First Principles

Lesson 4

Lesson Text—Hebrews 11:1-4

Hebrews 11:1-21 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Lesson Text—Hebrews 11:1-4

Hebrews 11:33 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.

Lesson Text—Hebrews 11:1-4

Hebrews 11:44 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

Lesson Text—Hebrews 11:5-6

Hebrews 11:55 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Lesson Text—Hebrews 11:5-6

Hebrews 11:66 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a re-warder of them that diligently seek him.

Focus Verse—Hebrews 11:6

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to

please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek

him.

Focus Thought

Giants of the Lord’s church are

recognized not by physical size or

intellectual superiority, but by their

unwavering faith in God.

Culture ConnectionCulture ConnectionIs It All In Your Head?

Has anyone ever said to you, “It’s all in your head”? They were suggesting that you were imagining things or conjuring up an idea in your mind.

Culture ConnectionOne thing is certain about imagination: salvation is not “all in your head.” In other words, faith, which is necessary for salvation, is not mere mental assent. There are people who believe salvation is by faith alone. By this they mean there is absolutely nothing we can do or need to do in the process of salvation and that salvation is completely action-free on our part.

Culture ConnectionBut Peter said, “Save yourselves from this untoward generation” (Acts 2:40). There are no actions or works we can do to earn or merit salvation, and only the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross can save us. However, His redemptive work requires action on our part; that action is faith.

Culture Connection

Without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith in the work of Christ on the cross is the only thing that can open the door to receiving His redemptive work in our lives.

Culture ConnectionMany people have compared faith in God to faith in electricity. I know electricity is available in my home, and I know that all I need to do to have light is to flip a switch. I can mentally assert those principles to be true all night and never have a glimpse of light if I do not exercise my faith. It’s not all in my head; I have to act on what I know to be true.

Contemplating The TopicContemplating The TopicThere is nothing more basic to salvation than faith. Because it is so basic to salvation, many mistakenly feel that all a person has to do to be saved is to believe. It is true that no one can be saved without faith, but faith alone cannot save anyone. James asked in his epistle: “Can faith save him?” (James 2:14). The answer is no, for James continued, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). James understood that faith without works was no faith at all.

Contemplating The TopicIn this lesson we will consider the importance of faith. We will see that it is impossible to please God without faith. Studying the nature of faith, we will define faith at its various levels. On the practical side we will discuss how obedience and worship demonstrate faith. In studying what faith does, we will focus on five verbs: pleases, saves, sanctifies, overcomes, and defeats.

Contemplating The TopicLast of all, we will consider who has faith and how an individual obtains faith. Why do some people have faith, even a lot of faith, and others have little or no faith? These are some of the questions we will consider in this lesson.

I. Nature of Faith

I. Nature of Faith

Searching The Scriptures

A: Faith DefinedHebrews 11:1 provides a commonly referenced scriptural definition of faith. However, some Christians have found it difficult to fully understand the ideas of that definition. Perhaps the following would provide a simpler definition: faith is accepting as true what God has said in His Word is true.

I. Nature of FaithIf faith were a concrete entity, it would be much easier to isolate and define. Being abstract makes faith more challenging to define. For example, if faith were a feather, we could not only see it, but we also could touch it, take a picture of it, and do the many other things that one can do with something concrete. But faith is something that one cannot see or touch.

I. Nature of FaithIn an age of doubt when some people are questioning and rejecting even the absolutes of yesterday, it is vital to our spiritual existence not only to be aware of the viability of faith, but also to possess it. Many people do not have faith and cannot even understand its reality.

Transparency 1

I. Nature of FaithFaith is not a positive mental attitude that so many self-help gurus talk about. It may involve a positive mental attitude, but faith is much more than that. It is “the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

I. Nature of FaithSince evidence and substance are similar, we can explain the phrase “the evidence of things not seen” in a way similar to the phrase “the substance of things hoped for.” When a person believes, the substance, or what he sees with the eyes of faith, becomes the evidence, or proof of the object of faith.

I. Nature of FaithWhen a person has faith, he not only envisions his answer, he begins to rejoice over his answer. This rejoicing is similar to what Jesus commanded in Matthew 5:12: “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven.” Jesus told the disciples to rejoice over something they had not yet experienced—something still in the future. Yet when faith is authentic, there can be rejoicing over the outcome as though it had already happened. The rejoicing is the evidence of things not seen.

