What is faith?
“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” (Hebrews 11:1)
Why is faith important?
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
How do we get faith?
“So, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)
What is the activity of faith?
There are many examples of faith in the Bible, but Hebrews 11 provides a concentrated look – a snapshot if you will – of what the whole of God’s word says about faith. In a word, though, obedience is the activity of faith.
Throughout time, faith in God’s promises (fulfilled in Christ), prompted faith that motivated obedience. These people weren’t perfect, but they show us that faith and its results are possible even amidst sin and disobedience.
Some of the people in Hebrews 11 seem like giants of faith; yet, Jesus taught that we don’t need much faith to do something amazing.
“…if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)
“If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” (Luke 17:6)
What does faith look like?
Based on Hebrews 11, faith includes hoping for…
- Resurrection
- Victory
- Deliverance
- Safety
- Reward
- Fulfilled purpose
- Completion
- Heaven
This hope was often set in the context of the seemingly impossible, and there was opportunity to express faith through obedience.
