Mark’s Memos

”By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.” (Hebrews 11:4) Both Cain and his brother Abel offered up a sacrifice...

“By faith Abel …” (Hebrews 11:4a) The modern perspective of faith is typically that faith is asking God to do something you want Him to do and if it happens you must have had enough faith, and if it didn’t happen either 1) you didn’t have enough faith or 2) it wasn’t...

”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) We can’t please God without faith! What is this faith that pleases God? How does faith...

”By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” (Hebrews 11:3) We believe God created the earth and human beings by faith – faith in the biblical account of creation....

”Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) 1. Faith is the substance of things hoped for – faith is what gives hope the likelihood of being realized. 2. Faith is the evidence of things not seen – faith is the...

"For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." (Heb. 10:37-38; Hab. 2:3-4) Many people today get sidetracked and draw back from faithfully...

”Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” (Heb. 10:35-36) Notice that the author of Hebrews tells us we have need of endurance. What...

"For you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.” (Heb. 10:34) These believers had compassion on the author when he faced severe...

“For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.  And again, ‘The LORD will judge His people.’ [Deut. 32:35-36] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:30-31) We tend to focus more on God’s mercy than...

"For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26-27) Talking about sin and...