Benjamin Huffman opens his message by grounding the famous "hall of faith" in Hebrews 11 within the warning of Hebrews 10:38-39 — that the just shall live by faith, and that to draw back leads to destruction. He draws a careful distinction between hope and faith, leaning on the King James rendering of Hebrews 11:1, which calls faith "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith, Benjamin explains, is not merely a quiet inner desire; it is something visible and tangible. You cannot see what someone hopes for, but you can absolutely see what they do because of that hope.

From there, Benjamin walks through three towering figures of the pre-Law era — Abel, Enoch, and Noah — each one presenting a distinct facet of living faith. Abel brought the best of what God had provided, recognizing that his sacrifice was not from his own strength but from God's provision, and his legacy of righteousness has echoed across thousands of years. Enoch walked so closely with God that he bypassed death altogether, earning an extra verse in both Genesis and Hebrews. And Noah, warned of something no one had ever seen or experienced, built an ark in reverent obedience and saved his household from judgment. Together, these three men weave a scarlet thread of faith stretching from creation through the flood — roughly 1,600 years covered in just seven verses.

Benjamin closes by connecting each of these men to Christ Himself: Jesus offered the more excellent sacrifice, walked in perfect pleasure with the Father, and in reverent labor provided a new covenant to deliver His children from condemnation. The challenge left with the congregation is personal and pressing — where is the substance of your faith? Are you an heir to the legacy of Christ? Drawing on Philippians 2:12-13, Benjamin calls believers to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, not leaning on their own abilities as Cain did, but resting in the perfect, sanctifying work of Jesus Christ.

Transcript

Morning everyone.

Legacies. A legacy of faith is where we start. Hebrews 11. Today, legacy is one of my pet subjects, much like covenants are. And so I was excited when Pastor Doster called me and asked if I would like to teach this. So Hebrews chapter 11 is considered the hall of faith, much like a hall of fame, but for faith. And it is a chapter of legacies. But what is a legacy? The definition of it is money or property left in a will, a long lasting impact, tradition or product handed down from the past.

So a legacy can be a physical, it can be emotional or intellectual property handed down to the next generation. So the question is, what kind of legacy are we expecting to receive in this life? Personally, I don't expect to receive much because we didn't grow up very well to do. And the property that my parents have isn't large enough for us to split up and to use to the extent that we desire. But the things I did inherit was a rather wild work ethic from my father that will probably be the death of me and from my mother, a passion for church. And even though church isn't my salvation, it is where I found where I was exposed to the word of God. And I found where I found the path to an eternal inheritance, to an eternal life. Legacy. And today we get to see the earliest foundations of that legacy. And I hope you too desire to acquire a legacy as these heroes of the faith have.

So we're going to start in. We're actually going to start in verse 38 of Hebrews 10 because it's foundational to the now that we see in verse one of chapter 11.

"Now the just shall live by faith. But if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. Now, faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it, the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible by faith. Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous God, commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks by faith. Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death. And he was not found because God had taken him. Now, before he was taken, he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would Draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him by faith. Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear, constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith." (Hebrews 10:38-39, 11:1-7)

In verse 38 and 39, we see that two statements are made, the first being that faith is necessary to please God, and secondly, that it is the same belief that leads to salvation. But what is faith? Chapter 11, verse 1 gives us a definition. And personally, I like the King James rendition of this verse which says,

"Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1 KJV)

And looking at faith as a substance and faith as evidence, is faith that much different from hope? We hope in many things with no certain proof that they will come to fruition. But hope, as Rick stated a few weeks ago, is the desire for future good. Faith, on the other hand, is something that we believe beyond simple desire. We hope that the light turns on when we walk into a room and flip the switch. However, if faith is a substance, as stated here, then it means that it is a tangible or visible representation of what we believe. In other words, faith is the evidence of of our hope. I cannot see what you hope for or believe in, but I can see what you do because of that hope. By faith, you flip the light switch, knowing that without a doubt, the room will fill with light. So faith is an assurance that our hopes are not just empty desire and that our conviction is so evident that we have no doubts.

