Faith is a much-bandied word, which most people claim to have. True faith is an extremely rare commodity.

WHAT IS FAITH?………IT IS PROOF OF OUR BELIEF.

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

Read the above scripture carefully, faith is evidence, or proof of our belief. If a church member believes that two Gods have inhabited eternity, and claims to have faith in that belief: That is not true faith because there is no proof of that belief in the Bible. A child may have absolute belief in existence of the tooth fairy, because of lies told; but there will never be any true faith in that belief, because it is not provable.

Our faith and hope must be in God. God is truth, so our faith must be according to truth.

1Pe 1:21  who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

True faith is only available from proving our belief by God’s word. We will grow in faith by learning of God, and living our life according to that learning.

Read the next verse, and notice something startling.

1Pe 1:9  receiving the end of your faith the salvation of your souls.

True faith will not be realised in our lives until we attain salvation; therefore true faith is proof of prophecy.

The scriptures have the words of eternal life.

Joh 6:40  And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

1Jn 5:13  These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

The Bible testifies of Christ.

Joh 5:39  You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.

Read the next verse with the above verses in mind. The scriptures testify of Christ, and have the way to eternal life.

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

The testimony of Christ is the knowledge of eternal life, and is therefore prophetic.

The end or culmination of our faith is eternal life, and is therefore proof of Christ’s testimony.

Faith grows from learning the word of God and living our lives according to the word of God.

Rom 10:17  So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Mat 11:29  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Faith cannot come from man’s wisdom.

1Co 2:5  that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

We must stand fast in faith.

1Co 16:13  Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.

God’s people will live their lives by the word of God, not by the word of mankind.

2Co 5:7  For we walk by faith, not by sight.

We will not receive the culmination of our faith in this lifetime.

Heb 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Jesus Christ is giver and finisher of our faith.

Heb 12:2  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

True faith requires true commitment.

Jas 1:6  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

We must live by every word of God.

Jas 2:17  Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Mat 4:4  But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.’ ”

Jas 2:21  Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?

Jas 2:22  Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

Jas 2:23  And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” And he was called the friend of God.

Jas 2:24  You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

Jas 2:25  Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

Jas 2:26  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Faith must be fair dinkum.

1Ti 1:5  Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,

True faith is one of the mysteries of God.

1Ti 3:9  holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

True faith requires belief, obedience, and trust in God’s word, and the courage to follow God wherever He leads; even if the whole world differs to what the Bible says. Faith will start small as a mustard seed; as we grow in knowledge of God and live our lives according to that knowledge: we will grow in the faith, which will eventually culminate in the salvation of our souls.

Always keep the following verse in mind. Faith without love is as nothing.

1Co 13:2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

1Co 13:13  And now faith, hope, charity, these three remain; but the greatest of these is charity.

In light of the new knowledge, we have learned in this article, let’s now look at the faith chapter and discuss some of it.

FAITH IS A MYSTERY

1Ti 3:9  holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

In the faith chapter are given the requirements for faith, let’s look at them.

BELIEF

Belief goes hand in hand with faith, without it we simply cannot have faith.

The Bible tells us that God created all things through His Son Jesus Christ, if we believe that God did this, then we have one of the requirements of faith.

Heb 11:3  By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

RIGHTEOUSNESS

Abel believed God and followed the instructions regarding sacrifices.

Heb 11:4  By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

PLEASE GOD

Again we see that Enoch believed God, he pleased God. It is impossible to please God without faith.

Heb 11:5  By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “AND WAS NOT FOUND, BECAUSE GOD HAD TAKEN HIM”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Notice that belief and faith are intertwined.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

FEAR

We must have awe and reverence for God. Noah had this awe towards God. Noah was told of the impending flood, he believed God, feared God and acted on those things and built the ark.

Heb 11:7  By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

OBEDIENCE

God told Abraham to go to a strange land, which he did not know, he did not hesitate, he just went, trusting that God knew what He was doing. Abraham obeyed.

Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Abraham was not worried about where he would live, he knew that he was only a sojourner here on earth. He was concerned with his future dwelling place, with God. This physical life is only temporary, it was not a concern for him. His mind and heart were set on the true riches of life……obedience to God. He wanted to obey God, now.

