What Does It Mean To Have Faith?

Hebrews 11:1-6

Thesis: To show what it means to have biblical faith.

Introduction:

1. What does it mean to have faith?

2. How would you measure your faith?

What Does It Mean To Have Faith?

Let us ask…

I. What is faith? (Heb. 11:1)

A. Biblical faith is described in words of certainty:

ASV – “assurance” and “conviction”

KJV – “substance” and “evidence”

B. The world’s faith differs from biblical faith.

•Biblical faith is NOT an educated guess.

•Biblical faith is NOT blind acceptance.

•Biblical faith is NOT a hoax or mystical.

•Biblical faith is NOT a feeling.

•Biblical faith is NOT a better-felt-than-told experience.

•Biblical faith is NOT a “still, small voice in the night.”

•Biblical faith does NOT come by some message in the clouds, or some

writing in the grains of wood, or some supposed picture on a piece of bread.

•Biblical faith does NOT hit you like a bolt of lightning and drive you to your

knees.

•Biblical faith IS hearing God's word (Rom. 10:17).

Be careful what message you hear about faith for it may be wrong!

II. How do we get faith?

A. Evidence allows us to see, know and understand.

B. Evidence comes in several ways:

1. Circumstantial (1 Cor. 1:20; 2 Cor. 5:7)

2. Experiential (Heb. 11:1)

3. Revelation (Rom. 10:17; Jn. 20:30-31)

III. What do we do with faith?

Faith is used…

A. Salvation (Eph. 2:8; Jam. 2:14).

B. To unites believers (Eph. 4:13).

C. To work together (1 Thess. 1:3, 8).

D. To overcome the world (1 Jn. 5:4).

IV. Why is faith the foundation?

A. Faith is the beginning of all we do.

B. He who doesn't believe, will he be baptized? See Mark 16:16.

Conclusion:

1. Christians should have faith.

2. Faith is the essence of who we are and what we do.