Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-06-12
OF
FAITH
Sunday School Lesson fOs June I5. 1909
Specially Arranged for TINS Paper


CRY verses "a 3
GOLDEN TENT-"FaIth is the sub
stance OF things hoped FOR. the evidence
or things not seen.-Heb 1l.f
Suggestion and Practical Thought.
Subject: What Faith Has Done
Tor Others and Can DO for Us
What Faith Is.-Vs. Is. How does
the writer define faith? Faith is the
substance OF things hoped for. the evil
dence of things not seen" Faith is
not hope. but underlies hope and rem
oers hope confident Faith is not the
vision OF mysteries. but that proof OF
them IN heart and life which assures
us OF them without any sight OF them
How does the writer illustrate this
faith? BY Dc the elders mot all men
OF ancient time. but those OF special
renown called 'elders) obtained
good report Or. " had witness
borne to them. g. O.. IN the Scripture.
This verse sums up the long and
splendid catalogue that follows
What is the first example OF faith?
That OF Abel the righteous $50 called
three times out Of the four mentions
or him in The New Testament: see
Matt 1885; 4 John 3.I2l. His faith
IN God led 90 obedience. and thus he
ohered the kind of sacrifice which
God approved and accepted. perhaps
by fire from heaven.
What Is the second example of
faith? The patriarch Enoch. who
walked with God" tthe Septuagint.
used here. has it was well pleasing 90
God')i and he was not: for God took
him. This proves HIS faith. for no
one can go 20 God without faith in
him
What is the third example of faithe
Noah, whose faith I'm Gods warnings
OF the coming dcluge led him TO build
the ark. Noah is the first 20 re-
ceive in Scripture the name righteous
tGen. 6:9; see also Ezek I4.I4. 20:
Pet 2:5). This righteousness is
looked on as an inheritance. received
by all who manifest the faith."-El-
licott
What is the fourth example OF
faith? The glorious example Of
"faithful-faithhled Abraham" who
proved his faith by leaving his native
land. his friends. his home. al the com
mand OF God. and going be knew not
whittier, living In tents in the prom
Used land. and not even owning a foot
OF II except a place 20 bury his dead
wife.
How does the writer sum up the
lessons OF these great uves2 BY point.
iRg 20 the contrast between the earth
ly lot OF the patrisrchs and the expec-
tauons which their faith led them 90
cherish.
Abraham's Great Test of Faith
VS.. 17-l9. What is the point OF the
writer's next illustration? The value
f tests of faith. Think how many
-ager hopes we're centered upon
young Isaac. what long waiting was
rewarded by him. what glorious
promises had their fruit in him In
Isaac should his (Abraham's) seed be
called Gen. 21;12): that Is. Isaac and
his descendants were 10 be counted
especially as Abraham's seed. inherit
ing the promises made to him. And
now his loving father has offered
Isaac up Or. V. margin) for Abra-
hams submission &c Gods Will is so
entire that the sacrifice is as good as
completed and the lad as good as
dead; so that. when the ram was sub
stituted (Gen. 22;13) for the boy.
Abraham may truly be said to have
received his son back again from the
grave
How Faith Gives Clear Vision
VS.. 20-22. What is the point OF the
next three illustrations. those OF
Isaac. Jacob and Joseph? In each
case. the clear vision of the future
that faith gives
Moses Great Venture OF Faith-Vs.
1881. How many conspicuous in.
stances of faith does the writer note
In connection with the exodus from
Egypt and conquest OF Canaan? Seven
in all-not because seven is the per
feet number" nor because there were
not more than seven, but because
". 32) time failed him TO recount
others, such as the victory at Rephi-
dim. the healing wrought by the
brazen serpent. the report OF the two
faithful spies. These seven are:
The preservation Of Moses by his
parents; the choice made by Moses
when he slew the Egyptian (Ex. Ell.
~. which was a virtual remuneration
OF the royal court and the treasures
OF Egypt" and an assumption CT the
cause OF the ensiaved nation OF the
Teproach Of Christi" the forsaking OF
Egypt by Moses; the celebration of
the first passover; the passage OF the
Red sea: the fall of Jericho. which
was the result of the peoples faith.
tested severely by the seven days OF
persistent obedience in almost total
inaction; the preservation OF Rahab.
who alone of the people OF Jericho
had faith TO believe in the destiny OF
the Israelites. though all Jericho had
the same knowledge that she had OF
what the Lord had done for his people
Josh. 2:10).
Heavens Honor Roll.-Vs. 32-4O.
How does the writer close his ex.
amples of faithy He instances the
faith OF Gideon, OF Barsk, OF Samson.
OF David and OF Samuel. with other
notable examples.