Faith
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· 212 viewsWhat is the biblical definition of faith? What is understood by faith? What type of perspective did the examples left for us in the Bible have?
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Definition of Faith
Definition of Faith
Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 ASV
Hebrews 11:1
Biblical faith is not a blind faith, but rather being convinced of things by the evidence, even though you cannot necessarily touch or see them.
Understood By Faith
Understood By Faith
The world did not just appear.
The world did not just appear.
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Hebrews 11:3
There is no evidence that something comes from nothing. It is not scientifically observable, nor reproducible.
In order to create itself, the universe would have to both exist in order to create itself and not exist in order to be created, all at the same time.
Abel offered a better sacrifice according to the instructions of God.
Abel offered a better sacrifice according to the instructions of God.
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Hebrews 11:4
The Bible does not record God giving man instructions on how He is to be approached in worship, but that does not mean God did not give them. In fact, there is evidence to show that He did give man instructions.
God would be an unjust God for condemning a sacrifice for which man had not clue on how God wanted it done.
The Hebrews writer says that Abel offered his sacrifice “by faith.”
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Verse 4 also says that Abel was righteous. How does one become righteous?
1 John 3:7
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
One that does righteousness is righteous. What is righteousness?
Psalm 119:172
My tongue shall speak of thy word: For all thy commandments are righteousness.
So, God’s commandments are righteousness, doing God’s commandments makes one righteous, and Abel is described as being righteous. Why is he described as being righteous? Because he offered a sacrifice that was in keeping with God’s commandments.
Verse 4 also says that Abel, even though he is dead, yet speaks. What does he teach us today? One thing is that if you are going to approach God with sacrifice, you had better do it according to God’s commandments, not by the way you have devised that is pleasing to you.
Enoch was transferred or changed and did not see death.
Enoch was transferred or changed and did not see death.
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
Hebrews 11:5
Death means a separation. In physical death, the spirit separates from the body.
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:26
Apparently Enoch was spared the process of the spirit separating from the body and was instead changed.
The Importance of Faith
The Importance of Faith
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:6
Enoch pleased God. How did he please God?
Genesis 5:22-24
And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Enoch was not pleasing to God because he was capable of walking. Enoch walked with God, meaning that he stayed faithful to God instead of departing out onto his own way.
In the Christian dispensation, we are told to walk with Jesus and have fellowship with Him.
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If we do not walk in the way Jesus is walking, then we are separated from Him and walk in our own way, in darkness.
1 John 1:6
If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
Enoch was pleasing to God because he walked with God, meaning that he walked in the way God would walk and did not stray away into darkness. He followed the commandments of light, of God, and had fellowship with God.
If we, too, want to have fellowship with Jesus, who is God, then we must walk the way He did on Earth, live the way He did on Earth, and follow His commandments. Then we will have fellowship with Him.
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
But notice that the walk cannot be just any walk. It is the same walk that follows Jesus. It is in the light where He is. It is according to His word.
Hebrews 11:6
Romans 10:17
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
In order to please God, we must walk with Him. But we must do so by faith, which comes from His word. Our walk must be in accordance to the instruction given in God’s word. Walking in a different way is walking in darkness and is without faith, because it is not based in God’s word. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Examples of Faith
Examples of Faith
Now, to illustrate this principle, we can see examples of faith. Those who were pleasing to God because they did what God commanded in His word.
Noah
Noah
Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Abraham
Abraham
Hebrews 11:8-10
Hebrews 11:17-18
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Sara
Sara
Hebrews 11:11-12
Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Others
Others
Hebrews 11:32-38
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Eternal Perspective
Eternal Perspective
Hebrews 11:13-16
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Even though they did not see the end result, they were persuaded that they were real. They embraced them. They acknowledged that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. They desired a heavenly country.
These examples of faith had the eternal perspective. They knew something better would come later and they should be faithful now.
We, too, cannot see the end result yet, but we are persuaded that it is real, and it is in Heaven with God. We must acknowledge that we are strangers and pilgrims on this earth. We must walk with God in a way that pleases Him. But we cannot do so without walking in a way that is in accordance to His word and His actions.
Hebrews 11:6
Romans 10:17
1 John 2:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.