“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11: 1 KJV).
Faith is not just a religious thing that Christians who believe in and worship the only true and living but unseen God have. Everyone has faith and express that faith every day in people, institutions and things. But this is all common faith in things that are seen.
And then there is that faith that relates to the unseen, or to the invisible, to the spiritual realm. This faith is trust in the unseen. It is not trust in the unknown. For we know what we have faith in though it is unseen.
“Faith is the ultimate assurance and the ultimate evidence that things not seen are realities.” Faith in this sense is dealing consciously with the reality of the supernatural and the unseen. “Faith is that by which the invisible becomes real and the future becomes present. Faith gives a reality to things hoped for, and puts to the test things that for the moment are unseen, resulting in convictions.” Faith is that which gives assurance or a certainty of things still in the future and still unseen. They exist apart from faith, but it is by faith that they are realized.
This faith comes from hearing and reading God’s Word — “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10: 17), for it is God’s Word that reveals to us the real but unseen.
By reading God’s Word, one often comes to saving faith because one sees themselves a lost sinner in need of a Savior. They then put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
In every age, faith is man’s response to the promises of God, and trusting oneself to the God who promised, and that faith is accepted by God in place of a righteousness that no human being could have. Salvation is by grace on God’s part because it is the gift of God. Salvation is by faith on man’s part because that is how God’s free gift of salvation is received by man.
The just or justified or saved then continue to walk or live by faith in their ongoing relationship with God; “For the just shall live by faith” (Rom. 1: 17), and this they do for they believe that God is that unseen Reality and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him by faith (Heb. 11: 6).
This faith in and seeking after the thrice-holy God the One Great Reality Who has justified us results in a life of holiness that justifies us or ratifies or proves to the world our claim of salvation and faith in the unseen God (James 2: 20-26).
Faith is confidence in the trustworthiness of God. It is the conviction that what God says is true and that what He promises will come to pass.
Faith is not a leap in the dark. It has as its foundation some revelation or promise from God. It is not limited to the possible but invades the realm of the impossible. Everyone has faith, but it is only faith in Jesus Christ for salvation that will get us to Heaven and give us victory over the world (1 Jn.5: 4).
