Faith Is

Hebrews 11:1-2

11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. ² For by it the men of old gained approval.

Danna’s middle name is Faye. So is her mother’s. Faye comes from Faith. Faith is a very important part of who we are. What is faith?

Most of us have probably memorized the definition of faith from Hebrews 11:1. This passage says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” What is the assurance of things hoped for? What is the conviction of things not seen? Can you give me any examples of this? Can you give me any examples of what faith is? Hebrews 11 can.

In Matthew 15, because of the great faith of a woman, her daughter was healed at once. Does this mean of someone we love isn’t healed at once that our faith is not great? When Jesus mentions that the mother’s faith is great, what did He mean? How did Jesus know her faith was great? How can you tell if someone’s faith is great? What are the results of great faith?

At least five times in Romans Paul addresses the concept of faith. In chapter 1, he says that he thanks God through Jesus Christ for the Romans, because their faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. What was being proclaimed throughout the whole world? What was the whole world? How can faith be proclaimed? Why should Paul thank God for this?

Later in Romans, Paul says that the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness. How is faith credited as righteousness? What does this mean? Can you describe this faith?

Again, in Romans, Paul says that if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is nullified. How can faith be made void? How can a promise be nullified? Have you ever nullified a promise or made void your faith? Are those of the Law heirs?

Towards the end of Romans Paul says that anything that is not from faith is sin. What does he mean? Paul certainly had a lot to say to the Romans about faith. How do you understand faith as used by Paul in Romans?

Paul tells the Corinthians that their faith is worthless if Christ has not been raised. He says that they would still be in their sins. Where does faith fit here? What is the definition of faith here? Did people believe that Christ had not been raised from the dead? Do people still believe that today? So, are you still in your sin? Or has Christ, indeed, been raised?

Paul tells the Thessalonians that he gives thanks to God for them because their faith is greatly enlarged. How can faith be greatly enlarged? Does faith grow? How?

So, what is faith? I can quote Hebrews 11:1 with the best of them. Do I really understand what faith is? Do you? Can you explain it? Do we understand faith in the way that Paul uses faith? If you were gong to explain faith to someone, what would you tell them?