Got Faith?

How is faith defined for a believer?   How important is faith in God for believers?   In the 11th chapter, the author of Hebrews tackled these questions.  And through multiple examples of “faith heroes” from the Old Testament, Hebrews’ purpose was to encourage Jewish christians to hold on to their faith (Hebrews 11:1-4a, 7a, 8, 17-18, 20-23, 32, 39-4).    I pray that our own faith in God’s promises will be encouraged and grow stronger, drawing us closer to Him, especially in our times of trial.   Amen

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. (Heb. 11:1-4a) The author of Hebrews began this chapter by defining what faith is. It is a confident hope in what God has promised even though we can’t see it yet.  God’s word is trustworthy, it does not return void (unfulfilled).  And God’s word has power.  An example of the power of His word is that He spoke the universe into existence and created it out of nothing that was visible.  So we can have faith that the hope we have placed in God’s promises will not be disappointed.  And, as with Abel, God commends our faith and it is counted as righteousness (in right standing) before Him. Thus our faith is a prerequisite for our salvation and right standing with God. 

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” (Heb. 11:7a, 8, 17-18) Both Noah and Abraham are examples of those who by faith were obedient to God with regard to the promised world to come. In the case of Noah, he represents that through faith we will be able to see a new world as he was able to see a new earth after the flood.  Abraham’s faith in God as he pilgrimaged in lands that were not his own represents our pilgrimage here on earth while we wait to enter God’s promised land. Abraham’s faith was deeply tested, as ours is tested also, yet in faith he did not fail in offering his son Isaac as a sacrifice.  

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones. By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. (Heb. 11:20-23) By faith, Isaac blessed his sons looking toward the future. Similarly Jacob blessed Joseph’s two sons, looking toward the future even as he was dying.  And Joseph looked toward the future with faith in God when he instructed that his bones were to be taken and buried in the Promised Land upon Israel’s exodus from Egypt.  Moses’ parents confronted and resisted the oppression and hostility of the powerful when, in faith, they preserved his life. 

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets,

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. (Heb. 11: 32, 39-40) The author of Hebrews recounts a host of others whose lives were highlighted by accomplishments that they achieved through their faith in God.  Then, in concluding this chapter on the heroes of faith, the author points out that they had not received what had been promised yet. That fulfillment is yet to come, when all believers will together receive the realization of our hopes and God’s promise. 

Hebrews was a letter originally written to encourage Jewish Christian’s to hold on to their salvation through faith in Christ and not to revert back to Judaism.  Beyond the original audience, Hebrews continues to be an encouragement for all Christian’s to hold fast to their faith.  For it is by faith that we are saved.  It is by faith that we please God.  And it is our faith that God counts toward us as righteousness.  We have hope because we have faith in God, so that whatever we may have to endure in this present moment, He is faithful to His promises.  Got faith?  If not, the good news is that God still extends His offer of salvation and forgiveness of sins for all who have faith in Jesus. 

Blessings, Rev. Glenn 

“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.” ~ Hebrews 11:6

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  ~ 2 Corinthians 4:18