To begin with in this study I want to look at what faith is by the definition that we see in Scripture. This will go beyond what we see in Hebrews 11 but that will be our starting point as always in this study series. So we will look at what faith is then I want to look at how faith looks in the life of a believer. This is something that we began to look into in our last study but we will get deeper into this concept in this study. The entirety of this study will show us that faith is seen in the actions or works of a true follower of the Lord Jesus. This was seen in the Old Testament people as well even though they did not see the fulfillment of the Messiah, they still believed in the promises of the Messiah and in all that God was doing in their own lives. This will be obvious as we look at these great stories as we being our next study.
Last study we focused on the fact that we will face trials and suffering even as believers along with that we looked at how faith will be seen in action. This is where we will land for this study as we look deeper into how we as followers of the Lord Jesus have the faith we have and how that looks in our life. Let’s look now at our first point.
1.What is faith?
Look with me at Hebrews 11:1-2 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. In this point we are simply answering a question of what is faith? But in this seemingly simplistic answer comes a truth that we need to know about this faith that we learn about. If you look at verse 1 here, a lot of people are content with what they see as the definition of what faith is. In fact I believe that this is a good explanation of what faith is but does not define it fully. That is not the intent of the writer of Hebrews here. It was not to set out a definition of faith but to explain what faith is. There is little difference in an explanation and a definition. A definition tells the exact meaning of a word and an explanation is a statement that makes something more clear to understand. So the explanation is not the exact meaning but more of a statement of clarity on the subject.
In our viewpoint when it comes to faith, the writer of Hebrews explains that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. This in fact gives us a clear picture of what faith is but the definition of faith is a little more than that. The word faith that we see is the Greek word pistis (pis’-tis) which means to be persuaded or to come to trust. In the life of a believer it is “God’s divine persuasion” – and therefore distinct from human belief (confidence), yet involving it. So faith is more than just a confidence that we may have. I have used and heard people speak of faith as someone going to sit in a chair without checking to make sure it is stable to sit in and from a human standpoint this is confidence that we have in many different things. But from a spiritual standpoint faith is much deeper than that. To understand who God is and to believe in God the way a Christian does comes from a persuasion from God Himself.
Look with me at this passage of Scripture that will show this very truth from 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
So we notice that a natural person will not understand the things of the Spirit of God but it is those that have been given the Spirit of God that understand God and the things of God. So to have faith which we know is a persuasion that brings us to have trust, must be born from the Holy Spirit. Again a natural person can not understand the things of God and therefore can not have a true faith in God. We remember that James 2:19 says You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
So even the demons “believe” or have “faith” that there is a God. This is not faith that is defined as seen in Christian’s life but is only an understanding that something exists. Just like we will see in our next point, to understand that something exist is one thing but to have faith in how that thing came into existence in another. We will briefly look at our second verse in Hebrews 11:2 that says For by it the people of old received their commendation.
Now we looked at this in our last study and what we learned is that the faith that the people of old had was proof of the genuineness of their profession that they were following God. It was in difficult times that these heroes of faith would face trials and suffering and still maintained the faith that they had in God’s promises. This will be seen in much of this entire study series but before we get there in our next study let’s look at our next verse in our next point.
2.A faith that is seen in the way we live.
Look with me at Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. I said in our last point that faith in a Christian’s life was not to just believe that something or that God exists. This verse proves this point clearly because most everyone would agree that the world exist, the universe exist and many people will believe that God exist. But it is not the belief of something existing that shows that you have faith but it is a belief in the very way that thing or person came into existence. Of course when we are talking about God we know that He is eternal and did not come into existence. The writer of Hebrews says that by faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God.
This very statement is refuted by some people that call themselves Christians. People tend to lean on some form of evolution that God somehow used to create the world but that is not the way the Bible explains creation nor do we see that here in our text. He continues to say in Hebrews 11:3b so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
This statement here goes along with the Latin term Ex nihilo which means from nothing. This is the term coined to explain how God created everything. God did not need material as we do to make something but created as He wished from nothing. This is what is implied here in Hebrews 11:3. If you go back to the creation account in Genesis 1 you will notice that every time God created, it was simply by His words of command. For example we see in Genesis 1:3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Also In Genesis 1:6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”
Then again Genesis 1:9 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so.
This continues on throughout the creation account and we see that Hebrews 11:3 confirms this with the statement that says the universe was created by the word of God.
This is confirmed in other passages of Scripture as well like we see in Psalm 33:6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
In relation to Jesus being God we see John 1:1-3 say In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
This all points out that there was nothing and all things that came into existence came into existence because of the power of God. Now we know that from a natural standpoint this has been refuted by evolutionist and many other forms of man made ideas of how the Earth was created. None of these theories hold any truth to them and many that stand behind these theories know that they are only theories. But for us who believe or have faith that God has given to us, we believe in the creation story as we see it from Scripture. Does the Scripture explain every detail from a scientific standpoint? No it does not but what we see is simple and is understood by the person that has faith in God’s Word.
So a faith that is seen in a believer is different than just confidence that a chair may hold us up if we go sit in it. Our faith is tested and refined by the trials and sufferings that we face as we looked at in our first study. The fact is that faith in the life of a follower of the Lord Jesus will be seen in the way we live. James 2:17 says So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
We have seen much over the last study and this one in relation to what James says concerning this issue of dead faith or demon faith. He stresses this because so many people even in the early stages of the church were attaching themselves to the church without any real life change. He says things like this in James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Also James 1:26-27 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
We have seen several passages from James 2 and he continues throughout his letter like we see in James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.
James never set out to destroy the doctrine of faith alone but was showing that if you have faith then that must show up in the way you live. Martin Luther said and I quote “We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone.” END QUOTE. In other words works and actions must be evident in our lives. Ephesians 2:10 says For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
The truth is so clear that a follower of Christ will be a person seen as having true faith. The faith that is borne from God, the faith that believes in the unbelievable, the faith that is sparked in the life of a person that was once dead in trespasses and sins to be made alive in Christ. This faith is what a true follower will have and this is what we will see as we begin in our next study as we look into the people from the Old Testament in our study here in Hebrews 11.
Disciple's Direction 