Faith
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Many when asked for a good definition of faith say that faith is beliving. In fact, the New International Version says "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." The NIV is one of the most popular versions, but in this case, they could have done a better job translating this verse. You see, anyone can believe. Anyone can be sure of what they hope for and certain of things they don’t see. But that doesn’t mean they’re right.
In the context of bible faith, James 2:19 says, "Even the devils believe and tremble". So Satan and his demons they believe in God too. In fact, they are so sure that God exists that they know if more than we do. But that doesn’t mean they have faith.
Faith is something more, something deeper than just belief. Let’s illustrate:
I believe I can fly. I believe if I jump off the building and flap my arms, I will soar through the air and cruise through the clouds and can wave to the birds and planes. I believe that I can fly. Now you can talk to me about gravity and how God did not create us to fly and that it’s impossible for humans to fly; but I believe it; I'm convinced of it.
Now what will happen when I jump off the building? I'm going to crash. We're not made to fly. Do you see the difference? Faith is more than just belief, because I can believe anything. And that's why the King James Version says "...faith is the substance of things hoped for". There's something real, there's something there to believe. It’s more then just belief because there's a reason to believe.
It also says "the evidence of things not seen" I don't have to see it to believe it. I don’t have to see every single aspect of it to know that it is true. He then gives an example of faith in action in V3
Heb 11:3 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.
I did not see God create the world. I didn't hear Him speak the words; it wasn't posted on an Internet website. Yet by faith, I believe it. God said, I believe it and that's good enough. But it's not a blind faith. There is massive amounts of evidence that this world was indeed created. There is a lot of evidence to prove the Big Bang is not true. You can go to various websites and find a wide variety of evidence that this world had to be created and that creator was God. (See www.ICR.org or www.AnswersInGenesis.org)
So just because a person believes in God doesn’t mean they have faith in God. Again, James 2:19 "Even the devils believe and tremble". But faith in God is a deep, real commitment to God where you love Him and obey Him.
How do we get faith? If I’m an average person who is interested in faith and would like to have faith, how do I get it?
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Faith comes from reading and believing the bible. It comes from taking the time to pick up the bible and read it for yourself and believe it for yourself. That’s the best way to get faith.
1 Corinthians 2:5
goes along with this statement: "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."Does it matter how much faith we have? I mean, faith is faith. Belief is belief. If I have a little or I have a lot, does it really matter?
Well, God calls us not to have small faith but to have a large amount of faith.
1 Pet 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2 Pet 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
In other words, we are in a spiritual battle today against the forces of evil. Satan and his demons are all around us. They hate us and war against us. They do all they can to hurt us and discourage us and try to drive a wedge between us and God.
Our faith is like a shield against the attacks of the enemy. He throws "fiery darts" at us. That is, trials and tribulation and persecution. The strength of our faith is like the size of a shield that a warrior uses to defend himself against the arrows of the enemy. A large amount of faith is equivalent to a large shield, say the size of a car tire. But a small amount of faith, is equivalent to a small shield, say the size of a quarter.
If you were going into battle with arrows flying at you, would you rather have a shield the size of a quarter or a shied the size of a car tire? Obviously, a car tire. So it is with our faith. Many Christians are fighting the enemy with a shield the size of a quarter and wonder why they keep getting hit. It’s because they have little faith. If they would just take the time to read their bibles and pray, they could develop great faith. They could fight wonderful battles for God. But it takes time and effort. It takes turning off the TV and the internet and just reading your bible.
Another reason why great faith is needed is that our prayers are answered according to our faith. There are many prayers and needs that God will not grant unless we ask and have faith.
And so with us.
Mat 21:22
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
1 John 5:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
We have to ask, we have to believe, we have to have faith or God will not answer our prayers. And why should He? If we don’t care enough to take the time to ask, why should He care enough to take the time to answer? And if we ask but don’t believe His word enough to believe what He says, why should He answer? It’s only as we ask for things that He would want us to ask for and then believe that He will answer, that our prayers are granted.
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
James 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
So we must ask for things He wants us to have and believe that He will grant them. We have to believe and claim His promises. If we don’t believe, then there’s no reason for Him to answer. If we don’t have faith in what He says and trust what He says, there’s no reason for Him to say "Yes" to our requests. God is looking for people who believe what He has to say and act upon their belief.
Heb 11:6 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.
And we must diligently seek Him. It’s not good enough to coast into heaven. It’s not good enough to rarely go to church or ignore what His word says. But we must read our bibles to know what God requires and then have a commitment to do what He requires.
If a person was to join the army and go through bootcamp and learn all that the army requires of them, but then not have a commitment to do what required of them, would the army be pleased with them? Would they get promoted? Would the army even allow them to remain?
