The Supreme Place of Faith in the Life of a Believer

READ Hebrews 11

Hebrews 11 is known as the faith chapter of the Bible.  The word “faith” appears 24 times in this chapter, and 231 times in the Bible.  It is the method by which a believer is to live his or her life.  Romans 1:17 states, “The just shall live by faith.”  And Romans 14:23 says, “…for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

Faith is described in Hebrews 1:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  The word “substance” speaks of assurance or title deed, while the word “evidence” speaks of conviction.  We could therefore say that faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  Faith is not baseless, for it always has an object for our assurance. 

You should have faith in anything God says and/or promises.  It is through faith that we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God (vs. 3).  It was by faith that Abel offered unto God an offering acceptable to the Lord (vs. 4).  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not experience death (vs. 5).  And on, and on, the list of those living by faith progresses, Noah, Abraham, Sara, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, the Red Sea divided by faith, the walls of Jericho fell down by faith.

It is apparent you can’t live right without exercising faith in your life.  Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him [God]…”  You see, you must live your life with two convictions:  1) you must believe that God is, and 2) you must believe that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.  “Diligently seek” is a Greek verb (ekzeteo) which means to seek and crave after.

Indeed, the just shall live by faith…. How are you doing?

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1.  How would you define faith as described in Hebrews 11:1?

2.  How does your life reflect a life lived by faith?

3.  How can you grow in the realm of living by faith?

4.  Why is it impossible to please God if faith isn’t present in your life? (Hebrews 11:6)