Focus Scripture
The Meaning of Faith
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith[a] our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.[b]
The Examples of Abel, Enoch, and Noah
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable[c] sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith[d] he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.” 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.
Hebrews deals with an element which is regarded as essential to the Christian life, and that is faith. It is what makes the Christian different from the non-Christian. Henry David Thoreau, once said, “If I seem to walk out of step with others, it is because I am listening to another drum beat.” That is an exact description of faith: Christians walk as though listening to another drum beat.
This chapter centers on what faith is. Faith is often misunderstood. Faith is not positive thinking, not a hunch that is followed, not hoping for the best, not hoping that everything will turn out alright, nor a feeling of optimism. What is faith then? It is believing in things not seen, an awareness of something else. That is faith. There are realities which cannot be seen or touched, and yet they are as real and as vital as anything we can see. There is the whole spiritual Kingdom of God.
Verse 6 says the same: He that comes to God must believe that he is, that God exists. There are some who say that is the hard part, to believe that God really exists. However, if we just look around us at the creation, the prayers answered, and the teachings of Jesus, it doesn’t seem hard at all. God has shown us clear evidence and examples of His personhood, and He doesn’t invite us into a blind faith, but a personal relationship. The same God who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire and had a dead man come back to life is the same God who wants to love, live in and be reunited with each of us.
We can be confident and hopeful in this life—not because we have faith in ourselves, faith that everything is going to work out, or faith that we’ll get through something just because we say so. No, we can be confident and hopeful, because we can trust that when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, He shows up and will forever prove His faithfulness to His people.
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