I. Nature of FaithFaith means not only “complete trust, confidence, and strong belief,” but also “a system of religious belief.” Faith as a system of religious belief is singular in number, for there is only one God (I Timothy 2:5), one church, and one faith. Paul wrote, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5).

I. Nature of FaithReferring to this one faith, Jude said in verse 3, “Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” He referred to a single faith, not multiple faiths. We are to earnestly contend for the faith the early church embraced.

Ephesians 6:16

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all

the fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:16).

I. Nature of FaithA shield is “a protective barrier or screen.” When we hear the word shield, we often think of a piece of metal held by an ancient warrior in battle to protect him from his enemies. A shield, simply, is what a person places for protection between him and danger.

I. Nature of FaithWe no longer have to avoid physical arrows and darts, so a physical shield would offer us little or no protection. But we are subject to the attacks of Satan who uses “fiery darts” (Ephesians 6:16). Thankfully, the shield of faith is impenetrable as protection from the attacks of the enemy of the soul. Satan has no weaponry that is able to compromise the shield of faith.

I. Nature of FaithGod had a shield of protection around Job, which the Bible referred to as a hedge. When reporting to God, Satan said of Job, “Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?” (Job 1:10). Whether one uses the term “shield” or “hedge,” God’s people enjoy protection when they put their faith in Him.

Romans 8:14

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God”

(Romans 8:14).

I. Nature of Faith Israel enjoyed having a divine escort through the wilderness from the Red Sea to the Jordan River. This escort was in the form of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Although Israel had no map of the wilderness and were following no roads, God guided them physically through the wilderness all the way to the Promised Land. We do not have a visible pillar of cloud or pillar of fire, but we have an unseen guide that directs our spiritual course as we traverse this world.

B. Demonstrations of FaithB. Demonstrations of Faith

Faith does not cause anyone to be passive. Conversely, when we believe, faith precipitates action. This action causes us to obey God. Romans 16:26 refers to “the obedience of faith.” As it is impossible to love without manifesting that love, it is impossible to have faith in God without manifesting that faith through obedience to Him and His Word.

B. Demonstrations of FaithKing Saul had to learn the value of obedience the hard way. Returning from defeating the Amalekites, the prophet Samuel rebuked him harshly. Contrary to what God had ordered, Saul had spared King Agag and the best of the Amalekites’ flocks. In Samuel’s rebuke he said, “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (I Samuel 15:22).

B. Demonstrations of FaithFaith and works, or faith and obedience, are a tandem. Attempting to separate them is like trying to separate night and day. As night and day are necessary parts of a whole, faith and obedience are Siamese twins of spiritual service.

B. Demonstrations of FaithMany are fearful of their works being interpreted as that to which Paul referred in Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5. The first reference makes mention that we are saved by faith, carefully underscoring that it is “not of works.” The second reference states clearly that we are saved according to His mercy and “not by works of righteousness which we have done.”

B. Demonstrations of FaithWe need to understand that the works referred to in these two verses refer to works that are prior to salvation, not works performed by the redeemed. There is a vast difference. The former involves individuals attempting to earn or merit salvation on the basis of their good deeds or behavior, which is impossible. The latter, however, refers to believers performing works on behalf of God that demonstrate their salvation, or faith.

Titus 3:14

“And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they

be not unfruitful” (Titus 3:14).

Ephesians 2:10

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which

God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

B. Demonstrations of FaithIf we do not believe in God, it is obvious that we will not worship Him. We worship Him because we have faith in Him, and that faith causes us to obey Him. As faith and obedience are intricately connected, so worship also joins together with faith and obedience.

B. Demonstrations of FaithWorship is another natural response to faith. A person cannot have any measure of faith without responding to God both in obedience and in worship. If there is genuine faith, there also will be worship.

B. Demonstrations of FaithWorship is not only a normal response to faith, but one that God commands. Many Scriptures command us to worship God. We have no other choice if we are going to believe Him.

A. Pleases GodII: What Faith DoesA. Pleases God

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to

God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that

diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

A. Pleases GodGod wants us to believe Him. We can have no relationship with Him if we do not believe He exists. For this reason, faith pleases God. What pleases God is so different from what pleases mankind. We often feel pressure to please our peers. Pleasing peers may mean personal advancement, but pleasing God means personal acceptance. To be accepted of God is essential to salvation.

