What Is the Meaning of "Faith Is the Substance of Things Hoped For"?
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If we count the number of times the word “hope” pops up in our daily conversations, its frequency might surprise us. We hope for good weather, a positive outcome, and more time. We talk of hope regarding health, prosperity, and relationships. Hope drives us through almost every aspect of daily life.
The Bible also has much to say about hope. The book of Hebrews ties faith and hope together in the phrase “faith is the substance of things hoped for.” However, as we dig deeper, we discover that the author looks at hope differently than our usual understanding of the word. And, as we see faith and hope through the lens of God’s inspired Word, we begin to discover them both in a new and powerful way.
Where Does the Bible Say, “Faith Is the Substance of Things Hoped For?”
Hebrews 11 has been given the name, “the faith chapter.” At least 16 people of faith taken from the Old Testament weave their stories throughout its 40 verses. Appropriately, the phrase, “faith is the substance of things hoped for,” introduces the faith chapter in its first verse.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV)
While Hebrew’s author remains uncertain, its Jewish audience recognized the sweeping history and biblical panorama represented in the stories and characters highlighted. They were people who trusted God’s words and acted on them, heroes who demonstrated inward faith through outward action.
What Is the Meaning of Faith Found in Hebrews 1:11?
In the original Greek text, “pistis,” translated as “faith,” combines belief with the conviction of the truth of something. Pistis reflects trust and reliability, often used in the New Testament to describe the believer’s foundation through salvation in Jesus Christ.
The New Testament book of Hebrews lays a foundation in Christ even broader than fulfillment of the Old Testament covenant and promises. It declares the New Covenant brought through Jesus as better in every detail and all ways. As Messiah, Jesus surpasses the Old Law through His sinless life, death, and resurrection.
The phrase, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,” presents concrete certainty to the features of faith. The author shows us its far-reaching and sure scope. Biblical faith, unlike much of the ambiguity connected with our concept of faith, defies uncertainty, mere wish, or desire. The author goes on as the chapter continues to show how faith works out in real life.
How Does “Substance” Support Faith?
Here again, the Greek word aids in helping us understand the original intent of the word, “substance.” Hypostasis literally means, “that which stands under.” It is a solid foundation that, when tested, yields certainty, although it might not be visible. Faith’s substance is sure. This moves it into the realm of reality.
English versions of Hebrews 11:1 translate “substance” (KJV), in various ways. Different translations read, “assurance,” “reality,” “confidence,” and “certainty.” (ESV, CSB, NIV, NASB20) The Amplified Bible describes substance as the title deed which transfers ownership.
Faith supplies the “title deed” to the certainty of new ownership along with the rights of our reality in Christ although we cannot yet see them.
Listed in the Hebrews 11 hall of the faithful are believers obedient to the words and promises of God. They acted on God’s instructions even without visible confirmation, and God accomplished extraordinary things through ordinary lives.
The author acknowledges them with these words in Hebrews 11:13a, “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar.” (ESV)
How Do Faith, Hope, and Evidence Relate to One Another?
When we couple the words “hope” and “evidence” in our modern vocabulary, they seem almost to contradict one another. However, hope and evidence support each other to reinforce the assurance of faith’s reality.
Hope, elpizo, in the Greek, is to trust with full confidence or with confident expectation. Evidence, elegchos, is the proof of a conviction through which something is tested. Faith, substance, hope, and evidence all overflow with full and confident expectation in the proven promises of an unseen and trustworthy God. Faith comes from God, not us. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that faith is a gift.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV)
Attempts to merit saving faith through good works contradict Hebrew’s statement that “faith is the substance of things hoped for.” Salvation cannot be earned. And perhaps this is the most difficult thing to truly comprehend.
God’s Word tells the stories of real and imperfect people without sugar-coating their lives. As we read the names which appear in Hebrews 11, we can’t help but remember their shortcomings and failures as well. Yet, God included them for their faith. Their example reminds us of God’s unmerited redemption in our own lives.
Hebrew’s faith list from the Old Testament demonstrates certainty in trusting what God had promised and surety of something that had not yet happened. All of them pointed toward God’s Word that a Messiah would come to redeem them.
We have the privilege to look back at Someone who came, died, and rose again. He is the foundation on which we stand through the testing and trial of our faith, all the while knowing we can trust Him for the future as well.
Who Was Listed in Hebrews 11 and How Did They Demonstrate Faith?
Abel offered an acceptable sacrifice to God. Enoch walked with God and did not die. Noah built an ark. Abraham obeyed and followed God to a new land. Sarah gave birth in her old age. Others listed are Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Samson, David, and even Rahab the harlot.
They conquered kingdoms, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched fire, and escaped the sword. Flawed but faithful followers exemplified, “faith is the substance of things hoped for.”
Others, although unnamed, also received honor. They too accomplished great things by the power of God. They were tortured, mistreated, and destitute, “of whom the world was not worthy.” (Hebrews 11:38 ESV)
They showed us by their lives that faith was also for them the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
How Does “Faith Is the Substance of Things Hoped For” Change Us?
The faithful of Hebrews 11 believed God at His Word and trusted He would do what He said He would. They exemplified faith’s reality and certainty. Their certainty in action prods us to embrace the same unwavering trust.
A sure faith rests on certain hope.
“Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:2 ESV)
As the Old Testament faithful put their confidence in what they had not yet seen, we too place our deep conviction on a firm foundation. What God had promised He brought to fruition. He is trustworthy to bring about all we cannot yet see. He is proven to be wise, trustworthy and faithful. This powerful truth underlies our purpose and accomplishments.
While we may hope for more joy or for a sunny day, we cannot trust in it happening. Although everything may favor a change in circumstances, unexpected things may dash those hopes. The temporal uncertainty of our daily hopes magnifies the immense greatness of the Biblical expectation we have in Jesus.
We often live with a cloak of probability when we should be soaking in a bath of absolute, confident expectations that look not on what we see but what is not yet visible. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for,” is an unshakable and unfailing gift for eternity and for today.
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Her love for pasta and all things Italian stems from years of ministry abroad. She’d love to tell you about it over a steaming cup of cappuccino. Connect with Sylvia on her blog, When the House is Quiet, her Facebook page, or Twitter.