Faith is a central theme in the Bible and is emphasized numerous times throughout Scripture. Hebrews 11:1 provides a concise yet profound definition of faith: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” This verse reveals two key aspects of biblical faith:
1. Faith is being sure of what we hope for. Faith means having complete confidence and assurance in things that have been promised to us by God but have not yet come to pass. This includes eternal life, resurrection, and inheritance in the kingdom of God.
2. Faith is being certain of things we cannot see. We have not physically seen heaven, Jesus’ resurrection, or other supernatural events recorded in Scripture. But we can be fully convinced they are true based on the testimony and promises of God in His Word.
So in essence, faith is believing in and relying on things that have not yet materialized or cannot be perceived with our physical senses. It is not blind belief but rather a confident trust and assurance that God will fulfill what He has said.
Now let’s explore this definition more fully:
Faith trusts God’s word over physical evidence
Faith means taking God at His word even when circumstances seem contrary. The world says, “Seeing is believing.” But the Bible tells us that genuine faith often believes without seeing (John 20:29).
For example, Noah had faith when he built an ark though there was no sign of the coming flood (Hebrews 11:7). Abraham had faith to leave his homeland for an unknown country that God promised to show him (Hebrews 11:8). In both cases, Noah and Abraham trusted the word of God over their current circumstances. They had an assurance of things they hoped for though they had not yet come to pass.
Faith relies on the evidence of Scripture
The Bible, in and of itself, provides powerful evidence for our faith. It records centuries of God’s dealings with mankind, prophecies, and miraculous events – evidence many people witnessed and verified. As the apostle John wrote, “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (John 20:31). The scriptural evidence alone furnishes a sound basis for faith.
Faith recognizes spiritual realities beyond the physical
Physical eyes alone cannot perceive all reality. Faith grasps the existence of a supernatural world that is just as real as the natural world, even though it is for now unseen. Heaven, hell, angels, demons, and God Himself are unseen yet completely real. Hebrews 11 commends the elders for having faith in “things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1-2). Faith apprehends spiritual truths that transcend the physical senses.
Faith relies on the evidence of personal experience
While we cannot see God directly, those who believe gain firsthand evidence of His presence and work in their lives. The inward witness and work of the Holy Spirit provides confirming evidence that strengthens faith (Romans 8:16; 2 Corinthians 1:22). Answered prayers, spiritual fruit produced in one’s life, and gifts of the Spirit all provide experiential evidence that God is real and active. Believers do not follow God in complete blindness but from tangible personal experience of His power.
Faith trusts in future fulfillment
Much of what faith rests upon has not yet come to full realization. But Scripture gives assurance that God will accomplish all He has promised. We have not yet seen the resurrection of the dead or received our eternal inheritance. But faith trusts that these unseen things will come true because God is faithful (Hebrews 10:23). The fact that fulfillment is still future does not negate faith’s present conviction and evidence.
Examples of faith in the unseen
Hebrews 11 provides many examples of faith grounded in “conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1):
– By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice (Hebrews 11:4). He trusted God’s word regarding sacrifice though he had not seen proof.
– By faith Enoch was commended as one who pleased God without seeing death (Hebrews 11:5). He believed God’s promise of eternal life though it was unseen.
– By faith Noah prepared the ark though there was no physical evidence yet of the coming flood (Hebrews 11:7).
– By faith Abraham obeyed God’s calling though he did not know where he was going (Hebrews 11:8).
– By faith Abraham believed God’s promise that his offspring would be as numerous as the stars, even though Abraham and Sarah were already old and childless (Hebrews 11:11-12).
– By faith the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days and saw the city walls fall down by trusting in God’s promise rather than physical military might (Hebrews 11:30).
These and many other examples show that faith relies on God’s word rather than physical proof. This pleasing faith stands as remarkable evidence of “the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
Faith results in actions
True biblical faith is more than mere mental assent to a belief. It inspires actions and obedient responses. Hebrews 11 gives example after example of faith moving believers to act according to their confident trust in God’s word (Hebrews 11:7-30). Faith is the impetus that enabled believers to persevere under trial, overcome kingdoms, administer justice, and receive what was promised (Hebrews 11:33-39). Authentic faith is visible through works and obedience (James 2:14-26). It changes how we live.
