Faith gives substance to what we hope for; hope points to salvation realities that are not yet seen.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, while Romans 8:24 says we are saved by hope, and hope that is seen is no longer hope. Les Feldick teaches that all the blessings of salvation happen invisibly at the moment of belief, so they cannot be felt or seen and must be received by faith—taking God at His Word.
Romans 8:24 — This verse directly says we are saved by hope and explains that hope concerns what is not seen, which is the heart of the question.
Hebrews 11:1 — This verse defines faith as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, showing how faith and hope work together.
Scripture defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). This directly links faith to hope: faith is the substance and evidence of what is hoped for. Hebrews 11:3 explains that through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Romans 8:24 says, “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?” Romans 8:25 continues, “But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” So Scripture presents hope as waiting for what is not yet seen, and faith as the substance and evidence of that unseen hope.
Les Feldick emphasizes that biblical faith is not a leap into the dark but taking God at His Word. He reads Hebrews 11:1 as “the very core” of things hoped for and “the evidence of things not seen.” Because the truths of salvation belong to the invisible, spiritual realm—things that cannot be touched or tested in a laboratory—they must be comprehended by faith. At the moment of belief, God forgives, justifies, sanctifies, glorifies, baptizes into the body, seals, and translates the believer, yet none of these can be felt or seen; the believer knows they are real only because the Book says so. Les ties this to hope in Romans 5:2, where through faith we have access into grace and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. He also stresses that salvation is all of faith, that no one from Adam and Eve through the Old Testament saints to today has ever received eternal life apart from faith, and that without faith it is impossible to please God.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Les Feldick emphasizes that biblical faith deals with the invisible, spiritual world—things you cannot put in a test tube. He says the universe was framed by the Word of God, so visible things came from invisible reality, and the only way to comprehend it is by faith.
Romans 8:24 says we are saved by hope, and hope that is seen is not hope; when we hope for what we do not see, we wait with patience. Les connects rejoicing in hope to the glory of God in Romans 5:2, where through faith we have access into grace. For Les, hope is inseparable from faith because the realities of salvation are not yet visible.
Les teaches that every blessing of salvation—forgiveness, justification, sanctification, glorification, baptism into the body, sealing, and translation—is accomplished instantly at the moment of belief, yet none is felt or seen. Believers know these things are true because the Book says so. He stresses that salvation is all of faith, that without faith it is impossible to please God, and that this has been true for believers throughout human history.
Romans 8:24-29 — Does God Choose You or Do You Choose Him?
Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
Faith as Substance and Evidence
Les explains that faith is the core or substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, and that the unseen universe was framed by the Word of God—so invisible things can only be comprehended by faith.
Bible Definition of Faith
Les reads Hebrews 11:1 as the Bible's definition of faith—the very core of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen—so faith belongs to the invisible, spiritual world that cannot be tested in a laboratory.
Access Into Grace Through Faith
Les teaches that all the blessings of salvation happen at the moment of belief without being felt or seen, and believers have access into grace by faith and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Salvation's Invisible Blessings Received by Faith
Les lists what God does the moment we believe—forgive, justify, sanctify, glorify, baptize into the body, seal and fill with the Spirit—none felt or seen, so faith is how we know it happened because the Book says so.
Knowing Salvation by Faith, Not Feelings
Les says salvation gives a day-by-day assurance that we are His, not because we feel or see anything but because the Book says so—that is how faith operates.
Translation and Every Salvation Blessing Appropriated by Faith
Les emphasizes that even being translated from one realm to another is a past-tense act of God we did not feel or perceive; it is appropriated by faith, and without faith it is impossible to please Him.
Salvation Is All of Faith Throughout History
Les teaches that from Adam to Moses, all recipients of eternal life were saved by faith; salvation is all of faith, and without faith it is impossible to please God.
Hebrews 11:1: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Defines faith as the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen, which is the core of this page.
Romans 8:24: For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
States we are saved by hope, and hope is only hope when the object is not seen.
Romans 8:25: But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Adds that hope for the unseen requires patient waiting.
Romans 5:2: Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Shows access into grace by faith and rejoicing in hope of God's glory.
Hebrews 11:3: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Illustrates faith's role in understanding the invisible creation.
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.
Stresses that faith is required to please God, which Les emphasizes with salvation.
It means salvation is directed toward a reality we do not yet see. Paul says hope that is seen is no longer hope; what we hope for, we wait for with patience. Faith is the substance and evidence of that unseen hope (Hebrews 11:1).
Scripture speaks of both. Romans 8:24 says we are saved by hope, and Hebrews 11:1 says faith is the substance of things hoped for. Les Feldick explains that salvation's invisible blessings are received by faith, taking God at His Word; hope is the unseen aspect of that salvation.
Les teaches that at the moment of belief God forgives, justifies, sanctifies, glorifies, baptizes into the body, and seals the believer—all instantly and invisibly. Since none of this can be felt, seen, or verified in the flesh, it must be accepted by faith because the Book says so.
Watch the Teaching: Romans 8:24-29 — Does God Choose You or Do You Choose Him?