Lesson 16: Faith — The Foundation of our Life

Introduction

Faith is the foundation of your entire life as a Christian. Without faith you cannot know God, without faith you cannot please Him, without faith you cannot be saved. Everything in the Christian life begins with faith and is carried by faith. But what actually is faith? Is it a feeling? A choice? A gift? How do you get it and how does it grow?

In this lesson we will dive deep into God's Word to discover what faith really is. We will learn from the great witnesses of faith in Hebrews 11, we will discover how faith grows, and we will see how faith and works go together. We will also learn that trials are not the end of our faith, but precisely the means by which God makes our faith stronger.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast.

Faith is the hand by which you receive God's grace. It is not something you produce yourself — it is a gift from God. But it is something for which you bear responsibility, something you can feed and let grow.

What is faith?

God's Word gives us a beautiful definition of faith in the letter to the Hebrews:

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.

Let us carefully unpack this verse:

Assurance of things hoped for — Faith is not vague or uncertain. It is an assurance, a foundation, a certainty. When you believe, you have a rock-solid certainty about the things you hope for. It is not ‘maybe it will happen’, but ‘I know for sure that it will happen because God has promised it’.

Proof of things not seen — Faith is the proof of unseen reality. You cannot see God with your physical eyes, but through faith you know that He is there. You cannot see heaven, but through faith you know that it exists. Faith is not blind trust — it is trust in the trustworthiness of God and His Word.

Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.

Faith gives us insight into the reality behind the reality. By faith we understand that the visible world was created by the invisible Word of God. Faith opens our eyes to the spiritual dimension of existence.

Without faith it is impossible to please God

Hebrews 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

This verse contains two fundamental truths:

1. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Not difficult, not hard — impossible. You can do the most impressive good works, you can practice the strictest religious discipline, you can give away all your possessions — but without faith it is all worthless in God's eyes. Faith is the absolute condition for pleasing God.

2. Whoever comes to God must believe two things: First, that God is — that He exists, that He really is who He says He is. Second, that He rewards those who seek Him — that He is not a distant God, but a God who is involved and who lets Himself be found by those who sincerely seek Him.

Jeremiah 29:13 You shall seek me, and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.

God rewards those who seek Him. If you seek Him with all your heart, you will find Him. That is His promise, and He is faithful to keep that promise. Faith is trusting that God does what He promises.

Hebrews 10:38 But the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.

The righteous lives by faith — not by his own strength, not by religious achievement, but by faith. This quote from Habakkuk 2:4 is so fundamental that Paul quotes it three times in his letters (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and here). Faith is not only the beginning of the Christian life, it is also the way we live every day.

Faith comes by hearing God's Word

If faith is so important, how do we get it? How does faith grow? Paul gives us the answer:

Romans 10:17 So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith comes by hearing God's Word. Not by human wisdom, not by philosophy, not by your own reasoning — but by the Word of God. When you read, hear, and meditate on God's Word, your faith grows. The Word of God is the seed from which faith springs forth.

This is why it is so important to read and meditate on God's Word daily. Every time you open and read God's Word, faith is sown in your heart. Every time you hear a sermon in which God's Word is explained, your faith grows. The Word is the food for your faith.

Romans 10:14-15 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher? And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”

Here we see a chain: God sends preachers, preachers proclaim the Word, people hear the Word, and from that hearing faith comes. This is God's method: He uses people to proclaim His Word, and through that Word He works faith in the hearts of the hearers.

The witnesses of faith from Hebrews 11

Hebrews 11 is often called the ‘hall of faith’. In this chapter many men and women are described who by faith did great things for God. Let us look at some of them and learn from their faith.

Abel — faith in worship

Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.

Abel brought an offering in faith and was thereby declared righteous. His faith expressed itself in worship — he gave God the best he had.

Enoch — faith that pleases God

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn't see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God.

Enoch walked so closely with God that God took him away. His faith was not only theoretical — it was a daily walk with God.

Noah — faith that obeys

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Noah built an ark while there was no rain yet. That is faith: obeying God's Word, even when humanly it seems illogical. He built on the basis of what God had said, not on the basis of what he could see.

Abraham — faith that departs

Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Abraham departed without knowing where he was going. That is radical faith: leaving behind everything familiar and following God, even when you don't know the destination. Abraham did not trust on a map or a plan — he trusted on God.

