I want to take a look at some Biblical principles that will stretch our understanding of faith. Would you open your Bibles to Hebrews 11? I want to do an introductory sermon entitled “Understanding Faith.” Follow along as I read verses 1-3 and 6.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 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…. 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.” (vs. 1-3,6)
1. To begin with I want to say a few words about the basis of faith! If we are people of faith there should be a basis for our beliefs. For instance, if I tell you I believe it is going to rain. I would usually have something to base that on. I could be basing it on an internet report. I could be basing it on the words of the weather man.
A. As you study the New Testament you come to understand that faith is based on Jesus Christ. The Bible says we have “boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus.” (Heb.10:19) Faith is not a religious creed or adherence to a particular faith. A person may say “I belong to the Catholic faith”, or “I belong to the Baptist faith,” or “I belong to the Jewish faith.” That is your religion. Biblical faith is based on what Jesus has done for us. Someone may ask, do you believe faith and salvation is only through Jesus Christ? Are there other ways to God? I am basing my convictions upon Jesus words. It does not matter what I think. Jesus said “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” (John14:6).
B. Faith is a response to God’s promises. Look at Hebrews 10:23. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Faith is not based on man’s best efforts. You might hear someone say “I exercised my faith.” You might exercise your faith. However, faith is a response to God’s promises.
Illustration: Consider this example. My father just passed away. He owned a fishing boat. My mother wants to give me my father’s fishing boat. She has promised me the boat. Let’s suppose I go over in a couple of months to get the boat. After I get there she laughs and says, “Oh, I was just kidding, you cannot have the boat.” I make my trip to Louisiana based upon the promise that she has given me the boat. My faith would be based on my mother’s promise.
In considering this truth I want you to look closely at Hebrews 11:1. In this verse there are three concepts that need to be seen. These three concepts help you understand God’s promises.
1. The first is based on the word “substance.” This Greek word means to “stand under, to support.” The Christian faith is to a Christian what a foundation is to a house. Faith is not a blind leap of faith. When you exercise faith you are not displaying faith in something that has no substance. People who believe in evolution are displaying faith in nothing. They believe the world just came about. People of faith believe the world came into existence at the hands of a sovereign, omnipotent, creator God. This offers substance to life (vs. 1). Theologian A.W.Tozer said “Faith is seeing the invisible, but not the nonexistent.” The Bible says “we walk by faith, not by sight.” II Cor. 5:7
Illustration: Let me give you an example of the kind of faith and trust that is necessary to become a Christian. The world-famous acrobat, Blondin, was born in France in 1824. His real name was Jean Francois Gravalet. Over the years, he became famous throughout Europe and America. In London he once played a violin on a tightrope 170 feet above the ground. On this side of the Atlantic, he became famous for crossing Niagara Falls on a tightrope 1,100 feet long and 160 feet above the water. One time he even pushed a wheelbarrow across the Falls while blindfolded. Another time, he stood on his head on the wire. Still another time he carried his manager across Niagara Falls on his back. When he made it to the other side, he looked into the crowd and asked a man standing near, "Do you believe I could do that with you?" The man answered, "Of course, I’ve just seen you do it." Then Blondin said, "Hop on, and I’ll carry you across." The man quickly said, "Not on your life" The man wouldn’t go across with Blondin because he didn’t really believe. He had an intellectual understanding of what was going on. He believed intellectually that Blondin could do it, but he wasn’t willing to stake his life on it.
(Contributed to Sermon Central by Matthew Sickling) That man did not display faith in Blondin. However, such faith is not true faith because it is faith in man’s abilities. True faith is based on a word from God.
2. The second word in verse 1 is the word “hope.” God’s promises give hope. Faith offers hope that looks beyond ourselves and beyond our circumstances. Corrie ten Boon, the marvelous Dutch Christian, whose family hid Jewish people during World War II once said “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. I you look within, you’ll be depressed, but if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.”
3. The third word in verse 1 is the word “evidence.” God’s promises give confidence. I like the way the Living Bible paraphrases verse 1. “What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.” That is confidence.
C. Faith is steadfast under trials. Look at Hebrews 10 verses 32 and 36. “But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings… For you have need of endurance.” Faith is not a life free of trials. Faith is steadfast under trials.
Look at Hebrews 11 and some of the trials encountered by the great people of faith.
• Vs. 8---Abraham had to leave his homeland.
• Vs. 13---The patriarchs died without seeing the promises.
