(2Co 10:4 TLV) For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly but powerful through God for the tearing down of strongholds. We are tearing down false arguments
(2Co 10:5 TLV) and every high-minded thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Messiah—
A Study in Hebrews 11- Overview of
Faith
Jewish Concepts of Faith.
The proper counterpart for the general English term "faith" -as occurring in the expression "principles of faith"- would be the concept of Emunah[1] in Judaism. While it is generally translated as faith or trust in God, the concept of Emunah can more accurately be described as "an innate conviction, a perception of truth that transcends (..) reason."[1] Emunah can be enhanced through wisdom, knowledge, understanding.
18 Definitions of Faith
#1. Substance of things hoped for
Biblical Faith gives us hope for our
future even when our circumstances are telling us just the opposite. Our faith can only be based upon the
faithfulness of God, past, present and future.
#2. Evidence of things not seen
The Word of God is our evidence that
what we are hoping for will manifest in His timing as long as our faith is
based upon His Word and His promises.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance
of things hoped for, the evidence of realities not seen. TLV
Heb 11:1 Trusting is being confident
of what we hope for, convinced about things we do not see. CJB
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance
(title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the
evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality--faith
comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. Amp
Webster’s 1825 Dictionary
SUB'STANCE, n. [L. substantia, substo; sub and sto, to stand.]
1. In a general sense, being; something existing by itself; that which really is or exists; equally applicable to matter or spirit. Thus the soul of man is called an immaterial substance, a cogitative substance, a substance endued with thought. We say, a stone is a hard substance, tallow is a soft substance.
2. The
essential part; the main or material part. In this epitome, we have the
substance of the whole book.
3. Something real, not imaginary; something solid, not empty.
#3. Receive approval by God
The great men and woman of The Bible
were great, not because of their intelligence, not because of wealth or power,
but because they believed what God said and acted upon it.
Heb 11:2
For by this [kind of] faith the N1men of old gained [divine]
approval. Amp
Heb 11:2 It was for this that
Scripture attested the merit of the people of old. CJB
Heb 11:2 For by it the elders
received commendation. TLV
#4 Creative Power of Divine Works
God spoke and it came into being.
God said (Genesis 1-2)— This phrase,
which occurs so repeatedly in the account means: willed, decreed, appointed;
and the determining will of God was followed in every instance by an immediate
result. Jamieson-Fauset-Brown
Heb 11:3
By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God,
so that what is seen did not come from anything visible. TLV
Heb 11:3 By faith [that is, with
an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of
God] we understand that the worlds (universe, ages) were framed and
created [formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose]
by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are
visible. AMP
#5 Faith Produces Righteous Actions
In Jewish terms, Faith is an action.
If you believe, you act on what you believe. Faith is an action Word.
Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered to
God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which it was testified of
him that he was righteous (upright, in right standing with God), and God
testified by accepting his gifts. And though he died, yet through [this act
of] faith he still speaks. [Gen. 4:3-10] AMP
Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered God a
better sacrifice than Cain. Through faith he was commended as righteous when
God approved of his gifts. And through faith he still speaks, although he is
dead. TLV
#6 Faith Can Cancel Natural Laws
We see that even natural laws had to
obey when confronted with mighty power of God in the lives of great men of old.
Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken so as not to see
death, and he was not found because God took him. For before he was taken, he
was commended as pleasing to God. TLV
Heb 11:5 By faith [that pleased
God] Enoch was caught up and taken to heaven so that he would not
have a glimpse of death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD HAD TAKEN HIM; for
even before he was taken [to heaven], he received the testimony [still
on record] that he had walked with God and pleased Him. [Gen.