And so with God. Faith is more than just a mere belief. But it’s a belief and commitment to do. It’s a belief in all that God says and a heart commitment to do what He says. Or as
James 1:22 says "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
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Not of works, lest any man should boast.
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For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them
This is one of the most important verses on what it takes to be saved. It tells us that we’re not saved at all by our works and our works do not save us. It is faith, a heart-felt commitment to God and dedication to God that saves us. It’s belief that He forgives our sins, not because of any works we’ve done, but because He loves us and sent Jesus to die for our sins. That what saved us.
But then, as part of true faith and once we are saved, God then commissions us to do good deeds and obey Him. That is, to tell others about Him and help those in need and strive to obey. Any need that a person has that we lend a hand in, is a good work that God is pleased with.
Again, these works and obedience do not save us. Jesus says in John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. In other words, don’t just say that you love me but prove that you love me by keeping my commands and doing the things I tell you to do.
So why would God want us to do good works? Aren’t works opposed to faith? Don’t works have nothing to do with salvation?
James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
James 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
James 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
What God is telling us here is that works strengthen our faith. And works display our faith. The more we work for the sake of others, the more we work because we love Jesus and love others, the stronger our faith becomes. Or as
Gal 5:6 says For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
That should be the motto of the Christian: faith that works by love. Not works to be saved or works to go to heaven. But works because they are saved and they are going to heaven and they want to help those in need. If we don’t have works, we don’t have faith. If we’re not willing to work unselfishly for those around us our faith will die. So we must obey God and do good work for others.
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.
Another example of this is in Mark chapter 2.
Mark 2:1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
Mark 2:2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.
Mark 2:3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
Mark 2:4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy,
Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
The man in this story is extremely sick. So sick that he needs a miracle to be healed. Now he could have said, "I believe that Jesus can heal me, so I’m just going to set back, do nothing and believe that Jesus will heal me." But he didn’t do that. Instead, he called for his friends who took him to Jesus. And when they couldn’t get to Jesus through the door, they went up on the roof, uncovered the roof and lowered the man down, right in front of Jesus. The lessons for us in these verses is that faith produces action. Faith is not a "set back and let God do it all" experience. But faith produces action.
That same lesson is taught in the 11th chapter of Hebrews. Just a few verses:
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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.
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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.
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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
By faith, these people did certain things that they otherwise would not have done. So faith is action.
1 Thess 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
A person might wonder, "How do I know if I have strong faith?" Peter’s experience with Jesus on a stormy night in the middle of the sea gives us a clue on how to answer that question. The disciples are in a boat in the middle of the night and Jesus comes out to them, walking on the water.
Mat 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying,
Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Mat 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
Mat 14:29 And he said,
Come.
And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Mat 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Mat 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him,
O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Peter did a great thing here and showed faith in that he ask Jesus to give him the ability to walk on water. But then he saw the winds and waves and took his eyes off of Jesus. He began to fear his situation more then He trusted Jesus and he began to sink. But then, he showed faith again and called out to Jesus to save him and Jesus saved him. Some lessons on faith:
First, keep your eyes on Jesus. In all our trials and all our difficult times, keep your eyes on Jesus. Keep looking to Him for help and strength. Keep praying to Him and asking Him to take care of the situation and show you what to do.
Second, when we doubt God’s ability to help us in trials, we have little faith. When the bible promises that God will be with us and will help us in trouble and we doubt this and don’t believe and don’t ask for help, we have little faith. So we must trust and believe what God says in the bible.
Third, and not necessarily related to the previous verses:
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Faith brings peace and rejoicing. When we know that God has forgiven our sins. When we know that we are right with God, it brings peace and rejoicing. It brings rejoicing because we know we’re forgiven and we know God will help us in trouble and we know we have a heavenly home. It brings peace because no matter what the trial or difficulty, no matter what the devil throws at us, we know God will be there to help and protect. It doesn’t mean we’ll never suffer or life will be a big party, but it means God will give us the help and strength that we need.
Faith is also trust. We have faith in God and we trust in God.
2 Cor 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
God does not reveal everything to His children. He does not give us a roadmap of the next five years of our lives. But we walk by faith, trusting in God and day by day He opens doors and changes situations and reveals to us the paths that we should take. We don’t have to know the future. We don’t have to know what challenges are ahead. But as we have faith in God and trust God, day-by-day, He will show us what to do.
One last thought on faith.
Luke 18:8
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Jesus is warning us that in the last days, when He returns, very few will have true, soul saving faith. Many will have a mere knowledge of Jesus without a heart-felt commitment to Him.
Mat 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.