- Home
- Bible
- Hebrews
- Chapter 11
- Verse 11
Hebrews 11:1
Verse
Context
Sermons






Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Faith is the substance of things hoped for - Εστι δε πιστις ελπιζομενων ὑποστασις· Faith is the Subsistence of things hoped for; πραγματων ελεγχος ου βλεπομενων· The Demonstration of things not seen. The word ὑποστασις, which we translate substance, signifies subsistence, that which becomes a foundation for another thing to stand on. And ελεγχος signifies such a conviction as is produced in the mind by the demonstration of a problem, after which demonstration no doubt can remain, because we see from it that the thing is; that it cannot but be; and that it cannot be otherwise than as it is, and is proved to be. Such is the faith by which the soul is justified; or rather, such are the effects of justifying faith: on it subsists the peace of God which passeth all understanding; and the love of God is shed abroad in the heart where it lives, by the Holy Ghost. At the same time the Spirit of God witnesses with their spirits who have this faith that their sins are blotted out; and this is as fully manifest to their judgment and conscience as the axioms, "A whole is greater than any of its parts;" "Equal lines and angles, being placed on one another, do not exceed each other;" or as the deduction from prop. 47, book i., Euclid: "The square of the base of a right-angled triangle is equal to the difference of the squares of the other two sides." Ελεγχος is defined by logicians, Demonstratio quae fit argumentis certis et rationibus indubitatis, qua rei certitudo efficitur. "A demonstration of the certainly of a thing by sure arguments and indubitable reasons." Aristotle uses it for a mathematical demonstration, and properly defines it thus: Ελεγχος δε εστις ὁ μη δυνατος αλλως εχειν, αλλ' οὑτως ὡς ἡμεις λεγομεν, "Elenchos, or Demonstration, is that which cannot be otherwise, but is so as we assert." Rhetor. ad Alexand., cap. 14, περι ελεγχου. On this account I have adduced the above theorem from Euclid. Things hoped for - Are the peace and approbation of God, and those blessings by which the soul is prepared for the kingdom of heaven. A penitent hopes for the pardon of his sins and the favor of his God; faith in Christ puts him in possession of this pardon, and thus the thing that was hoped for is enjoyed by faith. When this is received, a man has the fullest conviction of the truth and reality of all these blessings though unseen by the eye, they are felt by the heart; and the man has no more doubt of God's approbation and his own free pardon, than he has of his being. In an extended sense the things hoped for are the resurrection of the body, the new heavens and the new earth, the introduction of believers into the heavenly country, and the possession of eternal glory. The things unseen, as distinguished from the things hoped for, are, in an extended sense, the creation of the world from nothing, the destruction of the world by the deluge, the miraculous conception of Christ, his resurrection from the dead, his ascension to glory, his mediation at the right hand of God, his government of the universe, etc., etc., all which we as firmly believe on the testimony of God's word as if we had seen them. See Macknight. But this faith has particular respect to the being, goodness, providence, grace, and mercy of God, as the subsequent verses sufficiently show.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,.... The "faith" here spoken of is not a mere moral virtue, which is a branch of the law; nor a bare assent to anything revealed, declared, and affirmed in the Gospel; nor a faith of doing miracles; nor an implicit one; nor a mere profession of faith, which sometimes is but temporary; nor the word or doctrine of faith; but that which is made mention of in the preceding chapter, by which the just man lives, and which has the salvation of the soul annexed to it: and it does not so much design any particular branch, or act of faith, but as that in general respects the various promises, and blessings of grace; and it chiefly regards the faith of Old Testament saints, though that, as to its nature, object, and acts, is the same with the faith of New Testament ones; and is a firm persuasion of the power, faithfulness, and love of God in Christ, and of interest therein, and in all special blessings: it is described as "the substance of things hoped for"; and which, in general, are things unseen, and as yet not enjoyed; future, and yet to come; difficult to be obtained, though possible, otherwise there would be no hope of them; and which are promised and laid up; and in particular, the things hoped for by Old Testament saints were Christ, and eternal glory and happiness; and by New Testament ones, more grace, perseverance in it, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal life. Now faith is the "substance" of these things; it is the ground and foundation of them, in which there is some standing hope; in which sense the word is used by Septuagint in Psa 69:2. The word of promise is principal ground and foundation of hope; and faith, as leaning on the word, is a less principal ground; it is a confident persuasion, expectation, and assurance of them. The Syriac version renders it, the "certainty" of them; it is the subsistence of them, and what gives them an existence, at least a mental one; so with respect to the faith and hope of the Old Testament saints, the incarnation, sufferings, and death of Christ, his resurrection, ascension, and session at God's right hand, are spoken of, as if they then were; and so are heaven, and glory, and everlasting salvation, with regard to the faith and hope of New Testament saints: yea, faith gives a kind of possession of those things before hand, Joh 6:47. Philo the Jew (e) says much the same thing of faith; "the only infallible and certain good thing (says he) is, that faith which is faith towards God; it is the solace of life, , "the fulness of good hopes", &c.'' It follows here, the evidence of things not seen; of things past, of what was done in eternity, in the council and covenant of grace and peace; of what has been in time, in creation, and providence; of the birth, miracles, sufferings, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ; of things present, the being, perfections, love, &c. of God; of the session of Christ at God's right hand, and his continual intercession; and of the various blessings of grace revealed in the Gospel; and of future ones, as the invisible realities of another world: faith has both certainty and evidence in it. (e) De Abrahamo, p. 387.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
