Calvary Road Baptist Church

“FAITH IS REAL” 

Are you disappointed with your spiritual growth as a Christian? Have you become disillusioned with the things of God because you perceive that God has, at some time, let you down?

Let me assure you that God has a solution to these problems. A big part of God’s solution is an item called faith. God gives people faith, and He gives people faith to live by.[1]

The Bible says in at least four places that “the just shall live by faith.”[2] The Bible also indicates that faith is the gift of God[3] and that the Spirit of God is the Source of faith.[4] What does this mean to you? What does this mean to me? It means that you and I must live by faith.

Do you live by faith? Really? Do you think in your mind, “Why should I live by faith?” “What is living by faith?” Maybe this very question was anticipated by God when He moved the author to pen the inspired Hebrews chapter 11.

Recognize that God doesn’t always require us to act without understanding. Understanding faith is vital for the Christian. In Hebrews 11.6, we are shown why we must live by faith: 

“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.” 

Two reasons: First, because of what faith is. Second, because of what faith does. Consider these topics in turn: 

First, WHAT FAITH IS 

Reflect with me on this thing we call Faith. To most people, faith is a strong belief for which there is no evidence or proof, what you might refer to as an unsubstantiated abstract. Is it not? Søren Kierkegaard was a 19th century Danish theologian, philosopher, poet, social critic, and religious author who strongly criticized his country’s state religion, and rightly so. He also wrote a great deal about faith and was the originator of this notion “the leap of faith,” which is an unscriptural concept, but which is popularly held to be the essence of Christian faith by many. However, in the Bible, faith is simply trusting God because of Who He is, relying on His credibility as the self-described truthful[5] and faithful Creator.[6] Notice the straightforward declaration of Hebrews 11.1, which flies in the face of the unbiblical notion that faith has anything to do with some kind of leap: 

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” 

Hebrews 11.1 introduces us to three new words, substance, hoped for, and evidence:

First, the word “substance,” ὑpόstasiV. According to Webster's dictionary, the English word refers to that which really exists.[7] The Greek word from which it is translated is a legal term referring to what we might identify as a “title deed.” One commentator writes, “Faith celebrates now the reality of the future blessings that constitute the objective content of hope.”[8] I am persuaded the Greek word is akin to our legal term “title deed,” with the Holy Spirit being the earnest of our inheritance, Ephesians 1.14, and our future glorification being the full payment to us of our full inheritance, Romans chapter 8.

Back in the day, someone could order a brand-new car from the manufacturer through a local dealership. Upon arranging payment for your automobile you would be given what was then called the pink slip. The pink slip was the legal document showing ownership of an automobile not yet delivered, your title deed showing ownership. What an amazing parallel exists between how some automobiles were purchased back in the day and the fulfillment of our salvation in heaven someday. That is what saving faith in Christ is, your proof of ownership of an inheritance you do not yet fully possess.

Next, there is “hoped for,” a form of the word ἐlpίzw. To most people, hope is understood to be little more than wishful thinking, a desire without any realistic expectation of fulfillment. But the Biblical concept of hoping is the confident expectation of future blessing based on the promises of God.[9] In support of this understanding of hope is Second Peter 1.4, where we are provided with the basis for hoping as it is understood in Scripture: 

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 

Third, there is the word “evidence,” ἔlegcoV. This is a legal term describing facts admissible in a court of law.[10] Bringing what we have learned together, what can be said? First, faith is our title deed to our inheritance awaiting us in Heaven. To be sure, there is counterfeit faith and faith that is not saving faith. But saving faith is our title deed, our pink slip, establishing ownership of our heavenly inheritance. Next, faith is evidence, employing facts we use to make decisions. What facts? How about the truthfulness of God, His Son, His Spirit, and His Word? God cannot lie.[11] The Son of God is the truth.[12] The Spirit of God is true.[13] And God’s Word is truth.[14]

These are reliable facts useful for making good decisions about life and eternity, wouldn’t you say? Faith, then, is the conclusion based upon facts that renders the verdict to “trust God.” Thus, if you imagine faith to be a feeling or that faith requires some existential leap, you have failed to grasp what faith means. 

Then, WHAT FAITH DOES 

We know genuine faith is active in various ways because James 2.17 declares, 

“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” 

Notice, first, how faith operated in days gone by. Hebrews 11.2 reads, “For by it the elders obtained a good report.” In other words, in days gone by faith was useful to such men as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and others to obtain a good report with God. God observed and was pleased with their conclusions from their evidence that God could be trusted, their acts of faith which He then reported to us in the Bible.

Look at just one example, the example of Enoch, in Hebrews 11.5: 

“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” 

How did a person please God like Enoch pleased God? Faith. 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.” 

Notice, next, how Biblical faith operates in our day, right now. Hebrews 11.3 shows us: 

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” 

So you see, the kind of faith that real Christians have is faith that believes God made everything, and is faith that believes what the Bible says about creation. That is the starting point for real faith.

