What is Faith?
Notes
Transcript
Today we will begin studying Hebrews 11. This is one of the most famous passages in the New Testament, as it recounts the examples of a number of the forefathers of faith found in the Old Testament.
This chapter provides us with real examples so that we will better understand faith.
Up to this point in the letter to the Hebrews, the author has exhorted the readers to persevere in their faith.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.”
And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”
But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
We have seen that a major theme of this letter is persevering in faith. Or, as he says here, live by faith.
What is faith?
Some look at Heb 11.1 as a definition of faith and from that see faith as a blind acceptance of what is unproven or unreasonable:
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
But is faith trusting in a false hope, wishful thinking, or a leap of faith to cling to what we don’t really know is there?
getdebunked.org video
A confident trust in a reliable source that leads to obedience.
A confident trust in a reliable source (character, care, capability) that leads to obedience.
Used
Revelation - character
Incarnation - care
Creation - capability
I would add to that definition slightly.
A confident trust in a reliable source (character, care, capability) to accomplish what he has said that leads to obedience.
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,
how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.
God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
This is what the ancients were commended for.
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.
Hope - expectation, anticipation of something good
Confidence/certainty - basis, deed
Assurance/proof - used of evidence presented in a hearing
For what do we hope?
Everything that we have been seeing in the letter thus far:
Our salvation which has been shown through a superior revelation, Jesus who came in the flesh to become our superior high priest, and who established a superior covenant through his superior sacrifice!
We expect that our guilt and shame has been completely dealt with, and that our consciences are clean!
We expect that we have every right to, and God wants us to, come into his presence in full assurance and confidence.
That though we have trials here, our future is secure in Christ, and that He is coming back a second time to bring salvation for those who are waiting for him!
This is what the ancients were commended for.
Well done my good and faithful servant…
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
While our faith is primarily focused on the future, the past is evidence for what lies ahead.
If God created this universe, the heavens and the earth, we have no reason to doubt that when he tells us that he is preparing a place for us, a new heaven and a new earth where he will dwell with us, we have no reason to doubt. We have evidence. He did it before, he can do it again.
By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Do you believe?
Do you believe?
A confident trust in a reliable source (character, care, capability) to accomplish what he has said that leads to obedience.
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.