Faith Defined For You and Good Examples to Follow

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

Faith does not sit still! It is living, breathing, and moving – Faith active.

Introduction

Are you truly living by faith, or do you have religion? Do you know that there is a difference between the two?

What is Faith?

When you think of faith, what do you think of?  How would you define faith?  

I believe that many of us will define faith by saying that faith is what we believe in.  While this answer isn’t wrong, I would tell you that it is an answer that is left incomplete. 

This week’s Sunday School commentary covers Hebrews 11:1-2, 4-13.  The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews, likely Paul, began this chapter by writing about faith.  Paul wrote that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1).  Many will say that this one verse defines what faith is, but I believe the entire chapter is the definition of what faith is.

I am going to work backwards to explain the meaning of this verse.  I want to start off with the word “evidence”.  In a courtroom, evidence helps to provide facts to a jury that can help to prove one is innocent or guilty.  Nobody has ever seen God, but we believe He is there.  Why is that?  Why do you believe God is there?

Personally, I believe in God because of His invisible work in my life.  While I didn’t see the parting of the Red Sea, I’ve seen God part seas in my life.  While I didn’t see the resurrected Jesus with my own eyes, I have seen how even in my sinful ways, God has lifted me up from my sins.  The evidence of God’s invisible work is what my faith rests on – it gives me confidence.

So, the substance spoken of in this verse comes from all that God has done for us.  The substance spoken of in this verse is the confidence that we have in the Lord.  We are confident in our dreams, our hopes, and our aspirations because God has proven Himself faithful to His word.  So, faith is that level of confidence that we have in God and His word. 

Living by Faith

Faith, we should all understand, brings to life what one believes in their heart.  Faith puts into action what one believes in their heart.  So, if we say that we believe in God, then we must move according to that profession, which turns our profession into a confession of faith.  This is something that all who have said they are a child of God must take into consideration.

Now, let’s understand that Hebrews 11:1 merely marks the beginning point on Paul’s definition of what faith is. The rest of this chapter is dedicated to showing us what true and sincere faith looks like!  

In Hebrews 11:4, Paul referenced the faith of Abel, whose story is shared in Genesis 4:1-8, where he was murdered by his brother Cain.  The story of Cain and Abel is a story that speaks to how all of us have the same opportunity to give our best for the Lord.  Now, some of us put forth our best effort to please the Lord, while some of us couldn’t care less about pleasing God.  

Faith is all about putting forth our best effort!  Does this mean we need to be perfect?  Absolutely not!  God already knows that we are going to have our missteps and our setbacks.  This is why the Lord is so loving and forgiving!  From the story of Cain and Abel, we learn that God rewards one for putting forth their best effort rather than one who does not.   

In Hebrews 11:5, Paul referenced Enoch, whose story is found in Genesis 5:18-24.  We’re told that at 65 years old, Enoch became the father of Methuselah.  After becoming a dad, scripture tells us that Enoch walked with God.  Enoch “walked with God” so much that one day, he walked with God to God’s house to remain there.  To be clear, Enoch lived by faith!

Paul then referenced Noah’s faith in Hebrews 11:7.  Noah’s story is covered in Genesis 6-9.  Paul spoke about Noah’s obedience after being “divinely warned” of things not yet seen.  Of course, the things not yet seen is a reference to it raining so much that the earth flooded.  Noah’s obedience was him moving by faith and building the ark, which led to him and his family being delivered from the flood.

Noah’s story is one that we can, and should, liken to the justified sinner’s deliverance.  We’ve been warned of God’s judgment of sin— sin will be cast away from God (Rev. 20:11-15).  As we’ve seen, those who heed God’s warning will enter the new day and live (Rev. 21:7).  However, those who don’t heed God’s warning won’t be permitted to enter the new day (Rev. 21:8).

Paul then referenced the faith of both Abraham and Sarah in Hebrews 11:8-11.  The story of Abraham and Sarah is well documented throughout Genesis.  God instructed Abraham to leave his home for a strange land, and he obeyed.  Abraham lived in the Promised Land because he obeyed God.  If you desire to live in our land of promise, in the new day, again, you must live by obedience.

Sarah’s story is a curious one for Paul to reference.  Sarah was barren and unable to give birth until she was in her 90s!  Before that, Sarah lacked patience and gave her handmaiden to Abraham, which led to her becoming jealous of Hagar’s son.  Sarah’s story of faith deals with patience and trusting in God’s promise.  Life is going to have its struggles, but God is faithful to what He promises— we must remain faithful and trust in Him.

Your Faith Must be Sincere

In every one of these references, our takeaway should be how faith is moving.  Faith is moving, it is living, and breathing— faith is active.  All of those referenced in this passage of scripture believed in God, and that is shown to us because of their actions.

Something that I believe a lot of “believers” misunderstand is that actions bring to life what one believes in their heart.  Your actions speak for what you believe in your heart.  This statement is rather sad when you think about how many people say they love the Lord, but their actions are full of hate.  Yes, there are many who say they are for life, but their actions speak against being for life.

So, what’s incredibly important for us as believers to understand is that we must be sincere in our faith.  What I mean by this is that we must be true to our faith.  We cannot say that we believe, but then our actions, or faith, say that our beliefs are to stand against our neighbors or be filled with greed.    

Sincere faith is what pleases the Lord.  As Paul said in Hebrews 11:6, it is impossible to please God without faith.  I want you to understand, it is not enough to say you believe in God, if your actions stand against His way.  It is not enough to quote and share scripture if you don’t move in the faith of God’s word.  

As Jesus said, one day there are going to be many who come before Him and speak of how they prophesied in His name.  Yet, He will say to them, “I never knew you” (Matt. 7:22-23).  Jesus’ reward is for those who live by faith, rather than those who have mechanical religion.

To be clear, when I speak of religion, or “mechanical religion”, I speak of how the scribes and Pharisees moved.  They were men who used their religion to “prosper” in the world.  They had a title and rejoiced in the praise of the people.  In Matthew 23:3-5, Jesus warned not to follow in their path, but to truly live by faith to prosper.