Hebrews 11:17-19 By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born son, to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,” concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.

Abraham's ultimate faith: being willing to offer his own son, because he believed that God could even raise him from the dead. Abraham trusted on God's character — he knew that God would keep His promises, no matter what.

Moses — faith that chooses

Hebrews 11:24-26 By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill treatment with God's people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

Moses made a conscious choice: he chose suffering with God's people over the wealth of Egypt. Faith is also a choice — the choice to value the eternal reward higher than temporary enjoyment.

Rahab — faith that saves

Hebrews 11:31 By faith, Rahab the prostitute didn't perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.

Even a prostitute was saved by faith! Rahab's background did not matter — her faith made the difference. This shows that faith is accessible to everyone, regardless of your past.

The chapter continues with many more witnesses of faith:

Hebrews 11:32-34 What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets — who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee.

What a list! Through faith kingdoms were conquered, lions defeated, fire quenched, weakness turned into strength. This is what faith can do — not because the believers were so strong, but because they trusted on a God who is almighty.

Hebrews 11:35-38 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated — of whom the world was not worthy — wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.

Faith does not always lead to earthly victory. Some witnesses of faith were tortured, stoned, killed. But their faith remained standing. The world was not worthy of them — what an honorary title! Faith endures even when circumstances are against you.

Faith as a mustard seed

Maybe you think: ‘My faith is so small. How can I ever do such things?’ Jesus said something special about this:

Matthew 17:20 He said to them, “Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

A mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds that exists. Yet Jesus says that even such a small faith can move mountains! It is not about the size of your faith, but about the Object of your faith. Small faith in a great God is enough. It is not the strength of your faith that makes the difference, but the strength of the God in whom you believe.

The mustard seed is small, but it grows into a great tree. So it is with faith: it may begin small, but if you feed it with God's Word and exercise it in prayer and obedience, it grows into an unshakable trust in God.

The shield of faith

In the spiritual armour that Paul describes in Ephesians 6, faith holds a special place:

Ephesians 6:16 above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.

Faith is like a shield. In Roman times the large shield (thureos) was big enough to protect the whole body. So faith protects you against all attacks of the enemy. The ‘fiery darts of the evil one’ — doubt, fear, accusation, temptation — are quenched by the shield of faith.

When the devil whispers that God does not love you, you raise the shield of faith and say: ‘God has proven His love by giving His Son for me!’ When he whispers that you are not good enough, you say: ‘I have been declared righteous by faith in Christ!’ That is the shield of faith in action.

Faith and works

One of the most discussed subjects in Christian theology is the relationship between faith and works. James writes extensively about this:

James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, but has no works? Can faith save him?

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.

James 2:18 Yes, a man will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

James 2:19-20 You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe — and shudder. But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?

James 2:22 You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected.

James 2:26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.

James is not contradicting Paul here. Paul teaches that we are justified by faith, not by works (Romans 3:28). James teaches that true faith always produces works. They are speaking about two sides of the same truth:

Think of a tree: the roots are the faith, the fruits are the works. A tree without fruit is a dead tree. But the fruit does not make the tree alive — the life is in the roots. So it is: the life is in the faith, but true faith always brings forth fruit.

Faith that moves mountains

Jesus teaches us about the power of faith that is connected with prayer:

Mark 11:22-24 Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. For most certainly I tell you, whoever may tell this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn't doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says. Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them.”

Moving mountains begins with faith in God — not faith in yourself, not faith in your own faith, but faith in God. It begins with who God is: almighty, faithful, loving. When you know who God is, you can trust Him for the impossible.

But note: this is not a blank check to get everything you want. The faith Jesus speaks of is faith connected with God's will. It is faith that flows from an intimate relationship with God, in which you know His heart and seek His will. You do not pray your own desires, but God's desires.

1 John 5:14-15 This is the boldness which we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us. And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.

If we ask according to God's will, He hears us. The secret of powerful prayer is not the volume of your voice or the length of your prayer, but the alignment of your heart with God's heart.

The testing of faith

Faith becomes stronger through trial. As gold is refined by fire, so faith is refined by difficulties.

