Paul says what is required of all people is “repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Greek term for “faith” IS “PISTIS” meaning “trust” or “firm persuasion”. To have faith is to relinquish trust in oneself and transfer it to someone or something else.
But the only person we can truly have faith in is Yeshua. Placing one’s faith elsewhere is futile.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
This is not a definition of “faith” but a description of what faith does. The Greek word for “substance” means “essence”, “reality” or “a support”. “Evidence” means “proof” or “conviction”. Faith makes things hoped for as real as if we already had them. Its’ evidence is the proof that the unseen is real.
Faith provides the unshakable evidence that the unseen, spiritual blessings of belief in Yeshua are absolutely certain and real. It brings the future within the present and makes the invisible seen.
Faith must have some revelation of God, some promise of God as its foundation. It demands the surest evidence in the universe and finds it in the word of God. It is not limited to possibilities but reaches into the impossible.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Faith is mandatory for those who wish to enjoy communion with God. No amount of good works can compensate for lack of faith. Faith is the only thing that gives God His proper place and puts man in his proper place. The privilege of drawing near to God is dependent on faith.
“….. let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
A clear conscience can only be achieved through the blood of Yeshua as we are cleansed by the Holy Spirit.
It is the proud who are self-sufficient and who fail to realize the necessity for patient endurance and trust in God.
True faith does not simply believe that a divine being exists but that the God of Scripture is the only real and true God that exists. Not believing in God is equivalent to calling Him a liar.
“…. he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that has given of His Son.”
But for those with faith, God is the “rewarder”. God rewards those who seek Him and who do good works in the power of the Holy Spirit. He rewards them with forgiveness and righteousness. We know this because of His promises.
“Therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.”
There is nothing about God which makes it impossible to believe. The difficulty is with human will. But we can be sure that without faith, it is not possible for anyone to walk with God or to please Him.
So, what does faith look life in a person’s life?
From the Old Testament we can see many examples. Here are a few of them: – Enoch lived in a way that pleased God and was raptured; Noah obeyed God’s warnings and built the ark; Abraham was willing to offer up Isaak; Joseph was confident that God would bring the people out of Egypt; and, Moses abandoned his life of luxury in Egypt to lead his people. And many more!
On numerous occasions during His earthly ministry, Yeshua provided miraculous healing to individuals, attributing it to their faith or to their faith leading to forgiveness. These things of course only God can do. Thus, Yeshua was pointing to Himself as God’s Messiah.
Here are some examples: – Matthew 9: 20. The woman who had had a haemorrhage for many years; Matthew 8: 10. The centurion’s servant who was paralysed and experiencing dreadful torment; Matthew 9: 29. The two blind men. Matthew 9: 3. The paralysed man. Matthew 15: 21. The Canaanite woman whose daughter was demon-possessed.
The miracles of Yeshua demonstrated His power: power over disease; power to forgive sin; power over the forces of evil; and, power even over nature.
He attributed individual’s healing and release to their faith in Him, pointing to Himself as Messiah and God.
What happens to people of faith.
Sadly, in this world not only good happens to the faithful. There have been martyrs and there will be more.
Some of course have been miraculously delivered (like the boys in the fiery furnace). But some have been tortured and died without receiving the full blessings of God in this life.
However, the heroes of faith all endured because their faith had shown them that they would enjoy all God’s goodness when they entered heaven.
Conclusion.
Repentance toward God provides the starting point. Faith toward our Lord, Yeshua, provides the endurance to continue that walk with God – No matter what!
Amen.