FAITH--HEBREWS 11:1, 6

FAITH

HEBREWS 11:1, 6

Introduction:

Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true. Its primary idea is trust. A thing is true and therefore worthy of trust. Definition: Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

I. FAITH IS THE ONLY WAY TO PLEASE GOD.

A. God has set the standard, Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

B. He has set the reward for faith, “for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

II. FAITH IS NOT BLIND, BUT MUST HAVE AN OBJECT.

A. Some say that they have faith, but do not demonstrate the object of their faith.

B. The object of our faith is the whole revealed Word of God, John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

1. Faith accepts and believes the Word of God, John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

2. Faith in His Word unites us with Christ, Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”

a. By trusting the immutable God of Heaven, Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

b. By owning Him as our Savior for His Word’s sake, Titus 1:1-2, “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”

III. FAITH SECURES THE BELIEVER’S FREEDOM.

A. He has freedom from condemnation.

1. We live because He lives, John 14:19, “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.”

2. The truth has set us free from the condemnation of sin, John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

3. We are free because Jesus has set us free, John 8:36, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

4. We are free because of the grace of God, Romans 5:15, “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”

B. Having been made free from sin we are become the servants of God, Romans 6:22, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”

1. Faith has set us apart to honor our Lord with our lives, Acts 26:18, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

2. Faith makes it possible to be filled with the fullness of God, Ephesians 3:17-19, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

CONCLUSION

Faith is not as simple as it appears on the surface. It is a very large thing in our lives. Faith is trust in the Lord Jesus Christ that He can and will do what He has said in His Word. The opposite of faith is infidelity and we want to be faithful to Him.

He does not need our help to fulfill His Word, but has chosen to use man in order to bring greater glory to His name. However, our conduct must be based on “thus saith the Lord,” and not on what we might think.