Faith - The Key to Sitting On The Chair

You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to: total salvation.

1 Peter 1:8–9 AMP

Without having seen Him, you love Him; though you do not [even] now see Him, you believe in Him and exult and thrill with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant, heavenly) joy. [At the same time] you receive the result (outcome, consummation) of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Faith Defined

The great “Hall of Faith” in the Bible gives the best definition of faith that can be found.

The writer opens Hebrews 11 with this very familiar verse:

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

The Biblical Definition Of Faith

This definition of faith contains two aspects: intellectual assent and trust.

Intellectual assent is believing something to be true.

Trust is actually relying on the fact that the something is true.

Lets do this: Do Chair Illustration

A chair is often used to help illustrate this.

Intellectual assent is recognizing that a chair is a chair and agreeing that it is designed to support a person who sits on it.

Trust is actually sitting in the chair.

Understanding these two aspects of faith is crucial.

Many people believe certain facts about Jesus Christ.

Many people will intellectually agree with the facts the Bible declares about Jesus.

But knowing those facts to be true is not what the Bible means by “faith.”

The biblical definition of faith requires intellectual assent to the facts and trust in the facts.

Believing that Jesus is God incarnate who died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and was resurrected is not enough.

Even the demons “believe” in God and acknowledge those facts (cf. James 2:19).

James 2:19 NIV

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

We must personally and fully rely on the death of Christ as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

We must “sit in the chair” of the salvation that Jesus Christ has provided.

This is saving faith.

The faith God requires of us for salvation is belief in what the Bible says about who Jesus is

and what He accomplished and fully trusting in Jesus for that salvation Like the Jailer in Acts (Acts 16:31).

Acts 16:31–34 NIV

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

The biblical definition of faith does not apply only to salvation.

It is equally applicable to the rest of the Christian life.

We are to believe what the Bible says, and we are to obey it.

We are to believe the promises of God, and we are to live accordingly.

We are to agree with the truth of God’s Word, and we are to allow ourselves to be transformed by it (Romans 12:2).

Romans 12:2 CJB

In other words, do not let yourselves be conformed to the standards of the ‘olam hazeh. Instead, keep letting yourselves be transformed by the renewing of your minds; so that you will know what God wants and will agree that what he wants is good, satisfying and able to succeed.

In relation to the Kingdom of God history can be divided into four periods: before Jesus, during his lifetime, the present age (the olam hazeh) and the future age (the olam haba). There was a sense in which the Kingdom was present prior to Jesus' birth; indeed, God was King over the Jewish people (1 Samuel 12:12).

Olam Hazeh (Hebrew word, meaning "This World") is the world in which we live, where each of us is given the opportunity to honour the Name of the Lord by being biblical learners and doers according to his or her gifts, and behaving in an honest and decent manner with our fellow human beings.

Why is this definition of faith so important?

Why must trust accompany agreeing with facts?

Because “without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6).

Hebrews 11:6 AMP

But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].

Without faith, we cannot be saved (John 3:16).

John 3:16 KJV 1900

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Without faith, the Christian life cannot be what God intends it to be

John 10:10 AMP

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

Jesus’ words to us. I have come that they (you and me) may have life and have it to the full.

Faith and Things Hoped For

Hebrews 6:19 AMP

[Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it—a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil,

Hope in the Bible is illustrated with and anchor.

It is said to be steadfast and sure.

Just as when you are on the water in a boat and you throw out your anchor you expect that it will hold you in that spot on the sea.

Faith is what we need for salvation because the Bible says we are saved by grace through faith.

Ephesians 2:8–10 CJB

For you have been delivered by grace through trusting, and even this is not your accomplishment but God’s gift. You were not delivered by your own actions; therefore no one should boast. For we are of God’s making, created in union with the Messiah Yeshua for a life of good actions already prepared by God for us to do.

You can’t see it but it is faith that brings you to salvation.

Some call this “saving” faith.

Faith brings us to salvation and hope assures that our salvation is secure, just like an anchor.

Like it says in Roman’s 5:1-2

Romans 5:1–2 NIV

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

Faith is not only the conduit that brings us to salvation, it is also faith that enables us to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit to do the things that please the Lord.

As we go through life, walking in the Spirit, we should notice things changing, to the glory of God.

