Letter to the Hebrews Volume 119

 Faith is how We Believers Understand Part 1

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. KJV

We have just come out of a lengthy dialogue (over the last ten studies/commentaries) by the author of this letter to the Hebrews where he has warned them/us, exhorted them/us, and even reminded them/us of how important 'their/our faith' is now for living this sojourn here on the earth, that is, the faith just spoken of in Hebrews 10:39. Now the writer of Hebrews goes from declaring all of the above into defining what 'faith' actually means with these words, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1) (KJV). Unlike the first disciples (who later became the Apostles of Christ) and all the other people who were alive on the earth in Jerusalem and some of the other surrounding cites during the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot see Him walking, talking, and living His earthly life down here before His death, buriel, and resurrection from the dead and ascension back to heaven. So, we must see Him and walk and talk with Him by 'faith' which comes by hearing what He speaks to us through His Word the Bible, as it is written by the Apostle Paul with these words, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17) (KJV). The English word 'substance' in Hebrews 11:1 is translated by the Greek word hupostasis meaning (as used here) (figuratively) concretely essence, or abstractly assurance (objectively or subjectively): - confidence, substance. The English phrase 'of things hoped for' is translated by the Greek word elpizō meaning to expect or confide: - trust. The English word 'evidence' is translated by the Greek word elegchos meaning  proof, conviction: - evidence, reproof. In other words, 'faith', that is, as the Apostle Peter declares of himself and all of us who believe with these words, "Simon Peter, a servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:" (2 Peter 1:1) (KJV), is our concrete assurance or authority and our confident proof or evidence of the things promised by God revealed to us within His Word.

Here is what the JFB Commentary declares concerning Hebrews 11:1, "Description of the great things which faith (in its widest sense: not here restricted to faith in the Gospel sense) does for us. Not a full definition of faith in its whole nature, but a description of its great characteristics in relation to the subject of Paul’s exhortation here, namely, to perseverance. It substantiates promises of God which we hope for, as future in fulfillment, making them present realities to us. However, the Greek is translated in Hebrews 3:14, 'confidence'; and it also here may mean 'sure confidence.' So Alford translates. Thomas Magister supports English Version, 'The whole thing that follows is virtually contained in the first principle; now the first commencement of the things hoped for is in us through the assent of faith, which virtually contains all the things hoped for.' Compare Note, see on Hebrews 6:5, 'tasted ... powers of the world to come.' Through faith, the future object of Christian hope, in its beginning, is already present. True faith infers the reality of the objects believed in and hoped for (Hebrews 11:6). Hugo De St. Victor distinguished faith from hope. By faith alone we are sure of eternal things that they ARE: but by hope we are confident that WE SHALL HAVE them. All hope presupposes faith (Romans 8:25). Evidence — 'demonstration': convincing proof to the believer: the soul thereby seeing what the eye cannot see. Things not seen — the whole invisible and spiritual world: not things future and things pleasant, as the 'things hoped for,' but also the past and present, and those the reverse of pleasant. 'Eternal life is promised to us, but it is when we are dead: we are told of a blessed resurrection, but meanwhile we molder in the dust; we are declared to be justified, and sin dwells in us; we hear that we are blessed, meantime we are overwhelmed in endless miseries: we are promised abundance of all goods, but we still endure hunger and thirst; God declares He will immediately come to our help, but He seems deaf to our cries. What should we do if we had not faith and hope to lean on, and if our mind did not emerge amidst the darkness above the world by the shining of the Word and Spirit of God?' [Calvin]. Faith is an assent unto truths credible upon the testimony of God (not on the reasonableness of the thing revealed, though by this we may judge as to whether it be what it professes, a genuine revelation), delivered unto us in the writings of the Apostles and Prophets. Thus Christ's ascension is the cause, and His absence the crown, of our faith: because He ascended, we the more believe, and because we believe in Him who hath ascended, our faith is the more accepted [Bishop Pearson]. Faith believes what it sees not; for if thou seest there is no faith; the Lord has gone away so as not to be seen: He is hidden that He may be believed; the yearning desire by faith after Him who is unseen is the preparation of a heavenly mansion for us; when He shall be seen it shall be given to us as the reward of faith [Augustine]. As Revelation deals with spiritual and invisible things exclusively, faith is the faculty needed by us, since it is the evidence of things not seen. By faith we venture our eternal interests on the bare Word of God, and this is altogether reasonable."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…