“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” Hebrews 11:1-2
I couldn’t let the month past without blogging on these verses from Hebrews, my favorite book of the Bible. It’s chock full of inspiring statements and this particular one hangs on my bedroom wall.
My husband, who is a pastor, tells me that when he visits people who are ill or dying, he often hears these words: “I believe in Jesus, and I hope I am saved.” This is not quite right, because there is a difference between having faith and having hope (check it out on the website Beth Ann recommended, https://www.differencebetween.com). Hope is anticipating that something may come to pass; faith is an assurance that it will. The author of Hebrews in exactly right: if we have faith in Christ, we do not merely hope in our salvation we can be sure of it. It also means we can be assured of many other promises of God, such as:
- He is working all things out for our good
- He will never leave us or forsake us
- He will supply all our needs
- Nothing can separate us from Him
and more. Even those before Christ had this kind of faith because trusted in the promises of God even without seeing their fulfillment.
“These all died in faith, not having received what was promised, but having seen it and greeted it from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” Hebrews 11:13
They were looking forward to something; we are looking back. Shouldn’t our faith be even stronger since we have the privilege of knowing our salvation has already been accomplished through Christ’s death on the cross?
Have faith, friends. You can be sure.
“If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
Lutheran Ladies Connection 