READING • HEBREWS 11
Biblical faith is trust in God that changes the way we live
Faith is not merely saying that we believe in God. It is confidence in what God has revealed and promised, followed by choices and actions that show that confidence is real. Hebrews 11 gives many examples of men and women whose faith shaped what they did.
What does the Bible mean by faith?
We use the word “faith” in several ways. We may speak of a religious faith, or say that we have faith in a person, a bridge or a promise. In the Bible the word is especially concerned with trusting God: believing what he has said, relying on his promises and living accordingly.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1 • King James Version
The older lesson quoted this verse from a modern translation. Because this Course uses the King James Version for its Bible quotations, the wording above gives the KJV text. “Substance” carries the idea of a firm basis or assurance; “evidence” points to conviction concerning things that are not yet visible.
“But 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 • King James Version
Faith therefore begins with believing that God is real and that his word is trustworthy. But Hebrews 11 immediately shows that genuine faith does not remain only in the mind. It produces obedience.
Faith today rests on the Word of God
People in Bible times sometimes witnessed extraordinary events. Israel saw the Red Sea opened. The prophets spoke God’s messages. During the ministry of Jesus many people saw miracles which confirmed that he had been sent by God. John 11:44–45 records that after Lazarus came out of the tomb, many who saw what Jesus had done believed on him.
We do not stand beside the Red Sea or watch Lazarus walk out of his grave. What we do have is the written Word of God. The Bible records God’s acts, promises, warnings and purpose so that later generations can know what happened and place their confidence in him.
Faith is not belief without evidence
Biblical faith responds to the testimony God has provided. We trust promises that are not yet fulfilled because of what God has already revealed about himself and what he has already done.
Faith must be put into action
James gives one of the clearest explanations of practical faith. It is possible to claim belief while living as though that belief makes no difference. James says that this is not living faith.
“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
James 2:17 • King James Version
“I will shew thee my faith by my works.”
James 2:18 (excerpt) • King James Version
Works do not purchase salvation from God. Rather, actions reveal whether faith is alive. If we truly trust God, that trust will affect our priorities, our treatment of other people, our honesty, our worship and our willingness to obey difficult commands.
Hannah’s prayer makes a similar point about conduct: God knows what people do and why they do it.
“For the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.”
1 Samuel 2:3 (excerpt) • King James Version
Abraham: faith when obedience was difficult
James points to Abraham as an example of faith shown by action. God had called Abraham out of Ur and promised that through him a great nation would come. The promise required descendants, and Isaac was the son through whom God had said the promised line would continue.
Genesis 22 records an exceptionally severe test: Abraham was commanded to offer Isaac. Hebrews explains the reasoning that enabled him to obey. Abraham trusted both the command he had received and the promise God had already made.
“Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.”
Hebrews 11:19 • King James Version
Abraham did not know in advance how the situation would be resolved. He did know that God could not fail to keep his promise. His faith therefore produced obedience even when he could not see the outcome.
Faith trusts God when we cannot see the whole answer
Abraham’s example does not teach us to act recklessly or to invent commands for ourselves. It teaches us to obey what God has actually revealed, even when obedience is costly and the way forward is not obvious.
Rahab: faith that involved courage
James also mentions Rahab. She lived in Jericho and was not an Israelite, yet she had heard what the God of Israel had done and believed that he had given the land to Israel. Joshua 2 records how she protected the two Israelite spies and asked for mercy for herself and her family.
Her faith placed her in danger, but it also moved her to act. Hebrews includes her among the examples of faith, and James uses her to show again that genuine belief becomes visible in conduct.
“By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.”
Hebrews 11:31 • King James Version
The original lesson described Rahab as the only person in Jericho who believed. Scripture does not tell us enough to make that claim. What it does clearly show is that Rahab confessed faith in the God of Israel and acted upon that faith, and that she and those gathered in her house were preserved.
Noah: faith over a long period
Noah lived in an age of widespread wickedness. God warned him of a flood that had not yet happened and told him to prepare an ark. Noah could not see the disaster in advance, but he took God’s warning seriously and obeyed.
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house;”
Hebrews 11:7 (excerpt) • King James Version
The earlier version of this lesson said that Noah spent one hundred years building the ark. Genesis tells us that Noah was five hundred years old when his sons are introduced and six hundred when the Flood came, but it does not state that the ark itself took exactly one hundred years to build. The important point made in Hebrews is not the precise construction time, but Noah’s sustained obedience to a warning about something he had not yet seen.
