"By Faith We Understand"

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” (Hebrews 11:1-3 ESV)

We will all, at some point, especially if we engage unbelievers with the gospel, be asked what faith is. Can you rationally explain what biblical faith means to someone who has never heard of Jesus Christ so that they can understand what constitutes faith? Have you ever thought about it?

The writer of Hebrews tells us faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen. It is by faith that we come to understand creation and that it was formed by the Word of God. Theologian and Pastor R. C. Sproul wrote:

 “So we say that biblical faith is not the same as reason, but that faith is rational and reasonable. The first assertion that faith is rational means that faith is intelligible. It is not absurd or illogical. If biblical revelation were absurd and irrational, it would be utterly unintelligible and meaningless. The content of the Bible cannot pierce the soul of a sentient creature without first going through the mind. It was Augustine who declared that faith without evidence is credulity. At this point we understand that though faith is rational, it is also reasonable. Biblical faith does not call people to crucify their intellect or take irrational leaps of faith into the darkness with the hope that Christ will catch us. Rather, we are called to leap out of the darkness and into the light.”

In speaking about Abel and Enoch, our writer goes on to say, “without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”(11:6) We are all born with the intuitive understanding that we were created. When we look around, our minds and hearts tell us that this world is not an accident. Later in our lives, our experiences, biases, and socialization push us to or away from God. But deep inside, that understanding still remains.

So, how do we “get” faith? We do not “get” faith; it is given to us. Paul tells us, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) This is very true. If we do not hear the Word of God, we cannot come to understand who He is and what He has done for us. It is this hearing that opens the heart by God’s grace and delivers faith to us. He literally changes our minds about Him and our sin. The harder the heart, the longer this may take, as the first hearing of the gospel may be the all-important seed that causes one to begin contemplating God.

If you continue reading the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, which I recommend, our writer tells us of the many situations in the Old Testament in which faith led many to move, remain safe, and be commended as faithful by God. So, I ask you again, what is faith?

Faith is a gift of grace given to the one who hears the Word of God, in which the heart believes the Word is truth. As R. C. Sproul said so eloquently, “The first thing we notice in this assertion is that faith is something that is substantial, not ephemeral. Secondly, faith represents a type of evidence. It is the evidence of the unseen.” Faith is based on the evidence of the Word of God through which our hearts believe.  Simply put, God, by grace, opens our hearts to believe that the Word of God is truth. As Paul told Timothy, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

I will leave you with one last quote from Pastor Sproul: “Biblical faith does not call people to crucify their intellect or take irrational leaps of faith into the darkness with the hope that Christ will catch us. Rather, we are called to leap out of the darkness and into the light.” There it is: faith is moving from the dark to the light.

 “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:4-5) Seek the life and light of the world; seek salvation by grace, through faith in Christ Jesus.

Have questions about faith in Christ? Reach out to us here at In Messiah Ministries. We can point you to the scriptures about salvation through Christ alone.

Grace and Peace.