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Faith

My Beloved Brother and Sister;

Remember, "For we walk by faith and not by sight."

(2 Corinthians 5:7)

1. The Law

2. Faith 

Faith

 

 

Authorized Version 1611 [punctuation/italics]

&

King James Bible 1769 [spelling]

Concordance / Lexicon:

  • Analytical Concordance to the Bible: Robert Young, 1880.

  • The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.

  • Thayer's Greek Lexicon.

  • Gingrich, Greek New Testament Lexicon

  • Danker, Greek New Testament Lexicon

Greek Text:

Beza 1598 & Stephanus 1550 Textus Receptus.

Key:

  •  G#### : Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Number:— used when comparing Greek words that share the same Root word, but not the same inflection.

  • Open Bracket [abc] : Minsert/input.

 

 

 

 

Faith

 

 

Beza Greek New Testament 1598

Ἔστι δὲ πίστις ἐλπιζομένων ὑπόστασις, πραγμάτων ἔλεγχος οὐ βλεπομένων.

 

Hebrews 11:1

"Now faith is the (//Or, ground, or confidence) substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

faith-πίστις (pistis)-faith, faithfulness, steadfastness): Faith always has been the mark of God's servants, from the beginning of the world. Where the principle is planted by the regenerating Spirit of God, it will cause the truth to be received, concerning justification by the sufferings and merits of Christ. 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 he has promised to us in Christ. This persuasion gives the soul to enjoy those things now; it gives them a subsistence or reality in the soul, by the first-fruits and foretastes of them. Faith proves to the mind, the reality of things that cannot be seen by the bodily eye. It is a full approval of all God has revealed, as holy, just, and good. This view of faith is explained by many examples of persons in former times, who obtained a good report, or an honourable character in the word of God. Faith was the principle of their holy obedience, remarkable services, and patient sufferings -(Matthew H.)

 

the substance-ὑπόστασις (hupostasis)-what stands under, substratum, (i.e. confidence, firm trust, assurance, ground of hope, foundation) of things hoped for-ἐλπιζομένων (elpizomenon)-to hope): The word υποστασις, here rendered substance, is translated confidence, (Hebrews 3:14,) and may be rendered subsistence, which is its etymological meaning, and also[:] ground, basis, or support. The meaning of the clause seems to be, that faith is a confidence that we shall receive the good things for which we hope, and that by it we enjoy, as it were, a present subsistence or anticipation of them in our souls. It also gives a foundation or ground for our expecting them; because by it we are justified, adopted into God’s family, and born of God’s Spirit, and, therefore, being his children, are heirs of the things for which we hope -(Benson). 

Faith gives them reality in the view of the mind. The Christian hopes to be admitted into heaven; to be raised up in the last day from the slumbers of the tomb, to be made perfectly free from sin; to be everlastingly happy. Under the influence of faith he allows these things to control his mind as if they were a most affecting reality -(Barnes). 

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, John 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.''-(Gill).

* example of G5287: ὑπόστασις (hupostasis) click: Hebrews 3:14 (confidence)

the evidence-ἔλεγχος (elegchos)- conviction, (i.e. persuasion, or  demonstration) of things-πραγμάτων (pramaton)-a deed, doing, matter, anything done) not-οὐ (ou)-no, not) seen-βλεπομένων (blepomenon)-to see): The evidence — Ελεγχος, the conviction, persuasion, or  demonstration, wrought in the mind; of things not seen — Of things invisible and eternal, of God and the things of God; giving us an assurance of them in some respects equal to that which our outward senses give us of the things of this visible and temporal world. “The word ελεγχος,” says Macknight, “denotes a strict proof, or  demonstration; a proof which thoroughly convinces the understanding, and determines the will. The apostle’s meaning is, that faith answers all the purposes of a demonstration, because, being founded on the veracity and power of God, these perfections are to the believer complete evidence of the things which God declares have happened, or are to happen, however much they may be out of the ordinary course of things.” The objects of faith, therefore, are much more numerous and extensive than those of hope: the latter are only things future, and apprehended by us to be good; whereas those of faith are either future, past, or present, and those either good or evil, whether to us or others: such as “the creation of the world without any pre-existing matter to form it of, the destruction of the old world by the deluge, the glory which Christ had with his Father before the world began, his miraculous conception in the womb of his mother, his resurrection from the dead, his exaltation in the human nature to the government of the universe, the sin and punishment of the angels, &c. All which we believe on the testimony of God, as firmly as if they were set before us by the evidence of sense.”-(Benson)

 

Matthew 17:20

"And Jesus said unto them, "Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."

