(Ensure to read yesterday's sunrise before reading this one)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. - Heb 11:1
Yesterday we learned that Faith is the substance of things hoped for; now let's continue.
Faith is the evidence of things not seen
EVIDENCE - the available body of facts, information, or material proof that indicates whether a belief or proposition is true or valid; a witness.
I absolutely love this definition of evidence because it goes straight to the jugular. Throughout this whole series I have been implying that Faith is more than simply belief for the sons of God, and today we will finally get to it.
Faith is evidence!
As we mentioned earlier, evidence is the proof that confirms a belief. Thus there must first be a proposition or something to be believed so that the evidence can confirm it. Well... Faith is the evidence of things not seen.
The things that Faith confirms are things that have never been seen. Faith proves they exist. What are these things? Well, let me remind you of yesterday's Sunrise.
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? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. - Romans 8:24-25
The scripture did not leave it up to chance for us to figure what the things that we have not seen are. No! There is no private interpretation of scripture (2 Pet 1:20). Some have taken these unseen things to be whatever they imagine it to be. They deem that the future is the unseen thing, and in their future dwells all of their materialistic desires (wealth, cars, land, prosperity). Thus, they use their faith to pull those things out of the unseen future, to manifest them in the 'now'. They call this 'NOW FAITH'. However this is very far from what the scriptures are teaching.
...Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...
What then are these unseen things?
The answer is simple, the unseen things are those things which we hope for. In other words, Faith is the substance and evidence of things hoped for. The things that we hope for, no eye has ever seen. We listed these things yesterday but they are worth another mention.
THINGS WE HOPE FOR:
1. Eternal Life (have you ever seen someone live forever?)
2. A New Body (have you ever seen the spiritual body that is appointed to the sons of God?)
3. The Rapture (have you ever seen someone float into the sky, or the sky cracked and rolled like a scroll?)
3. Have you seen the glory of the Kingdom of God to come during the millennial reign of Christ and thereafter?
No natural eye has ever seen these things, however, our faith is the evidence of them. Faith is the proof that these things are actual.
If you are a real Christian I am sure you have encountered someone who has questioned your belief. They ask us how it's possible that the sky be cracked, and a man come riding on a horse. They think it impossible, however, we are unmoved. We know these things are real and will happen soon. We believe it! In fact, we know it is reality! However, why are we so sure?
Hebrews 11:1 has been answering this question throughout this entire sunrise. We believe because we have evidence! We have proof of these things. The proof of these things confirms our belief! Faith is that proof! It is the evidence of all the promises of God. Faith is the proof of the things we believe. Faith then must be something more than belief. Moreover, there is no proof in belief, which further proves that faith for the sons of God has to be more than belief.
WHAT THEN IS FAITH?
...Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...
Faith is the substance of things hoped for - Faith is the material substance or that which makes up eternal life and the spiritual body. Also, without it you cannot receive these promises. (What is this material?)
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. - 1 John 5:11.
The scripture says eternal life is in Jesus. Jesus is the material that makes up eternal life. He is the substance of eternal life. Without Jesus you have no eternal life, and can never live forever.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. - 1 John 3:2
Jesus is the substance of our new body. When we put on the new body we shall be like Him, in other words, we shall be as He is in appearance, because we are one with Him in the Spirit. No one can receive the new body without first being in Christ.
Faith is the evidence of things not seen - Faith is the proof and witness of eternal life, and the spiritual body.
What is the proof that these promises of God are real?
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. - Ephesians 1:13-14
EARNEST - a thing intended or regarded as a sign or promise of what is to come.
The Holy Spirit has been given to the sons of God. This Holy Spirit is the earnest, or downpayment until we receive the totality of our inheritance. What is our inheritance? Our inheritance is the things we hope for, i.e eternal life, and the new body.
This scripture is very specific saying, that we have been given the Holy Spirit until the purchased possession is redeemed. The purchased possession is our human body. The body is the only thing human/natural about the sons of God. Both their soul and spirit are baptized into the Holy Spirit, even as they live on earth. They are spiritual beings, who deserve a spiritual body, however, are currently living in an earthen body, so that the purpose of God may be fulfilled. However, one day they will receive the Spiritual body. The evidence of this truth is that they have been given the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost is the evidence that the spiritual body is real because He is our downpayment until we receive it. The Holy Ghost is a witness that we will receive the promises of God and that we are the sons of God. We are not trying to believe the promises of God, we simply know that are actual because of the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost (the Spirit of Christ) is that which makes eternal life possible, in fact He is eternal life. The Holy Ghost is the substance of things hoped for, the Holy Ghost is the evidence of things unseen.
FAITH IS THE HOLY GHOST
Compare these two scriptures and watch them confirm this truth.
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. - Romans 12:3
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. - Ephesians 4:7
There is still so much to learn about faith! Stay tuned to this series as we further dissect Faith.
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Yesterday's Sunrise - https://www.sunrisewithjesus.com/blog/faith-is-the-substance-of-hope
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