"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). The famous motivational speaker Zig Ziglar claimed, "If you can dream it, you can achieve it." As a child I dreamed of flapping my arms and flying, but I had not the slightest chance of achieving flight by flapping my arms! This is faith in faith, but it is not the saving faith of which we read in Scripture.

The "faith" the Scriptures discuss is essential to our salvation (Hebrews 11:6). Thus, we inquire, What is faith?

The writer of Hebrews informs us "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The word "substance" is rendered "assurance" by the New American Standard Bible. The word literally means "a standing under" (Mounce. 1300). "Faith," in relationship to hope, is assurance. It stands under and supports our hope. Thus, our hope is only as secure as our faith is strong. The term "evidence" is translated "conviction" by the NASB. It means "a proof" (Ibid. 1139). Saving faith is not a blind acceptance of unprovable opinions. It is not based on feeling, emotion, or a "blind leap." It is conviction supported by evidence.

The inspired author of Hebrews further informs us, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). These are the two aspects of saving faith. We must "believe that He is." This is conviction based on evidence. But further, we must believe "that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." We must trust Him to keep His promises to bless us if we obey Him.

Faith by nature begins and ends in the realm of the unseen. It is conviction supported by evidence concerning things we do not know by experience. By faith we accept that the invisible things of God are behind the visible universe (Hebrews 11:3). By faith we hope for a home in heaven, though we have never seen that paradise (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Does this mean faith is unreasonable? I believe a man named Christopher Columbus discovered the New World for European man in 1492. This belief cannot be put into a test tube or measured by scientific methods. It is nonetheless true. Things one cannot now experience, for example, facts of history, are demonstrated by methods other than observing and testing. I cannot put God into a test tube and measure His chemical components, but I can produce evidence of a different sort that He exists.

The evidence that supports the Christian's faith is divine in origin. Inasmuch as the God about Whom we read in the Bible is infinitely more trustworthy than man (Romans 3:3-4), we should expect this evidence to be of superior value than the testimony of man. I believe an honest, unprejudiced study of the evidence that God exists, the Bible is His Word, and Jesus is His Son will lead an honest person to believe each of these facts.

The first body of evidence to support our faith is the World, the first and general revelation of God to man. The existence of the universe with its infinite power, precise order, and incredible complexity demand that a Being sufficient to produce it, i.e., God, must be behind it (Romans 1:20).

From nature we can know that there is a God, that He has unlimited power and intelligence, and that He possesses will. But what is He like? Is He good or bad? loving or hating? kind or cruel? What does He want from me? How can I enjoy His fellowship? To know these things, I must turn to the second and special revelation of God to man, the Word (Romans 10:17). The Word, the Scriptures, not only tells me about God, it gives evidence to demonstrate that there is a God, that the Bible is the Word of God, and that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

These two realms of evidence, the World and the Word, give ample reason for a firm, reasonable conviction that there is a God in heaven, that the Bible is His Word, and that Jesus Christ is His Son and to lead us to trust God, His Word, and His Son with our lives and our souls.

This faith is the means whereby we are saved. In fact, we cannot be saved without it (Hebrews 11:2,6).

Furthermore, it is the principle by which Christians live. From the time a young person first begins to honestly consider the evidence for faith, then to render the obedience of faith that makes him a Christian, then to grow daily in knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of the Lord's will, to live a holy life, to become spiritually mature, and to develop a character more and more like Jesus, until finally as an aged, faithful saint he departs this world to enter paradise, every step taken on life's journey that is pleasing to God is a step taken in faith. Every step taken without faith is sin. "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Works Cited

Mounce, William, Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words.