Faith Is
Hebrews 11:1
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Introduction
Substitution
“Believing” for “faith” – no English verb form for “faith”
Believe – connected with childhood fantasy characters (Santa Claus, Easter bunny, tooth fairy)
Stop believing, they go away
Statements like “believing in Jesus” are connected to opinion, not fact
Faith is:
- To the non-Christian – one’s religious opinion; attitudes, perspectives that are arbitrarily chosen, or a product of upbringing
- To the baby Christian – means to an end; have faith in order to be saved from hell, to be delivered from a bad situation, bad circumstance; to be part of the church for reputation’s sake
- To the growing Christian – is a commitment, loyalty to Jesus, to do the things Jesus said
- To the mature Christian – a relationship of trust; a bond of love, affection, sharing; emerging from an experience of one another’s commitment to each other
Faith is:
- The assurance of things hoped for
Hupostasis – deepest held convictions of life; knowing; objectivity; entrust; guarantee
What are we sure of? This is about what we know
Hoped for – hope is a positive expectation of the future, not knowledge; very strong emotion
Not saved by hope; this is the only thought we can contribute
2. The evidence of things not seen
elenchos – evidence, conviction, proof, correction
not seen – most of truth is not visible; footprints of God
Types of evidence – 1. Creation – Rom 1:20
- Relationship (entrust self) – II Pet. 1:4
- Promises kept by God
- Spiritual fruit (Holy Spirit) – Gal. 5:22-23; Rom. 8:9
Faith is produced by God by the gathering of evidence
Faith is measured in very small increments – what we really know, and willing to base our life on
Mat 17:20 And He said^ to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you.
Luke 17:6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would obey you.
Process of Gospel – your needs can be met
Experience {hearing the Gospel}
Hope – expectation that needs will be met
{gather evidence – experience God and God’s nature}
{obedience and pretending}
Faith – evidence produces trust and knowledge
{relationship established – affection emerges}
Love
Growing faith is the scientific method: Hope (hypothosis) à Gather evidence (experiment) à Faith (conclusion)
What is evidence to you?
Gideon – wet dry fleece (Judges 6) – Judg 6:17 So Gideon said to Him, “If now I have found favor in Thy sight, then show me a sign that it is Thou who speakest with me.
Jonah – getting swallowed by a big fish (Jonah)
David – killing a lion and a bear – 1 Sam 17:37 And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Thomas – prints of the nails – John 20:25 The other disciples therefore were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
Col 2:6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
Col 2:7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
Process of Walk
Growth Rooted – hope
Walking – Col 2:6-7 Built up – trustworthiness of God
Abiding – John 15 Established – faith
Goal – Matt 22:37 Love God with heart, soul and mind
The Bible is the standard by which we recognize the activity of God
Shows what to look for in evidence – observable
How God has committed to act – predictable