1 Peter 1:6-7 Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been put to grief in various trials, that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Peter compares faith with gold. Gold is tested by fire to remove all impurities. So trials are used to purify and strengthen our faith. And tested faith is more precious than gold! Gold eventually perishes, but tested faith endures into eternity.

James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James says something surprising: we are to count trials as joy. Not because suffering is fun, but because we know what it produces: endurance. And endurance leads to perfection and integrity. Trials are God's training school for faith.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.

A crown awaits the one who endures the trial. Not because we are so strong, but because God is faithful to bring us through. The trials of this life are temporary, but the crown of life is eternal.

Romans 5:3-5 Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope doesn't disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Suffering leads to perseverance, perseverance to proven character, proven character to hope. And that hope does not disappoint, because it is founded on the love of God. So God works through trials to strengthen and deepen our faith.

The Author and Perfecter of faith

We end with what it is all about: Jesus Christ, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore let's also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let's run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus is the Author of our faith — He is the beginning of it. He has awakened our faith, He has placed it in our heart. And He is also the Perfecter — He will complete it. He who began a good work in us will also complete it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).

Note the image: we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses — all the witnesses of faith from Hebrews 11 and through the ages. We are not alone in this race. And we do not run aimlessly — we keep our eyes on Jesus. He is the goal, He is the prize, He is the reason we run.

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

What a comfort! God has not begun in order to stop halfway. He who began a good work in you — the work of faith, of repentance, of sanctification — will complete it. Your faith does not depend on your perseverance, but on God's faithfulness. And He is faithful.

Faith in daily life

Faith is not only for the great moments — it is for every day, for every situation, for every decision. What does faith look like in ordinary, daily life?

Faith in times of fear

Psalm 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. In God, I praise his word. In God, I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

David does not say he is never afraid. He acknowledges his fear: ‘when I am afraid.’ But in his fear he makes a choice: ‘I will put my trust in you.’ Faith does not mean that you are never afraid. Faith means that in your fear you choose to trust on God.

Isaiah 41:10 Don't you be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.

God does not say: ‘You don't have to be afraid because there is nothing to be afraid of.’ He says: ‘You don't have to be afraid because I am with you.’ The reason not to fear is not the absence of danger, but the presence of God.

Faith in times of need

Philippians 4:19 My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

God promises to supply all our needs — not all our wishes, but all our needs. And He does not provide sparingly, but according to His riches in glory. It is faith to trust on this promise when your bank account is empty, when you do not know how to pay the rent, when the future is uncertain.

Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore don't be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first God's Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.

Jesus invites us to turn our priorities around: seek first God's Kingdom, and all else will be given to you as well. That is faith in practice — putting God first and trusting that He takes care of the rest.

Faith in the waiting

Sometimes faith asks for patience — for waiting on God's timing, even when you do not understand it:

Psalm 27:14 Wait for Yahweh. Be strong, and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for Yahweh.

Isaiah 40:31 but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.

Waiting on God is not passive waiting. It is active expectation — keeping your gaze fixed on God, trusting that He will act at the right moment, and meanwhile remaining faithful in what He has given you to do. Whoever waits on the LORD will receive strength. Not their own strength, but God's strength — the strength to mount up like eagles, to run without growing weary.

Holding on to faith until the end

Faith is not only the beginning of the journey — it is also the way we complete the journey. We are called to hold on to faith until the end:

Hebrews 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm to the end.

Hebrews 10:23 Let's hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful.

Holding fast without wavering — that is the call. Not letting go, not giving up, not deviating. And the reason we can hold on is not our own determination, but God's faithfulness: ‘He who promised is faithful.’ We hold on to Him, and He holds on to us.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord's work, because you know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Be steadfast and immovable. Not because it will always be easy, but because you know that your labour is not in vain. Everything you do in faith has eternal value. Nothing is lost of what you do in the Lord.

Faith is ultimately a relationship. It is not an abstract concept or a theological position — it is a living, daily, growing relationship with the living God. The better you know Him, the more you trust Him. The more you trust Him, the more you know Him. Faith grows through knowing God — and we know God through His Word, through prayer, through the fellowship of believers, and through the experiences of life in which He shows Himself trustworthy time and again.

Memorization texts

Learn the following three texts by heart. Take your time and repeat them daily until you know them.