Text: Hebrews 11:1-3
Main Point: Faith is the foundation that gives us confidence in God's promises, even when we cannot see the full picture.
Introduction
Imagine for a second that you're about to go skydiving. You're all suited up, heart racing, and the plane door opens at 13,000 feet—the wind roars. You can see the vast expanse below—it's beautiful, terrifying, and exhilarating. Now, before you jump, you recheck your parachute and harness. But here's the thing: you haven't seen the parachute open. You've only been told it works and it's reliable, tested, and certified.
The moment you step out of the plane, you are acting in faith that the parachute will open, that the instructors knew what they were doing, and that everything unseen will work according to plan.
In the same way, the book of Hebrews tells us that faith is not blind belief; it's trust based on what we know about God, even if we can't yet see the whole picture. This trust is deeply rooted in certainty—God's promises have never failed, and they never will. This unwavering trust in the trustworthiness of God's promises should fill us with confidence and reassurance.
Purpose & Context
The Book of Hebrews is one of the most theologically rich letters in the New Testament, and its primary focus is this; Jesus is better. The author, who remains anonymous, is writing to a group of Christians familiar with the Hebrew Scripture and who are on the verge of giving up. They are weary from persecution (10:32-34) and tempted to return to their old ways and give up on their confidence in the Lord (10:35).
But the message of Hebrews is clear, don't go back. Jesus is the fulfillment of everything the Old Testament pointed toward. Jesus is better than angels, better than Moses, better than the temple system, and better than the sacrifices. He is the Great High Priest who offers the ultimate and final sacrifice—Himself.
The letter contains five main movements, constantly drawing attention to the supremacy of Christ and how faith in Him surpasses any former religious system. The main movements of the letter follow this pattern:
Jesus is Superior to Angels (Hebrews 1-2)
Jesus is greater than Moses (Hebrews 3-4)
Jesus is the Great High Priest (Hebrews 5-7)
Jesus is a Greater Sacrifice (Hebrews 8-10)
Faith and Endurance (Hebrews 11-13)
At the heart of this letter is a call to perseverance—a challenge to remain faithful even when things get tough. This leads us to Hebrews 11, the famous "Hall of Faith," where the author invites the audience to consider what it means to live with certainty in God's promises, even when they seem distant or unclear.
Understanding Faith
Hebrews 11:1–3 (NIV)
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
The author provides us with a working understanding of faith; confidence and assurance. Faith is about being sure of what we hope for and having a deep-seated conviction about things we cannot yet see.
The Greek word for confidence (hypostasis) can be understood as a foundation or substance. It's like saying, 'Faith is the substance of what we hope for.' In simpler terms, faith is the solid ground on which our hope is built. It's not just wishful thinking; it's the certainty that God's promises are real, even if we don't see them yet.
The word translated as assurance (elegchos) carries the idea of proof or conviction. It's as if faith is the evidence itself. We might not have all the details, but our trust in God provides the assurance we need to move forward.
The author then moves from this understanding to examples from the past, showing that this kind of faith was not just theoretical but practical—what motivated the 'ancients' (elders or men of old) to act. We'll study these individuals in this series—people like Noah, Abraham, and Sarah, who lived their lives anchored in the certainty of God's promises. Their practical faith should inspire and motivate us as we gain a better understanding of faith.
Faith & Creation
Hebrews 11:3 (NIV)
“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
Here, the author points to the very beginning of everything—the creation of the universe—as an act of faith. The phrase 'what is seen was not made out of what was visible' refers to God's creation of the world out of nothing, a concept that requires faith to believe. Creation is a testimony to God's power and creativity, even though no one witnessed how He did it. We trust the creation narrative, not because we were there to observe it but because we trust the One who spoke it into being. We trust in His unfailing word.
Living with Certainty
So, what does this mean for us today? Faith is certainty in God's promises, even when we can't see how they will unfold.
For the original audience of Hebrews, this was a considerable challenge. They were being persecuted, suffering loss, and struggling with doubt. They couldn't see the fulfillment of God's promises in their immediate circumstances, yet the author calls them to hold on confidently.
For us, faith means trusting God when life doesn't make sense. It's trusting Him when the diagnosis is bad, the job doesn't come through, and the relationship falls apart.
Like the parachute, we don't always see God's plan unfold before we step forward. But faith is knowing the parachute is there and trusting it will hold when the time comes.
Crossing The Context
As we begin our journey through Hebrews 11, we will see examples of people who lived with this kind of faith—people who trusted in God's promises even when they couldn't see how it would all work out. Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, and Moses are individuals who, in their own way, said, I'm confident in God's promises, even though the outcome is hidden from me. So, as we dive into this series, the question for all of us is this:
Where is God calling you to live with certainty in His promises, even when you can't see the whole picture?
Notes:
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from: ”Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.