A Postscript to Hebrews 11
by Bryan Gibson
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By faith first century Christians ...
By faith Crispus obeyed the gospel of Christ, despite the fact it cost him his “job” (Acts 18:8).
By faith the Ethiopian eunuch insisted on being baptized immediately (Acts 8:35-39).
By faith the Christians in Ephesus made a clean break from the past, when they burned the books they had used in their sinful practices, the value of which was 50,000 pieces of silver (Acts19:18-20).
By faith many of the Corinthians also repented, when they turned to the Lord and stopped practicing such things as fornication, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, stealing, covetousness, drunkenness, reviling, and extortion (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
By faith, Eunice, without the help of a believing husband, raised Timothy in the training and admonition of the Lord (Acts 16:1; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; 3:14-15).
By faith, Priscilla, working side by side with her believing husband, did much to promote the kingdom of God (Acts 18:2-3, 18, 24-26; Romans 16:3-4; 1 Corinthians 16:19).
By faith Peter and John withstood threats against them and continued to boldly preach
the gospel of Christ (Acts 4:13-22).
By faith, Antipas, a member of the church at Pergamos, gave his life for the Lord (Revelation 2:12-13).
By faith Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God—in prison, with their feet in stocks, and still suffering from the beating they received earlier in the day (Acts 16:22-25).
By faith Barnabas sold his land, not to benefit himself, but to meet the urgent needs
of others (Acts 4:32-37).
By faith Dorcas did many good works, especially for widows (Acts 9:36-39).
By faith Gaius showed hospitality to those who preached, and in so doing became a fellow-worker
for the truth (3 John 1:5-8).
By faith the church at Philippi had fellowship with Paul in the gospel, by sending him support time and again (Phil. 1:3-5; 4:10, 14-18).
By faith Paul took advantage of the door for the gospel opened to him at Ephesus
(1 Corinthians 16:5-9).
By faith, Philemon, a member of the church at Colosse, showed love for all the saints, and in so doing brought joy and consolation to the hearts of many (Philemon 1:4-7).
By faith Epaphras prayed fervently for all his brethren (Colossians 4:12-13).
By faith Titus rejoiced in the obedience of his fellow-Christians (2 Corinthians 7:13-15).
By faith a few in the church at Sardis continued to faithfully serve the Lord, even when
most in the church did not (Revelation 3:1-6).
“And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell
of Demetrius (3 John 1:12) and Stephanas (1 Corinthians 16:15)
and Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-30), also of Onesiphorous (2
Timothy 1:16-18) and a host of other faithful Christians: who
through faith walked in the way of truth, withdrew from those
who did not, devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints,
refreshed the hearts of their brethren, confronted and rebuked
false teaching, and some were beheaded for the gospel and otherwise tortured.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who
comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a
rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
“And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4).
Please ponder this serious question: do any of these passages teach faith-only? Is faith-only taught anywhere in the Bible? Please see: Can We Be Saved by Faith Only?
What are the conditions of salvation given by Jesus?
Return to the "Does Doctrinal Purity Matter?" landing page.
By faith first century Christians ...
By faith Crispus obeyed the gospel of Christ, despite the fact it cost him his “job” (Acts 18:8).
By faith the Ethiopian eunuch insisted on being baptized immediately (Acts 8:35-39).
By faith the Christians in Ephesus made a clean break from the past, when they burned the books they had used in their sinful practices, the value of which was 50,000 pieces of silver (Acts19:18-20).
By faith many of the Corinthians also repented, when they turned to the Lord and stopped practicing such things as fornication, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, stealing, covetousness, drunkenness, reviling, and extortion (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
By faith, Eunice, without the help of a believing husband, raised Timothy in the training and admonition of the Lord (Acts 16:1; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; 3:14-15).
By faith, Priscilla, working side by side with her believing husband, did much to promote the kingdom of God (Acts 18:2-3, 18, 24-26; Romans 16:3-4; 1 Corinthians 16:19).
By faith Peter and John withstood threats against them and continued to boldly preach
the gospel of Christ (Acts 4:13-22).
By faith, Antipas, a member of the church at Pergamos, gave his life for the Lord (Revelation 2:12-13).
By faith Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God—in prison, with their feet in stocks, and still suffering from the beating they received earlier in the day (Acts 16:22-25).
By faith Barnabas sold his land, not to benefit himself, but to meet the urgent needs
of others (Acts 4:32-37).
By faith Dorcas did many good works, especially for widows (Acts 9:36-39).
By faith Gaius showed hospitality to those who preached, and in so doing became a fellow-worker
for the truth (3 John 1:5-8).
By faith the church at Philippi had fellowship with Paul in the gospel, by sending him support time and again (Phil. 1:3-5; 4:10, 14-18).
By faith Paul took advantage of the door for the gospel opened to him at Ephesus
(1 Corinthians 16:5-9).
By faith, Philemon, a member of the church at Colosse, showed love for all the saints, and in so doing brought joy and consolation to the hearts of many (Philemon 1:4-7).
By faith Epaphras prayed fervently for all his brethren (Colossians 4:12-13).
By faith Titus rejoiced in the obedience of his fellow-Christians (2 Corinthians 7:13-15).
By faith a few in the church at Sardis continued to faithfully serve the Lord, even when
most in the church did not (Revelation 3:1-6).
“And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell
of Demetrius (3 John 1:12) and Stephanas (1 Corinthians 16:15)
and Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-30), also of Onesiphorous (2
Timothy 1:16-18) and a host of other faithful Christians: who
through faith walked in the way of truth, withdrew from those
who did not, devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints,
refreshed the hearts of their brethren, confronted and rebuked
false teaching, and some were beheaded for the gospel and otherwise tortured.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who
comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a
rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
“And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4).
Please ponder this serious question: do any of these passages teach faith-only? Is faith-only taught anywhere in the Bible? Please see: Can We Be Saved by Faith Only?
What are the conditions of salvation given by Jesus?
Return to the "Does Doctrinal Purity Matter?" landing page.