Faith; the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).
What is the substance and evidence spoken of in the verses thereafter???
...a more excellent sacrifice.
...the preparing of an ark
...sojourning in a strange country.
...suffering affliction with the people of God
...forsaking Egypt. ...doing righteousness.
...wandering in deserts and mountains and in dens and in caves. (Hebrews 11:2-40)
The substance and evidence were the things these men did.
Faith is a substance. Faith is evidence. Faith is an action.
Faith is actually the doing of something that God requires of us.
The things these men did were faith.
Faith is man's response to God’s righteous demands on his life.
The definition of faith according to Protestant evangelicals
I recently heard a protestant evangelical preaching… “Faith and works are mutually exclusive." A man who held this view once told me that… “Faith is something you just can’t quite put your finger on. Once you think you have it pinned down then… puff, it vanishes away.” The definition of faith according to Protestant evangelicals then is as follows… Faith; The hope of things not the substance of them, the things not seen rather than the evidence of those things. They end up with the exact opposite of what Hebrews 11:1 says. This is why someone who simply responds to what God asks of us by doing righteousness is accused by such people as having a righteousness that is no more than filthy rags.
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil;…” 1 John 3:7,8
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