A Personal Issue Between You and God
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Faith Is Personal
Faith is not a concept or an abstract belief. Nor is it a spiritual dynamic. It's a personal issue between you and God. A personal trust.
Almost every religion holds to a set of beliefs that define it as a religious faith. But even then, holding to a set of religious beliefs requires a personal trust. But what motivates this trust is very different in all forms of religion but one.
The Christian faith is based on a personal trust in a personal living God. This reaches back before the appearance of Jesus Christ, God's only Son, when God became human and lived on the earth (see John 1:1, 14). It reaches back to Abraham, who became a friend of God because of his faith (see James 2:23).
The essence of faith as a personal trust in God goes back to the first humans on earth and is seen in their descendants up to and beyond the time of Christ. Faith is and always will be a personal issue between each person and God.
This personal trust is based on who God is and His promise for those who trust Him.
Scripture Text
Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see. God accepted our ancestors because of their faith.
Faith convinces us that God created the world through his word. This means what can be seen was made by something that could not be seen. [vss 1-3]
Faith led Abel to offer God a better sacrifice than Cain’s sacrifice. Through his faith Abel received God’s approval, since God accepted his sacrifices. Through his faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
Faith enabled Enoch to be taken instead of dying. No one could find him, because God had taken him. Scripture states that before Enoch was taken, God was pleased with him.
No one can please God without faith. Whoever goes to God must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who seek him. [vss 4-6] (Hebrews 11:1-6 GW)
[Context– Hebrews 11]
Key Phrase —
Whoever goes to God must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Dig Deeper Into the Text—
How is faith explained or defined at the beginning of this Scripture text?
How is faith connected to creation and the way the world came into existence? [see Genesis 1:1-3]
Who are two people God was pleased with because of their faith, and why?
What is needed to please God, and what two things are required to please Him?
Things to Consider—
Genuine faith is a two-way relationship between us and God. True faith enables a person to see what others can't see who don't have faith. This is not blind faith. It is seeing beyond the physical and what is obvious to others, but in a spiritual sense.
It is a relationship of mutual trust. We trust God, and He trusts us with His acceptance and approval. As it says in verse 6, “He rewards those who seek him.”
Pleasing God isn't about living a good or nearly perfect life. Although living a morally good life is commendable, it only leads to self-righteousness, eventual failure, and disappointment. Trusting God by faith is not complicated. Even a child can have faith that pleases God (see Mark 10:15).
God is honored and pleased by our trust in Him above all else and our confidence that He will reward our trust in Him. This is why God commended Abel and Enoch. They both pleased God (see Hebrews 11:4-5).
Do you want to please God? Trust Him! Trust Him with all your heart and with all your life each day of your life.
Answer These Questions to Apply God’s Word in Your Life—
Do you struggle with efforts to be good enough to be accepted by God?
Have you learned the difference between trust and belief?
Why do you trust God, or do you trust Him? Do you believe He honors your trust in Him?
How are you currently learning to trust God in a deeper way?
Here’s a link to a free study guide for the book of Hebrews— Study Guide and Study Questions for Hebrews
