Faith
Is Faith just a belief or is it more?
Could it ever be factual?
The scripture generally quoted is Hebrews 11.1
Heb 11:1 Faith is the confidence* that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. NLB
Heb 11:1 And faith is of things hoped for a confidence*, of matters not seen a conviction YLT
Heb 11:1 Now faith is assurance* of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. WEB
Heb 11:1 Now faith is assurance* of (things) hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. ASV
My comments in blue, Scriptures & quotes in black, references in green.
The above versions however are so feeble and indecisive, it makes faith seem to be baseless, just a feeling for things hoped for, no evidence can be seen, and this encourages blind faith, based on nothing! It’s possibly why some say “I have faith I don’t know why, I just know”. That’s not my kind of faith, it isn’t just a confidence or even just an assurance.
The reality is so different, Christ Jesus indicated at Luke 6.48 that people who do according to his word; which is the actions of faith, because they have laid a foundation on the rock, they dug and went down deep that requires effort, hard work, now that’s a solid foundation on rock that’s what true faith is based on.
Lu 6:47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man who in building a house dug and went down deep and laid a foundation on the rock. Consequently, when a flood came, the river dashed against that house but was not strong enough to shake it, for it was well-built. NWT
*The Greek word at Heb 11:1 is; hupostasis; a setting under (as in support) or (figuratively; concretely, essence). So similar to; Luke’s 6:47 laid a foundation on the rock.
Another bible version uses the word substance which is better;
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance* of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen KJV
What is most important and not generally understood about Hebrews chapter eleven is the theme which is; the fulfilment of the promise and that promise is of the resurrection.
The theme of the fulfillment of the promise is shown by the introduction at Heb 10.36 with the preserving of our lives and Heb 11.40 because God had foreseen something better for us, so that they might not be made perfect apart from us, both clearly referring to the resurrection of sinful, but faithful worshipers;
By faith; Heb 11:4 Abel; 5 Eʹnoch; 7 Noah; 8 Abraham; 11 Sarah… 13 In faith all of these died, although they did not receive the fulfillment of the promises as they are still waiting their resurrection by God.
Heb 10:35 Therefore, do not throw away your boldness… 36 For you need endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the fulfillment of the promise… 39 Now we are not the sort who shrink back to destruction, but the sort who have faith for the preserving of our lives.” That’s through the resurrection, then through the chapter it speaks of people doing things by faith; 4 By faith Abel offered God a sacrifice…and although he died. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was tested. But not receiving the promise; 13 In faith all of these died, although they did not receive the fulfillment of the promises; but they saw them from a distance… And then; Heb 11:39 And yet all of these, although they received a favorable witness because of their faith, did not obtain the fulfillment of the promise, 40 because God had foreseen something better for us, so that they might not be made perfect apart from us.”
It must be stressed that what is not seen (at the end of verse one) is not the basis of faith, it is the fulfilment of the promise which is the resurrection and that earthly resurrection isn’t seen until the last day; John 11.24 Martha said to him: “I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.” So at the time of the apostles no-one had seen evidence of any of the faithful sinful mankind being resurrected to heaven or to a paradise earth as neither had been prepared. Of course some believe their loved ones have already been resurrected and are looking down on them, however this is wrong: 2 Tim 2:18 They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith. NLT
Christ showed us; that our faith is based on a solid foundation, as shown at Lu 6.48; laid a foundation on the rock and this is similar to the Greek word translated by some bibles at Heb 11.1 above as; confidence, substance and assurance, and it is vital to understand what faith is based on, that word is; hupostasis the meaning of which is; a setting under (support), indicates a solid foundation and one of the translated words is; essence; which has a dictionary meaning of; the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, in Philosophy a property or group of properties of something without which it would not exist or be what it is. This clearly shows that faith is based on a foundation the realities of which we can see, seen through scripture and science which itself is increasingly showing us that things are far more complicated than ever thought and scream Creator. The fact that faith is based on a solid foundation which was laid by Christ is again shown in scriptures;
Col 1:23 provided, of course, that you continue in the faith, established on the foundation…
1Co 3:11 …no one can lay any other foundation than what is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
So it is clear faith is far more than the above scriptures of Heb 11.1, as these indicate;
Heb 11:1 Now faith is a well-grounded assurance of that for which we hope, and a conviction of the reality of things which we do not see. 2 For by it the saints of old won God’s approval. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds came into being, and still exist, at the command of God, so that what is seen does not owe its existence to that which is visible. Weymouth
Heb 11:1 Faith is the assured expectation of what is hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities that are not seen. 2 For by means of it, the men of ancient times had witness borne to them. 3 By faith we perceive that the systems of things were put in order by God’s word, so that what is seen has come into existence from things that are not visible. NWT
So Hebrew chapter 11 is talking about the subject of the resurrection to perfect everlasting life either earthly or heavenly and how our faith has strengthened God’s faithful worshiper to look forward to receiving the promised resurrection. How our faith is built on a solid foundation of knowledge of the realities we can see through the first part of Heb 11.1 and Christ’s own words at Lu 6:47, 48. The apostles saw Christ resurrected, however Christ was perfect unlike the ones referred to at Hebrews 11 the faithful ones who had died, imperfect mankind receiving the promise given to sinful mankind of the resurrection, and that resurrection in verse one is what is not seen.
