Politicians and pundits throw around the catchy words “people of faith” when speaking of people and what they might believe as if the words have some type of magical content that automatically connects them to the heart of the hearers. If one listens carefully, the speaker never identifies the meaning of the word faith or in what and where the faith resides. One can have faith in many things of course, but the politicians are referring to those who have some type of belief in a higher being or system by which they control their behavior and live their lives. The idea seems to be that as long as one claims some kind of faith, all will be well and good for everyone.

The idea that one faith is as good as another is not only foolish, but it is fatal when eternity is considered. Faith isn’t worth the time and effort it takes to speak the word if it isn’t grounded in the eternal living God who sent Jesus Christ to this earth to bring us salvation. The writer of Hebrews wrote in 11:1-2: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.  The facts in the verse are: (1) faith has a substance (2) there is hope (3) it is evidence of the unseen, and (4) the men of old received a good report for their faith.

The Bible message tells the essence of the three facts. First, Jesus is the substance of faith. Paul tells us in the letter to the Christians at Galatia, Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. All who have faith in Christ, the substance of faith spoken of in Hebrews, are children of God. Each and every reference to faith in the scriptures shows that faith is connected to an object that inspires faith and in each case it is linked to God and Christ.  

The second fact of Hebrews 11 speaks to hope. In Romans 8:24-25 Paul specifically wrote, 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Faith rests in the hope who is Jesus Christ. In the book of Acts 17:31, Luke recorded the following for those who have hope of eternal life: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. That resurrection from the dead gives us assurance for the hope of eternal life. Paul told Timothy that he was a servant of God In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;   (Titus 1:2)

Number three is the evidence of the unseen which is eternal life. Luke 17:31 also speaks to the unseen since Jesus shows us the true nature of faith. He had faith that God would raise him from the dead and his resurrection is proof of that which we can’t see except though faith in Christ.  

The last one shows the paramount importance of faith in Christ. It will bring a good report. The Book of Revelation tells us in Chapter 20:12: And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  The book of life is a reference to Jesus Christ. The works were those done by faith in Christ. Ephesians 2:8-10 tells us: 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. In this manner a believer will receive a good report.

The message is clear. When individuals believe in God and have faith in Jesus Christ that makes them a person of faith.  If ones faith isn’t in Christ, it makes no difference what they might believe and follow. Jesus said in Luke 13:28: There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. Faith in Christ is the way to salvation. Anything else leads to destruction. Are you a person of faith in Christ?

© 08-15-2007 DEC  

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