Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
It would not be a good sign if we are exactly the same as we were before we became followers of Jesus the Christ. If fact, the Word of God makes it clear that if we belong to Jesus we are constantly being changed (2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 4:16). Of course this is applicable to every area of our lives. If we are disciples of Christ, then we are becoming more Christ like.
Look up scriptures when Jesus taught about faith. How many do you find that said He had faith in the Father or the Holy Spirit? Or even if He had faith in Himself? I believe that you will not find one. Not one. Why is that so? I am hoping that my suit still fits so that I don’t have to buy anything new. Unless I try on the clothes, I don’t know for sure. After I try on the clothes, then I will know. So before I try them on I have hope and (some) faith the clothes will still fit. I am having faith and hope in what I do not yet know for sure. If I should try them on, and they fit, they I know it and I no longer need faith, because I know they fit. So, why did Jesus never mention that He had faith in the Father? Because faith is for something that we yet have, that to us, has not actually happened. Faith is for something that is not seen, something that we don’t know for sure. We may see evidence of it, but we do not actually know it to be true (though we see evidence to believe it may be). Jesus did not have faith in God because He had sure knowledge of God the Father. He had a sure knowledge because He was (and is) a member of the Holy Trinity, and He always has been. See, Jesus did not need faith because He had a sure knowledge. There was not guessing or hoping, He knew. He had no faith in God, just a sure knowledge.
We are saved by faith. It is essential to our relationship with God and to our salvation. But as knowledge of God is increased, is faith replaced by sure knowledge? Can the reality of God and His promises overtake our faith? Surely that is so. Faith is transformed by the Word of God, by God the Holy Spirit within us, to become less faith and more of knowledge. Well then how does that apply to the fact that faith is what saves us? That truth is not changed. God has said it and so it is true. That never changes. Yet what our faith is does change. At first our faith is very fragile as our knowledge of God is scant. As we grow in the Word, guided by the Holy Spirit, and as we experience God, we taste and see that God is good (Psalm 34:8). Faith that God may exist becomes a faith in God. Not a faith that is hopeful of His existence, but a faith that He does exist. As we grow in His Word and we delight in the experience of walking with Him, we become certain that He exists. In fact, our faith becomes a knowledge more sure than the rising sun. Don’t we know that God will exist beyond an eternity after the universe we live in has melted away (2 Peter 3:12)? Family, God, to me, is more real than any person or anything that I know. I have met people that I have met once and never seen since. It is likely I may never see them again. However, God is always with me and always communicating with me. Therefore, God, who is always with me, is more real to me than all people that I know, all of whom I may never see again. God touches me every day. It can be said of no-one else that they are with me every minute of every day. So, I confidently assert that my faith in God, grown by God, supported by God, and given life by God, no longer walks on wobbly legs but on legs that have grown strong by continual, and sometimes very strenuous, exercise.
Jesus did not have faith. He did not need it. First of all He never needed salvation, salvation came through Him. So Jesus is not saved by faith, He is the Savior. Also, only an insane person needs to be assured that He exists. Jesus knew who He was and who He was, and is, is one with God. Jesus had sure knowledge of God, not faith. One does not hope for, or have faith to receive, what one already has. That is silly.
The NIV states that “faith is confidence in what we hope for.” That is good, but I think it limits, a little, the great and mighty truth behind this verse. The NKJV expresses it this way “faith is the substance of things hoped for.” This talks about something that has taken on form, has taken on a reality that we hold onto. Faith brings what we hope for to life within us. We no longer say that we suppose that God exists. No, we say that we know God exists. We, who know God, know that He exists and there is no question in our minds of that fact. None! Oh yes, we know! Faith begins as a very elusive specter and then is transformed into a galaxy that our eyes cannot see the end of. What we learned of by faith has grown to knowledge. It is evidence for us. We read His Word and believe because the Holy Spirit within brings it alive. Also, we have trusted, over and over again, the promises of God and they have proven trustworthy. In these things God has been revealed to us by He Himself. What the world does not know is the love of God that springs eternal in our hearts. They would ask how we know that God exists and that, if He does exist, how we know that He loves us. We say with certainty that He lives within and we are daily filled with His love. We see the evidence of His existence in His creation and we see the evidence of His love for us in His many blessings. And while that is always true, there comes a point when evidence is no longer needed because of sure knowledge. As an example, I’m sure that many of us would say that we are already convinced that that God is good and that He loves us. That no further proof is needed to convince us. That is what Jesus is bringing us to. Isn’t the purpose of being a disciple to become increasingly like the master? Yes! Amen! Praise God!
Family, if we doubt, pull in closer to God. Knowledge chases away doubt. Faith brings us to and grows knowledge. Faith brings us to the foot of the throne and there are eyes behold. Once we have seen, once we have adored, our knowledge is sure. Family, dear Family, may our knowledge be certain and the footsteps of our walk sure. In all things, praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God.