Faith is defined in Scripture as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen — which Les Feldick summarizes as taking God at His Word.
In Hebrews 11:1, the Bible gives faith its definition: it is the substance (the core) of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Les consistently teaches that this means taking God at His Word — believing what Scripture says simply because God said it, even when it cannot be understood or seen. Faith is not blind, because it is founded on the documented Word of God.
Hebrews 11:1 — This is the Bible's own definition of faith as the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:3 — It connects faith to God's Word by showing that through faith we understand the world was framed by God's Word.
Hebrews 11:1 states: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Verse 2 adds that "by it the elders obtained a good report" — the Old Testament saints received a good testimony through faith. Verse 3 continues: "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." These verses define faith in terms of confident substance and evidence toward what is not yet seen, and they connect that faith to the creative Word of God.
Across his teaching, Les Feldick gives one clear, consistent definition of faith: taking God at His Word. He says whenever he can read something in Scripture, even if he cannot understand it, he believes it because God said it. He calls this definition "the most all-inclusive" and says without it a person cannot get "first base" with God. He insists faith is not blind; it is documented in the Word, and it deals with the invisible realm — things that cannot be touched or tested, but are known through God's Word. Les also draws a sharp line between believing in God and believing God: most people believe in God, but faith is taking what God says and believing it.
Hebrews 11:1 says faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Les explains that this places faith in the area of the invisible — the spirit world — where you cannot put something in a test tube or touch it with your hands. Verse 2 shows the Old Testament elders obtained a good report by this faith, and verse 3 ties it to understanding that the worlds were framed by God's Word.
No. Les says his faith is "documented." He says because there is so much in Scripture that proves its validity, he does not have to doubt. When someone calls faith blind, he disagrees — faith rests on what God has said in His Word, not on an irrational leap.
Les observes that most Americans will admit they believe in God, but far fewer believe God. Believing in God, he says, does not take faith into consideration the way Scripture uses it. Faith is when we take God at His Word — when we believe what He says. This distinction is central to his definition of biblical faith.
Les explains that faith concerns the invisible: things you cannot touch or see, such as the creation of the universe. There is only one way to comprehend them, and that is through faith. As Hebrews 11:3 shows, through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God.
From Genesis to Exodus: Understanding the Biblical Timeline of Israel
was evidently a little hewn out stone wherein they would immediately bathe the newborn. And so whenever they saw a male baby, as they were cleaning it up after its previous birth, they were to kill them. Now, we wonder, where do people get the thought of such a thing? Well, never forget that back there in Genesis 3.
Faith Is Taking God at His Word
Les gives his concise definition of faith — taking God at His Word — and says he has never found a better definition.
The Just Shall Live by Faith
Les says Christians are losing the idea that the just shall live by faith, and he takes listeners to Hebrews 11 to show the Bible's own definition.
Faith and Blood Are Joined
Les repeats his definition of faith as taking God at His Word and contrasts Cain, who did not believe what God said, with Abel.
Faith Is Documented, Not Blind
Les insists his faith is not blind but is documented by the Word, and he ties Hebrews 11's definition to taking God at His Word.
Faith Comprehends the Invisible
Les shows that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the way we understand that the worlds were framed by God's Word.
Bible Definition in Hebrews 11
Les reads Hebrews 11:1-2 as the Bible's definition of faith, emphasizing that faith deals with the unseen, spiritual realm.
Believing God, Not Just Believing in God
Les draws the distinction between believing that God exists and believing God, defining the latter — taking God at His Word — as faith.
Hebrews 11:1: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
This is the Bible's explicit definition of faith.
Hebrews 11:2: For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Shows that Old Testament saints lived and were commended by this faith.
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.
Connects faith to the Word of God and the creation of the universe.
According to Hebrews 11:1, faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Les Feldick summarizes this as "taking God at His Word" — believing what God says simply because God said it.
No. Les says his faith is documented because it is rooted in Scripture, which has proven itself valid to him. Biblical faith is not a leap in the dark; it rests on what God has said.
Believing in God is simply acknowledging that God exists. Believing God means taking what He says and believing it. Les teaches that this second kind of believing is what the Bible calls faith.
Watch the Teaching: From Genesis to Exodus: Understanding the Biblical Timeline of Israel