Faith

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 NASB

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. Hebrews 11:1 HCSB

Ἔστιν δὲ πίστις ἐλπιζομένων ὑπόστασις, πραγμάτων ἔλεγχος οὐ βλεπομένων. Hebrews 11:1 NA 27 


It is always best to let the bible define the terms that are used in it and in the case of faith Hebrews provides a clear definition.

Faith is the reality: ὑπόστασις, (hupostasis, G5287) In general, that which underlies the apparent, hence, reality, essence, substance; that which is the basis of something, hence, assurance guarantee, confidence. The proof: ἐλεγχος (elegchos, G1650) Conviction. Metonymically, meaning certain persuasion (Heb. 11:1).

I believe that the world is round. I have read about it being round, I have seen pictures of it being round, I even have a very old and out of date globe (it has a country called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on it). In my travels I have flown half way around it and visited other countries, but I have never flown out into space far enough to personally see that the earth is round. Until I am able to do that I will just have to take it as a matter of faith that the earth is round.

One thousand years ago it would have been a leap of faith to believe that the world is round, because there was very little evidence to support that belief. Now there is tons of evidence to support that belief. Although there are some who do not share this faith, such as the Flat Earth Society. My point in bringing them up is that a firm belief in something does not make it true, just as a firm disbelief in something does not make it untrue. Faith is just our trust in the trueness of something and the only value is in the object of that faith, not in the act of believing.

I have been told the perception is reality, I am not sure that I completely agree with that. I would agree, however, that perception is how we interact with reality. My hope is in Jesus Christ and His claim to be the Son of God. This hope is not me wishing something is true, but this hope is based on evidence that I have seen that indicate that Christ's claims are true. The amount of evidence needed for each person is different, some need more than others, and some will never believe no matter how much evidence is presented to them. But no matter how much evidence that I have Jesus will not walk up to me in a physical body, show me some scars from the crucifixion and do a few miracles for me. So at some point I have to say based upon the evidence that I do have I chose to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and I believe in Him for eternal life. Faith is the convincing beyond a reasonable doubt and faith allows me to believe the evidence that I cannot see.

Why does God chose to work through faith? Why not just show Himself plainly to us in a way that removes all doubt? I suspect that it has to do free will. God gives us enough evidence to believe in Him while leaving just enough lacking so that anyone who does not want to believe in Him can chose not to. In the words of C. S. Lewis "God cannot ravish, He can only woo".