Hebrews 11-1.jpg

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Hebrews 11:3

Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

 

worlds: literally, "ages"; all that exists in time and space, visible and invisible, present and eternal.

  

word of God: the spoken word; 

things which are seen: All that we see of the works of creation, were brought into being by the command of God.

not made of things: not made from pre-existent matter, but out of nothing; and all from secret and hidden ideas in the divine minds.

 

 

Faith in Works

 

 

 

 

Hebrews 11:7

"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith."

moved with fear: Noah's obedience to the divine warning was an evidence at once of his fear of God and of the faith which gave substance and present reality to "the things not seen as yet

heir: This righteousness is looked on as an inheritance, received by all who manifest the faith; through the righteousness of Christ. 

prepared: Immediately, and without delay.

 

condemned: the world of the ungodly:

 

Hebrews 11:11

"Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised."

Sara: "being barren", and of very old age.

strength: receiving power from God to retain seed, received from men, and conceive by it

judged: that she should have a son at the time of life

2 Corinthians 5:7

"(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)"

 

Hebrews 11:17 

"By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,"

tried: "God did tempt Abraham"; and whatever he requires is just and good.

offered: he showed great readiness to do it; he built an altar, laid the wood in order on it; and bound his son, and laid him on that; and took the knife, and stretched forth his hand to slay him, and fully intended to do it, had he not been prevented by the Angel sent forth by GOD.

only: a son whom he loved; a son of joy; a son of promise; and his heir.

 

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

 

 

Hebrews 11:24-25

24 "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;"

years: "was great"; being learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians; or being full forty years of age.

refused: by whom Moses was taken up out of the water; by whom he was named, and provided for; she reckoned him as her own son 

suffer: with the Israelites, who were God's chosen and peculiar people, and were the true worshippers of him. 

pleasures: either the pleasures, honours, and riches in Pharaoh's court, or else sinful lusts.

 

 

 

Hebrews 11:29

"By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned."

through: Not through a river, but through the sea, the Red sea; and this they did by faith, believing, that God would make a passage quite through it for them

Egyptians: Pharaoh and his great army attempted to do the same, but were met with the wrath of God.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Faith in God

 

 

 

Jude 1:20-21

20 "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."

building: meaning the doctrine of faith in all its branches, which is holy, a most holy doctrine; which displays the holiness of God, and is a means of beginning and increasing internal holiness in the saints

praying: the Holy Ghost is the author and enditer of prayer, and an assister in it; without him saints cannot call God their Father, nor pray with faith and fervency, or with freedom and liberty.

 

Mark 11:22

"And Jesus answering saith unto them, "Have faith in God."

 

1 Peter 1:5

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

kept: "you"; under the guardianship of God's power. Persons for whom the inheritance is reserved in heaven

faith: through faith looking to Christ, leaning on him, and living upon him; by faith getting the victory over the world, and every other enemy, and being more than conquerors, through Christ.

ready: it is "ready", being a kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world, and a salvation obtained by the blood of Christ.

 

Luke 17:5

"And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith."

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Galatians 5:5

"5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love"

we: "We" who abide in Christ, and continue steadfast in the grace into which Christ has brought us; that is, we believers in Christ.

Spirit: through the righteousness of Christ received by faith, under the influence and testimony of the Spirit of God.

hope: but eternal glory and felicity is here intended, called "hope"; because it is the object of hope, or is what is hoped for; it is unseen.

faith: We Christians, as led by the Spirit of adoption, do rest in the confident anticipation of receiving the inheritance which is the future award of the righteous, on the ground of our faith in the Lord Jesus 

Matthew 15:28

"Then Jesus answered and said unto her, "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt". And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."

 

Hebrews 11:6

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him"

impossible: Or do things well pleasing in his sight; or any of the duties of religion, in an acceptable way; as prayer, praise, attendance on the word and ordinances, or any good works.

cometh: to the throne, to his grace, to pray unto him, to implore his grace and mercy.

believe: he must believe in the three Persons in the Godhead; that the first Person is the Father of Christ; that the second Person is both the Son of God, and Mediator; and that the third Person is the Spirit of them both, and the applier of all grace; for God the Father is to be approached unto, through Christ the Mediator, by the guidance and assistance of the Spirit

rewarder: with more grace; and, at last, with eternal glory, the reward of the inheritance

Galatians 3:6-7

6"Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham."

