Believing

	We have seen how hearing is a critical step on the road to salvation.  Our word for this week is "believe," the second pass in this pathway.  What is the Bible talking about when it mentions the verb "believe" or the noun "faith"?  The eleventh chapter of Hebrews contains one of the best-known discussions of faith.
	"Now faith is the assurance of {things} hoped for, the conviction of things not seen," Hebrews 11:1-6 explains. "For by it the men of old gained approval.  By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.  By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.  By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.  And without faith it is impossible to please {Him}, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and {that} He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."
	What, then, is faith?
	"Now faith is the assurance of {things} hoped for," verse one responds, "the conviction of things not seen."
	Faith is our guarantee of certain things, although we may not be able to see or touch them.  Faith does not say, "I think..."  Faith states confidently, "I know..."
	So, what are some of these things which we know by faith?  What do we believe?
	"By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God," verse three points out, "so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible."
	By faith, we know that God spoke the world into existence.  He made the world from nothing.  In this culture of strange ideas, some made in the name of religion, we must be convinced about the origin of everything around us.
	"And without faith it is impossible to please {Him}," verse six states, "for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and {that} He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."
	This simple verse tells three things which we know by faith. We know that God is.  We have no doubt about His existence.  We know that God is a rewarder.  We have no doubt about His ability to deliver that which He has promised.  And we know that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him.  We have no doubt that God's reward is limited to a certain group of people: those who do things His way.
	By faith we know that certain things are true.  We know that God spoke the world into existence from nothing.  We know that God is.  We know that God is a rewarder.  We know that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
	What are some of the characteristics of faith revealed in this chapter of Hebrews?
	"By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain," Hebrews 11:4 records, "through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks."
	It is faith which  guides Abel to offer an acceptable sacrifice.  A proper faith guides.
	"By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death," we find in verse five, "and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God."
	It is faith which keeps Enoch from experiencing physical death.  Faith can keep us from experiencing spiritual death.  A proper faith gives us spiritual life.
	"By faith," verse seven notes, "Noah, being warned {by God} about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith."
	Faith carries Noah and his family safely through the flood.  A proper faith saves.
	"By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life," we read in verse 11, "since she considered Him faithful who had promised."
	Faith enables Sarah to bear a child.  A proper faith bears fruit.
	"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come," we discover in verses 20-21.  "By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, {leaning} on the top of his staff."
	Faith causes Isaac to bless Jacob and Esau.  A proper faith blesses.
	"By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones," verse 22 reports.
	"By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood," verses 28-29 add, "so that he who destroyed the first-born might not touch them.  By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though {they were passing} through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned."
	Faith carries the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt.  A proper faith frees.

	Proper faith guides, gives life, saves, bears fruit, blesses and frees.  What are some other characteristics of faith communicated in Hebrews chapter 11?
	"By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents," we read in verses 23-27, "because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict.  By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin; considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.  By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen."
	"And what more shall I say?" the writer continues in verses 32-38.  "For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed {acts of} righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.  Women received {back} their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated ({men} of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground."
	What gives these heroes of the Bible the power to accomplish these things?  It is faith.  A proper faith strengthens.
	"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days," verse 30 reports.
	Faith brings down the walls of Jericho.  A proper faith brings victory.  A proper faith conquers.
	"By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace," we read in verse 31.
	Rahab is not exactly a morally upright person when she encounters the two spies sent by Joshua.  What happens?  Her faith causes her to alter everything.  A proper faith changes lives.
	Faith is such a wonderful thing.  We could go on about its incredible characteristics.  But, for now, lets remember that a proper faith guides, gives life, saves, bears fruit, blesses, frees, strengthens, conquers and changes lives.
	How will a proper faith benefit us?
	"For by it the men of old gained approval," verse two answers.
	By faith we gain approval.
	"All these died in faith, without receiving the promises," we understand from verses 13-16, "but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.  For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.  And indeed if they had been thinking of that {country} from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.  But as it is, they desire a better {country}, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them."
	We are so concerned about the approval of those around us.  Shouldn't we be more concerned about the approval of God?
	"And all these," we note in verses 39-40, "having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect."
	By faith we know that certain things are true.  We know that God spoke the world into existence from nothing.  We know that God is.  We know that God is a rewarder.  We know that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him.  A proper faith guides, gives life, saves, bears fruit, blesses, frees, strengthens, conquers and changes lives.  And faith will gain the only approval which matters.  We must realize, though, that biblical faith is synonymous with obedience.
	"By faith," verse eight clarifies, "Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going."
	Abraham's faith manifests itself in his obedience.  Let's obey the truth so that we can be set free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."