In verse three, we step into creation through the lens of faith. By faith, we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made by things that are visible. By faith, I understand that God created the world. He said, let there be light, and there was light. He separated the light from the darkness, creating day and night. Then he called the waters to form together in two separate places, one above and one below. He told the waters below to gather and cause dry land to appear, to create both earth and sea. Then he spoke every plant, every tree, every star, and every living creature into existence. And then he said, let us make man in our image as after our likeness. And all this he did. And then he looked at creation and said, it is very good. If you read through Genesis chapter one, you'll find 14 different times of God. Either God said, God called, or God blessed, each of these instances requiring the breath of God to issue the word of God, which we know from John 1:1:3 to be Jesus. And it says,

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made." (John 1:1-3)

This belief is foundational for everything that follows. Because if God did not create the universe, then there is no morality, there is no justice, and there is no hope beyond this pitiful existence that we have without God at the beginning. Nothing in between has purpose, and our faith at the end is meaningless.

Now to our first legacy, Abel. In verse four,

"By faith, Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous God, commending him by accepting his gifts and through his faith, though he died, he still speaks." (Hebrews 11:4)

Can you imagine being bragged on by your hundredth great nephew? Can you imagine leaving a legacy that could last from the beginning of time until even now? We've seen in chapter 10 how the sacrifices of the Law were foundational, were a foundational foreshadowing of the Messiah to come. But even before the Law, sacrifice was an important aspect of man's relationship with God. And if we go to Genesis 4:1 10, we find Abel's story.

"Now, Adam knew his wife, Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord. And again she bore his brother Abel. Now, Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time, Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground. And Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel's offering and his offering. But for Cain and his offering, he had no regard. So Cain was very angry and fell on his face, or his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, why are you angry? And why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, and you must rule over it. Cain spoke to Abel, his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. And the Lord said to Cain, where is Abel, your brother? He said, I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper? And the Lord said, what have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground." (Genesis 4:1-10)

I highly doubt that Abel would have chose for his story to end this way. Otherwise, why else would his blood have cried out for justice? But if we take A look at what made his sacrifice acceptable, more acceptable than his brother's. Cain brought the fruit of his labor with a very selfish attitude, as we see exemplified by the reaction that he has to being rejected. And God even gave him a second chance to make it right. And yet he still chose evil. Instead of going and getting a sheep to bring to sacrifice, he instead kills his brother, returns to evil. But for Abel, he brought the firstborn of the flock and of their fat portions. This doesn't sound like a baby lamb. It's not something small. This sounds more like a healthy stouffer feeds a family of seven lamb.

Abel chose to bring the best lamb he had been provided and to give it back to the Lord. He believed that the sacrifice he made was not from himself or his abilities or his strength, but that it was provided by God for God. Just as God had provided for his parents in the garden, sacrificing an animal in their stead to cover their sin and shame. This proof of belief earned him life after death and righteousness before God. And as we see here in Hebrews 11, his legacy of sacrifice and faith has endured for generations beyond the grave.

Next we have Enoch, mentioned in verse 5.

"By faith, Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death. And he was not found because God had taken him. Now, before he was taken, he was commended as having pleased God." (Hebrews 11:5)

There isn't much scripture about Enoch, and he is really only mentioned briefly in the descendants of Abraham and then in this text in Hebrews. And we can read about him in Genesis 5, 1824.

"When Jared had lived 162 years, he fathered Enoch. Jared lived after he fathered Enoch 800 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Jared were 962 years and he died. When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after He fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God and was not, for God took him." (Genesis 5:18-24)

Now verse 23 is or 24 is rather unusual there because unlike the previous generations listed, where we only get a basic summary of the years they lived and then they died. Enoch gets an additional verse instead. It describes him as having walked with God, a description not given to the other men. He must have been an incredible man of faith, for it seems that Enoch was walking so close to God that one moment he was walking on earth and the next he stepped right into the throne. Room of God. It's as if Enoch's on heaven's door and the Lord let him right in.

What a legacy to leave behind. In a time when men lived into their nine hundreds, he was taken in his three hundreds. A rather short life by the standards of that time. And it appears that everyone of his day knew exactly where he went. They knew that he was pursuing a good report with God. Thus his commendation is recorded here in verse five of Hebrews. And just as he received an extra verse in Genesis, Enoch warrants a second verse here in Hebrews as well. And verse six continues.

"For without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

This Hebrew audience would begin to realize the necessity of faith as they reviewed these stories afresh through the lens of Christ. Abel's legacy of life beyond the grave. Enoch walking literally with God to the bypassing of the grave. What a reward to receive the object of their faith. Draw drew them near as they sought relationship with him.