This is the evidence of that faith.

Evidence includes blessings and how we handle trials and temptations in our life.

James says it this way:

James 1:2–4 M:BCL

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

Jesus talked about faith continually with his disciples.

Faith Heals

In one such account Jesus had just returned to Capernaum and when he arrived the town’s folk all knew he was there.

So many wanted to come hear Jesus speak that basically there was standing room only in the place where He preached.

Among the crowd was a sick man (paralyzed)

Since there was no way to get to Jesus through the crowd some of the others tore a hole in the roof and lowered the sick man in his bed to see Jesus.

Mark recorded Jesus’ reaction to such an act of faith:

Mark 2:5 AMP

And when Jesus saw their faith [their confidence in God through Him], He said to the paralyzed man, Son, your sins are forgiven [you] and put away [that is, the penalty is remitted, the sense of guilt removed, and you are made upright and in right standing with God].

Incidentally Jesus didn’t heal the man right away.

Which is incredible to me.

Mark 2:6–12 (NIV)

6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Which leads me to saying that

Doubting Faith can Drown You

In another account, when Jesus needed time alone with His Father to pray He sent His disciples away on the sea in a ship.

By the time Jesus returned the ship was in the middle of a storm on the water and so Jesus walked on the water to get to the ship.

When the disciples saw Him they thought he was a ghost and they were frightened.

Jesus called out to assure them that it was He.

Peter was unsure that it really was Jesus and asked Jesus to prove it to him by allowing Peter to walk on the water as well.

Peter did walk on the water until he allowed the wind and the rain to interfere with his faith.

His doubt made him sink only to be rescued by his Savior and Lord. Jesus spoke these words to Peter:

Matthew 14:30–33 CJB

But when he saw the wind, he became afraid; and as he began to sink, he yelled, “Lord! Save me!” Yeshua immediately stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “Such little trust! Why did you doubt?” As they went up into the boat, the wind ceased. The men in the boat fell down before him and exclaimed, “You really are God’s son!”

As we walk in the Spirit our faith grows.

Faith is Produced

In addition to “saving” faith is faith produced as part of the fruit of the Spirit.

When we wear our faith on our sleeve and we have the “mind of Christ” others will want to know about Jesus.

Galatians 5:22–26 NIV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

We Should Pursue Faith

As Paul was training Timothy in the ministry he gave him much advice.

Part of his charge to Timothy was to pursue faith and fight the fight of faith.

He told him to claim his eternal life.

He admonishes Timothy to stay away from the things of this world that make men “err from the faith”.

Take a look at these words of wisdom:

1 Timothy 6:9–12 CJB

Furthermore, those whose goal is to be rich fall into temptation; they get trapped in many foolish and hurtful ambitions which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all the evils; because of this craving, some people have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves to the heart with many pains. But you, as a man of God, flee from these things; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faithfulness, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith, take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you testified so well to your faith before many witnesses.

A Measure of Faith; Faith Increased

As you read about faith in the Bible you will see that God promises that everyone has a measure of faith.

This goes back to the idea of faith that grows.

As a baby Christian we have that “saving” faith that God gave us His Son to satisfy our sin debt.

The only way that your “measure of faith” can grow is for us to learn more about our God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

The way that we do this is by reading God’s Word, the Holy Bible.

Reading about what God said He would do and then reading about the fulfillment of those prophesies will increase faith.

The Holy Spirit inside of you will continually bear witness that what you are reading is truth – God’s truth, thereby also increasing your faith.

Just as a baby begins by drinking milk, we must begin our walk with the Lord with the milk of the Word (the simpler things).

As that baby grows he begins to eat more solid foods.

When our faith grows we are able to handle the meat of the Word (the more complex things).

The only way our measure of faith can increase is by spending time meditating upon the Word of God.

Romans 12:3 NIV

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

Faith Decreased

Moses led the Israelites through the desert for 40 days and 40 nights. During that time faith decreased.

In fact, the Bible tells us that Moses’ faith decreased so much that he never entered the Promised Land.

Instead, God declared because of Moses’ lack of faith that only the people who were 20 years of age and younger would enter in.

