Faith: Deliverance and Endurance through Suffering

Sep 8, 2024

Lecture Notes: Hebrews 11:29-38 - Faith and Suffering

Introduction

  • Speaker: John Piper
  • Date: August 10, 1997
  • Location: Bethlehem Baptist Church
  • Main Text: Hebrews 11:29-38
  • Theme: How faith sustains through suffering, not just deliverance from it.

Key Concepts

The Role of Faith

  • Faith can lead to both miraculous deliverance from suffering and sustaining through suffering.
  • Faith is not a guarantee of comfort or security.

Miraculous Deliverance

  • Verses 29-35a: Examples of miraculous acts by faith:
    • Israelites crossing the Red Sea (v.29).
    • Walls of Jericho falling (v.30).
    • Shutting the mouths of lions and quenching fire (v.33-34).
    • Rahab's survival by faith (v.31).
  • Miracles as interruptions of natural cause and effect.

Sustaining Through Suffering

  • Verses 35b-38: Examples of suffering endured by faith:
    • Torture and imprisonment.
    • Being stoned, sawn in two, killed by the sword.
    • Living destitute, afflicted, ill-treated.
  • Verse 35: Shift highlighted – from deliverance to suffering by faith.

God's Providence

  • God’s will can influence and restrain the actions of people (e.g., the story of Abimelech and Abraham).
  • God's sovereignty in suffering; he permits and ordains suffering but also sustains through it.

Understanding God and Faith

  • Defective Views of God: Both Christians and non-Christians may have incorrect views of God’s role in suffering.
  • The Bible portrays suffering as a part of faith, not necessarily a consequence of unbelief.

Applications

  • Faith and Miracles: Understand that faith may lead to miracles or providential acts.
  • Faith and Suffering: Endure suffering through faith, knowing it's not a result of lack of faith.
  • Misinterpretations: Guard against theology that separates God's purpose from events caused by others (e.g., free will arguments).

Conclusion

  • Main Takeaway: Faith sustains whether through deliverance or through enduring suffering.
  • Future Lectures: Continuation of the series will further explore faith and its declarations about God.

This lecture emphasizes the importance of understanding faith as both a path to deliverance and as strength in suffering, challenging certain theological perspectives on God's role in human suffering.