What Real Faith Is, Part 3 – Hebrews 11:1-2

What is real faith, and do you have it? In order for Jesus’s resurrection to be powerfully effective in your life, you must have faith.

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for. By faith you can live as though you already possess these things. What are the things hoped for? Biblical hope is tied to God’s promises in the gospel. This hope is certain, because the reliability of any promise depends on the one who promises it, and our hope is anchored to God’s unfailing Word. Faith therefore involves a strong element of trust in God. Matthew’s account of Jesus and Peter walking on water is a clear illustration of living by faith. (Matt 14:24-27) When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the sea, they cried out in fear, thinking He was a ghost. But Jesus immediately spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” It was the Lord, the Alpha and the Omega, the Almighty God who was speaking to them. (Is 44:6; Rev 1:8) Peter believed that if Jesus commanded him to come to Him, then he too, would be able to walk on water. As Peter trusted in Jesus and walked on water by faith, we too, can be assured of the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, and live by faith in Him every day.

Faith is also seeing spiritually what can’t be seen physically. Every believer’s testimony is, “I was blind, but now I see.” Through the Scriptures, believers now see Jesus as Lord, heaven as real, the Bible as God’s Word, and themselves transformed through the gospel. (Jn 20:29) By faith, we see Jesus in the midst of trials and dire circumstances, and we can trust Him, knowing that nothing is greater than God. (Ps 46:1) To question God’s presence during suffering is greatly dishonoring to Him. What stands between you and God that prevents you from believing? Diligently search out the pride, sin, unbelief, a misunderstanding of faith or anything else that hinders you from seeing Christ.

By faith, the men of old gained approval. Saving faith and living faith can not be separated- saving faith is manifested daily into living faith. The central message of the book of Hebrews is that Jesus is the object of true faith and hope. The law can not save you- you just have to trust in Jesus, who is the guarantor of a better covenant. (Heb 7:22) Is Jesus the center of your life? If not, your faith might be subjective and false. Now is the time to examine if your faith is real. There is only one kind of faith that is recognized and accepted by God, and it is faith in Jesus Christ alone. (Matt 8:9-10) There were many religions practiced in world during the Old Testament period, but God recognized only those who had faith in Christ. No good works of man have ever impressed God- He approves only those who have faith in His Son. So examine yourself as you understand what biblical faith truly is. As men and women of faith, let us follow the biblical pattern of those who saw and attained the promises of God through faith in Jesus Christ.