FAITH || Lesson 1 

FAITH

Text: Hebrews 11

Lesson One – V.1-3, 6

Definition of Faith:  V.1 – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

(The Living New Testament) What is faith?  It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen.  It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.

The Matthew Henry’s Commentary states: “It is a firm persuasion and expectation that God will perform all that he has promised to us in Christ.”

Let us thank the Lord for the “hope” contained in Hebrews 10:37-39 – ³⁷For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay.  ³⁸But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.”

³⁹But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

(V.37) – For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay – (Contemporary English Version) As the Scriptures say, “God is coming soon!  It won’t be very long.

How Faith is Obtained:  Romans 10:17 – Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

(New Living Translation) So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

Purpose of Faith:  (a) V.2 – This is what the ancients were commended for.  This implies that faith is required in order to be true worshipers.

When the ancients demonstrated faith they were in the sight of the Lord as Jesus was, when He said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)

Note that, like the ancients, the apostles as well as the brethren demonstrated faith. Romans 1:7-8 – ⁷To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁸First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.

Let us ask the Lord to help us to likewise demonstrate our faith.

Let us thank the Lord that the advantages we have in the Gospel for exercising faith are far above those of the ancients.  Hebrews 11:39-40  (The Living New Testament) – ³⁹ And these men of faith, though they trusted God and won his approval, none of them received all that God had promised them; ⁴⁰ for God wanted them to wait and share the even better rewards that were prepared for us.    

(b) V.3 – By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Thus we believe the account of Genesis 1 and worship the great Creator.

(c) V.6 – And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Note: 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 – ¹⁰David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.

¹¹Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

¹²Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.

¹³Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

2 Chronicles 20:5-7 – ⁵Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard ⁶and said:

“O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. ⁷O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?

2 Kings 19:14-19 – ¹⁴Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.  ¹⁵And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: “O LORD, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.  ¹⁶Give ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God.

¹⁷“It is true, O LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. ¹⁸They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by men’s hands.  ¹⁹Now, O LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O LORD, are God.”

Note also Mark 6:5-6 – ⁵He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.  ⁶And he was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.

Let us therefore ask the Lord to help us to please Him by having faith, and so allow Him to perform miracles.