• Vs. 24--- Moses gave up fame and fortune to follow God.
• Vs. 36-39---Some of the giants of the faith faced mockings, scourgings, stonings and slayings.
2. Last, I want to look at faith’s behavior.
Illustration: An old Scotsman operated a little rowboat for transporting passengers. One day a passenger noticed that the old man had carved on one oar the word “faith” and on the other oar the word “works.” Curiosity led him to ask the meaning of this. The old man, being a well balanced Christian and glad of the opportunity for testimony, said, “I will show you.” So, he dropped the oar named “faith” and pulled the other called “works.” They went around in circles. Then he dropped the oar named “works”and began to pull the oar called “faith”, and the little boat went around in circles again---this time the other direction, but still in a circle. After this demonstration the old man picked up Faith and Works, and pulling both oars together, sped swiftly over the water, explaining to his inquiring passengers, “you see, that is the way it is in the Christian life. Dead works without faith are useless, and faith without works is dead also, getting you nowhere. But faith and works pulling together make for safety, progress, and blessing. (Illustration 1492 in Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations. edited by Paul Lee Tan)
In Hebrews 11 we learn that faith is both an attitude and an action. As you display your faith God gives you substance, hope and confidence. However, as a person gains strength his/her faith will be displayed through action. In Hebrews 11 we find some of the great heroes of faith and the subsequent action they displayed. Their actions explain faith far better than I could ever imagine. The entire 11th chapter of Hebrews displays examples of faith. I want to look at the first 8 verses for actions that should be reflected in our lives if we are people of faith. The best way to measure your faith is to look at your behavior. If the behavior is not there then the faith is not there.
A. Faith is accepting God’s word. The example from our text is found in verse 3. Faith is accepting the fact that God created the world. He spoke it into existence.
Illustration: Let me give you a human example of faith.
• You go to a doctor who you do not know. This doctor is a human, made of flesh and blood.
• This doctor gives you a prescription you cannot read.
• You take that prescription to a pharmacist you have never met.
• The pharmacist gives you a chemical compound you do not understand.
Then you go home and take the pill according to the instructions on the bottle.
(Adapted Reese Blanchett’s contribution to Sermon Central) This is acceptance.
B. Faith is giving to God. The example from our text is found in verse 4. The Bible describes a man named Abel who was commended because he gave an offering to God. Many people are offended if they come to church and the preacher speaks of giving. The fact is, giving is an integral part of faith. Everything about faith involves giving. We give God our worship and praise. We give God our devotion. We give God honor by giving a tithe of our income. We give God our time as we practice our dedication in serving Him.
C. Faith is walking with God. The example from our text is found in verse 5. The Bible describes a man named Enoch. This story is found in Genesis 5:24. The Bible says Enoch walked with God. Enoch never died but was raptured to Heaven before he ever died a physical death. Enoch was only one of several people mentioned in the Bible who never died a physical death. Another was Elijah. The Bible says God took Elijah to Heaven in a supernatural chariot. The important thing is not Enoch’s rapture to Heaven. The important thing to note is that Enoch walked with God. A person of faith is a person who walks with God. This walk is noted by your conversation, your conduct and your character.
D. Faith is obeying God. The example from our text is found in verse 7. God instructed Noah to build a boat to prepare for a flood. What made this difficult was that Noah had never seen a boat. Noah had never seen rain. Noah was the only man to whom God gave this instruction. Noah had to stand alone. However, he obeyed God.
A little side note. When God speaks to you he speaks to you privately. You will feel as if you are the only person in the entire world to whom God is speaking. His message to you will be tailor made just for you.
E. Faith is trusting God. The example from our text is found in verse 8. The Biblical character is Abraham. God asked Abraham to leave his homeland, his people and his security and move to a new land. In the Bible it was called the land of promise. The Bible says “he went out, not knowing where he was going.” That is trust!
Illustration: A story from World War II illustrates this point. An American plane was flying a mission in Africa. Under the cloak of darkness they flew toward their destination of Benghazi in North Africa. A strong tail wind pushed the plane much faster than expected. When the instruments revealed they had reached their destination, the crew members apparently kept flying in disbelief of the gauges. They felt the instruments must be wrong, so they pressed on looking for a beacon light that was already miles behind. Eventually, the plane ran out of fuel, and the entire crew died when they crashed in the desert. Feelings can be a dangerous guide when trust is not exercised. (246 in Something)
