WHAT FAITH CAN DO

Previously from Heb. 11 we have considered the relationship between one's faith or convictions and his manner of life, the fact that one who would be pleasing to God must believe that He IS and that He is a REWARDER of believers who diligently seek Him. Let's now notice, from the same chapter, some things which faith can do for its possessor.

Faith understands things which without faith one would not comprehend. Notice verse 3, "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." Believers start with God who spoke the worlds into existence (Gen. 1:1). Unbelievers starting with lifeless matter offer one conjecture after the other as to the origin of things.

Faith changes things. "By faith Enoch was translated so that he did not see death…" (Heb 11:5). Enoch was a great man of faith, and God made an example of him. That's for our benefit, we, who acting in faithful obedience, are "delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Col. 1:13-14). Through our faith not only is our relationship changed, but so is our view of life, death, and the hereafter.

Faith brings one into the heirship of righteousness. See verse 7, "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." We are not saved by works of personal righteousness (Tit. 3:5); but as Paul reasoned in Romans 4:22-25 one's faith, just as was Abraham's, is counted to him for righteousness. "It shall be imputed [to us] if we believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead…." (v. 24).

Faith obeys. "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out into the place which he would afterward receive as an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going" (Hebrews 11:8). And later his faith obeyed the command of God to offer up Isaac, for he was "accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which also he received him in a figurative sense" (Hebrews 11:17-19). It is only an obedient faith that justifies before God (cf. Jas. 2:21-22).

Faith will sacrifice. Look again at Hebrews 11:17, "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac…." Here was a trial that brought a father's love into conflict with a divine command, but faith won the victory. It was triumphant, Abraham believing the blessing would come though he might not understand how. There are likewise elements of sacrifice required of our faith. There are things for which the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience that must be put to death, our "members which are upon the earth" (Col. 3:5-6). Former associations sometimes have to be sacrificed, and their ridicule endured when one turns from a former, ungodly way of life (I Pet. 4:3-4).

Faith sees that which is unseen. Remember that "faith is…the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Of those ancient worthies it is said, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them…." (vs. 13); and further of Moses it is said that "he endured as seeing Him who is invisible" (v. 27). And so of Christians, "we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:18), looking unto "a better and enduring possession in heaven" (Heb. 10:34).