Hebrews 6:1b
let us be carried forward, not again the laying of the foundation of repentance from dead works and faith towards God,
How can we see what it means to have faith? What exactly is faith? Is it a thought? Is it a belief? An action? There is so much confusion around this idea of “faith” especially in the Christian church, let’s investigate what we can know about faith.
Deuteronomy 8:3
And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness,
to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know;
that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
This is written in the book of Deuteronomy, the last thing Moses wrote before dying, and not very long before his death. His last words to a rebellious people, a people with no faith (Deut 32:20) who having seen God coming down on Mount Sinai, going before them in a cloud and in a fire, who rained down bread from heaven for their daily food, in addition to many other miracles and signs, but they were still struggling to believe that God would fight for them, and provide for them.
Israel originally went into the wilderness because when they sent spies into the Promised Land, they returned and told them about the giants who inhabited there, with mighty fortified cities.
And Israel got scared.
Deuteronomy 1:28-32
[Wherever] shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims[1] there.
Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.
The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.
Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God,
[1] – Giants with their name seeming to signify “longnecks” in Hebrew
And I get it, this story might feel very far away. You’ve never seen God coming down on the mountain, or directly sending the mighty judgments on Egypt through Moses, your kinsman, or walking with a huge multitude of your fellow believers through the desert.
You’re most likely some sort of average person, doing your best to get by, working or studying, caring for others or being cared for. Maybe you have an assembly or church group of some sort, or maybe you do not, but even if you do it’s nothing like this. This story of Israel might not feel very relevant to your life.
But it is. This is the battle of faith in God.
Israel had every advantage as I’ve outlined, getting to see with their own eyes God acting directly. And if we go back even further, Adam got to speak directly to God in receiving his instructions.
Genesis 2:15-17
And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to [till] it and to [guard] it.
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
And well unfortunately, neither Adam nor Israel really believed God (lacking faith). They saw God, they His work, His actions, His Word literally happening before their eyes, they knew God was real but this did not change how they made their decisions. And this is what your Bible is talking about when it uses the word “faith”.
Faith Means Action
In our Greekified culture (the bad guys in the Bible), we have separated the ideas we have about things and the actions we take. For example, when you think about believing in God, most likely you think about whether God is real or not. And if you believe He’s real, that would amount to faith.
But that is not biblical faith, biblical faith is about what you do. Biblical faith starts with fear.
The Fear of God
Psalms 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:
a good understanding have all they that do[1] his commandments:
his praise endureth for ever.
[1] – This verb is a participle in Hebrew.
Read that carefully, fear is about what you do. In Hebrew, it’s even more clear as there is a piece of grammar that tells us that this is an ongoing (and active) “doing” called a “participle”.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Again we’re seeing the connection between fearing God and doing. But what about the New Testament? Did they believe in fearing God and doing the commandments?
Revelation 1:13, 17
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle…
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
This is the disciple John, who really appears to have loved Jesus (יהושוע) in a notable way. How do we know?
John 13:23
Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
This is the same John who later writes this in his letter.
1 John 4:18-21
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
We love him, because he first loved us.
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
There is a lot going on here, the same man who in Revelation is falling as if dead at Jesus’s (יהושוע) feet, is telling you that perfect love pushes out fear. I’ve also heard quite a few people say that this “fear” is just reverence or deep respect, but that is not what we see portrayed in the verses or in the original Hebrew etymology.
Isaiah 6:5
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips:
for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
Scripture is often very technical with how it uses words. Words have multiple and often even varied meanings in scripture, it doesn’t have to be a direct single, distinct definition. And scripture asks (or even expects us) to bring in these structural elements from other verses to help us define what a specific verse is saying.
I think it is very likely that this “fear” that John talks about in 1 John 4:18 is talking about fearing the world and not God. He references immediately after loving your brother, and in a practical sense that is what most people struggle with the most in terms of fear. They struggle to do the more faithful (aka believing) instructions in the Bible because of their fear of how people react, of losing money, power, friends and relationships.
But if you love your brother, how can you not try to get them to know the true and living God? The truth of the Bible that brings you into covenant with God, that gives you eternal life, blessings and peace. That I believe is why love pushes out fear, not because you aren’t afraid of the Almighty Creator of the Heavens and the Earth and all the things in them.
I think we should be afraid of the Almighty, because we are seeing direct examples of how believers who clearly love God, fear Him, and they are genuinely and physically terrified of God’s power.
Not to mention, Jesus (יהושוע) also fears God.
Isaiah 11:1-2
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
That’s seven aspects of the Holy Spirit, just like Revelation 4:5.
What Does the Fear of God Do For Us?
Following God when it is fully realized, is going to cost you everything that you thought you had in your previous life. You don’t get to take anything with you. Just like Israel had to walk through the desert, which when you think about the quantity of people and cattle in the multitude, it was essentially a death sentence for them if God did not act. It was a complete reliance on God’s power and promise to act.
Maybe you think that if you had seen the miracles, you would have no issue doing this. And maybe you are right, but it is very evident to me that most people avoid this type of life at all costs. It’s just not an easy thing for us to do. It wasn’t for me, I had given up a lot, but the last few bits of worldliness were the toughest.
