Last week, I began a narrative of my encounter with a gentleman who said he found the Bible self-contradictory and confusing. But after a careful analysis of excerpt of the scriptures he cited, we discovered that his confusion stemmed from reading the Bible out of context.
Today, we will continue with the discourse. But before we do, I like to reiterate that faith is the lifestyle of the believer. By lifestyle, I mean a style of living that reflects the attitudes and values of a person.
Often we hear folks speak about living a certain lifestyle, usually fast lane. In their estimation, such lifestyle is not optional.
I am not against living on the fast lane. However, i have a problem with those who “fake it till they make it” — those who lack the means to live such lifestyles but are ready to break the bank, inconvenience friends, family and sometimes parishioners, by putting the tab on them in order to maintain the status quo.
You see, for the believer, living by faith is not optional. Scriptures declare: Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man drawback, my soul shall have no pleasure in him (Hebrew 10:38).
The word “just” can be substituted with “righteous”. It simply means to have a right standing with God or ability to stand in the presence of God without a feeling of guilt or inferiority. It is the nature of God, bestowed on us at salvation.… For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthian 5:21).
Put differently, Hebrews 10:38 reads,… Now, those who have a right standing with God shall live by faith.
Paul corroborates this affirmation in 2 Corinthians 5:7, saying, For we walk by faith, not by sight.
The word “walk” in the above text originates from the Greek word “Peripateo”, which is derived from the preposition “Peri” (around) and the verb” Pateo” to walk. Thus, “Peripateo” connotes to “walk around”. However, in Hebrew, it means to live, to regulate one’s life; to conduct oneself.
In order words, above text reads We (who have a right standing with God) live (regulate our life; conduct ourselves by faith, not by sigh”.
Sight speaks of external or outward appearance. Paul is saying, we do not regulate our lives based on sensory perception or external circumstances.
You see, no matter how large a ship is, once water from the surrounding gets into it, it begins to sink. So we must never allow our circumstances influence us.
Remember, Peter began to sink the minute he allowed external circumstances influence him… But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. Save me, Lord! he shouted. (Mathew 14:30)
What Is Faith?
Paul in his missive to the Hebrews, shed light on what faith is, saying, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).
Amplified Rendering says, Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, [a] the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
Darby Rendering says, Now faith is [the] substantiating of things hoped for, [the] conviction of things not seen.
Note how “the” is in bracket. It means it was not in the original manuscript, but was added by the translators for better understanding. The Reverse Interlinear Rendering of the Bible gives us a clearer picture.
By Reverse Interlinear, I mean a Bible translation that has original language information lined up with the translated manuscript text.
For instance, in the text below, original Greek words are lined up with the English translation. Now (de) faith (pistis) Is (eimi) the assurance (hupostasis) of things hoped for (forelpizō,) the conviction (elenchus) of things (pragma) not (ou) seen (blepō).
Put differently, Hebrews 11:1 reads Now Faith is (Substance, Assurance, Title- deed, Confirmation) of things hoped for, (evidence or proof) of things not seen.
The word translated Substance, Assurance, Title- deed, Confirmation in the above text, originates from the Greek word “hupostasis”, which is merger of two words: stasis “to stand” and hupo “under”.
Thus hupostasis denotes that which stands under or that which stands under anything, (a foundation). Put differently, it is “that which underlies what is apparent”.
Amplified a bit further, it is that which, though perhaps unseen, exists beneath and supports what is visible. Hence, it has the sense of a foundation. Even as the foundation of a building is unseen, and the building above ground is visible, the foundation — the hupostasis — is nonetheless real, supporting the building.
Hupostasis is the unseen support of what is standing in clear view. It signifies the ground on which one builds a hope.
…. “evidence or proof of things not seen.”
The word “proof or evidence” is the translation of “elegchos”. It is “that by which a thing is proved or tested” or “that by which invisible things are proved and we are convinced of their reality”.
You see, Faith apprehends or picks up as a real fact what is not revealed to the senses. It rests on that fact, acts upon it, and is upheld by it in the face of all that seems to contradict it… Abraham staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform” (Romans 4:20-21).
Until next week, remember, humbly receive the engrafted word — It is able to save you!!!
By Emmanuel Emeke Asiwe
Follow us on facebook @ The Engrafted Word https://www.facebook.com/TheEngraftedWord
