What does "Faith" mean?

What is "faith"?

Hebrews 11:1 provides one of the most well-known definitions of faith in Christian theology: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

This verse breaks down faith into two key components:

The substance of things hoped for: This suggests that faith gives reality or substance to the things we hope for. It's not just wishful thinking but a confident assurance that what is hoped for will come to pass.

The evidence of things not seen: Faith serves as evidence or proof for the existence or truth of things that are not perceptible through the senses. It's a conviction about realities that are not immediately observable or tangible.

The chapter continues to list examples of Old Testament figures who exemplified faith, such as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and others, illustrating how they lived out this definition through their actions and trust in God's promises despite not seeing the fulfillment in their lifetimes.

Hebrews 11:6 further elaborates, "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." Here, faith is portrayed not only as belief in God's existence but also in His character as one who rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Faith is not merely intellectual assent but a deep-seated confidence. True faith manifests in actions, as seen in the lives of the faithful mentioned. Faith looks forward to promises yet to be fulfilled. It deals with the unseen, trusting in divine truths beyond empirical evidence.

This understanding of faith has profoundly shaped christian life, emphasizing that faith is both a gift and a response, involving trust, hope, and obedience to God's unseen realities.

We should rely on Jesus for salvation and redemption the way a skydiver trusts his parachute. If we have diligently checked the scriptures and have understanding of the guarantee in Jesus we will have confidence when it's time to pull that chord at the end of life. We have no guarantee of a comfortable flight but we have been assured of a safe landing no matter what happens in this life.