Subject: What is the "Force of Faith"? |
Bible Note: Hi Tim... The early morning is my free time so I came downstairs to discuss this with you this morning. However, I had not written down the ID# and sometime yesterday the thread was restricted so I had difficulty finding your post. I wll try to get a little in this morning, but it may be tomorrow before I can get indepth. You said: "So, the first question I would ask you to address is simply this: If faith is a power that produces a reality, why does Heb. 11:13 say that they did not receive?" I re read Hebres 11 and 12 yesterday on my commute home and a couple of things were highlighted in my thinking. 1. They did receive from their faith... a. Enoch was translated b. Noah was saved and his household He condemned the world and became heir of righteousness. c. Sarah recieved strength to conceive seed and Abraham was 'dead' yet he had the son of promise. (I would consider that a creative miracle) Now verse 13 can't be saying they did not 'receive' but rather that there is something specific they all did not receive while alive... verse 14-19 tells us what that promise was.They 'sought a country...a better country that is heavenly: this is why God is not ashamed to be called their God and has prepared for them a city. Verse 17 says that "by faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Issac: and he had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, (18) Of whom it was said, That in Issac shall thy seed be called: (19)Accounting that God was able to raise him up from the dead; from whence also he had received him in a figure. Verse 33..subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises... Verse 35..Women received their dead raised to life again Faith produces God's reality even after physical death. Verse 40 is the key...God having provided some better thing for, that they without us should not be made perfect(complete). The saints of old did receive many great miracles through faith in God's Words. To me, these scriptures do not state in any way that faith does not produce the reality God desires, but rather is necessary to produce His reality. Faith combined with God's promises produces God's will in the earth. Again substance according to Strong's: that which has foundation, is firm that which has actual existence a substance, real being the substantial quality, nature, of a person or thing the steadfastness of mind, firmness, courage, resolution confidence, firm trust, assurance In light of this I reaffirm what Strong's says of this word 'substance'. According to Strong's Hebrews 11:1 the Greek word is translated substance and means 'nature'. And above it is broken out as 'a substance, real being the substantial quality, nature, of a person or thing ' Faith is the substantial quality, naure of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen... Faith produces reality...faith in God's promises produces God's desires in the earth. Got to go, God bless |