“Without faith it is impossible to please Him:” Heb. 11:6 (145)
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (v. 6). The argument is framed thus: God Himself had translated Enoch, who before his translation had pleased Him (as his translation evidenced); but without faith it is impossible to please God:—therefore Enoch was by faith translated. It is impossible to please God without faith, and as Enoch received testimony that he did please God, then he must have had faith—a justifying and sanctifying faith. The Holy Spirit still had before Him the special need of the wavering Hebrews, that the great thing God required was not attendance on outward ordinances, but the diligent seeking unto Him by a whole-hearted trust. Where faith was missing, nothing could meet with His approval; but where faith really existed and was exercised, it would be richly rewarded. This principle is unchanging, so that the central message of our verse speaks loudly to us today, and should search the heart of each one of us.” Pink Arthur W.
- So corrupt is the fallen creature, both in soul and body, in every power and part thereof, and so polluted is everything that issues from him, that he cannot of and by himself do anything that is acceptable to the Holy One. “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” Rom. 8:8. It means, they that are still in their natural or unregenerate state. Yet in all ages there have been many who attempted to please God without faith. Cain began it, but failed woefully. Thus, by faith we may please God. ch. 3:12, 18, 19; 4:2, 6, Nu. 14:11; 20:12, Ps. 78:22, 32; Jn. 3:18, 19, Gal. 5:6, Rev. 21:8. But…many seek unto God “but not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law” Rom. 9:32. “But to Him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for (“unto”) righteousness” Rom. 4:5. By faith in Christ the person is accepted of God. Faith makes us submit ourselves to God’s will. Faith causes us to examine the manner of what we do Godwards. Faith aims at God’s glory: of Abraham it is recorded that he “was strong in faith, giving glory to God” Rom. 4:20.
- In order to please God four things must concur, all of which are accomplished by faith. First, the person of him that pleaseth God must be accepted of Him Gen. 4:4. Second, the thing done that pleaseth God must be in accord with His will Heb. 13:21. Third, the manner of doing it must be pleasing to God: it must be performed in humility 1Cor. 15:10, in sincerity Is. 38:3, in cheerfulness 2Cor. 8:12; 9:7. Fourth, the end in view must be God’s glory 1Cor. 10:31.” Pink A W
- It is by faith the convicted and repentant sinner is saved Acts 16:31. It is by faith that Christ dwells in the heart Eph. 3:17. It is by faith that we live Gal. 2:20. It is by faith that we stand Rom. 11:20; 2Cor. 1:24. It is by faith we walk 2Cor. 5:7. It is by faith the Devil is successfully resisted 1Pet. 5:8, 9. It is by faith we are experimentally sanctified Acts 26:18. It is by faith we have access to God Eph. 3:12, Heb. 10:22. It is by faith that we fight the good fight 1Tim. 6:12. It is by faith that the world is overcome 1Jn 5:4. Have the “faith of God’s elect” Titus 1:1.
- “…For he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (v. 6). There is a threefold “coming to God”: an initial, a continuous, and a final. The first takes place at conversion, the second is repeated throughout the Christian’s life, the third occurs at death or the second coming of Christ. To come to God signifies to seek and have fellowship with Him. It denotes a desire to enter into His favor and become a partaker of His blessings in this life and of His salvation in the life to come. It is the heart’s approach unto Him in and through Christ: Jn 14:6, Heb. 7:25, Job 21:14