EXAMPLE
FAITH PUT INTO ACTION
Abraham
Obeyed God while trusting that the promise through Isaac would still be fulfilled.
Rahab
Protected the spies because she believed that the God of Israel was acting.
Noah
Prepared the ark because he trusted God’s warning about a future judgement.
What does faith look like in everyday life?
The dramatic examples in Hebrews 11 are important, but most disciples live out their faith in ordinary decisions made day after day. Romans 12:9–18 gives a practical picture of a life shaped by the teaching of Christ.
PAUL’S INSTRUCTION
FAITH IN PRACTICE
“Let love be without dissimulation”
Let love be genuine rather than merely words or appearance.
“Abhor that which is evil”
Do not make peace with conduct that God calls wrong.
“Be kindly affectioned”
Treat brothers and sisters with warmth, honour and care.
“Rejoicing in hope”
Let the promised future influence the way present troubles are faced.
“Continuing instant in prayer”
Keep turning to God rather than relying only on ourselves.
“Given to hospitality”
Use what we have to welcome and help others.
“Live peaceably with all men”
As far as it depends on us, avoid needless conflict and seek peace.
Faith and our responsibilities in society
Romans 13 continues with responsibilities towards civil authorities. As Lesson 52 explained, disciples recognise that human governments are temporary and imperfect, while still obeying the law where it does not conflict with obedience to God. Paul specifically includes the honest payment of tribute and custom.
This is another example of faith becoming action. A disciple cannot claim loyalty to God while deliberately behaving dishonestly whenever obedience is inconvenient. The way we respond to laws, taxes and public responsibilities is part of our Christian conduct.
Jesus: faith shown in care for other people
Matthew 25:31–40 gives a powerful picture of the judgement of Christ. Jesus describes people who fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, welcomed the stranger, clothed the needy, cared for the sick and visited the prisoner. Their actions showed what kind of people they had become.
“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Matthew 25:40 (excerpt) • King James Version
This does not mean that Bible knowledge is unimportant, or that salvation can be earned by a list of good deeds. It means that true discipleship cannot be reduced to knowing correct teaching while ignoring the needs of other people. What we believe should shape what we do.
Knowledge, faith and works belong together
Bible teaching gives faith its content. Faith receives that teaching as true and trustworthy. Works are the practical response. If any one of these is separated from the others, Christian discipleship becomes distorted.
WITHOUT...
THE PROBLEM
Knowledge
Faith can become vague, based on ideas God has not actually revealed.
Faith
Bible facts can remain information without trust, repentance or commitment.
Works
A claim to believe can remain only words, with no visible change of life.
Faith and baptism
For someone considering baptism, faith is not simply agreement that the gospel sounds reasonable. Baptism is a public act of obedience that expresses belief in the gospel and a decision to begin a new life in Christ. For someone already baptised, faith must continue afterwards in daily discipleship.
Hebrews 11 is therefore not a collection of stories about unusually heroic people. It is a call to the same kind of trust in every generation: to hear what God has said, believe him, and then live accordingly.
What have we learned?
1. Biblical faith is confident trust in God, his Word and his promises.
2. Hebrews 11:1 in the King James Version describes faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”.
3. We do not see the miracles of Bible times, but we have the written testimony of Scripture on which faith can rest.
4. James teaches that faith which produces no works is dead; genuine belief becomes visible in conduct.
5. Abraham trusted God’s promise concerning Isaac even when obedience placed that promise under severe test.
6. Rahab believed what she had heard about the God of Israel and showed that faith through courageous action.
7. Noah obeyed a warning about events not yet seen; Scripture does not say that the ark took exactly one hundred years to build.
8. Romans 12 shows that faith affects love, prayer, patience, generosity, hospitality and peaceable conduct.
9. Matthew 25 shows that care for people in need is an important expression of discipleship.
10. Knowledge, faith and works belong together: we learn God’s Word, trust it, and put it into practice.
Passages to read
Genesis 6:5-22 • Genesis 12:1-3 • Genesis 15:1-6 • Genesis 22:1-19 • Joshua 2 • 1 Samuel 2:1-3 • Matthew 25:31-40 • John 11:38-45 • Romans 12:9-18 • Romans 13:1-7 • James 2:14-26 • Hebrews 10:35-39 • Hebrews 11
VERSE TO LEARN • HEBREWS 11:6
“But 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.”
CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION • 5
CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION • 5