Here we have, I. A definition or description of the grace of faith in two parts. 1. It is the substance of things hoped for. Faith and hope go together; and the same things that are the object of our hope are the object of our faith. It is a firm persuasion and expectation that God will perform all that he has promised to us in Christ; and this persuasion is so strong that it gives the soul a kind of possession and present fruition of those things, gives them a subsistence in the soul, by the first-fruits and foretastes of them: so that believers in the exercise of faith are filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Christ dwells in the soul by faith, and the soul is filled with the fullness of God, as far as his present measure will admit; he experiences a substantial reality in the objects of faith. 2. It is the evidence of things not seen. Faith demonstrates to the eye of the mind the reality of those things that cannot be discerned by the eye of the body. Faith is the firm assent of the soul to the divine revelation and every part of it, and sets to its seal that God is true. It is a full approbation of all that God has revealed as holy, just, and good; it helps the soul to make application of all to itself with suitable affections and endeavours; and so it is designed to serve the believer instead of sight, and to be to the soul all that the senses are to the body. That faith is but opinion or fancy which does not realize invisible things to the soul, and excite the soul to act agreeably to the nature and importance of them. II. An account of the honour it reflects upon all those who have lived in the exercise of it (Heb 11:2): By it the elders obtained a good report - the ancient believers, who lived in the first ages of the world. Observe, 1. True faith is an old grace, and has the best plea to antiquity: it is not a new invention, a modern fancy; it is a grace that has been planted in the soul of man ever since the covenant of grace was published in the world; and it has been practiced from the beginning of the revelation; the eldest and best men that ever were in the world were believers. 2. Their faith was their honour; it reflected honour upon them. They were an honour to their faith, and their faith was an honour to them. It put them upon doing the things that were of good report, and God has taken care that a record shall be kept and report made of the excellent things they did in the strength of this grace. The genuine actings of faith will bear to be reported, deserve to be reported, and will, when reported, redound to the honour of true believers. III. We have here one of the first acts and articles of faith, which has a great influence on all the rest, and which is common to all believers in every age and part of the world, namely, the creation of the worlds by the word of God, not out of pre-existent matter, but out of nothing, Heb 11:3. The grace of faith has a retrospect as well as prospect; it looks not only forward to the end of the world, but back to the beginning of the world. By faith we understand much more of the formation of the world than ever could be understood by the naked eye of natural reason. Faith is not a force upon the understanding, but a friend and a help to it. Now what does faith give us to understand concerning the worlds, that is, the upper, middle, and lower regions of the universe? 1. That these worlds were not eternal, nor did they produce themselves, but they were made by another. 2. That the maker of the worlds is god; he is the maker of all things; and whoever is so must be God. 3. That he made the world with great exactness; it was a framed work, in every thing duly adapted and disposed to answer its end, and to express the perfections of the Creator. 4. That God made the world by his word, that is, by his essential wisdom and eternal Son, and by his active will, saying, Let it be done, and it was done, Psa 33:9. 5. That the world was thus framed out of nothing, out of no pre-existent matter, contrary to the received maxim, that "out of nothing nothing can be made," which, though true of created power, can have no place with God, who can call things that are not as if they were, and command them into being. These things we understand by faith. The Bible gives us the truest and most exact account of the origin of all things, and we are to believe it, and not to wrest or run down the scripture-account of the creation, because it does not suit with some fantastic hypotheses of our own, which has been in some learned but conceited men the first remarkable step towards infidelity, and has led them into many more.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
11:1-40 In presenting readers with a long catalog of faith-filled heroes, ch 11 builds up overwhelming evidence that the life of faith is the only real way to live for God. The writer repeats the phrase by faith to drive this main message into the minds and hearts of his hearers. The examples follow a pattern: (a) the phrase by faith, (b) the name of the person, (c) the event or action which demonstrated faith, and (d) the outcome. 11:1 Before presenting the list of examples, the author defines what faith is: It is acting on what God has revealed about his will and character. • The reality that grounds our faith is the God who fulfills his promises.
