THE MEANING OF FAITH In Hebrews 11:1, the writer says, “ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”   This reading refers to things hoped for “of things” that are within the veil (Heb. 6:19)—heaven itself, all that heaven is and all that heaven holds. That which ties us securely to that within the veil is our hope, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast (Heb. 6:19).  Our hope is the product of and is     undergirded by our faith.  Our faith is the product of the Word of God.  So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:17).  Obviously, therefore where there is no word of God there can be no faith.  But my faith which comes by hearing the word of God rests solidly upon sufficient and conclusive and compelling evidences that the Bible is exactly what it claims to be—the inspired, the infallible, the inerrant, and the all-sufficient word of the Living God.   When this fact (of it being what it claims to be) is established, then it itself in many areas becomes my evidence.   And I accept many teachings upon no grounds other then the fact that the Bible so teaches.  The Word becomes my “shield” (Heb. 6:16).  We defend the faith and the faith defends us.  My faith is not a blind faith.  It rests solidly upon conclusive and compelling evidence. The word “faith” is frequently being used in a sense out of harmony with and contrary to the Bible usage of the word.  What is the meaning of “faith” in the Scriptures.  How is the word used?  Does “faith” (in the Bible sense) mean “strong probability” or is it it identical with assumption, as some teach today?  Does it exist only in the absence of evidence?  “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. . . “(Heb. 11:7).  “By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance. . .” (Heb. 11:8)   “. . .yet, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform” (Rom. 4:20-21).   What does “by faith” mean in these statements?  Were Abel, Noah, and Abraham guessing?  Were they responding upon the basis of assumption or strong probability?  Were they acting where there was no evidence?  The Scriptures declare: “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).  Therefore Biblical faith inherently involves:  (1) the fact of the existence of God; (2) the fact of the existence of man; (3) the revealing ability of God to man; (4) the response ability of man to God; (5) the testimony of God to man; and (6) man’ s proper response to that testimony.  We stress again that “faith”—in the Bible sense of the word—means taking God at His word.  There is no Biblical faith where there is no testimony from God. •             Faith does not mean absence of evidence.  In fact, faith requires evidence, and there can be no faith where there is no evidence. God expects us to be concerned about evidence.  The very existence of the Bible presupposes the need for evidence.  John said, “. . .but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, and that believing, ye may have life in his name” (Jno. 20:31).  We are not inclined in the least to criticize the attitude of Thomas (Jno. 20:24,25).  Rather, we have great respect and admiration for his attitude.  His attitude was: “Without evidence I will not believe.  Give me the evidence, and I will believe.”  The Lord gave Thomas the evidence.  When Thomas saw the evidence, he declared “my Lord and my God”.  Luke,, made a thorough diagnosis of the whole matter and recorded  “Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou wast instructed” (Lk. 1:1-4). Faith does not in all cases mean the absence of literal sight.  Sometimes faith is clearly contrasted with sight (as in 2 Cor. 5:7), but there can be faith where there is sight.  The Lord said to Thomas: “Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed” (Jno. 20:29).    Many more of the Samaritians believed on the Lord because of His word (Jno. 4:41).   The fact of their seeing Him did not preclude their believing on Him.  There can be faith where there is no sight.  The Lord said to Thomas “. . . blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believed”. Neither does faith mean the absence of knowledge.  It should be shouted from the rooftops that Biblically approved faith does not rule out knowing.  Paul said, “Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that whilst we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. . .”(2 Cor. 5:6)  How did Paul know?  “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7)  Here is knowledge, which is the product of faith.  Many of Samaria who believed on the Lord said to the woman:  “Now we believe, not because of thy speaking; for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world” (Jno. 4:42).  These said, “We believe” and “we know”.  Faith does not preclude knowledge, and knowledge does not preclude faith.  Peter said to the Lord, “And we have believed and know that thou art the Holy One of God”. (Jno. 6:69)  Paul said, “. . . for I know him who I have believed. . .” (2 Tim. 1:12).   May God help us to be more careful in our speech.  May we determine anew that we are going to use Bible terms in the way that they are used in the Bible.  “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11). Bill Young