Hebrews 11 - What Is Faith?

1 The eleventh chapter of Hebrews has often been called the biblical "Hall of Faith." Certainly it does present an informative discussion of what constitutes genuine belief. Note the following points. <h3><i>Faith Is Rational</i></h3> By faith we "understand" that the universe is not self-existent; rather, it was designed by the Creator (v. 3). The notion that one cannot be intelligent without being anti-religious is a myth propagated by those who hate God. Logic and faith are companions. <h3><i>Faith Depends upon Revelation</i></h3> God has, in history, "borne witness," "warned," "called," etc. (v. 4,5,7,8). Man does not intuitively know how to serve God. The Lord has spoken (Heb. 1:1), and, in the final analysis, that revelation is embodied in the Holy Scriptures. <h3><i>Faith Involves Trusting Our Maker</i></h3> When Noah was warned of God, though he had never seen a flood, he prepared the ark (v. 7). Abraham left Chaldea "not knowing whether he went" (v. 8). Clearly, trusting the unseen God is a vital component of true faith. <h3><i>Faith Is an Action Word</i></h3> Whereas many seem to entertain the notion that faith is merely a mental conviction, this chapter reveals that faith, in order to be valid, must act. By faith Abel "offered" a sacrifice (v. 4), Noah "prepared" an ark (v. 7), and Abraham "obeyed" the Lord (v. 8). Faith, divorced from obedience, is dead (Jas. 2:26). <h3><i>Faith Discriminates</i></h3> It chooses the spiritual over the material, the eternal over the temporal. Moses chose heavenly riches over the treasures of Egypt (v. 26). Thus, somewhere in your margin write: <i>The nature of true faith.</i> Then, under that, list the five components outlined (and italicized) above, and the verse numbers appropriate to each of them. Hebrews chapter 11 is a biblical record of faith. The examples listed there are our roadmap to understanding true faith.

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