The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Hebrews 11:1,
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
Here the writer of Hebrews provides us a biblical definition of what faith is. The Bible is adamant that if we wish to spend eternity in heaven, it will be contingent on whether we embrace Jesus Christ in faith. Do-gooders need not apply here. Salvation is by faith and faith alone. Not just faith in anything, but specifically faith in the Son of God.
Since this is the case, we should be experts in what is meant when we are told, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9. Also, Romans 3:22a, "This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." Through faith! As I say, we should be experts in what faith is!
Mirriam-Webster tells us that faith is belief, trust and loyalty to God. It goes on to say, among other things, that faith is firm belief in something for which there is no proof, a complete trust. I certainly believe the creation provides more than adequate proof of God (see Romans 1:20, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse"), but I think we get a good idea of what faith is.
In Hebrews 11:8 we are told that Abraham's faith was a faith that prompted him to follow God, to obey God. This helps us understand the kind, or variety of faith God looks for within us. Paul talks about the kind of faith Abraham had in Romans 4:18-25. It was the nature of Abraham's faith that brought him a righteous standing with God, a faith that persuaded him to act on what he knew God wanted him to do. This is why Abraham is held up to us as our example of the faith God looks for within us. (It is also the reason Abraham and his descendants were chosen as the vehicle through which the Father would bring his Son into the world.)
This is the very faith that James speaks of in James 2:14, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?" The rhetorical question points to the fact that it is the kind of faith Abraham had that brings us eternal life. It is not just any faith, but a faith that both informs us and prompts us in the choices we make and the things we do in this life as we look to God for eternal life.
Got faith?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
Here the writer of Hebrews provides us a biblical definition of what faith is. The Bible is adamant that if we wish to spend eternity in heaven, it will be contingent on whether we embrace Jesus Christ in faith. Do-gooders need not apply here. Salvation is by faith and faith alone. Not just faith in anything, but specifically faith in the Son of God.
Since this is the case, we should be experts in what is meant when we are told, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9. Also, Romans 3:22a, "This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." Through faith! As I say, we should be experts in what faith is!
Mirriam-Webster tells us that faith is belief, trust and loyalty to God. It goes on to say, among other things, that faith is firm belief in something for which there is no proof, a complete trust. I certainly believe the creation provides more than adequate proof of God (see Romans 1:20, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse"), but I think we get a good idea of what faith is.
In Hebrews 11:8 we are told that Abraham's faith was a faith that prompted him to follow God, to obey God. This helps us understand the kind, or variety of faith God looks for within us. Paul talks about the kind of faith Abraham had in Romans 4:18-25. It was the nature of Abraham's faith that brought him a righteous standing with God, a faith that persuaded him to act on what he knew God wanted him to do. This is why Abraham is held up to us as our example of the faith God looks for within us. (It is also the reason Abraham and his descendants were chosen as the vehicle through which the Father would bring his Son into the world.)
This is the very faith that James speaks of in James 2:14, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?" The rhetorical question points to the fact that it is the kind of faith Abraham had that brings us eternal life. It is not just any faith, but a faith that both informs us and prompts us in the choices we make and the things we do in this life as we look to God for eternal life.
Got faith?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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