Heb 11:10  for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

JUDGE GOD FAITHFUL

Sarah judged God faithful, to do what He had promised. Sarah was 90 years old when God told Abraham that she would have a son. Sarah laughed at the thought, Abraham also laughed at the possibility, she was well past child bearing and Abraham was 100. If you know anyone that age, I think every single one of them would laugh if you told them they were going to have a baby. However, when Sarah had time to think about it, she soon realised that God could perform this miracle and she judged Him faithful, that He would fulfil this promise. She believed and trusted in God. Even though it was physically impossible.

Heb 11:11  By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.

CONFESSION OF BEING STRANGERS ON EARTH

The Feast of Tabernacles teaches us that we are sojourners here on earth. This physical existence is a temporary state for us whilst we learn character, overcome and are tried. We must not get too attached to this world and all that it offers, we must understand that the true riches and the things that are really worth striving for are spiritual. They are not physical or material. The physical will fade away, but God’s word and the promises are eternal.

Heb 11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Heb 11:14  For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.

Heb 11:15  And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.

Heb 11:16  But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

PROPHESY

Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau regarding the future of the nations that would come out of them. He was given this insight by God.

Heb 11:20  By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

When Jacob was very old, he blessed Ephraim and Manasseh, concerning the future of the nations which would come from them. Again, this is prophesy given by God.

Heb 11:21  By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

God inspired Joseph to know that the nation of Israel would go into captivity and would come out of it.

Heb 11:22  By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

BE NOT AFRAID

Moses’ parents hid him for 3 months, whilst the king was looking to kill the babies. This must have been a very hard time for them. Imagine trying to keep a little baby quiet, while trying to avoid detection day and night. The parents were not afraid of the king. God is far greater than any physical king.

Heb 11:23  By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.

PUT GOD FIRST, RESPECT YOUR REWARD

What a great temptation, Egypt and its many pleasures must have been, but not to Moses, he wanted to be with God’s people. This was far more important to him than physical possessions and materially minded people. He knew what the true riches were. Moses simply wanted to put God first, and be with His people. Egypt represented the exact opposite of what God’s people should be.

Heb 11:24  By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

Heb 11:25  choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,

Also notice that Moses respected the payment of the reward.

Heb 11:26  esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

UNDERSTANDING WHO GOD IS

Moses understood who God was. Notice seeing Him who is invisible, this seeing means understanding. It is extremely important that we know who God is. Moses knew. Do we?

Heb 11:27  By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

KEEP THE PASSOVER

It is extremely important that we keep the Passover on the correct day. This is one of the keys to the kingdom.

Heb 11:28  By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

ONLY GOD’S PEOPLE CAN FOLLOW HIM

Only those people who God calls will hear Him and follow Him.

Heb 11:29  By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

WORKS

Faith without works is dead. As the following scriptures show.

Heb 11:30  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.

Heb 11:33  who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

Heb 11:34  quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Heb 11:35  Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

Heb 11:36  Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.

Heb 11:37  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented

Heb 11:38  of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

Heb 11:39  And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,

Heb 11:40  God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

When Abraham walked to the mountain to sacrifice Isaac, many thoughts would have churned over in his mind. One of them would have been how God would continue his seed through Isaac, when Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac. He knew God could raise him from the dead if He so desired. Whatever God had in mind, Abraham accounted to God that He was able to do what He had promised. He did not know how God would do this but he still concluded that God would fulfil His promises. He had works when he was prepared to follow the instructions of God and sacrifice Isaac. Abraham knew that God had promised to bless Abraham down through Isaac, so he was confident God would do as He had promised.

Heb 11:17  By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Heb 11:18  of whom it was said, “IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED,”

Heb 11:19  concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

Rahab had works when she hid the spies.

Heb 11:31  By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

Jas 2:25  Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

PEACE

Rahab wanted peace when she saved the spies.

Heb 11:31  By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

The culmination of our faith is eternal life.

Heb 11:40  God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.

All of the above scriptures give attributes of faith. We need to have these requirements to have faith.

Faith grows over the years, as we show God that we wish to have the requirements of faith, by doing them in our lives. We need to ask God for faith, He will increase it.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.