Part 1: What is Faith?

Opening Verse

Hebrews 11:1

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

NKJV

What Does This Mean?

Faith is not wishful thinking. Faith is substance — it makes future hopes real in the present. Faith is evidence — it proves invisible realities are true.

Think of it this way: when you sit in a chair, you have faith it will hold you. You don’t see inside the chair, but you trust it. How much more should we trust God, who has never failed?

Why Faith is Essential

Hebrews 11:6

“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

This verse is clear. Without faith, we cannot please God. Period.

To come to God, we must believe two things:

God exists
God rewards those who seek Him

Faith is not optional. It’s the foundation of everything.

Faith Connects Us to Grace

In our Grace series, we learned that grace is God’s unmerited favor. But how do we receive this grace?

Ephesians 2:8

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”

NKJV

Grace is what God offers. Faith is how we receive it. They work together:

Grace = God reaching down
Faith = Us reaching up to receive

Without faith, grace cannot reach us.

How Faith Grows

Romans 10:17

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

NKJV

Faith grows when we hear God’s Word. Every time we read Scripture, every time we hear it taught, faith has opportunity to grow.

This is why spending time in the Bible is essential. We’re not just reading words — we’re receiving faith.

Living by Faith Daily

Galatians 2:20

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

NKJV

Notice — “the life which I now live… I live by faith.” Present tense. Daily.

The Christian life begins with faith and continues in faith. From start to finish, it’s all about trusting God.

Faith and Hope Together

Look again at our opening verse. Faith is “the substance of things hoped for.”

Faith and hope work together. We hope for God’s promises. Faith makes those promises real to us now.

When we live by faith, we’re not just living for today. We’re living based on what we hope for tomorrow.

The Foundation

Faith is the foundation of our relationship with God. Without it, we cannot please God, come to God, or receive God’s grace.

With faith, we receive grace, live in God’s presence, and experience His rewards. Everything in the Christian life flows from faith.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for teaching us about faith. Help us to understand that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Lord, without faith, it is impossible to please You. So we ask — increase our faith.

Thank You that faith comes by hearing Your Word. Help us to spend time in Scripture daily. Father, we are saved by grace through faith. Thank You for Your grace and the gift of faith that allows us to receive it.

Teach us to live by faith every single day. Not just believing in You, but trusting You with everything — our fears, our needs, our future. Help us to remember that faith gives substance to our hope.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.