Galatians 1:10

“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet

pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).

A. Pleases GodA person who wants something from God may say, “Please, God.” But the way to receive from God is not through begging, but rather to please God. Anyone who is a parent can understand this idea. When a child pleases his parent, that parent is more inclined to reward the child with the things he desires.

A. Pleases GodFaith pleases God, for He wants us to believe the things He has promised in His Word. Nothing irritates individuals more than not to be believed. It makes them feel others view them as untruthful and untrustworthy. On the other hand, when we believe God, we are saying, “I believe that You are truthful and trustworthy.” Such faith pleases God.

B. Saves IndividualsB. Saves Individuals

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of

yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

B. Saves IndividualsAlthough John 3:16 is not the only verse in the Bible that we must obey to be saved, it is a wonderful verse that generalizes the basic requirement of salvation, which is faith. Another verse that emphasizes the basic requirement of salvation is Romans 10:9. This verse adds another aspect to the basic requirement of salvation. It reveals we are to confess and believe.

B. Saves IndividualsSalvation is a process, for Matthew 24:13 says, “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” It is not a single act of faith, but a relationship that begins with faith, which initiates obedience to the gospel and redemption.

B. Saves IndividualsFaith is so basic to the salvation process that one can liken it to the door of salvation. Some individuals would make the door the equivalent of the whole house. Rather, faith is the door through which one must enter the house of salvation. Otherwise, without faith a person cannot even get through the door and into the house.

C. Sanctifies BelieversC. Sanctifies Believers

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of

the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness

which is of God by faith” (Philippians 3:9).

C. Sanctifies BelieversFaith accomplishes much more than many people think. When someone mentions faith, many people often think of its involvement in divine healing or miracles. But faith also works in believers to effect sanctification.

C. Sanctifies BelieversTo sanctify means “to make holy,” or “to set aside as holy.” Philippians 3:9 reveals we are sanctified or made righteous by faith. We could have nothing from God related to salvation apart from faith. Sanctification is a necessary work of the grace of God. It is necessary, for we are not able, with all of our disciplines, to make ourselves holy.

C. Sanctifies Believers“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). We must have the righteousness of the Lord to be a sanctified believer, and this only comes about by faith.

D. Overcomes the WorldD. Overcomes the World

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the

victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (I John 5:4).

D. Overcomes the WorldSince the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (II Corinthians 10:4), we must fight the wicked one with spiritual weapons. One of these spiritual weapons is faith. Let us not feel we are outmanned and outgunned by the enemy. Our weapons are mighty through God.

D. Overcomes the WorldFaith overcomes the world because it is the key that opens God’s arsenal. His arsenal is stocked with weapons that are far superior to anything the enemy has. With the Almighty and His arsenal on our side, there is no reason we should not overcome the world. Faith not only opens God’s arsenal, but faith also calls upon the Almighty to fight for us.

E. Defeats the DevilE. Defeats the Devil“And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and

strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the

accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God

day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the

word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death”

(Revelation 12:10-11).

E. Defeats the DevilFrom the beginning the devil has been the enemy of righteousness and everything good. Lucifer, who became known as Satan and the devil, rebelled against God, and the Lord expelled him from Heaven. Satan is the enemy of the soul who tempted Adam and Eve to sin, which created the sin problem for the human race.

E. Defeats the DevilAs promised in Revelation 12:10-11, we will defeat Satan by the blood of the Lamb of God. Our faith will play a significant role in defeating Satan. Believers place their faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and by that blood we will overcome the wicked one.

III. How We Get FaithIII: How We Get FaithSince we cannot please God without faith, it is imperative we know how to obtain faith. In that we cannot be saved without faith, it must be the object of our greatest quest. Therefore it is necessary to know how to get faith.

A. Faith Comes By Hearing the Word of God

A. Faith Comes By Hearing the Word of God

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”

(Romans 10:17).

A. Faith Comes By Hearing the Word of God

A primary source of faith is the Word of God. Hearing the Word of God inspires faith. When we hear the promises God has made to all who believe, faith is born in our hearts. When we hear an account of how God supplied the needs of His people and fought for them, it generates faith in us.

A. Faith Comes By Hearing the Word of GodGod’s Word is a past record that

becomes our promise of a future reward. Because it is God’s Word, it is a true record; therefore we can have faith in its promises. 

