Impossible

“Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Heb. 11:6

Now let it be clearly understood: when Scripture declares something "impossible," it extinguishes every human hope.

“Why,” you may ask, “does God place such an emphasis on faith?”

The answer is clear. Faith alone points to the Son (the object)…and gives all glory to God. The empty hand of faith confesses that I have nothing, deserve nothing, and can plead nothing before God except the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faith looks to Christ crucified and says, "There is my hope!" It doesn’t rest on works, wisdom, or worthiness but solely on the work of Christ—His life, His death, and His resurrection.

So, returning to the text…

“Without faith, it is impossible to please God.”

You say, "I know, pastor, impossible.”

But do you really understand this? We'd never try to please Him without faith, would we? Would we? We might be surprised.

How do we try to please him without faith?

By:

Hoping He will be pleased with my attendance in church.

Hoping He will be pleased with my confession of faith.

Hoping he will be pleased with my good-doing.

Hoping He will be pleased with my alms giving.

No? How about...

Hoping He will be pleased with my theological knowledge.

Hoping He will be pleased with my strict Sabbath observance.

Hoping He will be pleased with my reverence in worship.

Hoping He will be pleased with my public prayers.

Hoping He will be pleased with my zealous witnessing.

Hoping He will be pleased with my frequent fasting.

Hoping He will be pleased with my adherence to creeds and confessions.

Hoping He will be pleased with my bible debates and victories.

No? How about...

Hoping He will be pleased with my separation from worldly sins.

Hoping He will be pleased with my regular family worship.

Hoping He will be pleased with my mastery of the King James Bible.

Hoping He will be pleased with my diligent church involvement.

Hoping He will be pleased with my abstaining from worldly entertainments.

Hoping He will be pleased with my leadership in the church.

Hoping He’ll be pleased with my servanthood in the church.

Hoping He will be pleased with my eloquence in preaching.

Hoping He will be pleased with my support for missionary work.

Hoping He will be pleased with my commitment to the church of my youth.

Hoping He will be pleased with my vast library of Puritan writings.

Hoping He will be pleased with my participation in Bible studies.

Hoping He will be pleased with my rejection of false teachings.

No? How about...

Hoping He will be pleased with my tears of repentance.

Hoping He will be pleased with my secret sighs.

Hoping He will be pleased with my silent suffering.

Hoping He will be pleased with my private giving.

Hoping He will be pleased with my fears of unworthiness.

Hoping He will be pleased with my avoidance of temptation.

Hoping He will be pleased with my quiet endurance of trials.

Hoping He will be pleased with my unspoken doubts, battled.

Hoping He will be pleased with my secret promises to be better.

Hoping He will be pleased with my silence in judgment over others.

Hoping He will be pleased with my quiet sacrifices for the kingdom.

Hoping He will be pleased with my controlling my temper.

Hoping He will be pleased with my quiet humility.

Hoping He will be pleased with my secret confessions to Him alone.

Hoping He will be pleased with my inward groaning to be holy.

Hoping He will be pleased with my silent fight against sin.

Hoping He will be pleased with my silent cries for understanding.

Hoping He will be pleased with my longings for His coming kingdom.

Hoping He will be pleased with my hope for heaven at last.

Not without faith.

Without faith, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please Him.