Les Feldick Bible Study

According to Hebrews 11:1, what is faith?

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as taking God at His Word: it is the substance, the very meat, of things hoped for, and the evidence or proof of things not seen. It operates in the invisible, spiritual realm, where one cannot rely on tangible sight but must depend on faith.

Les explains that Romans 8 says believers are saved by hope, and he notes that faith and hope are actually in the same meaning. Hope that is seen is not hope, because what a man sees he does not still hope for. When we enter the realm of the invisible, faith is what we depend on. He then goes to Hebrews 11:1, saying faith, taking God at His Word, is the substance and the very meat of things hoped for. It is the evidence, the proof, of the unseen. So when we enter the spiritual realm and things we cannot tangibly touch, it has to be on the basis of faith. He adds that if he did not know this was the Word of God, he could not believe it.

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

More Questions

What is the biblical definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1?

Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as taking God at His Word, the substance of things hoped for and the evidence or proof of things unseen, using 'hoped for' just as Romans 8 does.

Why must we rely on faith for spiritual things we cannot see or touch?

Spiritual realities cannot be tangibly touched, so entering the spiritual realm has to be on the basis of faith.