Faith Is...
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
“we are of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”
But what does that mean and what does that look like.
Transition
We have a long list of examples of what that means and what that looks like in Hebrews 11.
Illumination
The Reality of Faith: Clarification
The Reality of Faith: Clarification
I fear that “Faith” is another one of those words that we use all the time but don’t define or understand particularly well.
What is faith to you? (Audience Poll)
My simple definition:
Faith is believing what God said
It is simple and broad, but it works.
Having faith is having a belief in what God said. “My faith” is my belief in what God said.
Building or increasing my faith is increasing my belief in what God said
Living my faith is living according to what God said
Sharing my faith is sharing my belief in what God said
This definition works in the scenarios where we commonly us the word faith. It also works, and clarifies, with how the word is used in Scripture.
The Role of Faith: Confidence, 11:-2
The Role of Faith: Confidence, 11:-2
Read Hebrews 11:1-2
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
Confident in its Substance
As a Sub-stance, believing what God said is the super structure on which out life is built
As a substance, believing what God said is the raw material that God uses for building.
In Mathhew 13, Jesus traveled to Nazareth and taught in the synagogue there. Because they knew Him, they rejected Him as an authority
Matthew 13:58 (NKJV) — 58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Confident because of its Evidence. Believing what God said is the evidence of all the things we cannot yet see.
Confident in our Testimony
The testimony of God
The testimony of people
The “elders” are the people who went before, some of whom he is going to list in this chapter.
The Result of Faith: Comprehension
The Result of Faith: Comprehension
Believing what God said enables us to comprehend how we got here, 11:3
Read Hebrews 11:3
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Believing what God said enables us to comprehend how we please God
Read Hebrews 11:6
6 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.
Believing what God said enables us to comprehend how we get to Heaven, 11:13-16
Read Hebrews 11:13-16
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
Receive (and believe) the promise
Embrace (and confess) the promise
Receive the promise of relationship
Pursue the promise of eternity
Believing what God said enables us to comprehend how we fit into God’s plan
Read Hebrews 11:39-40
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
How do we fit? We reflect God to people one generation at a time. We direct people to God on person at a time.
Conclusion
Knowing what God said and Believing what God said is the foundation of the Christian life. Apart from that, there is no way to be a vital Christian.
Application
Read Hebrews chapter 11 this week and every time you see the word “faith” substitute our definition (believing what God says) and see how it reads, and how it shows what a life of belief looks like.