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There is no better place to begin a study on the subject of faith than the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, which is often referred to as
the faith chapter of the Bible. In this chapter God repeatedly gives examples of faith at work in individual lives. Among those catalogued
are Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac,Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, and other martyrs. This chapter presents faith which justifies,
sanctifies, and testifies. There is faith of a mother, of a man, and of a multitude. There is faith which looks onward and upward, faith
that receives and achieves, and faith which endures and assures. From this chapter of living faith, we begin to understand why both the Old
and New Testaments declare that "the just shall live by faith" (Hab. 2:4, Rom. 1:17, and Heb. 10:38).Therefore faith is not simply
to be stored in reserve until we die; rather it is to be used daily while we live. Only as we live by faith, do we please God (Heb. 11:6).
Therefore whatsoever is done apart from faith is sin (Rom. 14:23).
Faith Defined
In the first verse of Hebrews eleven, we are introduced to faith both by definition and description of its effects and operations. Faith is
substance and evidence. What you now hope for, you do not yet see, but faith gives substance to that hope. Faith gives evidence that the
unseen is real. Things not yet experienced become real to us by faith. Faith is metaphysically their substance and substantiates them to us.
For example, the resurrection has not yet taken place for us for we have not yet died; however, faith substantiates it in our souls and
makes it as real as if it had already taken place. If someone wrote you a check for $20, you would not have the money but only the
declaration that it belonged to you and that as soon as you cashed the check you would have the twenty dollars. You fold the check,
put it in your pocket, and in your mind it is the money. The written Word of God is like the check; by faith you perceive the reality of
that which has not yet been received. You do not now possess it; you have only the promissory paper, but you trust and believe as
though you already had it in your possession. Therefore faith is substance and evidence.
Faith Source
Some obvious questions about this blessing of faith are: where do we get it? where does faith come from? and how much does it cost?
If it were sold in the markets of the nation, it would be very expensive, for it has proven to be of great worth to millions who possess it and
use it; but men cannot market faith. If a man possesses it, he cannot sell it or even give it to another. It belongs to the possessor alone,
it cannot be exchanged for something else.
Much to our marvel, it is not within us at our natural birth. At our birth, we could see and hear and had the capability of learning
to talk and walk; but faith is not formed by our physical nature. Faith is a spiritual quality and must therefore come from God. As precious
as it is, God freely gives it to us (Eph. 2:8). Faith comes to us because we have been born again, for it is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. To
have an apple, there must first be an apple tree to produce the fruit. To have faith, there must first be the new birth; then faith is produced
in us as the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22). Therefore not all living people have the substance of faith (2 Thes. 3:2). The only people who
possess this wonderful quality are those who have been saved by the grace of God.
Quantity and Quality of Faith
Because the disciples recognized that faith came from God, they desired to increase their faith (Luke 17:5). They recognized that it
came from God and no other source; however, they failed to realize that God gave them all the faith they would ever need. A hungry
child will hoard food, for fear it will run out. A drowning man wants to get as high on an object as he can, for fear it will sink. We sometimes
act as if we believe that our faith will run out or let us down. Without using what we have, like the disciples, we ask God for more.
We need to realize that God has not given one person more faith than another. As Jesus Christ equally represented all the elect, and
the same Holy Spirit indwells all that are born again, so we all have equal faith given to us. God gave or dealt to everyone of us "the
measure of faith" (Rom. 12:3). Whatever that quantity is, God has dipped into His divine supply and given to each of us who are saved
by grace and born of the Spirit the same amount of faith. It is a lifetime supply nowhere do we find God adding to the initial gift. We may
leave faith in the bank account until the service charges cause it to dwindle away, or we may use it until it builds up like an exercised
muscle and, like money wisely invested, it grows.
It is clearly evident that not all the saved have the same quantity or quality of faith. Some have "little faith" (Mt. 14:31) while others
possess "great faith" (Matt. 8: 10). All faith is the same in quantity and quality when divinely given, but our use or abuse, as the case
may be, will drastically affect it. For example, two identical cars may be given. One owner takes good care of his car and services it wisely,
while the other neglects and abuses his. Upon being received they were the same, but after use they were quite different in appearance
and worth. Therefore faith that is wisely used and cared for will become great faith and will greatly enrich the life of its possessor, but
neglected it will deteriorate.
Faith Manifested
Faith in the New Testament is equivalent to trust in the Old Testament therefore, the greater our faith, the more we trust God. This
faith should be manifested in a variety of ways. When we trust God as we should, we will gladly live our lives by His words and His will.
Such faith will propel us forward in service to God and we shall daily endeavor to serve Him. All that we do in service to God must be
an outgrowth of faith for "whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23). Faith that does not march forward in good works is dead faith
Games 2: 17). Faith and works are like two wings of a bird or two oars on a boat; use only one of them and you go in circles and get nowhere,
but use them together and you go forward or upward. Your profession of faith is meaningless unless you have the works to back it up. "Yea,
a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works" Games
2: 18). If you are actively serving Jesus Christ, then your faith will be evident to others.
Faith is also manifested as we trust God to keep His Word and do what He promises in His Word. Faith not only lays hold upon the
reality of God and believes that He actually does exist, but it also causes us to trust His blessings and believe He will take care of us.
Hebrews 11:6 says, "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." Let me illustrate this truth in this manner: suppose there is a child trapped upstairs in a
burning house. He hears a voice below calling to him and saying, "Jump into my arms." The voice causes him to believe that someone
is there. This belief may be called faith for he does not see the person, but he must also use faith to believe that the person will catch
him if he jumps. Even so, we are to trust in God's presence and power to bless us. In every trial of life, we can jump into His arms by faith
and lay claim to the "exceeding great and precious promises" (2 Peter 1:4). No matter how dark the hour or heavy the burden, we know
that because Jesus calls "come unto me...and I will give you rest," we can act by faith and find rest for our souls (Mt. 11:28-29).So faith
is manifested as we face life's hardships with a strong confidence in God.
Let us regard the divinely imparted faith as a priceless treasure of our souls and bow reverently before our God with grateful hearts for
this gift. Let us use it to give God the glory that is due His name (Ps. 29:2). This we can do daily if we walk by faith, not by sight (2
Cor. 5:7).
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