Faith is at the root of those who live to love with Jesus

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Today we begin a look at the miracle of faith. Chapter 11 of Hebrews is jam-packed with examples of men and women of faith. We begin our study through this chapter with this question. What does it mean for a person to have faith? This statement about faith testifies to the fact that the faith in view is a miraculous work of God in the heart of a person that enables them to please God.  I want to first encourage us with three scripture passages that indicate that God produces faith in the hearts of His children.  Acts 15:8-9 “And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.” It is the Holy Spirit who produces faith. 1 Peter 1:20-21 “For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” Our faith and hope come through Jesus so they are in God. 1 Peter 1:5 In speaking of those who are born again through the resurrection of Christ to a living hope, Peter said, “who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” We are protected by faith, which is the power of God exercised on our behalf.  The second encouragement springs out of the fact that faith is a work of God. If faith is a work of God, then the recipient of faith has an assurance from God that what He has promised is theirs. A faith that man produces would have no assurance or certainty to it. Our hearts are deceitful, and we can convince ourselves of almost anything if we want it bad enough. Just because I think something is true doesn't mean it is true. However, if God gives me the very faith of Jesus Christ, then I know He is for me. That is precisely what occurs when the Holy Spirit is sent into our hearts. The Holy Spirit unites us with the life of Jesus, and we are indwelled with His faith. That’s why He gets all the glory. It is His work in our hearts for the glory of God. I can be assured that God will do what He says concerning me if I believe, for that faith is a gift from God given so I might have assurance. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for. The third encouragement echoes the second. Since faith is a work of God, it stands as proof of what is true in the spiritual world. The word conviction in this verse means to expose or to prove. When we say that a man is convicted of a crime, we mean that the evidence has been brought before the court or jury, and they are convinced that the man is guilty. The evidence proves him to be guilty. In the same way, faith is the proof that God is for us. We can’t see that we are righteous in God’s sight, because presently we are still here on earth and cannot see that it is so in heaven. God’s word tells us that the presence of a God-wrought faith in the heart is proof of the conviction that God has declared us righteous in and through His Son, Jesus Christ. As we will see tomorrow, it’s how we know God is pleased with us.  So today, if you believe and trust in Jesus Christ as your life. If you believe He lives in you, then you know that if you draw near to God’s throne for grace to love, God will give it to you. That’s how faith works. It works through love. So faith is at the root of one who is living to love with Jesus, and faith pleases God. Live in His love and joy.