“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Heb 11:1.
The New Testament was originally written in Greek. The Old Testament was originally written in Aramaic and Hebrew. It is important to know the original words written and their meanings. It helps to put everything in its proper context. These give the reader of the Word greater insight to the actual meaning of the Scriptures. Although the greatest insight comes from the Holy Spirit.
Strong’s Concordance defines the Greek word for ‘faith’ as ‘pistis’ - persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself:--assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.
Strong’s Concordance defines the Greek word for ‘believe’ as ‘pisteuo’ - from pistis- to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ):--believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.
Notice that the Greek word for ‘faith’ and ‘belief’ are the same: pistis. Likewise, the word for ‘to have faith’ and ‘believe’ or ‘to believe’ are the same: pisteuo. In the New Testament, whenever you see the word ‘believe’ you can substitute ‘have faith’.
Strong’s Concordance defines the Greek word for ’hope’ as ‘elpis’ n. From a primary elpo (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence:--faith, hope. [In a Christian sense, hope is joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation.¹]
Strong’s Concordance defines the Greek word for ‘hoped for’ in the context of Heb 11:1 as ‘elpizo’ from elpis; to expect or confide:--(have, thing) hope(-d) (for), trust.
We in the West have denigrated the word ‘hope’. Someone may ask you if your favorite sports team is going to win the ball game, and you say, “I hope so.” In other words, you don’t think it will happen, but you would like them to win. The Biblical use of hope, as stated above, is joyful confident expectation. When you see the word ‘hope’, it means that we have every confidence and we expect the object of our hope to come to pass. Every time in the Bible you read the word ‘hope’, read aloud ‘confident expectation.’
“Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].” Hebrews 11:1 Amplified.
“Faith is the assurance.” Be assured what you have faith for has come to pass. You know that you know that you know it has happened. “The title deed.” If you own a car or a house, you have the title deed to it; it is yours. Faith is the title deed. “The proof of things [we] do not see.” Faith is the proof. It has happened. Just because you don’t see it in the natural, does not mean it isn’t true or hasn’t happened. It has happened. “The conviction of their(the things’) reality.” We have the conviction that the object of our faith has happened. “Faith perceiving as real fact.” To perceive means to understand. We understand the object of our faith is a real fact. “What is not revealed to the senses.” Again, don’t pay any attention to what you see or feel. Don’t pay attention to your circumstances. Believe what the Word says. Have faith.
Your faith is your belief. If you believe something to be true, you have faith in it and you can put your trust in it, because you know it to be true. “So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Have faith in God.’” Mark 11:22.
As a believer, you know (have faith) that you have eternal life through Jesus Christ; you know that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. “But there shall by no means enter it (the New Jerusalem) anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.” Revelation 21:27. How do you know that the Book of Life exists? Have you ever seen it? No. Have you ever touched it? No. You know it exists because it is in the Word; and we believe every word in the Bible is true. We have faith in the Word.
We have faith in our healing because it is scriptural (in the Word). “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5. “by whose stripes you were healed.” I Peter 2:24. “And the LORD will take away from you all sickness,” Deuteronomy 7:15. “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.” Proverbs 3:6-8. (There are many healing scriptures.)
We have faith in our prosperity because it is scriptural. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33. “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth,” Deuteronomy 8:18. “Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage (portion, reward, allotment). As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor--this is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 5:18-19. “And God is able to make all grace(every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].” II Corinthians 9:8, Amplified. (There are many prosperity scriptures.)
Faith is believing what God says; both in the written word (Greek: Logos) and the spoken word (Greek: Rhema) of God. Believe the truth in the word of God. “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Numbers 23:19. “PAUL, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching,” Titus 1:1-3. “Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.” Hebrews 6:17-18. “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11. “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” John 17:17.
We can all believe (have faith) that the entire Bible is true. From “In the beginning…” to “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Every promise. Every blessing. Every healing. Every miracle. Every word is true! Believe it! Receive it! Have faith in the Word of God!
Greg Griffin. To enjoy more blogs by Greg, click here.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotes are from The Holy Bible, New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked "Amplified" are from The Amplified Bible, Expanded Edition.
Copyright 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation and The Lockman foundation. All rights reserved. The Amplified Bible, Copyright 1965, 1987. The Amplified Old Testament, Part One, Copyright 1964; The Amplified Old Testament, Part Two, Copyright 1962 by The Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testament, Copyright 1958, 1987; The Amplified Gospel of John, Copyright 1954, 1987 by The Lockman Foundatation, La Habra, CA 90631.
Strong’s Concordance definitions from The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D., Copyright 1990 by Thomas Nelson Publishers.
¹ From Blue Letter Bible - Lexicon.www.blueletterbible.org. “Outline of Biblical Usage” for Strong’s G1680 - elpis.
