Let's discuss verses in the Bible
By amorlife1
@amorlife1 (370)
South Africa
November 15, 2010 2:02pm CST
I have been meditating on these three verses in the Bible, and I've been very blessed by what the Holy Spirit has been telling me about them. I'd like to share the verses with you and get your thoughts on them. Let's share the Word of God.
1. Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2. Romans 10:17 - So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
3. Hebrews 11: 6 - But without faith it is impossible to please Him...
When you look at these three verses, what comes to your mind?
3 people like this
5 responses
@abitosunshine (765)
• United States
16 Nov 10
The first, to me, means without faith there is no hope for anything, for faith is the belief without proof, this being the "substance" referred to. The second, hearing the word of God strengthens faith. And the third, to me simply means that it's not possible to please something you do not have faith in in the first place.
However, I don't like deciphering a sentence (verse) from a chapter, as you can lose the contextual meaning of the verse.
Also, I would have liked you to answer the question also, sharing what these verses mean to you.
2 people like this
@shattered (1728)
• Philippines
16 Nov 10
I agree that verses taken out of context can be very dangerous. However, the subject verses are pretty clear cut and accepted as doctrine by almost every Christian religion I know (emphasis on the ALMOST!).
I believe however, that these are some of the verses that can truly stand on their own (stand alone, so to speak) without changing its context.
But yeah I agree, very difficult to comment when the context is unclear.
1 person likes this
@amorlife1 (370)
• South Africa
18 Nov 10
I agree with both of you, that a lot of times, verses can be ambiguous or unclear if not given the context. But as shattered says, these three verses on their own cannot be taken out of context.
My thoughts?
The three verses together give a pretty complete dissertation on Faith. The first defines Faith. It is the substance, the tangibility, of things hoped for. Without faith, hope is simply wishful thinking. But with Faith, what you hope for is tangible. It is the evidence of things not seen. Sounds like a contradiction, and it is to the physical senses. But in the realm of the spirit, that's what makes sense. Faith makes the unseen real. Remember, God called forth light out of the darkness BEFORE the light became physically real. To God, the unseen light was real enough for Him to call it out.
Then, when you know what Faith is, the second verse tells you how to get it. When you receive Christ, you are given a measure of Faith (it takes a measure of faith to accept Jesus in the first place). You grow your measure of faith by listening to and meditating on the Word of God.
The third one explains how important Faith is. As a Christian, your number one goal is to please the Father. And the third verse tells us that no matter what you do, if you don't do it in faith, you cannot reach your goal of pleasing Him.
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@PastorP (1170)
• United States
16 Nov 10
Greetings amorlife1 .
Lot's comes to mind. Can't help it. I'm a minister.
But, in brief, those verses speak to me that true faith is an expression of our love to God, in that as we hear Him, we obey Him. True faith has visible and tangible results in this life, the Life to come.
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
18 Nov 10
Aha! If we love God, we trust him! And believe him! And also that opens the channel for extra-ordinary things! (Rather than unbelief blocking God's blessings.)
@amorlife1 (370)
• South Africa
18 Nov 10
That is indeed true Pastor. Faith is an expression of complete trust. One cannot say one loves God, but doesn't trust Him. When one puts one's complete trust in God, He does extraordinary things!
1 person likes this
@amorlife1 (370)
• South Africa
22 Nov 10
True! Doubt and unbelief are the opposites of faith and trust.
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
18 Nov 10
It seems to me that Hebrews 11:1 implies that God Himself puts faith in our hearts as hope.. visions of what could be.. In the broader, everlasting or ultimate reality sense, it's the promise in our hearts of the perfection of his restored paradise and our concept of how wonderful he is and all he has planned.
- And Romans 10:17 I'm thinking tells us how in the heck can we believe his promises and plan, etc, if we don't read about it or hear about it, and habitually at that!
(Am I right?!)
- Hebrews 11:6 - If we don't believe, how can He be happy with us?
I enjoyed that! Now to see what anyone else might have written..
(Am I right?!)
- Hebrews 11:6 - If we don't believe, how can He be happy with us?
I enjoyed that! Now to see what anyone else might have written..
@kerriannc (4279)
• Jamaica
17 Nov 10
1. Hebrews 11:1 without Faith we will not be able to have the confidence that things we ask for will happen. 2 Romans 10:17 Our faith is build by reading or hearing the word of God. If we don't build our one and one relationship with God through Jesus Christ his Son then we will not have faith and without this faith we will not have hope. Hebrews 11:6 If we don't have Faith then we will never be able to do the things that God want of us to do. Then we will go back to our sinful nature and do things that are not of God.
So let us as Christians/Born Again utilize our Faith in God so that we can have a life of Righteousness. It is through our Faith that the devil well not overcome us. Always remember that Hebrews is an encouragement for those who were on the verge of backsliding. The writer was letting them know what is needed to have a relationship with God.
1 person likes this
@amorlife1 (370)
• South Africa
18 Nov 10
Very well put! You've summarized it very well. And your advise should be taken to heart. As Christian, we NEED to work on building our faith all the time. Because it is one sure way to please the Father. Spend time with the Word of God, because that's how we please Him.
1 person likes this
@shattered (1728)
• Philippines
16 Nov 10
Well... Faith comes to mind!
I guess these verses speak of what one must do to:
1.) Please God;
2.) Know what faith is; and
3.) Know how to gain/increase/strengthen your faith.
In order to please God, it is not the act that matters, it is the thought behind the act. Why it was done, if it was done without faith other people may be blessed by the act itself was not pleasing to God because of the motive behind it. (Hebrews 11:6)
Don't equate, being loved by God to being able to please God. God loves you regardless of who or what you've done.
Knowing now that you need faith to please God, you need to know what faith is, and that it is a substance, an actual thing. It is real. Though the things hoped for cannot be seen still. their is difference between dreaming and having faith. Dreams are just ordinary hopes, it has no substance nothing is definite. While faith is tangible, it has substance. (Hebrews 11:1)
Now, knowing that you need faith to please God and what faith is, you need to read/listen to the word of God, that is, the Bible, in order for faith to come into your life. You will not believe in something you do not know. Hence it is necessary to know God through his word in order for one to believe in Him. (Romans 10:17)
That is my take on thing, hope I was helpful.
@amorlife1 (370)
• South Africa
18 Nov 10
This is a very inspired response. It is exactly what I had in my spirit!
2 people like this