5:21-24] AMP
#7 Faith Basis For Pleasing God
Faith is not a suggestion, but a spiritual law that is to
be obeyed.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to [walk
with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily]
believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and
diligently] seek Him. AMP
Heb 11:6 Now without faith it is
impossible to please God. For the one who comes to God must believe that He
exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. TLV
Heb 11:6 And without trusting, it is
impossible to be well pleasing to God, because whoever approaches him must
trust that he does exist and that he becomes a Rewarder to those who seek him
out. CJB
#8 Faith Is Dependent On Gods Word
Heb
11:7 By trusting, Noach, after
receiving divine warning about things as yet unseen, was filled with holy fear
and built an ark to save his household. Through this trusting, he put the world
under condemnation and received the righteousness that comes from
trusting. CJB
Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, when warned
about events not yet seen, in holy fear prepared an ark for the safety of his
household. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the
righteousness that comes by faith. TLV
Heb 11:7 By faith [with
confidence in God and His word] Noah, being warned by God about
events not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his
family. By this [act of obedience] he condemned the world and became an
heir of the righteousness which comes by faith. [Gen. 6:13-22] AMP
#9 Faith Is Trust In God In An
Unknown Future
Heb 11:8
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he was
to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going.
Heb 11:9 By faith he migrated to the
land of promise as if it were foreign, dwelling in tents with Isaac and
Jacob—fellow heirs of the same promise.
Heb 11:10
For he was waiting for the city that has foundations, whose architect and
builder is God. TLV
#10
Faith Believes What It Can Not See
This is key, because faith goes
beyond sight to the very throne of God and His ability and might to bring about
supernatural provision and answers to prayer.
Heb
11:11 By faith even Sarah herself
received ability to conceive when she was barren and past the age, since she
considered the One who had made the promise to be faithful.
Heb 11:12
So from one—and him as good as dead—were fathered offspring as numerous
as the stars of heaven, and as uncountable as the sand on the seashore. TLV
Rom 4:17
(as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”). He is
our father in the sight of God in whom he trusted, who gives life to the dead
and calls into existence that which does not exist. TLV
Rom 4:17 (as it is written [in
Scripture], "I HAVE MADE YOU A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS") in
the sight of Him in whom he believed, that is, God N1who gives life
to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. [Gen. 17:5]
#11
Faith Sees The Invisible
Faith is bases upon God’s vision and
that we see through the eyes of God via His Word.
Heb
11:13 These all died in faith without
receiving the things promised—but they saw them and welcomed them from afar,
and they confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.
Heb 11:14
For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a
homeland.
Heb 11:15
If indeed they had been thinking about where they had come from, they
would have had opportunity to return.
Heb 11:16 But as it is, they yearn
for a better land—that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be
called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. TLV
#12
Faith Believes In God’s Faithfulness and Promises
Heb
11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was
tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had received the promises was offering up
his one and only son—
Heb 11:18
the one about whom it was said, “Through Isaac offspring shall be named
for you.”
Heb 11:19
He reasoned that God was able to raise him up even from the dead—and in
a sense, he did receive him back from there. TLV
#13
Faith Is Confident In Things To Come
Heb 11:20
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.
Heb 11:21
By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and
he bowed in worship while leaning on the top of his staff.
Heb 11:22
By faith Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the exodus of Bnei-Yisrael
and gave instructions about his bones.
Heb 11:23
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his
parents, because they saw he was an extraordinary child and they were not
afraid of the king’s decree. TLV
Heb 11:24
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of
Pharaoh’s daughter.
Heb 11:25 Instead he chose to suffer
mistreatment along with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the passing
pleasures of sin.
Heb 11:26
He considered the disgrace of Messiah as greater riches than the
treasures of Egypt—because he was looking ahead to the reward.
Heb 11:27
By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger—for he persevered
as if seeing the One who is invisible.
Heb 11:28
By faith he kept the Passover and the smearing of the blood, so that the
destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. TLV
Heb 11:29
By faith they passed through the Red Sea as if on dry ground. When the
Egyptians tried it, they were swallowed up.
Heb 11:30
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were circled for
seven days.
Heb 11:31
By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were
disobedient, because she welcomed the spies with shalom. TLV
Heb 3:6
But Messiah, as Son, is over God’s house—and we are His house, if we
hold firm to our boldness and what we are proud to hope. TLV
Heb 3:14
For we have become partners of Messiah, if we hold our original
conviction firm until the end. TLV
Heb 10:35
Do not, therefore, fling away your [fearless] confidence, for it
has a glorious and great reward.
Heb 10:36
For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult
circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the
will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised.
Heb 10:37
FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT
DELAY.
