What is Faith?
Hebrew chapter 11 verse 1 tells us that “faith is the substance of things hope for the evidence of things we do not see.
The first thing we notice is that faith is a substance, it may be a substance that we cannot see with our natural eye however it is a substance none the less. One of the first things we must realize is that if we are going to “live by faith” we must learn to live by something we generally cannot see.
We know from Hebrew 11:6 that faith is required to please God. This means we cannot make up our own minds on how we are going to please God. God has made it clear that if we are going to please Him faith is required. We often come up with our own ideas of how God might be pleased with us but His idea is what counts. We are sometimes like the wife who decides that what her husband should get for Christmas is a new outfit when what he really wants is new golf clubs. She hasn’t taken the time to hear what he really wants she gives him something that she likes. We often do this to God by not taking the time to find out what pleases Him. His word is full of instructions of how we are to please Him and faith is the substance that must be involved in everything that pleases God.
Now faith is… the evidence of things hoped for.
Evidence is something that is brought forth in a court of law in order to establish a matter in a particular case. It is something that will bring a judgment that will allow the judge to bring justice to the situation. When is comes to faith the evidence we bring to the courtroom is what the word of God says about the situation. Scripture says there is an plaintiff of the brethren, one arrayed against us. We must give evidence to our case in order plead our case before the judge. We must declare what the bible says and then act accordingly.
1John 5:4 says … And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Faith is something that is needed to overcomes life’s difficult circumstances. There is no real victory apart from the exercise of our faith. Galatians 5:6 says the only thing that avails anything is faith that works through love. We see here that the motivation of our faith must be love.Why is FAITH important?
We cannot be saved without it.
Ephesians 2: 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith,
Hebrew 11:6 we cannot please God apart from faith.
Galatians 3:14 … it is by faith that we receive the promise of the Spirit
Holy living requires faith Acts 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
It is by faith that we are justified (just as if I’d never sinned) Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith
There is much more to be said about faith whoever the most important aspect faith is only seen through our love for God being demonstrated through obedience to Him.
The first thing we notice is that faith is a substance, it may be a substance that we cannot see with our natural eye however it is a substance none the less. One of the first things we must realize is that if we are going to “live by faith” we must learn to live by something we generally cannot see.
We know from Hebrew 11:6 that faith is required to please God. This means we cannot make up our own minds on how we are going to please God. God has made it clear that if we are going to please Him faith is required. We often come up with our own ideas of how God might be pleased with us but His idea is what counts. We are sometimes like the wife who decides that what her husband should get for Christmas is a new outfit when what he really wants is new golf clubs. She hasn’t taken the time to hear what he really wants she gives him something that she likes. We often do this to God by not taking the time to find out what pleases Him. His word is full of instructions of how we are to please Him and faith is the substance that must be involved in everything that pleases God.
Now faith is… the evidence of things hoped for.
Evidence is something that is brought forth in a court of law in order to establish a matter in a particular case. It is something that will bring a judgment that will allow the judge to bring justice to the situation. When is comes to faith the evidence we bring to the courtroom is what the word of God says about the situation. Scripture says there is an plaintiff of the brethren, one arrayed against us. We must give evidence to our case in order plead our case before the judge. We must declare what the bible says and then act accordingly.
1John 5:4 says … And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Faith is something that is needed to overcomes life’s difficult circumstances. There is no real victory apart from the exercise of our faith. Galatians 5:6 says the only thing that avails anything is faith that works through love. We see here that the motivation of our faith must be love.Why is FAITH important?
We cannot be saved without it.
Ephesians 2: 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith,
Hebrew 11:6 we cannot please God apart from faith.
Galatians 3:14 … it is by faith that we receive the promise of the Spirit
Holy living requires faith Acts 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
It is by faith that we are justified (just as if I’d never sinned) Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith
There is much more to be said about faith whoever the most important aspect faith is only seen through our love for God being demonstrated through obedience to Him.
- Bill Arsenault