B. Faith Is the Gift of GodB. Faith Is the Gift of God

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of

yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

Romans 12:3

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he

ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every

man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3).

B. Faith Is the Gift of GodFaith is not a natural attribute. It is not a personality trait. Faith is a gift directly from God; therefore it is a spiritual attribute with which everyone is born.

B. Faith Is the Gift of GodSo that no one would have an excuse in judgment, God gives to every person a little bit of faith. It is not a lot, but it is enough. How could God have required faith for salvation without first giving mankind an initial amount of faith? Simply, God does not require something that is beyond the reach of mankind.

B. Faith Is the Gift of GodSalvation depends on what we do with the measure of faith He has given us. If we do nothing with it, it will stand to testify against us in judgment. For with faith we have an entity that will activate the next step in the process of establishing a redemptive relationship with the Lord.

A. Not All Have FaithWho Has FaithA. Not All Have Faith

“I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he

find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).

II Thessalonians 3:2

“And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all

men have not faith” (II Thessalonians 3:2).

A. Not All Have FaithAlthough God has dealt to every person the capacity for faith, not all individuals have active faith. The reason is that their doubt cancels their faith. Faith is wonderful and powerful, but doubt neutralizes faith’s effectiveness. It is possible to have faith and doubt at the same time. The unnamed father in Mark 9 who brought his diseased son to Jesus said, “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:24).

A. Not All Have FaithWe should do everything we can to rid our mind of negative thoughts. These kinds of thoughts engender doubt. Jesus said in Luke 12:29, “Neither be ye of doubtful mind.” A doubtful mind neuters faith and will not let it produce results.

B. People of God Have FaithB. People of God Have Faith

The people of God are believers in God, which reveals they have faith. His people believe His promises are true. (See II Corinthians 1:20.)

B. People of God Have FaithIn Hebrews 11:2, the writer stated, “For by it [faith] the elders obtained a good report.” This same chapter records a brief summary of the exploits of people of God who had faith. We read of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua and Israel, and Rahab. Further, Hebrews 11:32 mentions six more heroes of faith including David. People of God have faith.

B. People of God Have FaithBecause faith is necessary to obtain salvation, it also is vital to the maintenance of one’s salvation. The believer’s walk with Jesus Christ is by faith. (See II Corinthians 5:7.) Everything we do in our service to Him is of faith. If we are to become and continue to be the people of God, we must have faith.

C. All Are Called to Have Faith

C. All Are Called to Have Faith

Although we all have been given a measure of faith, God is calling all to do something with their faith. God did not give faith to everyone so it could witness against them in judgment. He gave faith so individuals would have the opportunity to turn to God, embrace Him and His Word, and begin a life of relationship with Him.

C. All Are Called to Have Faith

God has called everyone in the world to respond to Him. He has given every individual a measure of faith and a conscience, but He requires the appropriate response from each one. An individual can respond to God with the faith he has received and begin to take the initial steps of faith toward relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 2:12-14“For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and

as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not

the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be

justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto

themselves” (Romans 2:12-14).

Romans 2:15

“Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also

bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one

another;)” (Romans 2:15).

C. All Are Called to Have FaithAs a person in faith begins to respond to

God’s call, God begins to work within the individual’s heart. He begins to draw the person into a place of relationship with Him. This is the basis and beginning of redemption in the person’s life. (See John 6:44.)

C. All Are Called to Have FaithThrough faith he will continue to respond

to the drawing of the Spirit through repentance, water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and receiving the Holy Ghost. All these are only the beginning of a wonderful life of faith—a life to which God is calling every individual on earth!

Internalizing The MessageInternalizing The Message

We have studied faith, beginning with its scriptural definition in Hebrews 11:1. We have seen how a person obtains it. We have studied the nature of faith and what it accomplishes in our lives. All of this has reminded us that faith is still an abstract entity, which is more difficult to understand than something that is concrete.

Internalizing The MessageWe also have studied both the necessity of faith to the salvation process and the necessity of obedience to that faith. James reminds us that “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). The works to which James referred are not those whereby we obtain salvation, but works that follow a person’s genuine faith in Jesus Christ whereby we exercise obedience to Him and His commands.

Internalizing The MessageSadly, not every person responds to the measure of faith God has given him. However, every individual has the opportunity to respond to the measure of faith he has been given. May we all respond to the challenge to be faithful unto death. The Lord Jesus has promised those who are faithful, “I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).