Innocence of Faith
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Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
We all have a measure of faith. Some have more faith than others. So, in what do we have faith? We have faith that when we turn our kitchen faucet on that water will come out. We have faith that when we turn on the light switch, the light will come on. We have faith that when we turn the ignition key on that our car will start. This is just simple faith. This faith usually does not require any major type of thought or action on our part. But how is your faith when your praying over someone with a terminal illness, or sickness, or infirmity? How is your faith when your praying over your child’s marriage which is falling apart? How is your faith when you see your finances dwindling down to nothing and you haven’t paid your tithes?
What I want to speak on tonight is what type of faith should we have. But first, lets us agree on what faith is. As we have just read, “faith is the substance of things hoped for”. Let stop here for a minute and unpack this verse. Sometimes confusion comes because we try and interpret a passage using worldly definitions of words used in the Bible. The world defines the word “substance” as “the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists and which has a tangible, solid presence.” The Biblical meaning of “substance” in this passage is meant to having a firm confidence and being fully aware of something as being true. It is the faith that lays hold of the future in the midst of where we are in the present. It is like seeing someone as whole and healthy even though, in the present, they are knocking at death’s door.
The second part of this verse is “the evidence of things not seen.” Again, the world defines “evidence” as “facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.” The Biblical meaning “evidence” is that we possess a conviction or firm unshakable belief that the unseen will be manifested in the seen because of God fulfilling all His promises to us through Jesus Christ. And again, it is laying hold of the future in unseen in the midst of the seen. It is this which marks the true disciple of Christ, that he walks by faith and not by sight.
It is this which marks the true disciple of Christ, that he walks by faith and not by sight.
Faith is simply believing and having full confidence that God is able to do all things. That God is ready and waiting to bestow upon us all the goodness, righteousness, favor, grace, mercy, and love that we were created to have. Faith is the expectation which rests on the things promised in the Bible.
Exell, J. S. (n.d.). The Biblical Illustrator: Hebrews (Vol. 2, p. 185). London: James Nisbet & Co.
the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists and which has a tangible, solid presence.
Exell, J. S. (n.d.). The Biblical Illustrator: Hebrews (Vol. 2, p. 186). London: James Nisbet & Co.
Mark 10
Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”