The Essence of Faith - Lesson 9

The writer of Hebrews tells us "faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance of what we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1). "Without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). That's the essence of faith. Faith is tied to Jesus Christ. Apart from him, it is just an empty meaningless word. But when Jesus Christ shows up, that word fills with life, substance and meaning. We continue examining the story of Abraham and Isaac and see how Abraham's faith was lived out. Abraham was tested, at the critical moment, and his faith proved genuine. He truly believed God had power over death. Here is where belief in the resurrection is crucial. Do you really believe this to be true? If not, perhaps it's time for you to step into the faith of Abraham and experience the reality of the resurrection. (Chapter 3, page 22)