Hebrews 11:1
Faith and Assurance
1Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.2This is why the ancients were commended.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
(Hebrews) 1-Overview-2
By Leonard Ravenhill22K23:34HebrewsPSA 119:160ISA 43:2LUK 19:10JHN 14:6JHN 16:132TI 4:16HEB 11:1In this sermon, the preacher addresses the feeling of God's hiddenness and the darkness that comes when God withdraws his favor. He emphasizes the need for God's truth to set us free and ignite a passion for Him in our hearts. The preacher highlights the importance of preaching the judgment of God and the urgency to escape neglecting it. He encourages believers to have the same passion for sharing the gospel as the apostle Paul and to utilize all the resources God has given us. The sermon also mentions the story of a woman who pursued her passion for music and encourages young people to master another language and consider serving God in different countries.
(Hebrews) 6-Noah
By Leonard Ravenhill15K1:16:04NoahGEN 6:132TI 3:16HEB 2:1HEB 3:1HEB 11:1HEB 11:6REV 1:1In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the importance of faith in pleasing God. He emphasizes that without faith, it is impossible to please God. The speaker also highlights the concept of worshiping God by gazing upon His attributes and redemptive work in Jesus Christ. The sermon mentions the example of Enoch, who cried out to the people about God's judgment, but was ignored. The speaker concludes by reminding the audience that faith is what enables individuals to achieve great things and overcome challenges.
How This Ministry of Healing Came Into Being
By Kathryn Kuhlman15K27:46MAT 8:23MAT 14:22MAT 17:20MRK 4:35LUK 8:24ACT 10:38HEB 11:1In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of having faith in God and not focusing on the circumstances or problems we face. He reminds the listeners that their faith is not separate from them, but rather it is found in Jesus Christ. The preacher warns against being defeated by focusing on ourselves and encourages the audience to keep their eyes on Jesus. He concludes by suggesting that Jesus may be asking the same question to the listeners, "Where is your faith?" and encourages them to trust in God despite the storms of life.
Books I Recommend With Comments - Part 1
By Leonard Ravenhill12K1:00:42Book ReviewsEXO 3:1EXO 31:18MAT 16:13JHN 4:24ACT 4:12HEB 11:1REV 21:1In this sermon, the speaker discusses the life of John Wesley and his dedication to meeting with God every morning at 4 o'clock. The speaker recommends a book called "A Treasury of Prayer" by Dr. E. Hudson Taylor, which explores the growth of the soul and the work of the China Inland Mission. The speaker emphasizes the importance of prayer and shares a poem by F.W.H. Meyer about the power of prayer. The speaker also criticizes some preaching practices, suggesting that some preachers simply reuse old sermons with different texts, while emphasizing the need for both sermon preparation and spiritual preparation through prayer.
Hebrews 11 - Part 1
By Leonard Ravenhill7.7K1:06:26PrayerFaithHEB 11:1HEB 12:1Leonard Ravenhill emphasizes the profound need for faith and the power of prayer in the life of believers, reflecting on the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11. He acknowledges the struggles of the modern world and the emptiness of human systems, urging the congregation to seek a deeper relationship with God and to be filled with His Spirit. Ravenhill calls for a return to the glory of God, highlighting the importance of being captivated by His presence and the necessity of faith that acts in obedience to God's will. He challenges the church to move beyond mere rituals and to experience the transformative power of God in their lives, as exemplified by the faithful in Hebrews. Ultimately, he encourages believers to cultivate a hunger for God and to live out their faith boldly in a world desperate for hope.