Heb 10:38
BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE [the one justified by faith] SHALL LIVE BY
FAITH [respecting man's relationship to God and trusting Him]; AND IF HE
DRAWS BACK [shrinking in fear], MY SOUL HAS NO DELIGHT IN HIM. [Hab.
2:3-4] AMP
Eph 3:12 In Him we have boldness and
access with confidence through trusting in Him.
TLV
1Jn
3:21 Beloved, if our heart does not
convict us [of guilt], we have confidence [complete assurance and
boldness] before God;
1Jn 3:22 and we receive from Him
whatever we ask because we [carefully and consistently] keep His
commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight [habitually
seeking to follow His plan for us].
1Jn 3:23
This is His commandment, that we believe [with personal faith and
confident trust] in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and [that we
unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, just as He
commanded us.
1Jn 3:24
The one who habitually keeps His commandments [obeying His
word and following His precepts, abides and] remains in Him, and He in him.
By this we know and have the proof that He [really] abides in us,
by the Spirit whom He has given us [as a gift]. AMP
#14
Faith That Obeys
Heb 11:32
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me if I tell of Gideon,
Barak, Samson, Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets.
Heb 11:33
By faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained
promises, shut the mouths of lions,
Heb 11:34
quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made
strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, and made foreign armies flee.
Heb 11:35
Women received their dead raised back to life; and others were tortured,
after not accepting release, so they might obtain a better resurrection.
Heb 11:36
Others experienced the trial of mocking and scourging—yes, and even
chains and prison.
Heb 11:37
They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were murdered with the
sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute,
afflicted, mistreated.
Heb 11:38
The world was not worthy of them! They wandered around in deserts and
mountains, caves and holes in the ground.
Heb 11:39
And all these, though commended for their faith, did not receive what
was promised—
Heb 11:40
because God had provided something better for us, so that only with us
would they reach perfection.
Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we have
such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also get rid of every
weight and entangling sin. Let us run with endurance the race set before us,
Heb 12:2
focusing on Yeshua, the initiator and perfecter of faith. For the joy
set before Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame; and He has taken
His seat at the right hand of the throne of God. TLV
#15
Faith Is a Lifestyle of Trust In God
Heb
10:38 But My righteous one shall live by
emunah; and if he shrinks back, My soul takes no pleasure in him.”
Heb 10:39
But we are not among the timid ones on the path to destruction, but
among the faithful ones on the path to the preservation of the soul. TLV
Heb 10:38
BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE [the one justified by faith] SHALL LIVE BY
FAITH [respecting man's relationship to God and trusting Him]; AND IF HE
DRAWS BACK [shrinking in fear], MY SOUL HAS NO DELIGHT IN HIM. [Hab.
2:3-4]
Heb 10:39 But N1our way is
not that of those who shrink back to destruction, but [we are] of those
who believe [relying on God through faith in Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and
by this confident faith preserve the soul.
AMP
#16
Faith Is a Shield
Eph
6:16 Above all, lift up the [protective]
N1shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming
arrows of the evil one. AMP
Eph 6:16 Always carry the shield of
trust, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the
Evil One. CJB
Eph 6:16 Above all, take up the
shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming
arrows of the evil one. TLV
#17
Faith Has Hope In the Future
Heb
3:6 But Messiah, as Son, is over God’s
house—and we are His house, if we hold firm to our boldness and what we are
proud to hope. TLV
Heb 3:12
Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil heart of
unbelief that falls away from the living God.
Heb 3:13
But encourage one another day by day—as long as it is called “Today”—so
that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Heb 3:14
For we have become partners of Messiah, if we hold our original
conviction firm until the end. TLV
Heb
6:11 But we long for each of you to show
the same eagerness for the certainty of hope to the very end—
Heb 6:12
so you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those inheriting the
promises through trust and perseverance. TLV
Heb 6:11
And we desire for each one of you to show the same diligence [all the
way through] so as to realize and enjoy the full assurance of hope
until the end,
Heb 6:12 so that you will not be [spiritually]
sluggish, but [will instead be] imitators of those who through faith [lean
on God with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in His power] and by
patient endurance [even when suffering] are [now] inheriting the
promises. AMP
Heb
10:22 let us approach [God] with
a true and sincere heart in unqualified assurance of faith, having had
our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed
with pure water.
