Good Morning! - 2010.06.30 - Hebrews 11:6 - He That Cometh To God

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 seekhim. (Hebrews 11:6)

For many (including me), this verse is straightforward and simple. Just take it like it is. Others find it exceedingly complicated and it has drawn the attention of theologians for centuries as they have grappled with the implications of it. It is bare and broad and is available to those who know the least about God. But in all cases faith is in response to what God has shown men.

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:19-20)

We have to face the obvious question: "Does God show men without a Bible and without a preacher enough to make them lost but withhold enough information from them that is required for them to be saved?

God is the creator of all men in every nation and in every century. All men are sinners and lost without God in every nation and every century. This verse is for all and any of them. How much does a man have to know to approach God? To approach God, men must do two things: 1. Believe that He exists and 2. Believe that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. I leave it to the "experts" to place the conditions and the doctrines that must be involved in this verse.

It helps to remember that Jesus was both creator and redeemer. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made (John 1:3).

God would have all men to be saved. Jesus said: And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die (John 12:32-33). He also said:

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:44)

In Noah's day: … the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

Whether it was in Noah's day or in our day, men are drawn by the Spirit of God and He is the agent of conviction and regeneration and baptism into the body of Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1Corinthians 12:13)

It is not wise to put Hebrews 11:6 into a box of time or make it apply to a certain nation or to people with a certain amount of background, etc. Shall we write more into the text to please ourselves? How much does a man have to know to approach God? This verse comes out of the great faith chapter: Hebrews 11. Each of the people of faith mentioned in that chapter are from many different times and settings.

They did not all know the same thing about their past or about their future. I grow weary of reading all the things men supposedly knew who did not have the New Testament to explain the meaning of what they read in the Old Testament and also what men supposedly knew who had no Bible at all. It is a fact that in all of human history, only a handful of people had a written copy of any part of the Word of God. The Gutenberg press was not invented until about 1440. But, all men had a copy of God's book written into the creation of the world including the sun, moon, and stars.

But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. (Romans 10:16-18)

Speech – Knowledge – Voice - Heard

I have found, and most commentators concede, that there is only one place in the Bible that this could refer to and that is: The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:1-3)

Abraham and Us

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; (Romans 4:20-24)

Who raised Christ from the dead? But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)

Conclusion: God has always shown every man in every nation and in every century who is accountable for his sins, enough by which every man is lost and by which every man can be saved. Jesus was raised up on the cross and therefore drew all men unto himself at some point in every life in some way to enable men to "believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."

If men have heard the story of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ then they must believe and accept that in order to be saved. If they have not heard of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, they have sufficient witness of God from God's creation by which to call upon Him for His mercy and forgiveness. It is then up to God and not up to man as to what else God will show them for them to exercise saving faith.