Faith grows by hearing God’s word
The way to strengthen faith is by consistently hearing the word of God. Romans 10:17 explains, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” By steeping our minds in Scripture, our conviction and assurance grows. Biblical faith does not come from imagining what we hope to be true. It comes from hearing the revelations of God in His inspired Word until they become settled conviction in our hearts.
Faith requires spiritual eyes to see
Physical eyes and senses alone cannot perceive much of spiritual truth. 1 Corinthians 2:14 notes that “the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” Spiritual matters require spiritual sight. We must rely on the inward illumination of the Holy Spirit to enlighten the eyes of our heart (Ephesians 1:18). Then faith grants vision to behold and receive spiritual realities.
Faith sees light despite darkness
In this age, we walk partly by faith, not full sight. There is much we will not understand or perceive perfectly now (1 Corinthians 13:9, 12). But faith trusts God in the darkness. The psalmist declared, “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130). By God’s Word, faith sees glimmers of light and anchors itself to truth, even when surrounded by much obscurity. Faith trusts the light it has received and believes more light will come.
Faith reveals what is real
The physical world around us is not the only legitimate reality. Faith recognizes the existence of another realm more real, more permanent, and more important than the temporary physical world we see now. 2 Corinthians 4:18 tells us to “look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” Faith lifts our perspective above the temporary to eternal spiritual realities.
Faith walks by the Spirit, not flesh
To overcome doubt and wavering, faith must walk by the power and leadership of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16 urges, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” The flesh represents mere human perspective, tainted by sin. But the Spirit aligns us with God’s perfect truth and enables us to perceive and walk in ways that please Him. Faith submits to the Spirit’s wisdom.
Faith combats unbelief
Faith stands opposed to unbelief (Romans 11:20). Unbelief questions and doubts God’s word; faith trusts His every promise. The Israelites failed to enter God’s rest because of unbelief stemming from hardness of heart (Hebrews 3:19). Their unbelief prevented them from seeing and experiencing the fullness of what God had prepared for them. To access God’s blessings, faith must overcome unbelief.
True faith endures and overcomes
Genuine faith withstands every trial and test. 1 Peter 1:7 declares, “so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Temptations and sufferings refine faith, purifying it like gold. This proven faith will bring eternal honor. True faith endures to the end (Hebrews 3:14).
Strong faith brings God pleasure
Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). But He is deeply pleased when He finds strong, trusting faith within His children. Like Abraham, we too can give “glory to God by being fully convinced that God is able to do what he has promised” (Romans 4:20-21). Our faith brings joy to our Father (Matthew 8:10). Our confident hope and reliance on His word moves Him.
Faith works by love
Faith operates through love (Galatians 5:6). Proper faith toward God expresses itself through love for others (1 Thessalonians 1:3). Faith that lacks love is barren. When faith actively applies God’s word to life, actions of love result. Love further strengthens and energizes faith. The two work beautifully in tandem by the power of the Spirit within believers.
Faith overcomes the world
1 John 5:4-5 proclaims, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” Trusting faith in Jesus – the Divine Savior revealed in Scripture – enables believers to triumph over Satan’s kingdom and worldly temptations. Clinging to Christ by faith marks the difference between victory and defeat.
In summary, Hebrews 11:1 reveals that faith is an unwavering confidence and conviction that God’s word is true. This faith relies not primarily on physical evidence but on the trustworthiness of God to fulfill what He has promised. Faith apprehends spiritual realities beyond the physical realm. It believes that God will accomplish unseen future events because He said so. This faith inspires action, pleases God, grows by Scripture, endures trials, overcomes unbelief, and triumphs over the world’s systems. Faith truly serves as remarkable evidence of the unseen spiritual world and one day will transition to sight.