Think about it concretely, getting your bread from heaven might mean that your bank account is empty, that you face dangerous circumstances, that you deal with pain, and are forced to endure difficulty. However, I’ve come to believe that these experiences are not that unusual for a believer. God is building your faith and proving it.
2 Corinthians 11:23-26
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
But there really is no danger, God is alive and God is real. All the protections, blessings and power of God are available to you… If you have faith.
My personal experience is that, when you really are trying to live a Godly life, these things happen more frequently. That doesn’t mean that you aren’t blessed, that this walk with God is some heavy burden, it is not. It means that you literally live by the Holy Spirit that God gives us, that despite the circumstances you are in, you know He’s protected you one way or another. Even unto death.
You will receive a peace that exceeds all understanding, joy in the face of all this difficulty. All I can say is that in my life, this is very real. And it’s so much better than my life before.
Look at Paul and Silas’s reaction to being beaten and imprisoned.
Acts 16:23-25
And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Would you sing after being beaten? This is what deep faith in God looks like. You know that God is here, you know that God is going to act. Sure you might die, but even then, God will literally raise you from the dead back to life.
Romans 8:31-33
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Being Holy (aka Set Apart)
What do you think the reaction was of the people around Paul to seeing him act like this? To literally live by this belief in God that he has. Well we don’t have to guess, we have an example continuing our story from prison.
Acts 16:27-34
And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
I think we get to see the whole process of the fear of God beginning the prison keeper’s understanding right here. Ideally, this is how we should all be baptized, immediately, the moment we know Jesus (יהושוע) is the King, the Lord we take action in-line with that belief. Again we see it’s not just the knowing, it’s the doing.
This doesn’t just have to be drastic, major events but your daily conduct, doing your best to obey the instructions of God will make you incredibly notable.
1 Peter 3:1-2
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands;
that, if any obey not the word, they also may without [1] word be won by the [conduct] of the wives;
While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
[1] I deleted “the” from before “word” because it doesn’t appear in the Greek and implies “the Word” incorrectly when it reads to me as the wives “without speaking” will convert them. From the KJV.
The powerful and rich people in this world get lots of attention, people want to talk to them, hear what they say, follow them around and analyze what they do. When someone gets the opportunity to start being powerful in this way, they almost always take it, whatever the cost. It’s extremely appealing to the average person.
And in comparison, the things of God usually people don’t give nearly the same attention. Sure they might have a Bible in their house, think about the comfort of salvation of God, but sitting down and seriously reading that Bible, very hard for most people. It was hard for me too!
But sitting down and reading your Bible is faith in God! It’s putting into action the fact that you believe God is more powerful than whatever else you could be doing. Making sacrifices in your life to proclaim God, to share God, to try even if failure seems nearly guaranteed, that is faith.
You’re most likely not going to get any attention for doing this, you probably won’t make any money studying your Bible, it’s not a fun topic of conversation for the majority of people, to many people (including other believers) it makes you less appealing to be around.
But God said these things, these Godly actions are your life, and they are life for your loved ones.
Matthew 4:4
But he answered and said, It is written,
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Obeying God
This task that we’ve been given is on the surface, impossible. People didn’t even listen to Jesus (יהושוע) when He was there in person teaching them the Bible perfectly and doing all the prophetic miracles in front of their eyes. How are we going to get them to listen to me and you?
But here’s the thing, yes, they didn’t listen to Jesus (יהושוע) when he taught them face-to-face, but we never forgot Him completely. And that is our pattern too, you may not be interesting to people compared to social media, they may not want to spend time with you, or want to listen to much of what you have to say about God and the Bible.
But they do see what you are doing, the people around you do know what you are doing and see what happens to you. And someone will listen and care. They may not care at this moment, and even if it doesn’t seem like it, God can make you an example to them. If you have faith, if you try to make your actions the works of the Bible the Holy Spirit blesses your efforts to sow the Seed, that is the Word of God.
Mark 4:26-27
And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
And perhaps in a time of great difficulty it will help them turn from their ways and repent. The days are soon coming, when God will be showing his power in the world, when the miracles, signs and wonders will return more prominently. And soon after that, the tribulations, the chastenings and the judgment will greatly increase.
A lot of people will change their ways at this time.
Revelation 11:13
And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell,
and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Let Us Hear the Conclusion of the Matter
I believe in God, I believe the things that He says in our Bible are real, that the prophecies happened before and are coming in the future, that I have eternal life through my faith in Jesus (יהושוע) and every other amazing promise of God throughout the entire Bible. I believe the instructions of God are important and for me and everyone else who will listen, that He is King and I live by his power and not by my money, my efforts or anything else I possess in this moment.
I believe that the Bible is the Word of God, that it is important despite the difficulty in understanding it, that it is worth the time to seek to understand it. That prayer is important though we may not see its effect.
I believe the Bible is the instructions of God, the Torah and they come from a King who deserves our obedience, our focus and our service. Who has our good at the center of all this, that He is a loving God who loves us and wants to help us.
And I believe that though the Bible might seem hard to do, that God gives the Holy Spirit and that by Him, all things are possible.
And that believing all this, by having faith toward God, my actions that is to say my works will reflect this thinking.
John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And to the best of my ability to discern, this is the foundation of the faith towards God. Amen.
James 2:14-20
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?