SUNDAY March 8, 2026
What Is Faith?
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
Hebrews 11:1-2
This great chapter of Hebrews 11 will not only speak to us about perfection, but also about perdition. Do you remember the warnings given to the Hebrew believers in previous chapters because they were trying to go back to Judaism? They had received the Lord and His grace, love, and mercy, but they were being persuaded to go back to the Old Testament sacrifices.
The Apostle Paul warned them against returning to Judaism, because they would forfeit all God had given to them through His Son. In Hebrews 6:1, he challenged them saying: Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God....
Paul gave another exhortation in Hebrews 10:39: But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
As good examples to the Hebrews, and now to us, Paul wrote a detailed list of elders who obtained a good testimony––those elders who lived and died by faith. Believers are encouraged when they read these stories of faith. We are even more blessed because we have 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Are you not glad for the foundation of biblical history and theology given to us through the Word of God?
Paul wrote this amazing chapter to encourage us all to walk by faith. What is faith? The Strong’s Concordance defines faith in the Greek language as “that which stands under” or “the foundation.” You see, the more profound our faith, the more profound our hope––our Christianity has a deeply intense faith. All Christians are called to live by faith.
What is it that we hope for by faith? Well, we hope for the coming of the Lord! Jesus Christ can come at any moment––very soon. That is our eternal hope!
Faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God.
~A.W. Tozer~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
