Imperative to a Christian’s salvation is our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We know this truth as detailed in the key verses of Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.” But our faith does not stop here, it only begins. It’s from this faith step that each subsequent step of faith begins. It’s through this faith in Jesus Christ that all faith must reside. Hebrews 11:1-2 NKJV tells us, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.” In this passage we have the assurance of the faith referenced in Ephesians, a guarantee of eternity in Christ Jesus. The second verse of the passage describes to us that faith doesn’t occur at a particular point in our life, but it is a process by which we live the rest of our lives and through that faith, we provide a testimony to others. It’s in this verse that the author points to the titans of biblical history and their great faith in God that carried them through their lives. For it is, “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” Hebrews 11:3 And it is by faith that we are to live, like the elders of the ancient days:
By Faith Abel offered sacrifice…
By Faith Enoch was taken up…
By Faith Noah prepared an ark…
By Faith Abraham was tested…
By Faith Sarah conceived…
By Faith Isaac offered blessings…
By Faith Jacob blessed his sons…
By Faith Joseph gave instructions…
By Faith Moses led the Exodus…
By Faith the walls of Jericho fell…
By Faith the harlot Rahab did not perish…
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented- 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.” Hebrews 11:4-40
This list is a litany of who’s who in the Old Testament. Just as the author of Hebrews alludes to, no doubt he could go on and on with great examples of living by faith if time would permit him.
Living by faith is not limited to the Old Testament alone, Jesus makes it clear in His admonishment of the disciples (Matthew 17:19-20) that with faith the mere size of a mustard seed literally anything is possible, even the ability to physically move a mountain. Why is it that we struggle so much then with steps of faith? Surely if we faithfully stepped out of the boat like the Apostle Peter to answer Jesus’ call, we too could walk on water (Matthew 14:29-30).
But our nature is sinful. Our flesh is wrought with sin that keeps us from this perfect faith and that’s why we sink in the water just like Peter. But there too is hope for us, because like Peter we have Jesus right there with us. And like with Peter, Jesus reaches down and lifts us up when our faith is weak, that in this moment our faith might be made perfect through Him. It’s in our weakest, most difficult moments when the waves are crashing all around us and the tempestuous sea is at her worst that faith is needed most. If we would only keep our eyes fixed on Jesus the “Author and Finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2) how easy it would be for Him to tell the stormy seas, “Be Still” that through it all we might be able to continue to walk on the sea towards Him.
By Faith We Live…
Prayer: Our Prayer today is straightforward. Let us follow the path of the apostles who said to the Lord, increase our faith. Luke 17:5 Pray that in all things the Lord increases your faith. So that it will be by faith you live and by faith that you trust in Jesus.
Additional Study: Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Matthew 14:22-33
Romans 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
