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11 Hebrews - By Faith
11 Hebrews - By Faith
Faith is the foundation of our relationship with God. Faith has been said to be the 'basis' of our acceptance with God.
One CAN believe and NOT obey even as the demons do (James 2:19). One can believe that Jesus is the Christ and yet, for fear of men, refuse to confess Him before men. The parents of the blind men refused to speak about Jesus when questioned about their son. John says that "His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue" (John 9:22). John the records that "… many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God (John 12:42-43). Such faith can be described as a faith 'THAT' but not as faith IN.
Such is the most elementary concept of faith. It is a faith that believes 'that'… One must believe that – that God is and that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him (11:6). The faith that relates us to God is deeper than this. It is a faith that ‘believes in’, that trusts, that shows itself in action.
In Hebrews 11 the concept of faith in God by those who believe IN God is connected with action words (verbs). By faith Abel offered, Noah built, Abraham obeyed… etc. Trusting God is doing what He says.
Some how this discussion today always gets turned into a discussion about 'earning one's salvation' and 'being a legalist'. Were Abraham and Noah, legalists? No. They were not trying to earn their salvation; they trusted what God told them. This willing submission to God's word was a natural response by one who trusts God. Are you trusting Jesus? What verbs are connect to your faith?
Hugh DeLong
