Now Faith...

Now Faith...

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Our lesson for today is a biblical truth that’s foundational to our lives as followers of Christ.

It’s the definition of Faith; centered around two words: assurance and conviction.

True faith, in the Biblical sense, is a gift of God for his people, that grounded in His promises, it’s focused and fixed on Christ and shaped by things eternal. It’s the very instrument by which God unites us to His Son and counts us righteous.

Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for…”

The Greek word here translated “assurance” (hypostasis) refers to a substance, a foundation, or confidence. It’s something we can hold on to… something that’s steady and supportive. Listen: It’s NOT worldly optimism or wistfulness (it’s not wishing, in other words). Faith is an unmovable assurance in the life of the believer—that gives solid ground to what we hope for.

And we hope in no small thing! Because, we hope, as Christians, in the promises of God. Like the promise of the resurrection (our resurrection, and the resurrection of those who’ve gone before us) and eternal life. We hope in the promise of Christ’s return… and His promise of a new heaven, and new earth. We hope in Christ’s promise to never leave us or forsake us, and that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. These are not uncertain things—they are guarantees – promised by the God who always keeps his word and never breaks covenant. When God makes a promise in His Word, you can take it to the bank; it’s guaranteed; His promises are assured.

Biblical promises are assurances. They’re not like the promises you and I make, that are subject to human weakness and flipantness. They’re not “pinky promises” where we “cross our hearts and hope to die” – while not meaning a single word spoken.

Our faith is an unfettered belief in the assurances of God’s Word. It’s a firm and abiding trust that God is in control and that He’s working out all things for my good (Romans 8:28), to His honor and glory. And that kind of assurance, that kind of faith, never comes from our own determination, or our own desires, or from anything else this world might offer. That kind of faith is the gift of God, and God alone.

Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God…”

In other words, that means as followers of Christ, we don’t cling to our faith because we’re strong or determined or pious: we cling to faith because the object of our faith is strong: Jesus! Faith rests in His promises, His righteousness, His finished work of salvation.

For “faith is the assurance of things hoped for… the conviction of things not seen.”

2 Corinthians 5:7: tells us that, “We walk by faith, not by sight!” Faith is a kind of spiritual vision, if you will. It gives us the ability to perceive the things of God, above and beyond the things of this world.

In other words, our faith does not originate in physical sight, reason, or emotion. Our faith in Christ is not evidenced by what we can see! Faith is instilled (or implanted) in our hearts by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Word (Romans 10:17), “faith comes by hearing the Word.”

We believe, not because we first saw, but because God opened our eyes.

John Calvin said: “Faith is a firm and sure knowledge of the divine favor toward us, founded on the truth of a free promise in Christ, and revealed to our minds and sealed on our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” (Institutes, 3.2.7)

Faith is conviction - a Spirit-imparted certainty = that what God has promised is true, even if we do not yet see it.

Hebrews chapter 11 is often called the “Faith Chapter.” It lists a great hosts of faithful servants of God from the Old Testament: like Abel, and Noah… Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Rahab. NOT because they were impressive in their own right, or their own strength, or faith. They were all just people; ordinary people… with ordinary gifts… who followed and served the Lord with their giftings and graces… their talents and abilities.

The point of the chapter is not to say, “Be like them,” but rather, “Look to the God who sustained them!”

Their faith in God was counted to them (credited to them) as righteousness because it looked to the promises of God, despite and/or in spite of what they could physically see. They never saw, with earthly eyes, the fulfillment of God’s greatest promise – the Savior, the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Suffering Servant who would redeem God’s people and establish His Kingdom on Earth as it is in heaven!

All these patriarchs and matriarchs of our faith testify that salvation has always been by grace alone, through faith alone… in Christ alone.

Faith isn’t as a one-time decision but as a lifelong journey of trusting God in suffering, exile, testing, and even death.

True faith is grounded in God’s preserving grace… which is our great comfort as believers: In other words, God not only grants saving faith, giving us the ability to see Him, to know Him, and obey Him; He sustains our faith. In theological terms we call it the perseverance of the saints. As the Canons of Dort say:

“This perseverance of the saints does not depend on their own free will, but on the immutability of the decree of election…” (Canons of Dort, 5.8)

That’s why you and I need not fear losing our salvation. Our hope is not in our faith, but in the faithfulness of the One who holds us fast. As Jesus said in John 10, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of my hand.”

Brothers and sisters, Hebrews 11:1 is not just for spiritual giants. It is for you… it’s for me. It’s for those who are weary from the burdens of life… those who carry doubts and fears… those who struggle while wondering if the promises of God are really for them… for you.

Let this verse remind you: Faith is not the absence of questions—it is trusting God in the presence of doubt.

We walk by faith, not by sight.

We hope in what we do not yet see.

And we rest in the truth that the God who began a good work in us will bring it to completion.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Sovereign Lord,

We thank You for the gift of saving faith—faith that gives substance to our hope and conviction to our souls. Fix our eyes on Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. Strengthen those who doubt, comfort those who suffer, and help us live as strangers and exiles in this world, trusting in Your unseen but certain promises. In Jesus’ name, Amen.