What Is Faith?
Heb. 11:6-
A. Hebrews chapter 11 is a biblical record of faith. The examples
listed there are our roadmap to
understanding true faith. This chapter has often been called the
biblical Hall of Faith.
It Certainly does present an informative discussion of what constitutes
genuine belief. Ask you to look briefly at the facts about faith.
a. Faith is rational: By faith we understand that
the universe is not self?existent; rather, it
was designed by the Creator. 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. They just naturally go together.
Faith depends upon revelation: God has, in history, borne
witness, warned, called, Heb. 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.
Faith involves trusting our Maker: When Noah was warned of God,
though he had never seen a flood, he prepared the ark (7). Abraham
left Chaldea not knowing whether he went. (8) Clearly,
trusting the unseen God is a vital component of true faith.
Faith is an action word: 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 (4). Noah prepared an ark (7). And Abraham
obeyed the Lord (8). Faith, divorced from obedience,
is dead (Jas. 2:26).
2. Faith discriminates: It chooses the spiritual over the material,
the eternal over the temporal,
God over all else. Moses chose heavenly riches over the treasures
of Egypt (26).
c. Acts 20:32.
Spur - 05/26/2002 pm
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