Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
A day to think: The first phrase of the above passage is ‘Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for’. According to Wikipedia synonyms for ‘faith’ are trust, belief, confidence, conviction, credence, reliance and people often use it mean ‘hope’. If I say that I hope or believe or have faith that there will never be another period when gas chambers are used for genocide is the word faith in that sentence an ‘assurance’? So obviously faith often needs adjectives attached to it! 1. Some believe in Santa Claus or tooth fairies. What adjectives would you add here? Possibly, childish or wishful thinking could be used. Such words could also be used for belief in some philosophies, idols etc. 2. If somebody has faith, for instance that because Jesus said that if you believe any prayer will be answered (Mark 11: 24 – Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.) and he asks for a BSA 1000cc motorbike does it mean that he/she will get it? Is it necessary to read scripture in context? What adjective would you add to that sort of faith? Possibly their faith is too weak? Maybe it is not real faith at all but ‘selfish hope’. 3. People often quote Romans 10: 9&10 – because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.’ The word belief is used here but the two verses are a summary of Biblical Faith which is a combination of head knowledge, heart conviction and spilling out into verbal confession! But the ‘belief’ here is not vague or theoretical, it is in a person. Jesus was a real person in history but here are highlighted several things besides His historicity (historicity is necessary – you can’t imagine the Jesus in whom you want to believe!) – He was and therefore is God and the evidence for this is His resurrection. Your believing makes the theory personal!
The Hebrews passage above first highlights that belief in God, may I say, that we must believe that He is the Creator! Evolution may be a tool of creation but it is not the cause. One may have ‘faith’ that ‘evolution’ is the “god’ who created but that is ‘tooth fairy type’ faith – and it takes a lot of faith to believe that – something from nothing! And why does the author talk about Cain and Abel? In Genesis it doesn’t spell out clearly why God accepted Abel’s sacrifice and refused Cain’s, but the rest of the Bible explains it very carefully. In summary Cain offered the results of his work and own effort (we cannot earn salvation by our own efforts) and Abel understood that sin causes blood guiltiness and offered such a sacrifice. The background of this all leads up to Jesus, the perfect man, offering His own blood on the Cross for mankind’s rebellion and sin – the perfect sacrifice!
The Apostles Creed: I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen. – ‘catholic’ here means worldwide!
Prayer: Thank You Jesus that You are both eternal and historical! I thank You that You are both our Creator and our Redeemer-Saviour!