Living by Faith

The core or center of Christian life is faith in Jesus Christ and, through him, faith in God.  The word faith is defined as belief with strong conviction; complete trust and confidence; something for which there may be no tangible proof.  The opposite of faith is doubt, and it is important that all of us question the faith we profess.  This morning’s reading from the Epistle to the Hebrews is

The Bible makes several references to faith. It explains that the source of faith is God: "By grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God--not the result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).  

We have all heard the phrase, “Keep the Faith.” I like to add a couple of additional phrases to it, “Practice the Faith;” and then. “Share the Faith.”  Faith implies the unknown, it takes risk in hoping that our actions and behaviors contribute to a better future, a future of new life that the Resurrection of Christ is all about.

In our Epistle to the Hebrews the author begins his exhortation about faith with this definition: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.  By faith we understand that the words were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.”

Following this definition at the beginning of chapter 11, the examples of people who lived by faith include Abraham and Moses. “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance” By faith Abraham and Sarah who was barren received the power of procreation.  By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac having “considered that God is able to raise someone from the dead – and figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.”

By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth.  By faith Moses left Egypt, unafraid of the king’s anger.  He kept the Passover so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

It is near the end of chapter 11 that we have today’s reading.  The writer of Hebrews continues to list events that happened as a result of faith: “By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, … By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient… Time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets-- who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight, [and] women received their dead by resurrection.”

These are all examples of people in our biblical history who lived by faith and, as a result, had positive outcomes. Then, the passage takes a turn and focuses on people who did not achieve the results they anticipated.  Some “were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented-- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised”

The writer is making the point that “God had provided something better.” Here is the conclusion: “We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, [so]… let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross.” 

Our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, has commented, “Faith by its very nature is tough. It's not a guarantee; it's not an insurance policy. It's a radical disposition, a daring act of courage…. It is the courage to affirm life in spite of death, the courage to affirm hope in spite of despair, the courage to stand up and speak up, when everyone else just shuts up. It is not proof. It is not certainty…. But it's got power, power born of a God who gives it.”

Faith is the power of God’s gift to us who choose to practice living as Christ lived, doing the hard work of love, justice and peace in a world that challenges all of us because of violence, greed, and unyielding conflict.  So, as we are “surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, may we persevere always looking to Jesus as the model for living in thanksgiving to God for the gift of faith.  Amen.