Hebrews Part 7 | Faith | Hebrews 11

Last updated on Aug 26, 2026

Read Hebrews 11:1-3

What is Faith? | Hebrews 11:1

Read Hebrews 11:1

When we look at chapter 11 this is often considered “the hall of faith” because this is where faith is really defined in Scripture and also shows us the Old Testament examples of those who had true faith in God.
- Faith to them wasn’t simple oh I think God might be able to do this, or well God isn’t always there for me or if God asked them to do something hard that they would shy away from it.
- But they all have something in common, they showed great perseverance in their faith in God and they were obedient.
- And they were rewarded for their faith and obedience.

Faith Defined | Hebrews 11:1

Verse one of the chapter 11 here is the only place in the Bible that gives us a clear definition of faith.

So how important is it that we have a firm understanding and grasp of what faith is? What in our life hinges on true faith?

It is critical because without it we are lost and cannot receive salvation through Christ without it.
Our salvation is by grace but we must have true faith.

Ephesians 2:8

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift”
With true faith we obtain life

Hebrews 10:39b

“…but those who have faith and obtain life.”
Its not not just salvation but its also critical for how we live each day of our lives.
Let’s look at this verse in a few different translations:

HCSB

“Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.”

ESV

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”

NKJV/NASB

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

NIV

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”

NLT (Paraphrase)

“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”
While we have 3 different translations that use different words but, we see that they have the same meaning.
- Faith is the absolute certainty and confidence that something is true even when we cannot see it.
- For example, we have faith that Heaven is real. But we cannot see it, but know that it is exists.

What does the world say about this biblical faith?

What true faith is NOT

True faith is not purely intellectual knowledge.
- Just because you are intellectually aware of something or someone does not automatically imply faith.
  - Just because you are aware of the existence of a person or say a chair does not mean that you have faith in them.
- Using salvation as an example just because we have intellectual knowledge of Jesus Christ does not mean that we have faith in Him for salvation.
  
  James 2:19
  
  “You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe- and they shudder.”
  - Intellectual knowledge will NOT save you.
- If intellectual knowledge of Jesus isn’t enough for saving faith, then there must be more to it.
True faith is not based purely upon emotions or feelings
- Our emotions towards a person cannot be used a sole factor that would show true faith in someone.
- Emotions are certainly a bi-product of faith (and a lack of) but they can not always be trusted.
- Using salvation as an example we cannot rely on a “feeling” to decide if we are truly saved.
True faith comes from within one’s heart.

Faith is the confidence of what is hoped for

This is to say that we have a firm belief or confidence in what we hope for, knowing that it will come true.
- When this is applied to the Bible we have unwavering confidence in God’s Word that what He says is true and His promises will be fulfilled.
- When we apply this to Jesus Christ then we are confident in the truth claims of Christ and we believe in who He is and what He has done.
  - That Jesus is God and that He came down to earth and died on the cross for our sins.
Because of our confidence our minds cannot be changed.
- And we are so confident that nothing can cause us to change our minds.
- If you say that you have faith that something is true but you change your mind frequently or are easily persuaded, then this is not real faith.
  - Think of politicians!
    - They are persuaded by popular opinion.
  - For example, if you say that you have faith and believe that you will go to Heaven when you die but the next minute you read a blog or hear from an atheist friend that tries to change your mind and you are easily persuaded or you begin to question your beliefs.
    - How was this faith to begin with?
- True faith is having confidence that cannot be persuaded because what you believe is incredibly real to you. The world cannot convince you otherwise.
- Abraham’s faith.
  
  Romans 4:21-22
  
  “Because he was fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness.”
  - Abraham had true faith in God and he received salvation.
Faith is trust
- To have unwavering faith and confidence means that we also have trust.
- If you say you have faith in someone but you do not trust them then how can you have faith?
- If you truly have faith in an individual that they will do what they say, then you fully put your trust in them.
- If you put your faith into a chair, then you trust that it will hold you up.
- The centurion who trusted Jesus
  
  Matthew 8:5-13

How does biblical faith differ from worldly faith?

Example: I have faith that Jesus will defeat Satan just as the Scriptures tell us, compared to I have faith that the XYZ team will win the World Series.

It’s not the same because we know that the world can let us down, but God will not.

What does faith mean to you?

Faith is the assurance of what is not seen.

To have faith in something that we cannot see, but fully believe that it exists. To know that something will come true even if we do not know when or how.
When we have faith that is proof of what it not seen, we believe so strongly that it is as if we did see.

What parts of our Christian beliefs revolve around believing in the unseen?
- Heaven/Hell, God, Salvation, Satan, angels
- To have true faith in God and heaven, is the same as if we saw Him with our own eyes.
- That is faith that shows proof of what is not seen.
By faith we clearly see what is invisible
- We see God’s work from creation
  
  Hebrews 11:3
  
  By faith we understand that the universe was created by God’s command, so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible.”
  - Not by science, physical evidence or worldly wisdom and understanding but by faith.
- We see God’s attributes
  
  Romans 1:20
  
  For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made.”
- When we act out our faith we will clearly see what is invisible, because by faith God’s truths will be made a reality.
  
  Hebrews 11:27
  
  “By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for Moses persevered as one who sees Him who is invisible.”
  - Faith gives us the ability to clearly see what is invisible.
Paul understood this faith in the unseen as hope.

Romans 8:24-25

“Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.”
- We have hope each and every day of our lives because of our faith in things that we cannot see.
  - When we act out this type of faith in our daily lives, we fully believe in what God has told us even if we do not see how it is possible.
  - For example, in Romans where we see how that things work out for the good for those that love God.
    
    Romans 8:28
    
    “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.”
  - How many times have we all been in a situation that we could not see how God was going come through? Or how something bad that happened to use could possible be used for good?
  - We believe in this because of our faith in things we cannot see, and when we believe it even though we cannot see it, this shows our true faith.

How does biblical faith differ from believing by seeing?

Example: I will believe in God if reveals Himself to me in the way that I want Him to.

Faith contradicts the worldly perspective. The world will not believe unless it sees physical evidence, while Christ calls us to believe without it.

Why do you think faith is so important to God? Why doesn’t He just make it obvious of His existence by physically appearing or tell us in a loud voice of what He wants us to do?

True faith is necessary for Salvation

This is the faith that leads to salvation.
If we are to draw near to God, we must have true faith.

Hebrews 11:6

“Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.”
True Faith is belief, trust and confidence in this:

John 3:16 (NKJV – New King James Version)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
Salvation is not a checkbox or a verbal profession with no heart.
If you do not have any confidence in God’s Word or believe that He will fulfill His promises, then according to the definition of faith from Scripters you don’t’ have it.

Faith in Action

Faith is being obedient to God when are called to take a “leap” of faith.

Hebrews 11:8-9

Faith removes fear

Hebrews 11:23

“By faith, after Moses was born, he was hidden by his parents for three months, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they didn’t fear the king’s edict.”

Hebrews 11:27

“By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for Moses persevered as one who sees Him who is invisible”

Fear God not man.

Matthew 10:28

“don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

When has faith in God removed fear in your life?

Faith is proving our trust in God by our actions.

Hebrews 11:17-19

When in your life have you had to show your faith in God by your actions?

Faith allows us to do the impossible

Hebrews 11:11-12

“By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the One who had promised was faithful.”

Sarah had TRUE FAITH

How does faith in God allow you to do the impossible?