The Three Ingredients of Faith August 17, 2007
Posted by reformedville in : Theology , trackbackIn Hebrews 11:1 we learn that “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”.
In other words in Hebrews we are being instructed that everything about faith involves certainty which encompasses three areas, knowledge, belief and assent. Certainty is the Greek Word elenchos, which means proof, conviction or evidence.
Although the person employing faith has an internal assurance of things hoped for, this verse does not imply, nor can it be interpreted to mean, that the believing person can prove to others the reality of the unseen things they hope for.
By adding the term “hope for” to the word “certain” the message conveyed is “the inner right of resting in the thing hoped for is established” to the believer, according to Gerhard Kittel. God gives an internal resolve , a confidence to the believer that it is right to rest in the thing being hoped for.
To have confidence, you must first have knowledge about the thing hoped for. Next, you must believe in, or trust in, the knowledge you possess. And finally, you must act on that belief in order to complete the expression of faith. Knowledge+belief+assent=faith.
Spurgeon in his sermon entitled “Faith” used the example of a boy trapped in a fire in a second floor apartment. He goes to run out the door but the doorknob is hot and smoke is coming in. He runs to the window intending to jump to safety, but looks out and sees the concrete pavement and reconsiders. He screams for help to the crowd below.
A strong man steps out and yells for him to jump, saying” I’ll catch you son, Jump” Upon hearing the mans instruction he receives knowledge (that the man is willing to catch him). But the boy is still not sure, so does not jump. His knowledge did not produce faith.
Help! Help! The boy screams again., even louder. “Jump, I’ll catch you” assure the strong man. ” Don’t be afraid , jump!” Upon further consideration the both believes the strong man is able to catch him But even knowledge of and belief in his claims did not produce faith to actually jump, and he retreated from the window in fear.
A few seconds later the boy goes over to the window a third time screaming for help, “Jump, son, I’ll catch you. Don’t worry, I’ll catch you!” yells the strong man.
This time the boy assents to (acts on) his knowledge of, and belief in, the strong mans words by leaping out the window into his arms. That is faith. The boy assented to what he had knowledge and belief about. The three together form faith.
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