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1994-07-08
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PART I: THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER
CHAPTER 1
THE BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF FAITH
Now faith is the substance of things hoped
for,the evidence of things not seen.
(Hebrews 11:1).
Hebrews 11:1 is probably the most concise definition of
faith found in the Bible. It is considered the classical
definition of faith. Faith is both the SUBSTANCE of things hoped
for and the EVIDENCE that things exist that are not yet perceived
with the senses.
Faith Is Substance
The New Testament was written in Koine [common] Greek. The
Greek word translated "substance" in Hebrews 11:1 is HYPOSTASIS,
literally, "that which stands under." The derived meaning is
"that which has real existence, the basic essence, the actual
reality, the substance of something" [Hobart E. Freeman, ThD,
FAITH (Claypool, IN: Faith Publications, n.d.), p. 3]. It is a
condition of the human heart that is as real to God as the thing
we asked for will be to us when we receive it. It is the exact
IMAGE of the thing for which we ask ((HYPOSTASIS is translated
"image" in Hebrews 1:3). When we receive what we have prayed for
the image is replaced by the actuality.
Faith Is Evidence
The Greek word translated "evidence" is ELEGCHOS, which
basically means "conviction." John writes,
And this is the confidence that we have in
him, that, if we ask any thing according to
his will, he heareth us: And if we know that
he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that
we have the petitions that we desired of him.
(1 John 5:14-15).
The existence of the God-kind of faith in the human heart is
the evidence that what we have prayed for exists. Faith, based
on the Word of God, is the evidence--not what we see or don't
see--not good or bad circumstances. Faith is not based on human
feeling but rather it is based squarely on the fact of what God
says. The evidence is not found in the feeling, rational,
visible or sense realm.
What Faith Is Not
Faith is not hope. Faith is based on the Word of God alone.
Hope may be based on the sands of wishful thinking or human
desire, rather than on the rock of the Word of God. Doubt and
hope raise the question, "What shall I do?" Faith says, "I have
done!" The common phrase, "I am hoping and praying" is
incorrect. "I am believing and praying" is more scriptural.
Faith is not natural human faith. In order to function in
life, we must exercise a natural faith. We have faith in natural
laws such as gravity and inertia and assume that they will work
the same every day. If the universe were unpredictable and
untrustworthy, chaos would reign and life as we know it would be
impossible. We trust inanimate machines. By turning an ignition
key, flipping on a light switch, boarding an aircraft, we
exercise faith in machines. We trust vegetables and animals--we
assume they will perform according to our past experience. We
trust other human beings. We trust our surgeon, our spouse, etc.
However, faith in God is on a supernatural plane. We will
examine the nature of faith in God in the next chapter.
Faith is not mental assent. John Wesley warned in his time
that there was a dangerous substitute for faith that he called
mental assent. He was caught in this dangerous trap and only
escaped after failing as a missionary in America. Faith is of
the heart (human spirit) and not merely the head (human reason).
Simply agreeing that God exists and that his Word (the Bible) is
true is not biblical faith. James states that demons believe in
this manner and tremble in fear of judgment:
Thou believest that there is one God; thou
doest well: the devils also believe, and
tremble. (James 2:19).
Faith is not a psychological attitude. Mere positive
thinking may have some good results, but it is not biblical
faith.
Faith is not sight. It is not based on mere sensory
perception or human reasoning. Paul says, "We live by faith,
not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7, New International Version).
Attributes of Faith
Faith thanks God beforehand. If a husband tells his wife
that he has placed a hundred dollar bill in her purse for her
birthday, she thanks him immediately. Why? Because she trusts
him. She knows it is hers before she sees it. Jesus says,
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in
prayer, believe that you have received it,
and it will be yours. (Mark 11:24, New
International Version).
God does not answer biblical prayer with "No" or with
substitutes. Paul says,
For no matter how many promises God has made,
they are `Yes' in Christ. .... (2 Corinthians
1:20, New International Version).
Faith will endure to the end. Abraham waited 25 years for
Isaac to be born. Caleb waited 40 years for his land. Noah
waited 120 years for his physical salvation. Faith does not look
at the calendar, but to Christ. Hope may last a few minutes or a
few months. Faith will endure until it is replaced by the thing
for which we are believing. D. L. Moody said, "Faith that
fizzles out at the finish, had a flaw in it from the first."
Conclusion
Dr. Freeman concludes:
Faith is not hope. Faith is the means by
which we receive those things we hope for .
Neither is faith sight. Faith is the
evidence of things not seen. Faith can only
operate in the realm of the invisible
concerning those things we hope for and do
not yet see. Faith cannot exist in the
visible realm. When the things we hope for
are manifested to our sight, then faith, the
invisible "substance," having done its work,
is supplanted by the visible substance, that
is, the things we hope for. When the
ACTUALITY comes into view, then the IMAGE
(faith) vanishes. (Hobart E. Freeman, FAITH,
p. 4).
Biblical faith is an absolute requirement for answered
prayer. The writer of Hebrews states,
But without faith it is impossible to please
him: for he that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them
that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6).
Notice that one must believe that God exists and that he rewards
--answers prayer and helps--those who ask. How do we receive
this type of faith?
END