Definition of Faith

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.
By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. Hebrews 11:1-3

Faith (Greek: Pistis) is not wishful thinking. Not “pie in the sky” Pollyannaism. Faith is conviction; certainty that what we know about a person or a system of teaching is true. Assurance is a good defining word for faith. It means firm foundation. We know what we know, based on what we’ve learned and observed about whoever or whatever it is. And what we know is the basis for all our opinions and decisions in life.

“hoped for” means expected. Again, not an expression of wishfulness, but something we anticipate with confidence. This is going to happen. We confidently expect that it will.

“by it,” that is by this conviction of anticipated things not yet seen, the ancient believers in God’s promises gained God’s approval. In Hebrews chapter 11 we have a list of these believers, describing their relationships with God, and their notable legacies to us who follow. Some of us like to call this chapter the Roll Call of the Faithful. It gives us a brief synopsis of each major Old Testament believer and his or her lifetime achievement resulting from absolute identification with the purposes of God.

By faith (that assurance of things we didn’t see), we are aware that God created the universe by speaking His Word. Instantaneously. That six-day cleanup was not original creation, but we know that happened just as the Word of God describes it, also. God’s Word is the power that created and sustains the universe. He created it out of nothing, and He maintains its structure as our dwelling place for as long as it will be needed.

An unbeliever telling a Bible scholar he has read the Bible is like a casual reader of science telling a professional physicist he has read a book about physics. It takes a belief in the Person of God and an intense interest in God's dealings with His people to understand what the Bible is really about. Superficial reading will not reveal God's plan to someone unwilling to believe.

I Corinthians 2:4 “..my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory…..
10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

A natural man cannot understand spiritual things, as Jesus told Nicodemus in John chapter 3 (yesterday's post). We must be born again, as spiritual beings, able to comprehend the things of God. Then we are no longer natural, but spiritual, members of the Royal Family of God.

Then we know what faith is, and can learn to practice faith as we walk through this world day-by-day, onward to the destination God has designed for each of us. Just like the believers of old.