The Promises of God - Hebrews 11
I encourage you to read the whole chapter of Hebrews 11 to gain a good understanding of Biblical faith in action.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.” (Hebrews 11:1-2).
The words “Faith”, “Believe” and “Trust” - are all interchangeable, but the main concept is trusting God at His Word. God has spoken! And the faith which is pleasing to God, is to trust in what God declares is the truth about Jesus in the Bible, and all His promises will be fulfilled - in the present and the future.
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It is trusting God is good, and faithful, and will keep His word. It is trusting in who God is and trusting that Jesus is the Son of God. That He has risen form the dead, is seated at the right hand of God in heaven and will return one day to judge the living and the dead.
Verse 1, defines faith as, “the assurance of things hoped for”. The focus of the assurance is in the, “things hoped for”. What are the things hoped for? They are the promises of God of eternal life; the forgiveness of all our sins, our acceptance by God based on the death and resurrection of Jesus, and receiving a new spiritual body to inhabit heaven with God forever (Revelation 21:1-8).
The things hoped for are also “assured”, the hope is certain and guaranteed. Assurance means confidence in the object of our faith which is God’s revelation of Himself. It is not just a vague hope like hoping that something will come true or things will somehow work out for the best. Biblical faith is a sure thing. We have assurance in the things hoped for. Jesus paying the price for our sins is the guarantee of our salvation. It is finished and completed:
“Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” (John 19:30).
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1).
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13).
Biblical faith in Hebrews 11, is about being sure in our heart, about being certain in our hope of heaven, and having a firm conviction of the unseen reality of God's character. Biblical faith is sure of God’s existence, and holds a deep personal conviction that God's revelation in the Bible is the highest and absolute truth.
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“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 seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6).
“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.” (Hebrews 11:24-27).
Biblical faith is seeing the unseen God. It is trusting deep within our hearts, believing with full conviction, and placing our trust completely in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our salvation.
By this faith we are submitting ourselves to what God commands, and He will keep and fulfill His promise to save us - now and on Judgment Day.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:3-9).
The reward of our faith is seeing our Heavenly Father Himself and spending eternity enjoying Him.
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