Defining Faith

“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.” (Heb. 11:1-3 ESV)

Here’s another well-known verse from Scripture that defines biblical faith: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Interestingly, so many people use their own definition of faith, which does not match what the Bible teaches.

Chapter 11 of Hebrews is known as the “Hall of Faith,” where 17 Old Testament saints are mentioned by name, and what did they all have in common? Faith that God was a promise keeper. Each one had their own story and their own encounter with God’s promise. What was asked of them differed, but all believed what God had told them.

The Greek word that is translated as faith is “Pistis,” and it means “faith, belief, trust, confidence, persuasion and is derived from the Greek word “to be persuaded.” Many think that “faith” is something that they create on their own. We say things like “If I only had enough faith, or we think that we should get credit for having enough faith on our own, like faith is something that we can create ourselves if we just try a little harder. When in reality, “faith is always a gift from God, and never something that people can produce. “Faith is God’s divine persuasion so that we can know His divine will.”

The faith spoken of in Hebrews 11 is the faith given by God so that we can “do what God asks of us.” Just read through this Chapter, and you will see that every time one of these Old Testament individuals acted on what God had asked of them, it was “by faith.” You see, faith is not deciding to be obedient after we have gathered all the facts, run through every possible outcome, and draw the conclusion that we “approve” of God’s plan. Faith is trusting that God will keep His promises to His people. Faith is that confidence that God gives us, to trust Him and allow Him to persuade us to follow His word.

We read Hebrews 11 and say to ourselves that these were “special” people and that we could never have enough faith to do what they did. And we would be wrong. These examples are to tell us that these were normal people just like you and me, that God called to do His will. These people didn’t generate the faith to follow God. God gave them the faith to follow Him. In Romans 12:3, we read that each of us has received faith “…according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” God is the giver of faith. God enables us to be able to trust Him and do what He asks of us.

 Would you like to add your name to the “Hall of Faith”, you can, just trust that God is indeed a promise keeper, and step out in your God given faith and do what He asks of you. You can do it!

  "Living in Grace is not about what I can do, but about what Jesus has already done!"