What Real Faith Is, Part 2 – Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Heb 11:1

Saving faith is the foundation of all faith. Without a wholehearted commitment and dependence on Christ alone for eternal life, you can not understand nor practice the faith that the author of Hebrews describes. Before delving further into Hebrews 11, you must first consider, Is Jesus the Lord of my life? Does He come first in everything? Jesus is the One who controls and cares for our lives. If we have saving faith, it must be practiced every day. As we study Hebrews 11, we will see what genuine faith is, and what faith can do.

Believing is possessing. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for…

Faith is the assurance– it is something tangible, clear, and with complete certainty. Faith does not say, “I’m trying to have it,” but rather says, “I already have it.” When God called Abram to leave his country and his family, Abram was able to go as the Lord told him, because He was assured in God’s promise of blessing. (Gen 12:1-4) David- when he was just a shepherd boy- stood fearlessly against Goliath, because he was assured of God’s deliverance. (1Sam 17:34-37) By the power of faith, we can have this kind of assurance. We are the children of God and co-heirs with Christ, but without faith, we can’t live as though we truly are. (1Jn 3:1; Rom 8:17)

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for. Often times we don’t differentiate between hope and desire. Biblical hope is always tied to God’s promises, whereas desire is related to the things of the earth. Faith and hope always go together- faith is the assurance of things promised by God. Biblical hope is certain, because God’s promises will never fail. When we pray with faith according to God’s will, we can be assured that God has already prepared what we asked for.

Believing is seeing. Now faith is…the conviction of things not seen.

Christians are supernatural, because they have the mind of Christ. Faith is able to see what can not be seen- by God’s saving grace, we were able to see our own sin, which led us to look for a Savior. All men are born blind, and live in darkness. Unbelievers can’t see God, so they will use their own means to try to earn salvation because they are unable to realize their sin. Only the Holy Spirit can help us see our sins, and see Jesus Christ as the Savior. (Jn 16:8, 9:15)

What can you see by faith?

You see Jesus as Lord. Your life is driven by Christ. His resurrection is your reality, because you can see Him by faith. (Acts 25:19)

By faith, we behold the proof of things not seen. Though the world can’t see Jesus, we see Him always with us in His love. Believers must be wary of their emotions, which can easily hinder faith. The object of our faith is God, His Word, and His Will. Though circumstances may change along with our emotions, God never changes, so our faith can remain stable and steadfast. Faith goes beyond reason (but not without it) and enables us to see God clearly and live according to His Will. As we will see in Hebrews 11, men and women of faith lived in a way that is impossible with man. By faith, we can do the same.