Dear Fellow Believers in Christ, (The Father and the Son's Genuine Eternal Faith in Us)
What is the true source and substance of faith? If faith is a noun, where did we come up with the idea that faith is something that Christians are supposed to muster up? Your faith is probably not working, because you need genuine eternal faith! Then, what is genuine eternal faith? How can Spiritually rebirthed sons obtain genunine eternal faith? Let us look into Hebrews 11 and 12 and see some of the definitions of faith and look at some of the heroes of faith and see how they lived by genuine eternal faith.
GENUINE ETERNAL FAITH"And all these, having (once then) born witness through faith, did not once then receive the promise, God having once then foreseen something better concerning us, that they should not once then be made complete apart from us" (Hebr. 11:39-40, author's translation).
First, Genuine Eternal Faith is a Vision Received From God as the Source
The author of Hebrews clearly declares, "Moreover faith ever is the substance of things ever being hoped for, the evidence of things not ever seen" (Hebr. 11:1). With this clear definition of faith being the evidence of things not ever seen, it is clearly not a part of this temporal world. Faith is eternal substance from God as the Source. "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible" (Hebr. 11:3). Faith is a noun – an eternal vision of the things unseen. Believe is a verb – the temporal outworking of the genuine eternal faith in us. Abel's more excellent sacrifice was out of the faith he received from God (Hebr. 11:4). His lamb sacrifice was a type and picture of Christ, the eternal sacrifice for us. Abel's sacrifice showed that he lived by the life of another – not the temporal works of his own hands. Enoch pleased God. "Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him" (Gen. 5:24). "Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebr. 11:6). God spoke from heaven about His Beloved Son saying, "This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17). The Father is well pleased in the Son. Faith is living by the eternal vision and substance from the life of another. Enoch pleased God for he lived by the faith and life from God.
Second, Genuine Eternal Faith is an Eternal Word of God's Direction
We have another witness concerning Noah that, "By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, and prepared an ark" (Hebr. 11:7). Faith is evidence of things not seen. At this time it had never rained upon the earth (Gen. 2:5). The earth had a water vapor canopy suspended above the heavens. The earth was much like a terrarium. A mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the earth (Gen. 2:6). The genuine eternal faith given to Noah, built godly fear within, and resulted in Noah's belief and obedience to God.
Third, Genuine Eternal Faith Revolves Around a Divine Revelation of Christ
"By faith Abraham obeyed God" (Hebr. 11:8). Abraham went to the place he would afterward receive as an inheritance. By faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise (Hebr. 11:9). All the time Abraham "waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Hebr. 11:10). We are told, "these all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off" (Hebr. 11:13). "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac" (Hebr. 11:17). Jesus told the scribes and the Pharisees, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad" (John 8:56). Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering" (Gen. 22:8). The Father gave Abraham a genuine eternal faith revelation of Christ.
Fourth, Genuine Eternal Faith Builds His Character and Endurance in Us
By faith Moses, when he was born was hidden by his parents (Hebr. 11:23). God gave His faith first to Moses' parents and honored His faith to them – truthfully, all the days of Moses' life. Later, Moses discovered that he was an Israelite by birth and not an Egyptian. By faith, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharoah (Hebr. 11:24). "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible" (Hebr. 11:27). By faith Moses kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood over the doorposts, to keep the death from the firstborn of Israel (Hebr. 11:28). By faith, all the children of Israel passed through the Red Sea on dry land and the walls of water drowned the pursuing Egyptian army (Hebr. 11:29). Genuine eternal faith builds His character and endurance in us. Faith operates through living by His life in us.
Fifth, Genuine Eternal Faith is a Key for Divine Intervention and Miracles
"By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days" (Hebr. 11:30). It is believed that the angels of God pounded and flattened the walls of Jericho straight down into the ground (Josh. 6:20). There were many others, who through faith subdued kingdoms (Hebr. 11:30-33). Through faith some did obtain promises and receive deliverance from the opposition of circumstances and situations in this life. God certainly provided divine intervention and miracles for them. His genuine eternal faith with His character and endurance for His will to be done in the lives of others, at their own self-sacrifice, operated in them and they received their promises and deliverance.
Sixth, Genuine Eternal Faith May Not Ever Receive the Promises in this Life
However, there were "others who were tortured, not accepting deliverance" (Hebr. 11:35). Still others had trials, mockings, scourgings, chains, and imprisonment (Hebr. 11:36). They were stoned, sawn in two, slain with the sword and wandered around being destitute, afflicted and tormented (Hebr. 11:37). Of these, the Word declares that "the world was not worthy" (Hebr. 11:38). Upon the authority of God's word, these are proclaimed our Father's heroes of faith. For it says "all these" have born a good witness through faith, even though they did NOT receive the promises at that time (Hebr. 11:39). The Word of God says, that God foresaw that we would receive the promises as a part of His faith in and through them (Hebr. 11:40). The measure of faith is received at the Spirit rebirthing (Rom. 12:3). Our receiving at intervals completes their self-sacrifice response of His faith and character of endurance in them.
Seventh, Genuine Eternal Faith Is Through the Life and Faith of Christ In Us
"Therefore we also, having ever encompassing us so great a cloud of witnesses, having at intervals laid aside every weight, and the easily surrounding sin, we should ever run through endurance the race ever lying before us" (Hebr. 12:1, author's translation). We should consider this cloud of witnesses and martyrs who have given their lives not receiving the promises. Don't let His faith and self-sacrifice through them to be in vain. "Ever looking away from all else and only unto Jesus, the prime author and completer of faith, who instead of the joy ever lying before Him, once then endured the cross, once then despising the shame, and has already completely sat down in the right of authority and the throne of God" (Hebr. 12:2, author's translation). How can rebirthed sons obtain genuine eternal faith? We have it through the life and faith of Christ IN US.