Heb 11:5-10 “Through Faith we Understand that the Worlds were Framed by the Word of God” – Part 3

[Study Aired February 25, 2021]

Heb 11:5  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. 
Heb 11:6  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.
Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 
Heb 11:9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 
Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 

God has made us to need each member of the body of Christ where we find safety in a multitude of counsellors and opportunity to grow together in the mind of our Lord as a many-membered church that is one body which “maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” [(1Co 14:26-27, 1Co 12:20-23, Eph 4:16 – After Christ shows Peter and the other disciples where our power comes from to feed each other in John 21:6, then Peter was instructed to “Feed my lambs…Feed my sheep…Feed my sheep”. Peter was still under the impression that he loved the others more, and yet the whole point of that fishing excursion was to teach the disciples that they need each other and that it is God’s love that must be shed abroad in our hearts if we ever to have any hope of  fulfilling these words “Feed my lambs…Feed my sheep…Feed my sheep” (Joh 21:15-17)].

1Co 14:26  How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying [1Co 14:3, 2Co 1:4].
1Co 14:27  If, with a tongue, one is speaking, let it be by two, or, at the most, three, — and by turns; and let one be translating; (REV) [‘We have to eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ decently and in order or it won’t quicken us’ (1Co14:39-40)]

1Co 12:20  But now are they many members, yet but one body.
1Co 12:21  And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
1Co 12:22  Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
1Co 12:23  And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

We need someone to translate God’s Word to us properly, or we will eventually find ourselves leaning unto our own understanding (Pro 3:5-7). There are multiple ways we can take God’s Word and make an idol of it around our own hearts (Eze 14:3, Mat 6:21-23), and it’s only when we have the shared mind of Christ that those idols can be recognized and destroyed for the greater good of the Body (Joh 6:55-57, Act 8:30-31, Col 1:13, Joh 8:51). When we trust in the Lord with all our heart, we are trusting in and being persuaded of the structure that God has given us for our growth, so that we can all come to a fullness that is in Christ (‘that structure explained‘ – Eph 3:1-21, Eph 4:10-13)

Pro 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Pro 3:6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Pro 3:7  Be not wise in thine own eyes: [Php 3:9, 1Co 2:5] fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Eze 14:3  Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

Mat 6:20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also [Mat 19:22].
Mat 6:22  The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
Mat 6:23  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

Joh 6:55  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
Joh 6:56  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.
Joh 6:57  As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

Act 8:30  So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
Act 8:31  And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Col 1:13  He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

Eph 3:17  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:18  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

When God’s Word, which is spirit, is rightly divided, it quickens us (1Co 2:13, Joh 6:63) and gives us the ability to be led by the spirit as we compare spirit with spirit using the physical (Joh 3:6).

1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Joh 6:63  It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

The spirit bears witness that we are being “transferred to the kingdom of his beloved Son“, which happens when we are led by the holy spirit (Rom 8:14-16) as God delivers us from the “domain of darkness” spoken of in Col0ssians 1:13.

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

When we are raised in heavenly places, or taken up, we don’t see death, only life, which is what this ‘translation’ or ‘taking up’ of Enoch symbolized: “by faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death” (Eph 2:4-6, Joh 8:51).

Eph 2:4  But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
Eph 2:5  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ–by grace you have been saved —
Eph 2:6  and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [Joh 6:56, Col 1:27]

Joh 8:51  Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word [Rev 1:3], he will never see death.”

[We do not see death any more because all the promises in him  (Rom 14:8) are yea (2Co 1:20), and we know that all things are ours (1Co 3:21) and that all things, the light and darkness, the good and the evil (Isa 45:7) are all working out according to the counsel of God’s will whose purpose is being fulfilled in our heavens by having his love shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 8:28, Rom 5:5).]

[God’s counsel that is fulfilled in the world of those who live and move and have their being in Christ (Act 17:28) is also for our sakes (2Co 4:15), and so all these examples of those who died not having obtained the promise (Heb 11:13) are life-giving examples for the elect’s sake today who are being quickened by these very profitable stories which are filled with promises that “find their Yes in him” our hope of glory within (2Co 1:20 ESV, Col 1:27)].

Rom 14:8  For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

2Co 1:20  For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. (ESV)

1Co 3:21  So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,

Isa 45:7  I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.

Rom 8:28  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Rom 5:5  and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

The word “translate” is normally translated as “interpret” (1Co 14:27), and of course is not the same word as translated in Hebrews 11:5, but there is a connection in the symbolic meaning of what the word translated [or taken up (Heb 11:5 ESV)] is showing us.

Heb 11:5  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. (ESV)

In this study we will look at these few verses (Heb 11:5-10) to further understand how it is “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God“.

Heb 11:5  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.

Enoch’s ways were pleasing to God and as such he was translated^G3346. As discussed, that idea of being transported or carried over, or turned, or changing sides, are all events that typify what happens when we are led to repentance and become zealous for God and His purpose in our lives (Rom 2:4, 2Co 7:11). It pleases God when we become like children who have humble and contrite hearts that are entreatable (Mat 18:3-5, Jas 1:21). We “become as little children” when we “receive one such little child” which is symbolically telling us we receive Christ’s doctrine, His word: “And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.”

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? [“God had translated him that he should not see death” (Rom 6:23)]

2Co 7:11  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

[“…and was not found, because God had translated him” -“Not being found” is typical language telling us that he was not found in his flesh, which is what it means to “not see death“. Enoch typifies the elect who are not found because we are hidden in Christ (Col 3:3, Rom 6:11)]

Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid [“and was not found“] with Christ in God.

