Faith for the sons of God is one of the most misunderstood topics for us the latter day Church. However, let us look at the scriptures and learn what the Spirit is saying.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. - Heb 11:1
Faith is the substance of things hoped for.
SUBSTANCE - the most important or essential part of something; the real or essential meaning.
Faith then is the essential part of something we hope for. It means without faith we can never attain the things we hope for. It is this understanding that causes many to use "faith" to pursue the lusts of their heart. Anything they hope to get in life, they simply try and believe God for it. They recite scripture after scripture, say prayer after prayer, and make bold declarations, yet still that thing they were hoping for has yet to materialize.
The reason that those activities do not work is because our concept of both faith and hope is wrong. As we continue to explain faith, let us first look at hope.
Something that every son of God must come to understand, is that the Bible is its own dictionary. Often the scriptures use words, whose interpretation will not be found in Oxford's, Miriam's or Google's dictionary. They can however be found in the Bible. Thus it is imperative that we use scripture to interpret (explain) other scriptures; that way we know that we are in the Boundaries of Truth. (2 Cor 13:1). With that said, how do the scriptures explain hope?
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 8:24
Apparently, scriptural hope is not for anything that can be seen with the natural eye. Hope is its own spiritual concept. Anything that we can see in this realm, whether it be a car, a house, land, or a promotion on our job, there is a natural way to attain it. Scriptural hope are for those things that money cannot buy; and only the children of God can receive. Scriptural hope is for those things that eye hath not seen nor ear heard.
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; - Colossians 1:5
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. - Galatians 5:5
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. - Romans 5:2
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, - Ephesians 1:18
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: - Colossians 1:27
Why have I placed so many scriptures? I did so so that you could see that the scripture never tells us to hope for anything you can see with the natural eye. We hope for the glory of God; which is to be clothed in glory when we put off this natural body. This glory is even called riches as a metaphor to cause us to see that God has given us the best of Himself, and most valuable and precious promises.
We hope for eternal life! (John 3:16). We hope to know all things even as God knows (1 Cor 13:12). We hope that one day it shall be apparent that we have always been the sons of God; because we will look exactly as glorified Jesus (1 John 3:2).
There is one more point I have to make.
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. - Romans 5:5
Here is where we deviate from the dictionary once more. Hope maketh not ashamed! In other words, biblical hope is an assurance as opposed to a desire for something to happen without the certainty of it. Why is it that biblical hope is different? It is because the sons of God hope for those things that God has promised, and God cannot lie! Therefore, we have an assurance that God will deliver to us those things that He promised us.
Praises to God in Heaven, that He has not promised us cars, and houses, and the things of this world that perish. He has instead promised us His own glory and his spiritual riches.
Faith then is the substance of things hoped for; i.e. Faith is the essential part of eternal life, the spiritual body and the spiritual promises of God that no eye has ever seen. Faith is the material that make up all these things.
There is so much more for us to learn about faith so stay tuned!
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