Hebrews 11:32 (LSB) And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I recount Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, as well as David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, performed righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong from weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36 and others experienced mockings and floggings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword. They went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, mistreated 38 (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in desolate places and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

Hebrews 11 recounts for us several highlights of the Old Testament. Instead of the score of the game, it gives us the names of the saints. It's incredible what men and women can do on the track, on the ice, or on a field. But the list in Hebrews 11 trumps them all. Walls fall down. The dead are raised. Lions are tamed. Flames have no effect. Incredible are these accomplishments. But, take a closer look at the list. What do we have? A prostitute in Rahab. An idolater in Gideon. A wimp in Barak. A vow breaker in Samson. A child sacrificer in Jephtha. An adulterer and murderer in David. A terrible father in Samuel. A rebellious prophet in Jonah. I could go on.

Yet none of their wicked deeds is recorded in Hebrews 11. Why? Because only that which is done in faith survives the fire of judgment.

Faith seems pretty important, then, so what is faith? Faith in its simplest terms is believing God. But what does that mean? Faith believes everything God has revealed of Himself. To be saved, you need to know, assent, and rely upon Him alone for your salvation. You need to know that He is three persons and one being. You need to know that Jesus Christ is 100% God and 100% man, that He has kept all the law on behalf of all who rely upon His righteousness alone for their right standing before God. You need to know that He was crucified, dead, and buried to absorb the wrath of God on behalf of all who believe. You need to know that He was raised to life to demonstrate that His death was not for Himself and that He sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for all His chosen saints.

But even if you know this, you are not saved until you rely upon Him alone. It is His righteousness that He gives to all His saints that saves us. It is by His grace that we are raised out of the death of our sins and wickedness such that we want to believe in Him.

When this happens, all your wicked deeds are paid for in Christ. Only the deeds done by faith and reliance upon God remain, for those, ultimately, are God's works, not yours. Anything you do by faith is a result of what God has already done in you, working into you the desire and the power to accomplish those good deeds that He has laid out for you.

Now, your by-faith-deeds won't be as spectacular as conquering kingdoms, raising the dead, or stopping the mouths of lions. But they will be significant. Perhaps you will forgive someone for what he or she has done to you. Perhaps you will help someone cross the street. Perhaps you will help someone grow in his or her faith. Perhaps you will pray when no one else is watching. Perhaps you will encourage another to worship the One, True God.

Whatever your deeds, they will be deeds done for which you can and shall testify, "Only by the grace of God and only to His glory did I do anything that gives evidence to His great work in my heart."

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#SoliDeoGloria