Trusting God Again Like a Child
By Francis Chan7.3K1:12:55Strength in LeadershipChildlike FaithFaith1SA 14:61SA 30:6PSA 46:1ISA 40:31MAT 18:3MRK 10:15PHP 4:13HEB 11:1JAS 1:51PE 5:7Francis Chan emphasizes the importance of trusting God with childlike faith, urging leaders to genuinely love their congregations and seek God's presence in their ministry. He reflects on the challenges faced by pastors today, including criticism and the pressure to perform, while encouraging them to strengthen themselves in the Lord as David did. Chan shares personal experiences of prayer and reliance on God, illustrating how faith can lead to miraculous outcomes. He calls for a return to the simplicity of faith, where believers can experience God's power and presence in their lives. Ultimately, he reminds the audience that true ministry is about loving others and being filled with God's Spirit to serve effectively.
God Is a Rewarder of Those Who Seek Him (2 of 4)
By Paul Washer6.2K1:19:32Seeking GodGEN 6:9MAT 6:33HEB 11:1HEB 11:6In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of faith and believing in God's commands. He highlights that true faith is optimistic, trusting that God has a reason and an end result for every command He gives. The speaker contrasts this with the idea of gaining approval through works or performance, emphasizing that approval before God is always obtained through faith. He also mentions the concept of being recipients of God's grace and encourages listeners to reach out and receive that grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The sermon references biblical examples such as Noah, who believed in God's warning about the unseen destruction of the world.
(Pdf Book) Apostolic Foundations
By Art Katz5.9K00:00EbooksApostolic FoundationsEternal PerspectiveMAT 5:11ACT 13:2ROM 10:142CO 4:16EPH 3:10COL 3:11TH 1:51TI 6:12HEB 11:1REV 20:6Art Katz emphasizes the critical importance of the term 'apostolic' in the church, arguing that its loss threatens the very foundation of faith. He calls for a restoration of apostolic principles, which are rooted in a deep understanding of God's character and purpose, and highlights the necessity of humility, suffering, and a focus on eternity in the life of believers. Katz illustrates that true apostolic living requires a radical commitment to God's glory over personal ambition, and that the church must confront the principalities and powers of darkness with a clear, powerful message of repentance and the coming judgment. Ultimately, he urges the church to embody the essence of Christ's humility and sacrifice, becoming a living testimony of God's eternal purpose.
Hebrews 11 - Part 6
By Leonard Ravenhill5.4K1:19:30GEN 11:30GEN 12:7LUK 24:13HEB 11:1HEB 11:4In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Abraham and highlights key moments in his journey as described in the Bible. The preacher emphasizes the importance of following God's word and leaving behind familiar surroundings. He also discusses how Abraham chose to suffer affliction with the children of God rather than enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin. The preacher mentions Abraham's trip to Egypt during a famine and the mistake he made by claiming his wife as his sister. Overall, the sermon emphasizes the significance of walking in step with God and being cautious about the offerings we make.
Witness of the Spirit - Part 2
By Leonard Ravenhill5.1K1:03:18Witness Of The SpiritMAT 5:1JHN 4:14ACT 20:24ROM 8:1ROM 8:312CO 4:18HEB 11:1In this sermon, the preacher reflects on the loss of appreciation for the beauty and majesty of the gospel among preachers today. He shares a criticism from a book review that resonated with him, emphasizing the need to regain a deep understanding of the gospel's significance. The preacher then uses biblical examples, such as the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, and Joseph's journey from being sold into slavery to becoming a ruler in Egypt, to illustrate the transformative power of going through trials and hardships. He encourages listeners to embrace difficult situations, as they can lead to spiritual growth and maturity.
Faith Unto Enlargement Through Adversity - Part 2
By T. Austin-Sparks4.8K55:45AdversityGEN 15:1LUK 14:16ACT 2:1HEB 11:1REV 21:5In this sermon, the speaker describes a visit to a trailer park filled with worldly people, but also discovers that there are 16 Christians living there. The speaker then discusses five key themes found in the Bible: enlargement, establishment, free life, fullness, and faith. These themes are seen throughout the Old and New Testaments, particularly in the Gospels, Acts, and Revelation. The sermon emphasizes the importance of faith and the challenge of choosing between life and death. The speaker also highlights God's desire for enlargement and multiplication, as seen in the creation of the earth, the animal kingdom, and the promise to Abraham.