Numbers 20:12 AMP

And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, Because you did not believe in (rely on, cling to) Me to sanctify Me in the eyes of the Israelites, you therefore shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

Here is the testimony of this on the Psalms.

Psalm 106:32–33 AMP

They angered the Lord also at the waters of Meribah, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes; For they provoked [Moses’] spirit, so that he spoke unadvisedly with his lips.

The new generation was led by Joshua, a man of faith.

Some Were Counted Righteous by Faith

The Bible talks of many who have gone before us that were justified by faith.

In all cases when God said He would do something, He did it.

Holy men and women of God had faith in what God said and they were considered righteous because of that faith.

Here is what the Bible says about some of these believers:

Abel

Hebrews 11:4 AMP

[Prompted, actuated] by faith Abel brought God a better and more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, because of which it was testified of him that he was righteous [that he was upright and in right standing with God], and God bore witness by accepting and acknowledging his gifts. And though he died, yet [through the incident] he is still speaking.

This Story is found in Gen. 4:3-10

Enoch

Hebrews 11:5 AMP

Because of faith Enoch was caught up and transferred to heaven, so that he did not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found, because God had translated him. For even before he was taken to heaven, he received testimony [still on record] that he had pleased and been satisfactory to God.

This Story is Found in Gen. 5:21-24

Noah

Hebrews 11:7 AMP

[Prompted] by faith Noah, being forewarned by God concerning events of which as yet there was no visible sign, took heed and diligently and reverently constructed and prepared an ark for the deliverance of his own family. By this [his faith which relied on God] he passed judgment and sentence on the world’s unbelief and became an heir and possessor of righteousness (that relation of being right into which God puts the person who has faith).

This Story is Found in Gen. 6:13-22

Abraham

Hebrews 11:17–19 AMP

By faith Abraham, when he was put to the test [while the testing of his faith was still in progress], had already brought Isaac for an offering; he who had gladly received and welcomed [God’s] promises was ready to sacrifice his only son, Of whom it was said, Through Isaac shall your descendants be reckoned. For he reasoned that God was able to raise [him] up even from among the dead. Indeed in the sense that Isaac was figuratively dead [potentially sacrificed], he did [actually] receive him back from the dead.

This Story is found in Gen. 22:1-12

Sara

Hebrews 11:11 AMP

Because of faith also Sarah herself received physical power to conceive a child, even when she was long past the age for it, because she considered [God] Who had given her the promise to be reliable and trustworthy and true to His word.

This Story is found in Gen. 17:19; 18:11-14; 21:2.

Isaac, Jacob, Esau & Joseph

Hebrews 11:20–22 AMP

[With eyes of] faith Isaac, looking far into the future, invoked blessings upon Jacob and Esau. [Prompted] by faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in prayer over the top of his staff. [Actuated] by faith Joseph, when nearing the end of his life, referred to [the promise of God for] the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his own bones.

Their Stories are found in Gen. 27:27-29, 39, 40; Gen. 48; Gen. 50:24, 25; Exod. 13:19

Rahab

Hebrews 11:31 AMP

[Prompted] by faith Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed along with those who refused to believe and obey, because she had received the spies in peace [without enmity].

This Story is found in Josh. 2:1-21; 6:22-25

I have only scraped the surface and as you can see faith is a popular and powerful concept in the Bible.

Faith in Jesus and in the promises of God brings joy unspeakable.

Have you trusted your life to Jesus.

My prayer today is that you accept God’s gift of grace and become a child of God.

Life Application

Faith Is Both The Substance Of Things Hoped For And The Evidence That Things Exist That Are Not Yet Perceived With The Senses.

1. Faith Is Substance

The New Testament Was Written In Koine [Common] Greek.

The Greek Word Translated “Substance In Hebrews 11:1 Is Hupostasis, Literally, “That Which Stands Under.”

The Derived Meaning Is “That Which Has Real Existence,

The Basic Essence, The Actual Reality, The Substance Of Something”

It Is A Condition Of The Human Heart

That Is As Real To God As The Thing We Asked For

Will Be To Us When We Receive It.

It Is The Exact Image Of The Thing For Which We Ask

(Hupostasis Is Translated “Image” In Hebrews 1:3).

When We Receive What We Have Prayed For The Image Is Replaced By The Actuality.

