THE REALITY OF FAITH

NOW FAITH IS assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen – Hebrews 11:1 (ASV)

Faith is a foundational subject in the Scriptures. It is one of the three fundamental Cornerstones of Christianity listed in 1 Corinthians 13:13 – “And now abideth FAITH, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” Faith is one of the Pillars of the Triangle of Christianity. Faith is however more than a theological subject.

Hebrews 11:1 provides the ‘classical’ definition of Faith – “Now FAITH IS the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” NOW FAITH IS…not tomorrow, not in the vague, indefinite future. Kenneth E. Hagin used to say: “If it is not NOW, it is not FAITH”! It matter less what you believed yesterday. What matters is what you believe NOW!

Now FAITH IS….not “will be.” Faith is always in the Present Tense. Yesterday’s record of your faith is not as important as its present state. What is the state of your faith today – NOW? Colossians 1:23 admonishes that you “CONTINUE in the FAITH grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven…” James 1:25 says: “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

Faith is the SUBSTANCE and ASSURANCE of things hoped for or desired. Substance describes somethings that is tangible and of practical value or significance. Faith is REAL. Faith is not abstract, vague, wishful thinking, fantasizing or mere imagination. Faith is not a figment of the imagination. Faith is not fiction. Faith is not a religious concept or creed. Faith is spiritually tangible and real. Faith substantiates what you hope for based on God’s Word.

Faith is the EVIDENCE and CONVICTION of things not seen or not yet received. Evidence is the sign or proof of the existence, reality or truth of something. Faith is the conviction or certainty of receiving things yet to be seen. The evidence – like a bank draft – is as good as the real thing!