In the course of this long letter, Paul, the preacher, falls back into his homiletical (sermon) mode. In verse 38 of the previous chapter, he took his text from Habbakuk 2:4 – “The just shall live by faith.” Now that thought can be applied in several ways. For example, it is by faith that the sinner comes to realize that he has been justified by God. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.” But that is not how Paul wants to use Habbakuk in this particular sermon. In this case he wants to show that it is only by faith that those who have been justified by God’s grace can live their lives in a fashion which pleases their Saviour. After reading his text and introducing his sermon, the preacher delivers a two point message. He begins with a description or definition of faith – verses 1-3. And then there are examples or illustrations of the kind of faith which pleases the Lord.
Briefly this evening, let’s think about the principles of Biblical faith.
What is faith?
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The word “now” has basically the same meaning as “for” or perhaps the word “so.” It’s as though Paul is summarizing things even before he starts. “So – faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The word “substance” isn’t that common a Bible word, which perhaps makes it particularly interesting. It is translated “substance” only in this one verse. That English word suggests – at least to me – “essence,” “core” – “the nitty gritty” of something. Most often, “hupostasis” (hoop-os’-tas-is) is translated as some form of “confidence.” In the hypocrite – the actor – usually his true self is something other than what appears. We can be confident only in something which is absolutely true. “Confidence” is an excellent word to use in defining “faith.” “Now faith is the confidence that we have in things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The only other way that the word is used is at first weird and then particularly significant. It is also translated “person” – “confidence,” “confident,” “substance” and “person”????? Ah, but listen to the verse where it is found – it, too, is found in Hebrews – but this time in chapter 1. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his PERSON, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Christ Jesus is the substance of deity and therefor is the confidence of the saint. I think that the word is used perfectly well in this case.
So Biblical faith is our confident assurance that Jehovah is all that He claims to be. But it is not a simple acknowledgment that God exists – that He is. Faith grasps the substance and essence of the Lord, and furthermore, it leans and depends upon Him. Faith is not an acknowledgment that God has made a promise; it is a recognition that His promise is substantial enough to stand upon. Look at verse 13 – “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” Faith makes the object for which we hoped – a reality to our hearts right now. Have you ever dreamed something and then when you awoke it took a while not to believe that you were still in the dream? Faith is similar to that, but it is different because it’s not about a dream or our imagination. And we can live in the enjoyment of the object of our faith – by our faith. People may say they believe this or that, or they have faith, but what influence does their faith have on them? Is there any substance to their faith? When we believe that God shall supply all our need, then why I am still so worried?
Faith makes mere promises substantial – it is the evidence of things not seen. It is the hand which grasps the promise and brings it close to the heart. Three men are standing together looking into space, and one says, “Look there are Saturn’s rings.” One of the men believes what he has been told – that is Saturn – and Saturn has rings. One refuses to believe anything that he can’t see with his naked eye. And one of the men has a telescope while the other two don’t. With his telescope, like faith, it brings Saturn right down into his lap or his mind. Faith gives reality to the heart of things which are outside the range of the physical.
The natural man prefers his five senses, coupled to, and empowered by, his mind. When he is born again the Spirit gives him faith which enables him to see what couldn’t earlier be seen. God said that it is so, then it must be so. “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it.” Actually, God said it and that should settle the matter, but it only becomes practical to us when we believe. If our faith is real, then it will convince our senses and our minds. That is why if we have genuine faith, we will not join those people of the previous verse 39 – “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition.” No sir, “we are of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” Our faith must be one of substance and reality.
What does this kind of faith do?
“For by it the elders obtained a good report.” By “elders” Paul was referring to those who lived in earlier days – those saints of the Old Testament. And how did those people please God? Generally speaking the Jews thought that their forefathers pleased God by their obedience. The thought is rather foolish, when there was very little obedience in the history of Israel. They didn’t please God by their amiability, hospitality, generosity or teachability. Does Paul say anything here about the works of the law? People are grossly mistaken who think that Old Testament saints were saved by keeping the law. The only way that anyone has ever been approved by God is by grace brought home through faith.
And notice that it wasn’t “because” of their faith, but “by” their faith. Faith is not the cause of our approval, but it is the means of understanding our approval with God. There is nothing meritorious in faith; faith is simply grasping God’s blessing, promise – grace.
Perhaps we should apply this question to ourselves and our neighbors. By what criteria do you esteem people? Let’s not value our fellow Christians for their intelligence, physical beauty, charm, or social position. There are a lot of very commendable traits to be found in the saints – humility, generosity, wisdom, etc. Without minimizing these good things, perhaps genuine faith should stand at the top of the list. Apparently the Lord looks at faith first – should we have a different standard than the Lord Himself? We need to work on the faith department of our lives.
Where does faith lead?
Verse 3 – “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.” Here is one of the very first Christian confessions of faith. And what does it involve? One of the most controversial but elemental points in modern philosophy. What is man and how did he get here? By God through Christ “were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.”
Beyond this, we are told here that it is through faith that we understand. Faith is the vehicle or medium of spiritual reception. Jesus saith to Martha standing before the tomb of her brother, “Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” There is a sense in which the glory of God will only be seen by those who have faith in the Lord. Faith is not a blind reliance on the Word of God. It is a living, personal, intelligent dependence upon the God of the Word. What is the Biblical definition of a “fool”? There are two answers. “The fool hath said in his heart there is no God.” Why would that man make a claim like that? Faithlessness. Luke 24:25 adds that the fool is someone who is slow in his heart to believe.
Through faith we know that the universe has been created by God. There is plenty of evidence in the universe to that fact, but that evidence will never reach its proper conclusion without the explosive power of faith. By faith we know that we are not eternal – that we were created by God. By faith we know that He framed it in exactness by His will and the word of His mouth. By faith we know the universe came out of nothing. By faith we know that these things are so. Even if there was no evidence to these things, it wouldn’t make a difference. It is so. And God has given me the faith to believe it.
Verse 3 expresses what verse 1 has told us – faith doesn’t rest upon the things that we can see with our eyes. The world may laugh, but faith is satisfied with the bare and simple Word of God. But it is empowered by the God who gave His Word.
Does the heart of the lost man convince him that he is a sinner and an alien from God? No, but it should. By nature does the sacrifice on the cross make any sense? No, but it should. Does reason suggest that if I put my faith in Christ, I shall enjoy God’s deliverance from my sin? No. But these are just some of the things that the Bible declares, and they are things which we must absolutely believe.