The Faith of Enoch Heb. 11:5, 6 (143)
Having reminded them of what the faith-obedience of Abel procured, namely, the obtaining of a witness from God that he was righteous, he cites the case of Enoch who exemplifies another aspect and consequent of faith. That which the three examples supplied in vv. 4 to 7 set before us is an outline of the life of faith. They have been characterized thus: in Abel we see faith’s worship, in Enoch faith’s walk, in Noah faith’s witness.
- “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (v. 5). The example of Enoch teaches us what the life of faith consists of. In Gen. 5:24 “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him”. Here we have set forth, a brief summary, the new life of the believer: to “walk with God.” Previously, Enoch had “walked according to the course of this world” Eph. 2:1-3, had gone his “own way” Is. 53:6 of self-pleasing, and unconcerned about the future, had thought only of the present. But now he had been “reconciled to God” 2Cor. 5:20, see Amos 3:3. The term “walk” signifies a voluntary act, a steady advance, a progress in spiritual things. To “walk with God” imports a life surrendered to God, a life controlled by God, a life lived for God”. Pink Arthur W
- “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” The bare fact that a man who walked this earth thousands of years ago escaped death may astonish. What is there here, what practical lesson, to help me while I am left on earth? We noticed the repetition of the word “translated”: this occurring no less than three times in one verse. The word “translated” signifies to carry across, to bear up, to remove, to change from one place to another. This brings to Col. 1:13, “Who hath delivered us…and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.” This is the Christian’s present standing and state before God: he has “passed from death unto life” Jn 5:24. Now it is the Christian’s privilege and duty to live in the power of this fact and walk by faith.
- “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death”. The word “see.” Enoch was not to be overcome by death: but this is not limited to physical death. His “translation” from earth to heaven has a deeper meaning than the natural, so “death”, signifies more than an escape from the grave. “Death” is the wages of sin, the curse of the broken law. We are living in a world which is under God’s righteous curse and death is plainly stamped across everything in it. But the exercise of faith, lifts the soul above this scene, and its favored possessor is enabled to “walk in newness of life.” Faith brings near things future, and the enjoyment of what is invisible to natural sight. Just so far as we walk by faith, is the heart “translated,” raised above this poor world; and then it is we experience the “power of His (Christ’s) resurrection” Phil. 3:10.” Pink Arthur W
- Let us now link vv. 4 and 5 together. When a sinner, by surrender to God and faith in the sacrifice of Christ, is pronounced righteous by the Judge of all, he is made an heir of eternal life, and sin and death can no more have dominion over him: that is, no longer have any legal claim upon him. The saint mentioned after Abel, was taken to Heaven without dying, thereby demonstrating that the power of “death” over the Christian has been annulled. First a sinner saved through the blood of the Lamb (Abel), then a saved sinner removed from earth to Heaven, and nothing between. How “great” is God’s salvation!
