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Hebrews 11:1-6 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks…”
Hebrews 11:1-6 “…By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ‘and was not found, because God had taken him’; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (NKJV).
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Parallelism in Scripture • The nature of God (Exodus 15:2). • The nature of God’s word (Psalm 33:4). • The nature of wisdom (Job 12:12).
Hebrews 11:1 Faith in its relationship to two things: • “Things hoped for” and... • “Things not seen.” Two words explain each relationship: • “Substance” and... • “Evidence.”
Faith is Substance and Evidence “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for…” (11:1a). “Substance” (KJV, NKJV); “Assurance” (ASV, NASB, ESV). “Substance” Gr. ὑπόστασιςhupostasis Classical: “1. that which settles at the bottom, sediment,” and “2.anything set under, subject-matter of a speech or poem” (Liddell & Scott). New Testament: “…the foundation or ground of hope, confidence, assurance” or “3. substance, the real nature of a thing, essence”(ibid.).
Faith is Substance and Evidence “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for…” (11:1a). Occurs five times in the New Testament. • Used of confidence: (2 Cor. 9:1-4; 11:16-18; Heb. 3:12-14). • Used of the true essence of something: (Heb. 1:1-3).
Faith is Substance and Evidence “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for…” (11:1a). Context of Hebrews Eleven: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph (Heb. 11:17-22). • Our hopes in Christ are the reality of what will one day happen. • Faith sees the true reality of these things now while they are still hoped for.
Faith is Substance and Evidence “…The evidence of things not seen” (11:1b). “Evidence” (KJV, NKJV); “Conviction” (ASV, NASB, ESV). “Evidence” Gr. ἔλεγχοςelegchos. From verb to convince or rebuke. “1) a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested; 2) conviction” (Thayer). Occurs twice in the New Testament. • The “reproof” of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
Faith is Substance and Evidence “…The evidence of things not seen” (11:1b). Context of Hebrews Eleven: Moses saw by faith the One who is unseen (Heb. 11:24-27). • Moses saw in those things that he believed the proof, the evidence, the reality of what his eyes could not see. • Faith allows us to see the evidence and proof of a different reality. One that is not temporary but eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-5:3 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen…”
2 Corinthians 4:16-5:3 “…For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked” (NKJV).