Some might ask, “Shouldn’t we rely on science? Isn’t science the final arbiter of right and wrong, of truth and error, of the real and the unreal?” Let me respond to that valid question in several ways.

First, with respect to the reliability of science as the final arbiter of right and wrong, of truth and error, and of the real and the unreal, I present to you these authoritative books written by scientists and science reporters about the reliability of scientists doing science: 

Second, with respect to the facts of science using the same facts secular scientists rely on, but with different presuppositions underlying the way the facts of science are interpreted. Here is a small selection of books I have accumulated and read: 

Switching now to current events, let me remind you how trustworthy science has proven itself to be over the last several years.[16] 

Would you like to spend some additional time insisting that science is more reliable than the Bible and that Bible-based faith is nothing more than “a leap of faith?” 

I would not suggest or imply that anyone has to read these books to grow in grace and in the knowledge of God. The Bible is more than sufficient to strengthen anyone’s faith. But some people will read a book before they will read the Bible, so I offer these suggestions.

God gives faith to some people, but not all people, Ephesians 2.8 and Second Thessalonians 3.2. As well, it is possible to have little faith,[18] great faith,[19] to be full of faith,[20] to be sanctified by faith,[21] justified by faith,[22] receive faith by hearing God’s Word,[23] to have faith that is vain,[24] to stand in the faith,[25] to walk by faith,[26] to live by faith,[27] to love with faith,[28] to engage in the work of faith,[29] to be protected by faith,[30] to continue in faith,[31] to be an example of faith,[32] to follow after faith,[33] to have unfeigned faith,[34] to follow faith,[35] to be sound in faith,[36] to understand by faith,[37] and to please God by faith.[38]

Faith enables other things, but this list of items related to faith should keep us all busy.

Let me summarize for you who are not believers in Christ. We who are Christians have more than sufficient reasons to believe. You do not have adequate reasons not to believe. I challenge you to intellectual honesty for the salvation of your eternal and undying soul.

Christian? You have the “title deed” to that mansion prepared in Heaven for you by the Lord Jesus that He talked about to His men in John 14.2-3. It is your faith in Christ.

Serve God now. You have evidence that makes your decision obvious. Live by faith. Why? Because of what faith is and because of what faith does.

__________

[1] Ephesians 2.8

[2] Habakkuk 2.4; Romans 1.17; Galatians 3.11; Hebrews 10.38

[3] Ephesians 2.8; James 1.17

[4] 2 Corinthians 4.13

[5] 2 Samuel 7.28; 2 Chronicles 15.3; Psalm 19.9; 119.160; Jeremiah 10.10; 42.5; John 3.33; 6.32; 7.28; 8.26; Romans 3.4; 2 Corinthians 1.18; 1 Thessalonians 1.9; Titus 1.2; 1 John 5.20; Revelation 15.3; 16.7; 19.2, 9

[6] Deuteronomy 7.9; Psalm 119.86; Isaiah 49.7; Jeremiah 42.5; Hosea 11.12; 1 Corinthians 1.9; 10.13; 1 Thessalonians 5.24; 2 Thessalonians 3.3; 2 Timothy 2.13; Hebrews 10.23; 1 Peter 4.19; 1 John 1.9

[7] Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary, (New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1996), page 1817.

[8] William L. Lane, Hebrews 9-13 - Word Biblical Commentary 47B, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1991), page 328.

[9] Bauer, Danker, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature, (Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago Press, 2000), page 319.

[10] Ibid., page 315.

[11] Titus 1.2

[12] John 14.6

[13] John 14.17; 15.26; 16.13

[14] John 17.17

[15] Please note that while N. T. Wright’s treatment of Christ’s resurrection is masterful, his reliability and accuracy for matters related to the doctrine of salvation are quite suspect.

[16] See also http://theweek.com/articles/618141/big-science-broken

[17] See the movie What Is A Woman” starring Matt Walsh, available on https://www.dailywire.com/videos/what-is-a-woman

[18] Matthew 6.30; 8.26; 14.31; 16.8; Luke 12.28

[19] Matthew 8.10; 15.28; Luke 7.9

[20] Acts 6.5, 8; 11.24

[21] Acts 26.18

[22] Romans 3.28; 4.5, 9; 5.1; 10.6

[23] Romans 10.17

[24] 1 Corinthians 15.14, 17

[25] 2 Corinthians 1.24

[26] 2 Corinthians 5.7

[27] Galatians 3.11; Hebrews 10.38

[28] Ephesians 6.23

[29] 1 Thessalonians 1.3; 2 Thessalonians 1.11

[30] 1 Thessalonians 5.8

[31] 1 Timothy 2.15

[32] 1 Timothy 4.12

[33] 1 Timothy 6.11

[34] 2 Timothy 1.5

[35] 2 Timothy 2.22

[36] Titus 2.2

[37] Hebrews 11.3

[38] Hebrews 11.6

 

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