(Hebrews - Part 34): Noah Dared to Believe God
By A.W. Tozer4.8K30:17ExpositionalGEN 5:24GEN 6:13GEN 22:9JHN 3:16HEB 11:1HEB 11:6In this sermon, the preacher begins by discussing how some people are easily moved to tears and love stories. He shares a story about a faithful dog who went out in a storm to bring back a lost lamb, but ultimately sacrificed his life for it. The preacher then transitions to the story of Christ on the cross and questions the priorities of a wealthy preacher compared to a legless newsboy. He emphasizes the importance of faith and references various biblical figures who demonstrated faith in their lives. The preacher concludes by stating his fear of religious theory and the importance of doctrine in action.
Faith Obeys (3 of 4)
By Paul Washer4.5K1:06:34ObedienceGEN 6:13HAB 3:17MAT 6:33ACT 1:8HEB 11:1HEB 11:8JAS 1:22In this sermon, the preacher uses a vivid example of a boy with sagging pants to illustrate the importance of not conforming to the ways of the world. He emphasizes that our outward appearance and behavior can reveal a lot about our inward realities. The preacher warns young people against being influenced by the sensual and degrading culture around them, urging them to live differently. He encourages them to align their lives with the teachings of the Bible and not be deceived by the traps of the world.
It Comes Down to Faith (1 of 4)
By Paul Washer4.4K1:14:47Trust in God's CharacterFaithPSA 37:5PRO 3:5ISA 26:3MAT 6:33ROM 4:32CO 5:7PHP 4:19HEB 11:1JAS 1:61PE 5:7Paul Washer emphasizes the profound journey of faith, illustrating how true faith evolves from seeking blessings and feelings to a deep relationship with God Himself. He contrasts immaturity in faith, which seeks God's gifts, with maturity that seeks the Giver, highlighting that faith is rooted in understanding God's character and His promises. Washer stresses that faith is not merely a leap into the unknown but a confident assurance based on God's revealed Word, urging believers to trust in God's goodness and wisdom in all aspects of life. He challenges listeners to examine their faith and obedience, asserting that true faith manifests in a life that reflects trust in God's character and His commands.
Das Neue Wesen (German)
By Richard Wurmbrand4.0K13:35GermanMAT 27:46MRK 16:14LUK 16:19JHN 3:36JHN 14:1JHN 20:29HEB 11:1The sermon transcript discusses the conditions and demands that the world places on believers in order for them to have faith. It suggests that modernizing theology, incorporating jazz and pop music into church, and delivering philosophical speeches instead of simple sermons about Jesus are some of the conditions set by the world. However, the transcript emphasizes that true faith is not dependent on external circumstances or meeting these conditions. It highlights the unwavering love and faith of believers who continue to trust in God despite suffering and persecution. The sermon concludes by emphasizing the importance of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation and the need to focus on Him rather than worldly demands.
Death of a Promise - Part 2
By David Wilkerson3.6K51:34PromiseMRK 11:22ROM 10:17HEB 11:1In this sermon, the speaker discusses the evidence of faith and how to prove it to oneself and others. They emphasize the importance of being a witness of faith to the world. The speaker also mentions a previous message titled "The Death of a Promise," which explores how God fulfills promises in unexpected ways. The sermon concludes with a prayer for understanding and a request for the Holy Spirit to make the message impactful.
Bearing Much Fruit
By Bob Hoekstra3.1K33:34GEN 50:20PRO 3:5JER 29:11ROM 8:28HEB 11:1This sermon focuses on the theme of God's faithfulness and provision in times of uncertainty and challenges, emphasizing the importance of trusting in His promises and seeking His guidance. It explores the story of Joseph in the Bible as an example of how God can turn difficult situations into blessings when we remain faithful to Him.
Hebrews 11
By Manley Beasley3.1K55:32FaithEXO 12:23MAT 6:33MAT 16:19ACT 27:22ROM 8:28HEB 11:1HEB 11:6In this sermon, the preacher shares two stories from the Bible to emphasize the importance of seeking God's perspective in difficult situations. He recounts the story of a little old preacher who, in the face of despair, confidently declared that everything would be alright based on a report he received. The preacher also mentions the story of a young prophet who was initially afraid when he saw a mighty enemy army, but his eyes were opened to see the powerful host of Israel surrounding them. The preacher emphasizes the need for believers to seek God's guidance and join Him in His plans, rather than relying on human wisdom or seeking revival through external means. He encourages a deep repentance and desperation before God in order to receive revelation and understanding.
A God That Keeps Records
By Rolfe Barnard2.6K56:13Judgment DayPSA 130:4MAT 6:33JHN 5:29ROM 3:202CO 4:32CO 4:7HEB 11:1In this sermon, the preacher recounts a tragic incident where a young man lost his life in an oil rig explosion. The preacher uses this event to emphasize the reality of judgment and the consequences of not being written in the book of life. He urges the congregation to witness the fire of judgment and to stand before God as a holy and obedient people. The preacher highlights the importance of honoring God through obedience, worship, and giving, and warns against robbing God of what is rightfully His.
It Is Finished
By Manley Beasley2.6K29:04Finished Work Of ChristMAT 6:33JHN 5:19ROM 8:28GAL 2:20EPH 3:20HEB 11:1JAS 2:17In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of living a life of submission to God's will, using Jesus Christ as an example. Jesus said that his meat, or desire, was to do the will of the Father. He taught that he only did what he saw the Father doing in heaven, and encouraged his followers to do the same. The preacher challenges believers to renounce themselves, submit to God, and have faith in His ability to meet every need. He concludes by urging listeners to be the ones that God can use to help others in this time of need.
Hell - Part 1
By Norman Grubb2.3K31:11HellJHN 3:16JHN 14:6ROM 10:91CO 2:142CO 5:7HEB 11:11PE 1:8In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the concept of being forms of something. He explains that just as a cook learns the art of cooking, a teacher learns the art of teaching, and a doctor learns the science of medicine, we are forms of something as well. The speaker suggests that we are forms of God and that our purpose in life is to manifest God's presence through our actions. However, despite our connection to God, the speaker acknowledges that many of us feel dissatisfied and conflicted within ourselves. The solution, according to the speaker, lies in realizing our eternal relationship with God through Jesus Christ and experiencing the fullness of peace, joy, power, freedom, and love that comes from that relationship.
The Minister's Prayer Life
By Paul Washer2.3K1:01:56Prayer LifeLUK 18:1HEB 11:1In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of prayer and faith in the Christian life. He uses the parable of the persistent widow and the unrighteous judge to illustrate this point. The preacher encourages believers to remember the past works of God and to have faith that He will continue to deliver and answer prayers. He also highlights the power of the gospel and the transformative work of regeneration in the lives of believers. The sermon concludes with a call to wrestle for the conversion of men and to prioritize prayer in our lives.
The Lord Has Promised to Deliver You - Part 1
By David Wilkerson2.2K40:01PSA 34:4ISA 41:10JER 29:12MAT 11:28MRK 9:24HEB 11:12PE 2:9This sermon emphasizes the theme of deliverance, drawing from the story of Hezekiah and the assurance that God hears the cries of His people and delivers them from all troubles. It highlights the importance of faith, prayer, and trusting in God's promises for deliverance in the midst of trials and battles.
Look Who's Here
By Vance Havner2.2K09:421KI 18:362KI 6:15PSA 121:7PRO 3:5DAN 3:25ACT 3:61CO 2:5EPH 6:12HEB 11:1JAS 1:5This sermon draws inspiration from various biblical stories like the three Hebrew children who stood firm in their faith, Elijah on Mount Carmel demonstrating the need for divine intervention, and Elisha's unwavering trust in God's protection. It emphasizes the importance of complete reliance on God, even in the face of challenges, and the necessity of seeking His intervention rather than relying on human efforts.
The Victory of Faith
By Chuck Smith2.1K38:37VictoryEXO 12:21HAB 1:2HAB 2:4HAB 3:17MAT 17:20HEB 11:1JAS 1:2In this sermon, the speaker discusses the challenges and injustices faced in a society filled with gang warfare and corruption in the legal system. The speaker shares a personal experience of being falsely sued for slander and emphasizes the importance of including God in our reasoning and understanding of difficult situations. The sermon highlights the need for faith and trust in God's plan, even when we don't understand it. The speaker encourages listeners to commit their ways to the Lord and trust in His perfect will, reminding them that God is in control and will work things out for His glory and their good.
- Adam Clarke
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Faith is the substance of things hoped for - Εστι δε πιστις ελπιζομενων ὑποστασις· Faith is the Subsistence of things hoped for; πραγματων ελεγχος ου βλεπομενων· The Demonstration of things not seen. The word ὑποστασις, which we translate substance, signifies subsistence, that which becomes a foundation for another thing to stand on. And ελεγχος signifies such a conviction as is produced in the mind by the demonstration of a problem, after which demonstration no doubt can remain, because we see from it that the thing is; that it cannot but be; and that it cannot be otherwise than as it is, and is proved to be. Such is the faith by which the soul is justified; or rather, such are the effects of justifying faith: on it subsists the peace of God which passeth all understanding; and the love of God is shed abroad in the heart where it lives, by the Holy Ghost. At the same time the Spirit of God witnesses with their spirits who have this faith that their sins are blotted out; and this is as fully manifest to their judgment and conscience as the axioms, "A whole is greater than any of its parts;" "Equal lines and angles, being placed on one another, do not exceed each other;" or as the deduction from prop. 47, book i., Euclid: "The square of the base of a right-angled triangle is equal to the difference of the squares of the other two sides." Ελεγχος is defined by logicians, Demonstratio quae fit argumentis certis et rationibus indubitatis, qua rei certitudo efficitur. "A demonstration of the certainly of a thing by sure arguments and indubitable reasons." Aristotle uses it for a mathematical demonstration, and properly defines it thus: Ελεγχος δε εστις ὁ μη δυνατος αλλως εχειν, αλλ' οὑτως ὡς ἡμεις λεγομεν, "Elenchos, or Demonstration, is that which cannot be otherwise, but is so as we assert." Rhetor. ad Alexand., cap. 14, περι ελεγχου. On this account I have adduced the above theorem from Euclid. Things hoped for - Are the peace and approbation of God, and those blessings by which the soul is prepared for the kingdom of heaven. A penitent hopes for the pardon of his sins and the favor of his God; faith in Christ puts him in possession of this pardon, and thus the thing that was hoped for is enjoyed by faith. When this is received, a man has the fullest conviction of the truth and reality of all these blessings though unseen by the eye, they are felt by the heart; and the man has no more doubt of God's approbation and his own free pardon, than he has of his being. In an extended sense the things hoped for are the resurrection of the body, the new heavens and the new earth, the introduction of believers into the heavenly country, and the possession of eternal glory. The things unseen, as distinguished from the things hoped for, are, in an extended sense, the creation of the world from nothing, the destruction of the world by the deluge, the miraculous conception of Christ, his resurrection from the dead, his ascension to glory, his mediation at the right hand of God, his government of the universe, etc., etc., all which we as firmly believe on the testimony of God's word as if we had seen them. See Macknight. But this faith has particular respect to the being, goodness, providence, grace, and mercy of God, as the subsequent verses sufficiently show.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,.... The "faith" here spoken of is not a mere moral virtue, which is a branch of the law; nor a bare assent to anything revealed, declared, and affirmed in the Gospel; nor a faith of doing miracles; nor an implicit one; nor a mere profession of faith, which sometimes is but temporary; nor the word or doctrine of faith; but that which is made mention of in the preceding chapter, by which the just man lives, and which has the salvation of the soul annexed to it: and it does not so much design any particular branch, or act of faith, but as that in general respects the various promises, and blessings of grace; and it chiefly regards the faith of Old Testament saints, though that, as to its nature, object, and acts, is the same with the faith of New Testament ones; and is a firm persuasion of the power, faithfulness, and love of God in Christ, and of interest therein, and in all special blessings: it is described as "the substance of things hoped for"; and which, in general, are things unseen, and as yet not enjoyed; future, and yet to come; difficult to be obtained, though possible, otherwise there would be no hope of them; and which are promised and laid up; and in particular, the things hoped for by Old Testament saints were Christ, and eternal glory and happiness; and by New Testament ones, more grace, perseverance in it, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal life. Now faith is the "substance" of these things; it is the ground and foundation of them, in which there is some standing hope; in which sense the word is used by Septuagint in Psa 69:2. The word of promise is principal ground and foundation of hope; and faith, as leaning on the word, is a less principal ground; it is a confident persuasion, expectation, and assurance of them. The Syriac version renders it, the "certainty" of them; it is the subsistence of them, and what gives them an existence, at least a mental one; so with respect to the faith and hope of the Old Testament saints, the incarnation, sufferings, and death of Christ, his resurrection, ascension, and session at God's right hand, are spoken of, as if they then were; and so are heaven, and glory, and everlasting salvation, with regard to the faith and hope of New Testament saints: yea, faith gives a kind of possession of those things before hand, Joh 6:47. Philo the Jew (e) says much the same thing of faith; "the only infallible and certain good thing (says he) is, that faith which is faith towards God; it is the solace of life, , "the fulness of good hopes", &c.'' It follows here, the evidence of things not seen; of things past, of what was done in eternity, in the council and covenant of grace and peace; of what has been in time, in creation, and providence; of the birth, miracles, sufferings, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ; of things present, the being, perfections, love, &c. of God; of the session of Christ at God's right hand, and his continual intercession; and of the various blessings of grace revealed in the Gospel; and of future ones, as the invisible realities of another world: faith has both certainty and evidence in it. (e) De Abrahamo, p. 387.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
Here we have, I. A definition or description of the grace of faith in two parts. 1. It is the substance of things hoped for. Faith and hope go together; and the same things that are the object of our hope are the object of our faith. It is a firm persuasion and expectation that God will perform all that he has promised to us in Christ; and this persuasion is so strong that it gives the soul a kind of possession and present fruition of those things, gives them a subsistence in the soul, by the first-fruits and foretastes of them: so that believers in the exercise of faith are filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Christ dwells in the soul by faith, and the soul is filled with the fullness of God, as far as his present measure will admit; he experiences a substantial reality in the objects of faith. 2. It is the evidence of things not seen. Faith demonstrates to the eye of the mind the reality of those things that cannot be discerned by the eye of the body. Faith is the firm assent of the soul to the divine revelation and every part of it, and sets to its seal that God is true. It is a full approbation of all that God has revealed as holy, just, and good; it helps the soul to make application of all to itself with suitable affections and endeavours; and so it is designed to serve the believer instead of sight, and to be to the soul all that the senses are to the body. That faith is but opinion or fancy which does not realize invisible things to the soul, and excite the soul to act agreeably to the nature and importance of them. II. An account of the honour it reflects upon all those who have lived in the exercise of it (Heb 11:2): By it the elders obtained a good report - the ancient believers, who lived in the first ages of the world. Observe, 1. True faith is an old grace, and has the best plea to antiquity: it is not a new invention, a modern fancy; it is a grace that has been planted in the soul of man ever since the covenant of grace was published in the world; and it has been practiced from the beginning of the revelation; the eldest and best men that ever were in the world were believers. 2. Their faith was their honour; it reflected honour upon them. They were an honour to their faith, and their faith was an honour to them. It put them upon doing the things that were of good report, and God has taken care that a record shall be kept and report made of the excellent things they did in the strength of this grace. The genuine actings of faith will bear to be reported, deserve to be reported, and will, when reported, redound to the honour of true believers. III. We have here one of the first acts and articles of faith, which has a great influence on all the rest, and which is common to all believers in every age and part of the world, namely, the creation of the worlds by the word of God, not out of pre-existent matter, but out of nothing, Heb 11:3. The grace of faith has a retrospect as well as prospect; it looks not only forward to the end of the world, but back to the beginning of the world. By faith we understand much more of the formation of the world than ever could be understood by the naked eye of natural reason. Faith is not a force upon the understanding, but a friend and a help to it. Now what does faith give us to understand concerning the worlds, that is, the upper, middle, and lower regions of the universe? 1. That these worlds were not eternal, nor did they produce themselves, but they were made by another. 2. That the maker of the worlds is god; he is the maker of all things; and whoever is so must be God. 3. That he made the world with great exactness; it was a framed work, in every thing duly adapted and disposed to answer its end, and to express the perfections of the Creator. 4. That God made the world by his word, that is, by his essential wisdom and eternal Son, and by his active will, saying, Let it be done, and it was done, Psa 33:9. 5. That the world was thus framed out of nothing, out of no pre-existent matter, contrary to the received maxim, that "out of nothing nothing can be made," which, though true of created power, can have no place with God, who can call things that are not as if they were, and command them into being. These things we understand by faith. The Bible gives us the truest and most exact account of the origin of all things, and we are to believe it, and not to wrest or run down the scripture-account of the creation, because it does not suit with some fantastic hypotheses of our own, which has been in some learned but conceited men the first remarkable step towards infidelity, and has led them into many more.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
11:1-40 In presenting readers with a long catalog of faith-filled heroes, ch 11 builds up overwhelming evidence that the life of faith is the only real way to live for God. The writer repeats the phrase by faith to drive this main message into the minds and hearts of his hearers. The examples follow a pattern: (a) the phrase by faith, (b) the name of the person, (c) the event or action which demonstrated faith, and (d) the outcome. 11:1 Before presenting the list of examples, the author defines what faith is: It is acting on what God has revealed about his will and character. • The reality that grounds our faith is the God who fulfills his promises.