2. Faith Is Evidence

The Greek Word Translated “Evidence” Is Elegchos, Which Basically Means “Conviction.”

John Writes 1 John 5:14–15 (NIV)

1 John 5:14–15 NIV

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

The Existence Of The God-Kind Of Faith In The Human Heart Is The Evidence That What We Have Prayed For Exists.

Faith, Based On The Word Of God, Is The Evidence Not What We See Or Don’t See Not Good Or Bad Circumstances.

Faith Is Not Based On Human Feeling But Rather It Is Based Squarely On The Fact Of What God Says.

The Evidence Is Not Found In The Feeling, Rational, Visible Or Sense Realm.

3. What Faith Is Not

Faith Is Not Mere Human Hope.

Faith Is Based On The Word Of God Alone.

Human Hope May Be Based On The Sands Of Wishful Thinking

Or Human Desire, Rather Than On The Rock Of The Word Of God.

Doubt And Hope Raise The Question, “What Shall I Do?”

Faith Says, “I Have Done!”

The Common Phrase, “I Am Hoping And Praying is not necessarily a biblical way of pronouncing our faith.

“I Have Prayed And Am Believing” Is More Scriptural.

Faith Is Not Natural Human Faith.

In Order To Function In Life, We Must Exercise A Natural Faith.

We Have Faith In Natural Laws Such As Gravity And Inertia And Assume That They Will Work The Same Every Day.

If The Universe Were Unpredictable And Untrustworthy, Chaos Would Reign And Life As We Know It Would Be Impossible.

We Trust Inanimate Machines.

By Turning An Ignition Key, Flipping On A Light Switch, Boarding An Aircraft, We Exercise Faith In Machines.

We Trust Vegetables And Animals We Assume They Will Perform According To Our Past Experience.

We Trust Other Human Beings.

We Trust Our Surgeon, Our Spouse, Our Pilot, Etc.

However, Faith In God Is Supernatural Gift From God.

Faith Is Of The Heart (Human Spirit) And Not Merely The Head (Human Reason).

Simply Agreeing That God Exists And That His Word (The Bible) Is True Is Not Biblical Faith.

Faith Is Not A Psychological Attitude.

Mere Positive Thinking May Have Some Good Results, But It Is Not Biblical Faith.

Faith Is Not Sight.

Faith Is Not Based On Mere Sensory Perception Or Human Reasoning.

In 2nd Corinthians Paul Says, We Live By Faith, Not By Sight

2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV

For we live by faith, not by sight.

4. Attributes Of Faith

Faith Thanks God Beforehand.

Mark 11:24 NIV

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

God Does Not Answer Biblical Prayer With “No” Or With Substitutes.

2 Corinthians 1:20–22 AMP

For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes [answer] in Him [Christ]. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him [in His Person and by His agency] to the glory of God. But it is God Who confirms and makes us steadfast and establishes us [in joint fellowship] with you in Christ, and has consecrated and anointed us [enduing us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit]; [He has also appropriated and acknowledged us as His by] putting His seal upon us and giving us His [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as the security deposit and guarantee [of the fulfillment of His promise].

Faith Will Endure To The End.

Abraham Waited 25 Years For Isaac To Be Born.

Caleb Waited 40 Years For His Land.

Noah Waited 120 Years For His Physical Salvation.

Faith Does Not Look At The Calendar, But To Christ.

Hope May Last A Few Minutes Or A Few Months.

Faith Will Endure Until It Is Replaced By The Thing For Which We Are Believing.

D. L. Moody Said: “Faith That Fizzles Out At The Finish, Had A Flaw In It From The First.”

Faith Is The Means By Which We Receive Those Things We Hope For.

Neither Is Faith Sight.

Faith Is The Evidence Of Things Not Seen.

Faith Can Only Operate In The Realm Of The Invisible Concerning Those Things We Hope For And Do Not Yet See.

Faith Cannot Exist In The Visible Realm.

When The Things We Hope For Are Manifested To Our Sight,

Then Faith, The Invisible “Substance,” Having Done Its Work, Is exchanged By The Visible Substance,

When The Actuality Comes Into View, Then The Image (Faith) Vanishes.

And Finally

Biblical Faith Pleases God and Brings Rewards

Hebrews 11:6 AMP

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