Faith is the Substance

  • Series: Year Of The Message
  • by: David Crosby 11/16/08

The greatest single statement concerning the person and work of Christ in the Bible is the introduction to the Book of Hebrews. I memorized the first chapter of this book when I was a boy. The first three verses have stuck with me all these years, and I have rehearsed them often.

Written in a time of persecution, Hebrews is a call to a life of "faith and patience," two terms that are linked together in the book (Hebrews 6:12). Faith always endures and perseveres even in the face of heartache and trouble. If someone gives up on God and the gospel, that is evidence that they did not have faith.

A wonderful definition and description of faith is found in Hebrews 11, sometimes called the "roll call of faith." Here we learn that "faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" and that "without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:1,6).

Some passages in Hebrews have been interpreted to mean that a person can lose his salvation. But those who "fall away" (Hebrews 6:6) are not described as people of "faith." They have knowledge of and experience with the gospel, but they do not have real faith. Faith always perseveres.