By: Robert Serreyn

Question? According to Hebrews 11:13 what are “The Promises” spoken of?

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Answer:

Chapter 11 of Hebrews is known as the Faith Chapter or in other words “The Hall of Fame” of the Old Testament saints WHO stood for the Lord.

The Promises spoken of in V13 are referring to ALL the Treasures – Matthew 6:20,12, Rewards (For their Faithfulness – V2) and the MANY other promises such as the receiving of their Glorified Resurrected bodies(at the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom reign of Christ here on earth), Jesus WOULD DIE (looking Foward to the cross) as the “Complete Payment” for sin (the lamb that was slain – Rev. 5:12) etc mentioned in the Bible.

Matthew 6:20-21 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (21) For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Hebrews 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

NOTE: Good Report = Faithfulness – 1 Corinthians 4:2.

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

To further substantiate “The Promises” in V13 let’s take a look at 1 Chronicles 29:15 which states…

For we are strangers (OT Saints) before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers (OT Prophets): our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding (Living).

King David in Chp. 29, V15 STATED in which V13 of Hebrews Chp. 11 is speaking about says that ALL THESES (The Promises) were but A SHADOW in other words “Things to Come” as Hebrews 11:13 says those promises were “Seen Afar Off”.

“Our Days” should be understood as “Days of Serving or Service to the Lord while they were alive”, Therefore they were expecting and waiting to recieve BUT “These Promises” were not for them “AT THAT TIME” (while they were alive – Seen Afar Off) but would be given later on – (Shadow, Things to Come).

In Conclusion:

There are those THAT TEACH that “The Promises” in Hebrews 11:13 is speaking of Jesus Christ and therefore make a “Wrong Conclusion”. What they FAIL TO NOTICE is that V13 says “THE PROMISES” (plural) not “The Promise” (singular).

Those of the Tongues Movement make the SAME MISTAKE as they try to say that the word “Perfect” in 1 Corinthians 13:10 is referring to Christ THEY also FAIL by either ignorance or deliberate that the words “THAT WHICH” are in the NEUTER GENDER referring to a object (The Bible) not a Noun (a Person).

1 Corinthians 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

In order to “Rightly Discern” the Word of God we must also CAREFULLY take note of THE WORDS used in the Word of God.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.

The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.

-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8

-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24

-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9

“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23

IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH