Faith Illuminated – Hebrews 11:1-7

After thoroughly emphasizing the great dangers of falling away from one's professed faith, the author of Hebrews now turns his attention to explaining and illustrating faith itself. This lengthy and beautifully poetic treatise follows on the heals of citations from Habakuk 2:3-4 in chapter 10:37-38 of Hebrews. The context of the Old Testament prophet's complaint in this passage is applicable to the trials facing the Hebrews of the early church. In Habakuk's day, just as in the time of the writing of this epistle, time, suffering, and wickedness seem to threaten the promises of God. Addressing these challenges, our author infuses the church with courage recounting God's great works in and through the faithful in redemptive history. These are examples of those who: “have faith and preserve their souls” (10:39). P. E. Hughes draws a composite definition of faith from these texts: “Faith is that trustful reliance which finds expression in willing obedience and submission to the sovereign Word of God, in grateful acknowledgment of the unmixed goodness of all His works, and in confident recognition of the complete trustworthiness of His promises.” Perhaps we could summarize this definition by simply stating: “Faith is believing in and acting on the promises and power of God.” We should be diligent to emphasize in our understanding of faith that it is “not of our own doing, not a result of works, exclusively a gift of God.” (Eph 2:8). Let us therefore pray with the disciples: “Lord, increase our faith” by means of our text today...