Our faith is precious and more valuable than worldly gold;
1 Peter 1:7 in order that the tested quality of your faith, of much greater value than gold that perishes despite its being tested by fire, may be found a cause for praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you never saw him, you love him. Though you do not see him now, yet you exercise faith in him and are greatly rejoicing with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 as you attain the goal of your faith, your salvation. Again faith is linked to ones very existence.
Rom 1:20 For his invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship, so that they are inexcusable.
I have researched many scientific subjects with an open mind as I have no intention of fooling myself or others and I’ve also spoken to scientists and evolutionists who can be quite dismissive about religion, but soon realize that they can fool some people some of the time, but not those who have done the research, it’s great to see the look on their faces when they are confronted with some real scientific facts, it’s just simple logic, and not forgetting the research into God’s Word on the Genesis creation account, bible prophecies fulfilled, and the wisdom of God’s Word in general has increased my faith and conviction, it has shown me in great detail how deep and strong a foundation ones faith should be built upon.
However now there is more. The existence of a loving caring God and our faith in God is not only based on Biblical belief, prophecy, beneficial guidance and pure logic of scripture alone thanks to scientific advances it is now scientifically factual. As there is no other way we could exist without our creator, take DNA and its extreme complexities which could not exist without God’s superior knowledge and craftsmanship. In part it has been due to man’s arrogance to try and disprove God’s existence that they have provided the evidence that actually proves His existence.
As an example; Computer code doubles in complexity every bit or step, whereas DNA quadruples every strand, so at only twenty strands of DNA and twenty bits of computer code; a computer has a million possible combinations, but DNA has over a trillion combinations or to put it another way; by twenty strands DNA is a million times more complicated than a man-made computer, or you would need a million computers at 20 bits of code side by side to be equal to 20 strands of DNA. Or by converting computer data into DNA all the data that is on the internet could be stored in a container the size of a shoebox.
See; evolution versus logic.
&
See; Space the final frontier.
And the existence of our Goldilocks planet in our unique organised solar system, in a universe that has just the right physical laws to make its existence possible is nothing short of miraculous. With quotes from the experts: the solar system that we have here is actually the oddball, So our solar system is unique, and of our earth; I suppose it’s in many ways a miracle that it exists at all, we appear to live in a perfect universe with the perfect numbers, the perfect constants of nature, the perfect laws. Of course they have to believe in their theories as they don’t want to acknowledge the existence of God as with quantum mechanics when it was said; because otherwise it just seems though um it’s a bit miraculous that the universe seems to have started out with the right laws and the right conditions.
Just the complexity of DNA along puts a very bright new light on the need of design requiring a Designer, a supreme intelligence has to be its cause, one has to admit that it is a miracle that we exists at all. In science the word fact is used far too often for things that clearly are not facts, as there is not a shred of real evidence, however now the weight of scientific evidence is so great to prove God’s existence, it is so overwhelming so that God’s existence cannot be viewed as nothing short of a fact.
Faith has become so much easier and stronger.
God’s existence is now a scientific FACT.
see;
Life, death, life after death – where,
Creation Evolution versus logic,
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