Heb 10:23
Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without
wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and
faithful [to His word]; AMP
Heb 10:35
Do not, therefore, fling away your [fearless] confidence, for it
has a glorious and great reward.
Heb 10:36
For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult
circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the
will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised.
Heb 10:37
FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT
DELAY.
Heb 10:38
BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE [the one justified by faith] SHALL LIVE BY
FAITH [respecting man's relationship to God and trusting Him]; AND IF HE
DRAWS BACK [shrinking in fear], MY SOUL HAS NO DELIGHT IN HIM. [Hab.
2:3-4]
Heb 10:39 But N1our way is not that of those who shrink back to destruction, but [we are] of those who believe [relying on God through faith in Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and by this confident faith preserve the soul. AMP
#18
Faith Guarantees Answered Prayer
Mat
21:21 Jesus replied to them, "I
assure you and most solemnly say to you, if you have faith [personal
trust and confidence in Me] and do not doubt or allow yourself to be
drawn in two directions, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree,
but even if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' it
will happen [if God wills it]. [1Jn. 5:14]
Mat 21:22 And whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive."AMP
Mat 21:21 Yeshua answered them,
“Amen, I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do
what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken
up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.
Mat 21:22
And whatever you ask in prayer, trusting, you shall receive.” TLV
Mar
11:22 And Yeshua answered, saying to them,
“Have faith in God!
Mar 11:23
Amen, I tell you, if someone says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and
thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but trusts that what
he says is happening, so shall it be for him.
Mar 11:24
For this reason I say to you, whatever you pray and ask, believe that
you have received it, and it will be yours.
Mar 11:25
Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive
him, so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your transgressions.”
TLV
Mar 11:22
Jesus replied, "Have faith in God [constantly].
Mar 11:23
I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever says to this
mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea!' and N1does not
doubt in his heart [in God's unlimited power], but believes that what he
says is going to take place, it will be done for him [in accordance with
God's will]. [Mat. 17:20; Luke 17:6; 1Jn. 5:14]
Mar 11:24
For this reason I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer
[in accordance with God's will], believe [with confident trust]
that you have received them, and they will be given to you. AMP
Jas 1:2
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
Jas 1:3
knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
Jas 1:4
And let endurance have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and
complete, lacking in nothing.
Jas 1:5
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all
without hesitation and without reproach; and it will be given to him.
Jas 1:6
But let him ask in faith, without any doubting—for the one who doubts is
like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. TLV
Jas 1:2
Consider it nothing but joy, my N1brothers and sisters,
whenever you fall into various trials.
Jas 1:3
Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience]
produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace].
Jas 1:4
And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work,
so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith],
lacking in nothing.
Jas 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or
circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to
everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to
him.
Jas 1:6 But he must ask [for wisdom] in faith, without doubting [God's willingness to help], for the one who doubts is like a billowing surge of the sea that is blown about and tossed by the wind. AMP
Jewish Thoughts on Faith
1.
"With faith, there are no
questions; without faith there are no answers. " ~~ The Chofetz Chaim
2. "Faith is not a series of theorems but a way of life." ~~ Shmuel Hugo Bergman
4.
"Man can never be happy if he
does not nourish his soul as he does his body." ~~ Rebbe Manachen
Schneerson
5.
"Faith is the root and
foundation of all holiness." ~~ Nachman of Bratslav
6.
"Faith is the essence of
Torah." ~~ Mivchar Hapeninim
7.
"There is no love without total
faith." ~~ No’am Hamiddot
8.
"The righteous man shall live
by his faith. " ~~ Habakkuk (Chabakuk) 2:4
9. "Faith is beyond intelligence and perception." ~~ Shneur
Zalman, Tanya
10. "There is nothing greater than faith." ~~ Mivchar
Hapeninim
11. "No man is rewarded because God owes it to him, but God grants
reward out of His grace." ~~ Moshe Ben Ezra
From our Book “But The Righteous Shall Live By
His Faith” A Primer on the Halacha of Faith
Available from our website:
http://www.deborahsmessianicministries.com/Book%20Nook.htm
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