What Does It Mean To Have Faith?

Hebrews 11:1-6

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Introduction:

1. What does it mean to have faith?

2. How would you measure your faith?

What Does It Mean To Have Faith?

Let us ask…

I. What is faith? (Heb. 11:1)

A. Biblical faith is described in words of certainty:

ASV – "assurance” and "conviction”

KJV – "substance” and "evidence”

B. The world’s faith differs from biblical faith.

• Biblical faith is NOT an educated guess.

• Biblical faith is NOT blind acceptance.

• Biblical faith is NOT a hoax or mystical.

• Biblical faith is NOT a feeling.

• Biblical faith is NOT a better-felt-than-told experience.

• Biblical faith is NOT a "still, small voice in the night.”

• Biblical faith does NOT come by some message in the clouds, or some writing in the grains of wood, or some supposed picture on a piece of bread.

• Biblical faith does NOT hit you like a bolt of lightning and drive you to your knees.

• Biblical faith IS hearing God's word (Rom. 10:17). So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Be careful what message you hear about faith for it may be wrong!

II. How do we get faith?

A. Evidence allows us to see, know and understand.

B. Evidence comes in several ways:

1. Circumstantial (1 Cor. 1:20) 1 Cor. 1:20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

2. Experiential (Heb. 11:1)

3. Revelation (Rom. 10:17; Jn. 20:30-31) 

III. What do we do with faith?

Faith is used…

A. Salvation (Eph. 2:8; Jam. 2:14).

i.                           Eph. 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.

ii.                           Jam. 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

B. To unites believers (Eph. 4:13).          

i. Eph. 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

C. To work together (1 Thess. 1:3, 8).

i. 1 Thess. 1:3, 8 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 8. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.

D. To overcome the world (1 Jn. 5:4).

i. 1 Jn. 5:4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

IV. Why is faith the foundation?

A. Faith is the beginning of all we do.

B. He who doesn't believe, will he be baptized? See Mark 16:16.

Conclusion:

1. Christians should have faith.

2. Faith is the essence of who we are and what we do.