Second foundational teaching in Hebrews 6

3. Foundations
1. Repentance From Dead Works (Time on earth)
2. Faith Toward God (Time on earth)
3. Doctrine of Baptisms (Time on earth)
4. Laying on of Hands (Time on earth)
5. Resurrection of the Dead (Eternal)
6. Eternal Judgement (Eternal)
• From repentance on earth to judgement in heaven

4. Faith (upon) Toward God
Pisteos Epi Theon
Pisteos
Persuasion, moral conviction, faith
Epi
over, upon, outward
Theos
A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively a
magistrate God

5. Faith Toward God - Pisteos Epi Theon
A faith that is fully focused on God and not on anything else. That is, a faith
that rests on God (Trusts) and nothing else. God’s eternal rest. (Heb. 3:18-
4:1)
Countless numbers of even good people have died and gone to hell because
they didn’t die in Christ!
Your only Justification is Christ in you the hope of Glory. (Col. 1:27)
Good works are a fruit of salvation, not a way to obtain salvation. 3For by
grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is
the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we
are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Eph. 2:8-10) NASB

6. Faith toward God is the picture of complete trust; it depicts no self-
reliance; a faith that rests ONLY on God
The Hebrew believers were struggling to put their faith solely in God
and not also in their circumcision, the Law, temple sacrifices, taxes, and
the traditions and culture of Judaism. They were trusting in a multitude
of religious works to help make them right with God
The phrase “faith toward God” is translated from three Greek words —
pisteos epi theon, which describes a faith that is leaning on God and
trusting wholly in Him. It is the picture of complete trust. It depicts no
self-reliance but, instead, a faith that rests only on God

7. Pisteos Epi Theon really means a faith projecting upon God projecting
upon Him leaning upon Him holy trusting in Him not trusting in
anything else
It's the picture of complete trust, it depicts no self-reliance whatsoever
but it is a faith that rests only on God and upon God alone, not trusting
in any form of what the Bible here calls dead works
This is not a static faith, it just sits still but this is a moving faith it is
being projected it is moving forward
It actually means a faith that is projecting forward and resting fully on
God and not on anything else

8. Just Have Faith!
We are to leave the elementary teachings about Messiah and come to maturity, and so we start with repentance and then move on to faith in
God. Yeshua tells Nicodemus that whoever believes in the Son of God will not perish. So what does that mean? As believers, don’t we believe
that Yeshua is the Son of God? I mean, isn’t that what makes us believers? We believe in God and that He sent His only begotten Son to die for
us and that the Father and the Son are one. James 2:19 writes, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe and
shudder!” Believing in God is not enough; we must have faith in God. Our beginning Hebrews 6:1-2 reading tells us that “faith in God” is an
elementary principle. But in the Greek it reads pisteos epi Theon, which is translated “faith on God.” In other words, we put our faith on God,
not just in Him.
Now believing takes on a different meaning: “Faith now is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
How do we have the assurance that what we hope for we will one day see? Well, one thing we hope for is our salvation, our blessed hope. 1
Peter 1:4-5: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again
to a living hope through the resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled
and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in
the last time.” Here Peter tells us that we have been born again by God’s great mercy to a living hope because of Yeshua’s death, burial, and
resurrection. Because of the sacrifice of Yeshua on our behalf, we now can have faith on that selfless act of mercy. In other words, God showed
His love toward us that while we were still sinners, Messiah died for us (Romans 5:8), and everything else that we may ask or wait upon God
for pales in comparison to that act of love. We now can have the assurance that God hears our prayers and that He can be trusted to answer us
(1 John 5:14-15). Our faith rests now on God—not just that He merely exists, but that He loved us first and we can trust Him because He so
loved us. He made the way for us and we don’t need to make a way for ourselves. In other words, God has not abandoned us or left us
orphans. But what we must understand is that we still must have a fear of God (a devout reverence for who God is), because God does punish
sin. He is a rewarder of those who have faith and obedience in doing His will, but He also punishes and disciplines those who disobey and rebel
against Him. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and that wisdom consists of who God is and that we can have faith not only in God,
but on God.
So we have looked at repentance from dead works and faith on God.

