Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Faith is an important, fundamental, and foundational element in the life of a believer in Jesus Christ.  (See previous post: The Word Faith)

The meaning of FAITH:

FAITH involves trust, belief, and assurance.

From Strong’s: pis’-tis (G3982): persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: – assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.

From Thayer’s: 1) conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it.

Relating to God: the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ.

Relating to Christ: a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God.

Relating to the religious beliefs of Christians: belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same.

A good definition of FAITH (adapted and based on Webster’s definition of “Trust”): The exercise of an assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, and truth of the true and living God.

Hebrews 11:1 gives us insight into FAITH.
It provides the SUBSTANCE and the EVIDENCE of the THINGS that are HOPED FOR and NOT SEEN.

                     THE SUBSTANCE                                 HOPED FOR
FAITH IS                                        OF THINGS
                     THE EVIDENCE                                    NOT SEEN

What are these THINGS hoped for and not seen?

Whatever these THINGS are – FAITH is the SUBSTANCE and EVIDENCE of them.

The meaning of SUBSTANCE:

A compound word. SUB (hupo) meaning “under, below, or beneath” and STANCE (stasis) meaning “to stand, a setting.”  The underlying substance, foundation, or essence of a matter.  What stands under, behind, or supports a thing – a building, a contract, a promise. What brings assurance, confidence, and expectation.

FAITH is the foundation or assurance of the things in which we hope.

Our HOPE is founded upon the fact that we can with assurance completely rely on the character, ability, strength, and truth of the true and living God.  This is FAITH in action!

The meaning of EVIDENCE:

A process of proof that produces conviction.

FAITH is the evidence or proof of the things in which we cannot see.

I believe the things in which we HOPE and the things in which we CANNOT SEE are basically the same.

Romans 8:24-25 “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

We cannot see..

• God
• Jesus Christ
• Holy Spirit
• Heaven
• Salvation

We cannot see but we know…

• God exists because we see evidence of His existence
• Jesus Christ exists because we see evidence of His existence.
• The Holy Spirit exists because we see evidence of His existence.
• Heaven is real because we see evidence of its existence.
• Salvation is real because we see evidence of its existence.

FAITH gives the proof or evidence needed to SEE the UNSEEN.

A process of proof that produces conviction.

FAITH is the evidence or proof of the things in which we cannot see.

I believe the things in which we HOPE and the things in which we CANNOT SEE are basically the same.

Romans 8:24-25 “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.”

We cannot see..

• God
• Jesus Christ
• Holy Spirit
• Heaven
• Salvation

We cannot see but we know…

• God exists because we see evidence of His existence
• Jesus Christ exists because we see evidence of His existence.
• The Holy Spirit exists because we see evidence of His existence.
• Heaven is real because we see evidence of its existence.
• Salvation is real because we see evidence of its existence.

FAITH gives the proof or evidence needed to SEE the UNSEEN.

HOPE is a human quality. It is more of a positive wishful thinking.

• I hope my car starts in the morning.
• I hope my doctor visit goes well.

HOPE is also a gift in the life of a believer.

The meaning of Hope: 

a confident expectation in something promised or guaranteed by God.

• HOPE is certain – Hope is an anchor because God cannot lie – Hebrews 6:18-19
• HOPE is unseen – Our hope is in things we cannot see at this time – Romans 8:24-25
• HOPE is looking forward – Hope looks to the future – Titus 2:13 – Blessed Hope
• HOPE is looking upward – Hope looks to the Heavenly Father – 1 Peter 1:18-25
• HOPE is looking inward – Hope moves the heart

FAITH and HOPE involve things that are unseen. But remember they are still based on God’s Word.

Hebrews 1:3 “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”

The world was framed by the Word of God.  What we SEE was made from the UNSEEN.

• All that we know in the physical universe was created by God’s Word.
• He spoke it into existence by His Word.

Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14 “And God said…”

Psalm 33:8-9 “Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood.”

False science and man’s wisdom want to base creation and our existence on the seen alone.
What we see in creation was created by the Word of God.

FAITH and HOPE are also built on the UNSEEN.  Therefore we should not base FAITH and HOPE on “what is seen.”  Our FAITH and HOPE are based upon the Word of God and God’s Word is faithful and true.