Through (by) 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” (Heb 11:3).
Meaning of Hebrews 11:3
The Greek term for “understand” is
noeo; and with 14 occurrences, the KJV translates as “understand” 10
times, “perceive” twice, “consider” once, and “think” once. Noeo
means “to perceive with thought coming into consciousness as distinct
from the perception of senses. To mark, understand, apprehend, discern”
(Zodhiates).
The Greek term for “world” is aion;
and with 128 occurrences, the KJV translates as “ever” 71 times, “world”
38 times, “never” (in negative) six times, “evermore” four times, “age”
twice, “eternal” twice, and translated miscellaneously five times.
Aion means (1) age, forever, eternity (spoken of time); (2)
the world or the people live at a certain time. By metonymy, the
world itself as an object of creation and existence (Matt 13:40; 1
Tim 1:17; Heb 1:2; 11:3) (Zodhiates). In plural, as a spatial
concept, of the creation as having a beginning and moving forward
through long but limited time, universe, world (Heb 1.2; 9.26; 11.3)
(Analytical Lexicon of the Greek NT).
The Greek term for “frame” is
katartizo; and with 13 occurrences, the KJV translates as “perfect”
twice, “make perfect” twice, “mend” twice, “be perfect” twice, “fit”
once, “frame” once, “prepare” once, “restore” once, and “perfectly
joined together” once. Katartizo means to put a thing in its
appropriate condition, to establish, set up, equip, arrange, prepare,
mend. In Hebrews 11:3, to be created and set in order (Zodhiates).
The Greek term for “appear” is
phaino; with 31 occurrences, the KJV translates as “appear” 17
times, “shine” 10 times, “be seen” twice, “seem” once, and “think” once.
In Hebrew 11:3, things visible, apparent to the senses (Zodhiates).
Then, “Through (by) 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” (Heb
11:3); and it means by our faith in God, in the Lord Jesus Christ and in
God’s Word, we understand with our minds and hearts that the world was
created and set in order out of nothing by the Word of God, and the
things we can see with our eyes cannot be made of things visible to our
eyes.
1. God created the heaven and the
earth and everything in it, including human beings in literal six
24-hour days, “And the evening and the morning were the first day…
the second day,…the sixth day”.
2. God used His Word (Gen 1) to: (1)
create the light on the first day; and (2) create the firmament (the
sky) on the second day; and (3) gather waters together into one place
(the Seas) so that the dry land might appear and then produce grass,
herbs, plants, and trees after their kinds on the third day; and (4)
create the sun and moon and the stars on the fourth day; and (5) create
the birds after their kinds and the fishes after their kinds on the
fifth day; and (6) create the animals after their kinds and the creeping
things after their kinds on the sixth day. Truly, “For he spake, and
it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Ps 33:9), and “Let
them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were
created” (Ps 148:5). God created vegetation and living things
“after their kinds,” so there is no such thing like evolution
without any evidence of the missing links.
3. After having created the heaven and
the earth and everything in it in literal six 24-hour days by His Word,
also on the sixth day God created human beings in His image and after
His likeness in a very special way, not by His Word, but with His work
and His own breath of life, “Let us make man in our image, after our
likeness…And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living
soul” (Gen 1:26; 2:7).
4. As God is immortal, human beings
have immortal souls because they are made in the image of God. Animals
die and their lives come to an end, but human beings die (due to Adam
and Eve’s Fall), their souls still live forever, whether being saved in
Christ in heaven (Phil 1:23; 2 Cor 5:8) or being judged and condemned to
Hell (Luke 16:19-31; Heb 9:27; Rev 21:8).
5. Being created in God’s image with
His own breath of life, the level of human life is much higher than that
of animals, so man can never evolve from animals like the ape or monkey.
Only human beings have a capability to render worship to God, to have a
will, a conscience, wisdom, understanding, intelligence, power of
reason, creative minds, spoken and written languages, etc.
6. Looking at God’s creation in
Genesis chapter one, we can see God’s power, wisdom and love. God’s
power is manifest in His creation by His Word of power. God’s wisdom is
manifest in the working order of the universe, the structures and
functions of the plants, animals, human beings, e.g. the complex
structures of DNA in the cells of human body, and so forth. God’s love
is manifest in providing all things necessary for the survival of human
beings. God did not create human beings first as they could not live
without the light, the air, the water, the food, etc. Therefore,
“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God
hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the
creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things
that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are
without excuse” (Rom 1:19-20).
7. The things we can see with our eyes
cannot be made of things visible to our eyes. It means the sun or a
human being cannot create a human being, then why are there those who
worship the sun or a human being? The world and everything in it was
created by God the Creator, who is so great, eternal, almighty,
glorious, and powerful that we cannot see with our physical eyes. This
truth will turn our hearts to worship the living and true God in spirit
and truth, not worship the creature or idols. Sadly, because of not
understanding this truth, many “changed the truth of God into a
lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who
is blessed for ever. Amen” (Rom 1:25).
How to Have an Understanding Heart
Have Faith in God and in God’s Word:
God’s Word confirms, “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.” If you and I cannot understand
God’s Word or God’s creation, there is only one way – set aside
all our human pre-understanding, arguments, or reasoning, and just
believe in the almighty, wise and supreme God, believe in the Lord Jesus
Christ our Saviour, and believe in His powerful Word. Then the Holy
Spirit will open our spiritual eyes to see God’s truth and guide us into
all truth (John 16:13).
Humbly Seek God in Prayer:
God resists the proud
and gives grace to the humble (James 4:6) so those who trust in their
own understanding and human arguments and theories cannot see God’s
truth, “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are
dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they
should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should
understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should
heal them” (Matt 13:14-15). Then, you and I must humble ourselves
and seek God in prayer, “Evil men understand not judgment: but
they that seek the LORD understand all things” (Prov 28:5) and
“Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my
prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may
give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of
him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know
what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his
inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his
power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty
power” (Eph 1:16-19), and “Consider what I say; and the Lord
give thee understanding in all things” (2 Tim 2:7). Those who
arrogantly criticize or question God’s Word cannot obtain an
understanding heart from the Lord.
Fear God and Submit to God and His
Word: God still
keep us humble by not revealing all of His truths to us; therefore, if
we cannot understand some part of God’s Word, we should not criticize or
doubt God’s Word due to our limited understanding. The best way is to
fear God and submit to Him and to His Word, “The fear of the LORD is
the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding”
(Prov 9:10). And God will let us understand His Word some day or when
our Lord Jesus comes. Do you and I truly fear God and submit ourselves
to Him and His Word?
Conclusion
Dear friends, it is vital for you and
me to understand God’s Word and God’s truth so that we may be edified
and growing in faith and in His grace and knowledge. May God help you
and me to have faith in Him and in His Word, humbly seek Him in prayer,
and fear Him and submit to Him and His Word so that we may obtain an
understanding heart from Him. Amen.
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