11. It is good and right to do good works, especially things that will benefit others. In fact, good works are a sign that
we are saved (see James 2:17, 18). However, our good deeds and behaviors do not in any way earn us our
salvation. The only way to be saved and spend in eternity in Heaven is to trust in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ
and His resurrection from the dead. It is through faith in His righteous blood alone that we are made right with
God. If we are trusting in anything other than Christ, we are in eternal trouble.
It is impossible for us to save ourselves. We were each born a sinner — we possessed a sinful nature at birth
(see Romans 5:12; Psalm 58:3). Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Thankfully, God did not leave us in that condition. Instead, “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Those who embrace Christ’s sacrifice are reborn —
changed: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things
are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Jesus’ blood was the price paid for our redemption. Through faith in Him and His sacrifice alone are we saved.
Understanding this truth is foundational to our Christian life.

12. "Faith toward God"
The Old Testament covenants were based on faith in God (Gen. 15:6; Hab. 2:4). If repentance is the negative, turning from
sin and unbelief, then faith is the positive side. It is a 180 degree change. The early church preached repentance of sin and
faith focused on Jesus Christ. They turned from their dead works to faith toward God in Jesus Christ. Our author says,
"faith toward God" perhaps with his Jewish audience in mind. However, he has already stressed that Jesus is God (Heb.
1:1-3; 3:1-6). Faith in Christ is a major theme in Hebrews, and the author will make a powerful application in Hebrews 11.
The only way to enter into God's rest is by faith. "For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but
the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. For we who have believed
enter that rest, just as He has said, "As I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest,' although His works were
finished from the foundation of the world" (Hebrews 4:2-3). The word of promise must be mixed with faith in order to
appropriate it. The apostle Paul went about "solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and
faith in our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21).
Repentance from dead works must be accompanied by faith in Jesus Christ. "The just shall live by faith" (Hab. 2:4; Gal.
3:11; Rom. 1:17 quotes Hab. 2:4, "But the righteous man shall live by faith." A person must put their total acceptance and
absolute trust in Jesus Christ. We depend upon Jesus Christ for time and eternity. I repent of my sins and unbelief and
place my trust in Jesus Christ to save me for all eternity.

13. "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'But the righteous man shall live by faith'"
(Romans 1:17). Faith is simply the empty hand extended to receive Christ. The apostle Paul wrote to some believers who
were being threatened by Judaizes who wanted them to go back to the Law. He said, "nevertheless knowing that a man is
not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we
may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified"
(Galatians 2:16). Over and over again, the writers of the New Testament stressed to their readers: "faith which is in Christ
Jesus." Faith in Christ is faith toward God. Focus your faith on Jesus Christ. It is not faith that saves you; it is Christ. Focus
on Christ and that will take care of your faith in Him. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to
the Father but through Me" (John 14:6). "There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that
has been given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
C. H. Spurgeon said, "All the blessings of the gospel are connected with faith, but it is faith that rests in Christ. Justification,
resurrection-life, the promises, the placing of sons, salvation, etc., are all spoken of as resting from faith which rests upon
Christ. . . The apostle is directing his readers to look away from self to Christ, the Center, and the Sum of all blessing. This is
not merely 'faith toward God,' but it is faith which comes to God by the way of the mediation and merits of His Son."

14. b. Faith Toward God
This second doctrine is closely related to the first, and builds upon it. The best way of translating this phrase
would be faith in God. Before their conversion, Jewish people thought they knew God, but did not. The God they
worshipped (and still do) is a God who can be reached through the law. But the God of the Bible is not that kind of
God. The works of the law will never give any human a relationship with God. A genuine relationship with God
comes only through faith in Christ.
Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus is a prime example. Jewish people knew that a voice from heaven is
always the voice of God. But when Jesus speaks to Saul from heaven saying, “Saul, why do you persecute me?”
Saul says, “Who are you, Lord?” You see, Saul’s incorrect theology about God caused Saul to work against God,
and not really know God, and therefore, not really believe in the true God. It is only after Saul recognizes Jesus as
God and as Savior, that Paul begins to develop a true faith in God, or true beliefs about God.
This is what the apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:21. Speaking to his Jewish readers, Peter says that Christ came for
the Jews, “who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith
and hope are in God.” This verse is very clear. They only came to correctly believe in God after they believed in
Jesus for eternal life.