The Truth About Faith

Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

We talk a lot about faith in the church. Yet I wonder how many of us really know what faith looks like?

You might say, “well there’s your problem, we can’t see faith. It’s something we just know exists because we have hope!”

So many times we sound like the father in

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; shelp my unbelief!”

Mark 9:24 NKJV

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

From what I’ve witnessed over the years, this is where many Christians are at in their faith walk!

They speak out of both sides of their mouth!

They say they have faith in Christ. But that only lasts until they are put to the test, and then they cry out “I’m having a difficult time believing!”

The reason for the confusion is that we have a wrong concept of faith!

Like the father in , many people view faith simply as positive thinking.

Positive thinking has its place in our lives, such as is the case with our health: It is proven that people who have a more positive outlook are physically healthier, and even have better odds at beating some forms of cancer.

And that’s because there is a correlation between the emotional and the physical.

Even in matters of our spiritual walk, Paul says to the Philippians in chapter four –

Philippians 4:8 NKJV

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are ltrue, whatever things are mnoble, whatever things are njust, owhatever things are pure, whatever things are plovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

The word meditate literally means to “think logically”.

But, positive thinking as helpful as it is, does not and cannot replace faith in the context of salvation.

And so Christians will use verses like to replace the clear needed reliance on Christ for their problems!

So again, looking at our text in , we are told that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

There are two words here, Substance and evidence which bring light to our understanding.

· Let’s look at the first.

Substance = HUPOSTASIS is foundational, that which undergirds.

· Let’s look at the second.

Evidence = ELENGXOS is the proof of something especially in an argument.

So, we might say that, “faith is the undergirding footing that holds up that which we hope for, the arguably evidential proof of things not seen”

It’s obvious from the meaning of the verse, that there’s more to this than positive thinking!

Now after making this statement, the writer of Hebrews demonstrates what that faith looks like, and takes the next thirty eight verses to do so.

We see what real faith is, through the examples of the saints mentioned throughout the entire Bible!

I. Real Faith matures experientially.

Verse 8 mentions the faith of Abraham whose faith was tested when God told him to leave the land of the Chaldeans and become a nomad for a time.

But verse 17 tells of his faith when he in obedience to God offered up Isaac the son of his old age, the son of promise.

The faith that it took to offer Isaac could not have been realized if Abraham had not experienced the faithfulness of God in the early days.

God wants to increase our faith, and so He brings situations where we have to rely on Him in the little things that look really big at the time, only to find later that they were really pretty small in comparison to what’s going on now!

But if we run from these experiences we prove that we lack faith.

Which brings me to my next point:

II. Real Faith is necessary to please God.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

says, But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

By now, you might have come to the understanding that Pastor Bob thinks that it’s a lot more important what God thinks about our faith than what we think about it.

And this is not universally accepted, because as I have already mentioned in this series, there are those whose faith is so shallow, if at all existent, that they are only concerned with faith as it effects them, and whether God can be relied upon to keep them from every bad thing out there!

But the truth be told, God is going to use the bad things out there to make us more faithful.

As I said last week, the just shall live by faith.

We live by the same faith that saved us in the first place.

And, if that faith is shallow and has no depth to it, so will be our walk of faith, and so will be our redemption, in that it might just be a pipe dream!

But, don’t misunderstand and think that our faith walk has no moments of anxiety or caution or concern or sleepless night or doubts.

For all these mentioned in this chapter had those things, although they are not mentioned here.

But why?

Because we are imperfect people who are constantly being conformed into the very image of Christ, but still dealing with our sinful flesh!

One day, when we are resurrected or changed, we will be like Him!

But in the meantime, we are to push on in faith!

1 realization

And so, I will leave it here today and continue with this theme next time.

2 Or confidence

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