What Is Faith?

What exactly is faith? This is the next question poised by the Hebrews letter after urging enlightened readers not to throw away their confidence in the promises of God. The author quotes the prophet Habakkuk, about whom little or nothing is known. His short book is nevertheless in the Hebrew canon and quoted by the apostles. The Hebrews author seems to be combining quotes from a couple prophets or quoting from memory. At any rate, while what he quotes is not precisely what we have in Habakkuk, it is what the prophet essentially says, namely that the righteous person shall live by his faith (Habakkuk 2:4). But what do the two authors mean by faith?

Turning to the internet I find these definitions:

faith

fāTH/

noun

1. 1.

   complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

   "this restores one's faith in politicians"

   synonyms:

   trust, belief, confidence, conviction;  optimism, hopefulness, hope "he justified his boss's faith in him"
2. 2.

   strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.

   synonyms:

   religion, church, sect, denomination, (religious) persuasion,(religious) belief, ideology, creed, teaching, doctrine "she gave her life for her faith"

Is that what these authors mean? Which shall we choose? Complete trust in someone or a strong belief in certain religious doctrines? Or is faith something that is apprehended by one's spirit, an understanding that defies proof, that simply is? Let's listen to Hebrews. 

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. - Hebrews 11:1-2 ESV 

And how do those two definitions help?

The Greek translated as assurance refers to a substructure or foundation, something firm on which to build. So Ezekiel is told by God about the forms or design of the temple (Ezek. 43:11). The building had specific dimensions that must be followed exactly. So faith has specifics. It is not something vague or mystical, without clarity, a mere whistling in the dark. When you hope for things to come you turn to faith, but that hope is based upon some specifics, some events and acts from the past. You can build your life upon it.

Hebrews modifies that definition with a second. Faith is the conviction of things not seen. A conviction is a proof. You can test it. Paul, writing to Timothy, uses another version of the Greek word here to speak about the use of Scripture. It is useful for correction or reproof, he says (2 Tim. 3:16).  One does not correct or reprove without proof. So the man of faith speaks and acts with proof, even though what he hopes for in the future is not yet seen. His hope is based upon proof from the past. That proof is the foundation upon which he builds his life. The Scripture, in Paul's usage, is a record of that past. It is a record of what God has said and done for His people. As such, it is proof. So the Hebrews writer picks up that thought to write about people of faith who looked back upon the deeds of God and heard His words. Based upon God's earlier acts and words, they trusted themselves and their futures to Him.

In the rest of the chapter he then gives example after example of men and women who walked by and lived in such faith. We'll take a look at those examples in future posts.

Who Ya Gonna Trust?

The classic Biblical example of humility is Job. Job is initially portrayed as a true man of faith, blessed with a happy marriage, children, good health and earthly wealth. Then the great adversary comes before God to challenge Job's faith.

Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face." - Job 1:9-11 ESV

So our LORD Jesus allows Job's faith to be tested. He loses his children in a terrible storm. Marauding bandits steal his herds, natural disasters kill his sheep and finally he loses his health. Despite his friends' jibes and his wife's despairing advice that he curse God and die, Job persists. He will humbly trust the LORD, his God.

And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." - Job 1:21 ESV

This attitude of humble faith marks all the men and women of faith in the Bible. The author of the book of Hebrews puts it this way as he lists example after example of men and women of faith:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. - Hbr 11:1 ESV

Faith brings confidence and conviction. It is a person to person relationship. You trust the LORD because you know Him. His nature and His name is Love! You know who He is, how He thinks and why He does what He does. You have listened to the witness of countless men of faith and you have heard Him speak to your own heart in His Word. You know with certainty and confidence that He never lies and will truly never forsake you even though He allows your faith in Him to be tested.

Jesus responded to those who did not trust him and his teaching in this way:

About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. The Jews therefore marveled, saying, "How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?" So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. - Jhn 7:14-18 ESV

Jesus had absolutely no credentials. He had no college degrees. He never studied under one of the famous Jewish Rabbis such as Gamaliel (Acts 5:34-39). In the eyes of many in Jerusalem he was simply a young carpenter who had grown up in the Galilean town of Nazareth. Consequently, they insisted he had no authority to make the claims and to be teaching as he did. In reply to these accusations Jesus said, "If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority."

How may any of us know whether we can trust Jesus? Amidst all of the thousands and thousands of teachers of religion and spiritual matters who speaks with God's authority? Or to put it colloquially, Who ya gonna trust? 

The attitude with which you approach these questions is all important. Jesus' himself not only taught about faith, he lived it and demonstrated it as he prepared for his own death. In the Garden he prayed,
saying,

"Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." - Luk 22:42 ESV

Whatever you face today, make this be your own approach. Are you looking at the frightening face of poverty, sickness, the death of children, spouse or friend, the breakup of your marriage? Whatever it may be turn to your loving Father in heaven in humble faith and repeat Jesus' prayer. And then you will know what Job knew when he said, "The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."