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Hebrews 11 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
The Hall of Faith. It is by far the most popular and most quoted chapter of Hebrews. Beautifully, the author articulates the power of faith and how it can completely change both our attitude and our outcome.
The question I like to ask is, what does faith look like? Does it mean I recite words over and over in my head to convince myself of its existence? Does it mean I plunge into decisions that make absolutely no sense? Does it mean I deny reality and live in my own little world?
If faith is what I know that I desperately need, how do I get more of it?
Ephesians teaches us that faith is a gift from God. Think about it. Logic and reason have their place in Scripture. The Bible is littered with authentic and convincing evidences. Facts, however, can only take us so far.
How can we factually explain Jonah and the big fish? How can we prove that Gideon’s army of 300 was victorious over an enemy equal to the grains of sand on the seashore? What about David and Goliath or Daniel in the lion’s den? I could go on and on. The bottom line is that faith is greater than facts. By faith, we enter a new perspective where impossible is possible and unbelievable becomes reality.
So, faith cannot be achieved in the same way as facts can. Faith resides in God’s Kingdom and is granted to us in His mercy.
For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it.
Ephesians 2:8 GNB
So once again, I go back to my question. If faith is what I need, what do I do?
Think of it this way. If God is the giver of faith and we are incapable of receiving that type of faith in our flawed, mortal minds, what is our next step? Colossians tells us that Jesus “is the key that opens all the hidden treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge.” Jeremiah writes, “you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” So first and foremost, we must approach God and come near to Him in order to experience this miraculous gift. The problem is, we are all sinners who have been separated from God.
The Good News is that Jesus has made a way for us by taking God’s wrath and restoring our relationship as sons and daughter with God the Father. So, yes it is the classic Sunday School answer. It’s Jesus! Romans tells us that faith is found directly in Jesus and specifically through His Message.
So then, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through preaching Christ.
Romans 10:17 GNB
What should I do if I need more faith? First, I would say go to Jesus. Meet with Him in the Word. Meet with Him in prayer. Recite His miraculous promises and commit them to memory. Pick yourself up and keep striving, keep loving, keep praying, keep serving and keep suffering for His Name. The early church was full of faith and this was their overwhelming message to us. Persevere. Trust. Press on. Do not give up.
We do these things not so we can earn a right standing with God but because Jesus first loved us. He persevered. He trusted. He pressed on. He never gave up. Our example has been set before us. Stand up, child. Brush yourself off. You belong to God the Father!