But why would the Hebrew audience need to hear this? Why would they need to be warned in the previous chapter that to turn back was to destruction? Why be told that faith is a substance of the invisible things? There's a similarity that we see between Abel and Enoch and we will also see about Noah in a moment. All three of these men lived before the law of Moses.

These Hebrews are coming from a works of the law religion which was a perversion of the original intent of the law. The Law's purpose was to show us our sin and to make it clear that we needed a more excellent sacrifice than even Abel could offer. The Hebrews, being bound by laws and tradition, focused on the self righteous work of keeping the law, the feast and the traditions of their fathers. Rather than accepting God's promised fulfillment, they continued to rely on their sacrifices. Instead of accepting the new relational covenant where the veil of the law separating God and man has been torn in two, mankind could once again walk with God, not standing afar off, as the Israelites chose to do in Exodus 20.

They ran from God asking for an intercessor so that they would not have to draw close to God. We know how all of that played out reading through the Old Testament of how they would come to the Lord and then stray away. They would come to the Lord and stray away. And if you want to see a nice little summary of that, the book of Hosea is a good read for that. Coming to the Lord and drawing back. But that. But now that Jesus had come, they could draw near again and be like Abel and, and Enoch, and as we will see, like Noah. And finally, we come to verse seven by faith.

"Noah, being warned of God concerning events as yet unseen in reverent fear, constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith." (Hebrews 11:7)

So. So in Genesis 6, we've seen Noah and his testimony before the flood, particularly if you read the last half of the verse of verse 9 in Genesis 6,

"Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God." (Genesis 6:9)

We see that he was walking with God like his great grandfather Enoch. And in verse 22 of Genesis 6 it says that

"Noah did this and he did all that God commanded him." (Genesis 6:22)

In a world where God had been forsaken, Noah chose to walk in reverence and obedience, recognizing the power of the holy and just God. He did not hesitate to build something that nobody had ever seen, the ark. When God told him to save his family from something that no one had ever experienced before, that is rain. In Genesis 2 and 6, in four chapters before Noah, it says that until that point, since the beginning of time, a mist would rise from the ground and water the earth. So rain didn't even exist.

Yet Noah believed God, and this faith led him to do all that God had commanded him. There was substance to his belief and the ark being evidence of that. By that he received deliverance from condemnation because of his faith, even though it was not quite as extravagant as escaping the grave like his great grandfather. Nonetheless, he and his house were saved from death, while the rest of the world received judgment and drowned. Through faith, he inherited the legacy of the witness of Abel and the testimony of Enoch, righteousness with God.

The faith of Enoch has led to his great grandson walking with God also in seven verses. In these seven verses, we've covered roughly 1600 years from creation in just three believers. These three believers, that's 10 generations overall of fathers teaching their sons, teaching their sons.

It's a scarlet thread of believers from creation through the flood. And as we read on through Hebrews, we will see that thread connect from creation to all of us who believe.

Each of these people we've examined present a characteristic of Christ's journey laid out in chapter 10. Jesus offered a more excellent sacrifice, after which he sat down at the right hand of the father.

Jesus walked with his father to his good pleasure. And he, in his reverent labor, provided a new covenant to deliver his children from condemnation and wrath.

So where Is the substance of your faith the evidence of your belief? Have you received the reward of seeking God?

Are you an heir to the legacy of Christ? And then bears the question, how do we please God in application? We must strive to build a legacy of faith that will extend beyond our time here on earth, so that the generations after us will see that walking with God in faith is what makes us the heirs of his righteousness in Philippians 2, 12, 13

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now not only as in my presence, but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good. Pleasure, Pleasure." (Philippians 2:12-13)

Paul expresses the working out of our salvation.

I read this as exercising as living out our faith and realizing that even then it is not our works, but it is God who works within us to bring him glory.

So we offer our faith up as Abel did, recognizing the sacrifice that God has made in our stead.

We walk by faith, as Enoch did, in pursuit of pleasing him, communing with him to the salvation of our very souls. And we live out our faith as Noah did, waiting to be delivered from this mortal world, while continuing to believe that all his work is for his glory and our good. We rest in the hope of Christ, our salvation, not leaning on our own works and abilities, as Cain did, but on the perfect sanctifying work of Jesus Christ. Thank you.

Sermons

Legacy of Faith - Hebrews 11:1-7 - September 27, 2026 - Benjamin Huffman