Rom 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Mat 18:3  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:5  And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

Jas 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

G3346 metatithēmi   
met-at-ith’-ay-mee
From G3326 and G5087; to transfer, that is, (literally) transport, (by implication) exchange, (reflexively) change sides, or (figuratively) pervert: – carry over, change, remove, translate, turn.

It is “before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God” and it’s important to notice those words before a testimony. The life that Enoch lived by faith pleased God as it was a type and shadow of how we must continue to be diligent in our labouring for the meat which does not perish as we press toward “the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Php 3:14)

God sets that prize before those who are granted to lay up a “testimony” in this life, an increase (1Co 3:6) that is given from God to those who are given eyes to see and ears to hear “before” the rest of humanity. It is because of that spiritual vision we are separated from the world and hated by all men for His name’s sake (Mat 10:22). If we endure that rejection as Christ did for us, and we can, through the power that God gives us through Christ (Php 4:13), then we will as a result be made ready to rule under our Lord (2Ti 2:12).

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end (Php 4:13) shall be saved.

Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
2Ti 2:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself (Php 4:13).

All the workmanship (Eph 2:10) within the body of Christ which precedes any increase that comes from God can be thought of as “I have planted, Apollos watered”, and is typified by the statement  “before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God”. Enoch’s pleasing God prior to being translated typifies our entire life being presented to God a living sacrifice, which is our reasonable service that prepares us for the ultimate translation in the first resurrection (Rev 20:6). In other words our steadily maturing day by day as we die daily pleases God and is the reason a “testimony” from God can be laid up in us through Christ (Rom 12:1, 1Co 15:52, Mat 6:21).

Heb 11:6  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.

This verse, with which we are all very familiar, comes right after talking about Enoch being translated by God who pleased God “for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God“.

Enoch’s ‘pleasing God’ is being used to typify for us how we need to “diligently seek him” knowing that in that conquest God must permit us the tried faith (Heb 6:1-3, 1Pe 1:7) which is being produced in those who “believe that he is” (Joh 6:28-29). With that faith we know our labours are not in vain (1Co 15:56-58), or said another way, “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.“

Heb 6:1  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Heb 6:2  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Heb 6:3  And this will we do, if God permit.

1Pe 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Joh 6:28  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

1Co 15:56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (Rev 12:5, Isa 26:17, Isa 66:9, Luk 10:20, Rev 19:7).

Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

We don’t know what is coming tomorrow, and neither should we be taking anxious thought about anything. However, we have been “warned of God of things not seen as yet” whether they be applied inwardly or outwardly in a dispensational way (Mat 6:34, Mat 24:4-13). It’s easy enough to say ‘don’t take any anxious thought’, but let’s continue to realize that, just like Noah, it will be by the faith God gives us as the body of Christ that we will be able to endure until the end, trimming our lamps which will need that extra oil so those trials through which we are taken will produce (Mat 25:7-9, Php 2:12-13). This ability to overcome through Christ is all being expressed with this typical statement, so “being warned of God of things not seen as yet“, Noah, who typifies the bride, the church, “moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house.“

Not seeing the gates of hell prevail against Christ’s body (Mat 16:18) is what “the saving of his house” typifies and was made possible by the ark being prepared. Each one of us is a joint that supplies in love to the building up of the ark which represents the body of Christ (Eph 4:16). We are, in that sense, in lock-step with Noah who “condemned the world” and “became heir of the righteousness which is by faith” when we look to the author and finisher of our faith, Jesus Christ, and are not conformed to this world (Heb 12:1-2, Rom 12:1-2).

Christ’s faith within us makes it possible for us to be joint heirs with Him. This following section of Romans 8 shows us the connection of movement with fear with becoming joint heirs with Christ, typified by Noah, who “became heir of the righteousness which is by faith” (Rom 8:14-17). There is a bondage “again to fear” when we don’t move with fear to be diligently about our Father’s business as Christ was (Luk 2:49). It is through judgment now that we will, Lord willing, keep moving with fear as His righteousness is produced by grace through faith (Heb 10:26-28, Eph 2:8-9)

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father [Heb 5:7].

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Heb 10:26  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:28  He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

“Not of works, lest any man should boast”, meaning Noah couldn’t boast about building an ark, and Enoch couldn’t boast in his being translated and being pleasing to God, nor can God’s children boast of anything when we “understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God” within us, as His workmanship (Rom 3:27, Eph 2:10).

Rom 3:27  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 
Heb 11:9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 
Heb 11:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Christ is typified by Abraham here, “by faith” (Gal 3:2-9, Jas 1:17-20, Joh 6:37-38, Joh 5:30) “when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance”  (Eph 1:11-12, Eph 1:18) and “obeyed” (Joh 8:28-29, Act 5:32).

Gal 3:2  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (Rom 10:17)
Gal 3:3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Gal 3:4  Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain (Php 3:9).
Gal 3:5  He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (Rom 10:17)
Gal 3:6  Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
Gal 3:7  Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
Gal 3:8  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify  the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
Gal 3:9  So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory,who first trusted in Christ.

Joh 8:28  Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man (Eph 2:6), then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
Joh 8:29  And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. (Rom 8:14-17, Joh 5:30, Joh 15:5, 1Jn 4:17).

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Rom 8:14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.