We come to the final verses of the chapter and they all are Paul’s condensing of he might have said regarding the accomplishments of FAITH, had he time! It will take all of eternity to relate all that faith has accomplished in the lives of God’s redeemed ones! And that is because FAITH’s accomplishments continue in eternity!
1. The story of the accomplishments of faith is too great to tell. Rev 7:9-10.
2. There is no problem that ever faced a human being from which faith cannot bring deliverance by faith. 33-38. Remember, faith delivered the martyrs from the flames and took them death to heaven. Acts 7:59.
3. Though faith in Christ will bring reproach us all to some measure in this world, it will eventually take the believer to glory. 39-40.
These verses set out the differences between the privileges of the OT and NT believers. The OT believers did not see the Messiah Who promised to them whereas we in the NT age know that the Messiah has come and we have a fuller revelation of Him in the NT books.
John Gill wrote: “They had Christ in the promise, we have him himself that was promised; they had him in type and shadow, we have him in reality and truth; they believed in, and were saved by Christ, who was to come; we believe in him, and are saved by him, as being come . . . To us the Gospel is dispensed in a better manner, more dearly and fully.”
However, together, the Old and New Testament believers will be made perfection glory one day.
4. Here is the hope of all who believe in the Lord Jesus for salvation.
“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness,” Psalm 17:15.
“Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!” Psalm 31:19.
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is,” 1 Jn 3:2.
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us,” Romans 8:18.
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him,” 1 Corinthians 2:9.
“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory,” Colossians 3:4.
“For our conversation (lifestyle — how we live) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself,” Philippians 3:20-21.
This what faith in Christ has assured us of, given us a glorious hope of!
Boys and girls have you this hope in your heart today?