Show Notes
What is faith?
Hebrews 11:1 gives us insight as to what faith is. Looks look at a few different translations.
WEB: Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.
NIV: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
KJV: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Amplified Bible: Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, [a]the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
So we see hear that faith is much stronger is a belief, or full persuasion so much to the point that it’s just like having the title deed to something.
Now this means I know it belongs to me and because i know it, I can take it for myself.
Faith that it is ours and faith take hold of it.
Let’s look at 1 Timothy
6:12Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold (take hold) of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.
This eternal life isn’t just referring to heaven. It’s referring to the life of God that is available to you now. We take hold of the life of God now, first in being born again and becoming a new creation, and then continue to take hold of it as we learn and grow and begin to walk in his promises.
So faith is the assurance of what God’s will is for us and that it’s ours for the taking. Faith is also what we use to take hold of it.
Faith is being so fully persuaded, that it changes how we think and act. Our way of life changes. What we expect in life changes because it’s now based on the promises of God’s Word and that is learning to live by faith and to walk by faith.
It’s this full assurance that happens in us as we read or hear God’s Word. It’s God working in us by his Word and by his Spirit to cause this faith to rise up in us to believe, again first for salvation, and then continuing on to grow in the things of God and live according to his Word.
Confession: I choose to live by faith. I choose to walk by faith. I choose to trust God’s Word and act on it.
Blessings,
Tim Dumas
www.hopeforhealingfaithforliving.com