Faith in its Power

Faith in its Power

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Hebrews 11:1

What is a good definition of faith? Many of us instinctively turn to Hebrews 11:1. But if we examine this verse, we will notice that it is not a definition. Faith, in very simple terms, means to trust or to have reliance. However, this verse does not define Faith itself but it describes Faith in its power. “ It is a description of Faith in one of its great affects. Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses—they all treated the hoped-for and the unseen as solid and certain. Faith is reliance, reposed on a trustworthy object and exercised more or less in the dark. The virtue of Faith lies in the virtue of its object.” But here in Hebrews 11:1, we find faith in action. Faith gives surety and certainty in someone or something even when we cannot grasp or attain it. This is a supernatural work by the Spirit, because the object of our Faith is in God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ who are supernatural. Faith produces a firm, concrete, and solid hope in the unseen. Though the world places their faith in “stuff” every day without noticing it, Christians have been given a prevailing confidence in God, an unseen reality. If people want to know what faith is, we can surely tell them. If people want to know what faith does…one great example is found in Hebrews 11:1.

Resources: Bishop H.C.G. Moule of England, The Fundamentals: 1909