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What Is Faith?

Faith is not just hoping, believing or somewhat expecting, but faith is knowing–absolutely knowing!

Faith has lost its meaning to us today. Today the word “faith” means kind of a hazy, vague belief of some kind in something or other.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for” and the word translated “substance” in this verse is the Greek word “hupostasis”. When the New Testament was translated from the Greek into English nearly 400 years ago, the translators were still puzzled by this word “hupostasis,” as it seemed to be some kind of business terminology not normally used in classical Greek literature. All they knew was that it meant something fairly substantial, so they translated it as “substance.”

But some years ago archaeologists uncovered the remains of an old inn in northern Israel. There they found a small iron chest containing the valuable papers of a Roman noblewoman who had owned lands and property in Israel. And almost every paper had this title in big letters across the top: “Hupostasis”! They were all title deeds to her properties! This Roman woman had perhaps never seen her properties in Israel, but she knew they were hers and she could prove her ownership because she had the title deeds.

Someone promised to give me a car once, and they sent the title deed to me by mail. Though I’d never seen the car and never driven it, I knew it was mine because I had the title in my hand. So faith is what?–The title deed! “Now faith is the title deed to things hoped for” (Hebrews 11:1). If you’ve asked the Lord for something but haven’t seen the answer yet, don’t worry. If you have real faith, then you’ve got the title to it in your hands, and your name is written on it! It’s yours and you will see it eventually!

- David Brandt Berg

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Faith is believing when all seems past hoping,
Although receiving no glimmer of light,
Leaving the grieving and doubting and groping
To those who are living only by sight.

Faith is still trusting completely God’s promise,
When it would almost seem God has forgot,
Refusing to be a weak doubter like Thomas,
Seeking no sign nor bemoaning our lot.

Faith is believing in God, and in clinging
To hopes of a future that one day shall be,
Faith is the courage to trust without doubting
That all that we hope for we one day shall see.
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“Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

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HOW DO WE GET MORE FAITH?

It is impossible to have faith unless you have the Word, because your faith is something that is built by faithful study of God’s Word.

Trying to have faith is a work of the flesh. Accepting faith through His Word is a work of God’s grace.

If you’re weak in faith it’s because you’re weak in the Word.

The very Words of God are mingled with supernatural power to be released by the touch of your faith.

- David Brandt Berg