 

Types of Faith

Trials and Temptations

James 1:2-3

2"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience."

temptations: not the temptations of Satan, or temptations to sin; for these cannot be matter of joy, but grief; these are fiery darts, and give a great deal of uneasiness and trouble; but afflictions and persecutions for the sake of the Gospel, which are so called here and elsewhere, because they are trials of the faith of God's people, and of other graces of the Spirit of God. God by these tempts his people, as he did Abraham, when he called him to sacrifice his son; he thereby tried his faith, fear, love, and obedience; so by afflictions, God tries the graces of his people; not that he might know them, for he is not ignorant of them, but that they might be made manifest to others

trying of your faith: two things afflictions do when sanctified; one is, they try faith, the truth of it, and make it appear to be true, genuine, and precious, like gold tried in the fire;  and the other is, that they produce patience: saints being inured to afflictions, become by degrees more patient under them;otherwise the effect of them is impatience.

James 1:12

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

temptation: Or affliction, which is designed by temptation; and the man that endures it is he that so bears it, and bears up under it, as not to be offended at it, and stumble in the ways of Christ, and fall away from the truth, and a profession of it, as temporary believers in a time of temptation do; but manfully and bravely stands up under it, and does not sink under the weight of it, or faint on account of it; and endures afflictions in such manner as not to murmur and repine at them, but is quiet and still, and bears them patiently and constantly, and so endures to the end.

crown of life: eternal happiness, called a "crown", because of the glory of it, which will be both upon the bodies and souls of believers to all eternity; and as suitable to their character, they being kings, and having a kingdom and thrones prepared for them

Doers of the Word

James 1:22-24

22"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was."

doers: And they are such, who spiritually understand it; gladly receive it; and from the heart obey it, and make a sincere and ingenuous profession of it; and who submit to the ordinances it directs to, and keep them as they have been delivered; and live, and walk, becoming their profession of it. 

hearers :though the word should be heard swiftly and readily, and received with meekness; yet it should not be barely heard, and assented to; but what is heard should be put in practice; and especially men should not depend upon their hearing, as if that would save them; this is deceiving your own selves; such as rest upon the outward hearing of the word will be sadly deceived, and will find themselves miserably mistaken.

forgetteth :he forgets either his spots, blemishes, and imperfections; or his comeliness and beauty; the features of his face, be they comely or not: so a bare hearer of the word, who is not concerned to practise what he hears, while he is hearing, he observes some things amiss in himself, and some excellencies in Christ; but, when the discourse is over, he goes his way, and thinks no more of either.

Faith and Deeds

James 2:14

"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?"

profit: faith without works, particularly without works of mercy, is of no profit and advantage

works: Like that of Abraham, Noah, and Moses, which are driven by faith; and so are the works of the Spirit; which include love, joy, and peace

faith:  Christ, object of faith, is the only cause and author of salvation; faith is only that grace which receives a justifying righteousness, the pardon of sin, adoption, and a right to the heavenly inheritance.

James 2:26

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

James 2:15-17

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

 

profit: by this instance, shows, that as that charity which lies only in words, and in tongue, and not in deed, and in truth, is unprofitable, and good for nothing, even to them that profess it; so that faith, which a man says he has, and yet is without works, is alike unprofitable unto him.

 

dead: It is like a lifeless carcass, a body without a soul; for as works, without faith, are dead works; so faith, without works, is a dead faith, and not like the lively hope and faith of regenerated persons: and indeed, such who have no other faith than this are dead in trespasses and sins; not that works are the life of faith, or that the life of faith lies in, and flows from works; but, as Dr. Ames observes (b), good works are second acts, necessarily flowing from the life of faith; to which may be added, and by these faith appears to be living, lively and active, or such who perform them appear to be true and living believers

James 2:24

"Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."


 

Faith Healing

James 5:14-15

14"Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

elders of the church: By these may be meant, either the elder members of the church, men of gravity and soundness in the faith, persons of long standing and experience; who have the gift and grace of prayer, and are not only capable of performing that duty, but of giving a word of counsel and advice to the sick.

prayer of faith : or "heal".  That is, the prayer of the elders, being put up in faith by them, and in which the sick person joins by faith; such a prayer is a means of bringing down from God a blessing on the sick man, and of restoring him to his former health: and the Lord shall raise him up; from his bed of sickness, on which he is laid, and bring him forth to praise his name, and to fear and glorify him. 

forgiven : he shall have a discovery, and an application of pardoning grace to him: and indeed the removing the sickness or disease may be called the forgiveness of his sins, which is sometimes the sense of this phrase in Scripture.

Mark 16:17-18

17 "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

Galatians 3:28

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

 

 

Colossians 2:8

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

2 Corinthians 13:5-6

"5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates."

** please contact me if you believe I need to omit or add information to this page. Also, please read the Word of God and study it.

"16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

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