What Faith really means: The Foundation of Our Hope

The Biblical Definition of Faith

Hebrews 11:1 establishes faith as 'the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen,' anchoring it in both hope and certainty.

This verse distinguishes biblical faith from passive wishful thinking by emphasizing active trust in God’s unseen promises. Unlike secular notions of faith as mere intellectual assent, the biblical perspective demands a lived commitment to realities beyond empirical verification. The dual focus on 'assurance' and 'conviction' reflects a dynamic interplay between longing for future fulfillment and present confidence in God’s reliability.

Modern secular frameworks often reduce faith to generalized trust in systems, people, or abstract principles. However, Hebrews 11:1 roots faith specifically in divine revelation and the pursuit of God’s purposes. Biblical faith is not blind optimism but a relational response to a covenant-keeping Creator, requiring both cognitive acknowledgment of truth and moral alignment with it. This contrasts sharply with faith as a vague 'leap in the dark,' instead framing it as a disciplined orientation toward God’s active work in history.

Faith in the Old Testament

In the Old Testament, faith emerges as a dynamic trust in God’s covenantal promises, particularly through pivotal moments in Israel’s history.

Abraham’s faith is exemplified in Genesis 15:6, where his belief in God’s promise of descendants is credited to him as righteousness, illustrating faith as reliance on divine faithfulness over empirical evidence. Similarly, Exodus 14:31 records how the Israelites’ deliverance from Egypt solidified their faith in the Lord and His servant Moses, framing faith as communal trust in God’s active salvation.

David’s declaration in 2 Samuel 22:31 - ‘As for God, his way is perfect. The word of the Lord proves true’ - highlights faith as personal reliance on God’s unchanging character and promises. These examples collectively show faith functioning not as abstract belief but as relational commitment to a covenant-keeping God, setting the stage for New Testament elaborations on faith’s role in salvation.

Faith and Works in the New Testament

The New Testament presents a nuanced relationship between faith and works, balancing grace and ethical responsibility in ways that require careful theological synthesis.

Paul’s assertion in 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, not a result of works, so that no one may boast’ - emphasizes salvation as a divine gift received by faith, not earned by human effort. Yet James 2:17 declares, ‘Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead,’ underscoring that authentic faith necessarily manifests in transformed action. This tension reflects distinct but complementary emphases: Paul addresses the source of salvation (grace through faith), while James examines the evidence of genuine faith (works as its natural byproduct). Both perspectives converge on the idea that faith is not a passive state but a dynamic reality that reorients the believer’s entire life.

James’ argument hinges on the inseparability of faith and works in the Christian life. When he writes, ‘Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works’ (James 2:18), he challenges abstract notions of belief, insisting that faith without behavioral alignment is inert. This does not negate Paul’s grace-based theology but clarifies that faith, as defined in Hebrews 11:1, inherently involves trust that shapes practical discipleship.

This interplay between faith and works sets the stage for understanding how genuine faith produces spiritual fruit. The next section will explore the New Testament’s teachings on the visible outcomes of a faith rooted in union with Christ.

Why Faith Matters Today

In a world marked by uncertainty and shifting values, faith remains a vital anchor for modern believers.

Hebrews 11's 'hall of faith' illustrates how figures like Abel, Enoch, and Noah overcame doubt by trusting God's unseen promises despite immediate risks. Their stories model perseverance through divine timing, such as Abraham and Sarah waiting decades for a child, demonstrating that faith requires patience amid delay. Additionally, these examples challenge believers to live counter-culturally, as exemplified by those who 'pleased God through faith' (Hebrews 11:6) even when their choices defied societal norms.

By reflecting on these testimonies, contemporary believers learn to anchor their lives in eternal realities rather than temporal certainties. This foundation prepares readers to explore practical strategies for deepening faith in the next section.

Going Deeper

To deepen your understanding of faith, explore its interplay with hope, obedience, and divine revelation through key New Testament passages.

Romans 1:17 declares, 'For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith"', illustrating how faith anchors believers in God's revealed righteousness. Hebrews 10:38-39 expands this, stating, 'But my righteous one shall live by faith... But we are not of those who shrink back... but of those who have faith and preserve their souls,' linking faith to enduring hope and obedient perseverance. Consider studying commentaries by N.T. Wright on Romans or R.C. Sproul on Hebrews for theological insights into these connections.