Heb 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
In my previous article, we discovered our purpose in life, which is pleasing God. Now we read it is impossible to please God without faith. So faith is essential for us to fulfill our purpose.
People quite often have the wrong view of faith thinking it is some super spiritual thing we can attain through various means and of course, we can grow in faith, exercise our faith, and so on.
However, faith is simply believing and trusting God. It is not being super spiritual it is being super trustful. You can trust God, when you are feeling super spiritual or when you are struggling to get your act together, you can always trust God and come to him.
1. Faith’s Essential Role in Pleasing God
| Action | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Having faith in God | Pleasing God and receiving rewards from Him (Hebrews 11:6) |
| Living according to the Spirit, not the flesh | Pleasing God, as living in the flesh cannot please Him (Romans 8:8) |
| Focusing on spiritual matters, not fleshly desires | Pleasing God by focusing on the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5) |
| Keeping God’s commandments with faith | Receiving from God by pleasing Him through obedience (1 John 3:22) |
| Doing good and communicating as acts of faith | Pleasing God with sacrifices of goodness and communication (Hebrews 13:16) |
Example Bible Stories:
- Abraham’s Faith: Abraham’s belief in God’s promises, shown in his readiness to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22), highlights faith as fundamental to pleasing God.
- Israelites at Jericho: The fall of Jericho (Joshua 6) wasn’t due to Israel’s might but their faith in God’s instructions, showcasing faith’s necessity over actions.
- Peter Walking on Water: Peter walking on water (Matthew 14:29-31) demonstrates that faith, not just action, is crucial for pleasing God and achieving the impossible.
2. Faith Transcends Actions and Sacrifices
| Action | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Not showing partiality in faith (James 2:1-26) | Being rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom |
| Circumcision or uncircumcision in Christ Jesus (Galatians 5:6) | Faith working through love counts |
| Faith without works (James 2:17) | Highlighting the necessity of faith with works |
| Claiming to have faith without showing it through actions (James 2:14) | Questioning the saving power of faith without works |
| Claiming faith without meeting others’ needs (James 2:14-26) | Emphasizing the deadness of faith without works |
| Drawing near to God (Hebrews 11:6) | Pleasing God and believing in His rewards |
| Obeying Jesus (Hebrews 5:9) | Eternal salvation for all who obey |
| Justification through faith in Christ, not by works (Galatians 2:16) | Justification by faith in Christ and not by works |
Example Bible Stories:
- Cain and Abel: Abel’s offering was accepted over Cain’s (Genesis 4) because of Abel’s faith, not the sacrifice’s size or quality.
- Widow’s Offering in the Temple: Jesus commends the widow’s small offering (Mark 12:41-44) as her faith made it more valuable than larger gifts given by others.
- Sacrifices of the Pharisees: Jesus criticized Pharisees for their outward actions without faith (Matthew 23:23-24), indicating the insufficiency of actions without faith.
3. Faith as a Foundation for Acceptable Works
| Action | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Believe in Jesus | Eternal life (John 3:16) |
| Obey God’s commandments | Abide in God’s love (John 15:10) |
| Love one another | God’s love abides in us (1 John 4:12) |
| Help those in need | Store up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21) |
| Share the gospel | Save souls from death (James 5:20) |
| Serve others | Serve Christ (Colossians 3:23-24) |
| Forgive others | Be forgiven by God (Matthew 6:14-15) |
| Pray for others | Receive blessings (James 5:16) |
| Resist temptation | Receive the crown of life (James 1:12) |
| Endure trials | Develop perseverance (James 1:3-4) |
Example Bible Stories:
- Noah’s Ark: Noah’s building of the ark (Genesis 6-7) was an act of faith in God’s warning, not just a practical endeavor.
- Joshua and the Gibeonites: Joshua failed to consult God in making a treaty with the Gibeonites (Joshua 9), showing that even well-intended acts without faith lead to mistakes.
- David and Goliath: David’s victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 17) was rooted in his faith in God, not just his skill or courage.
4. Faith Enables Divine Approval and Relationship
| Action | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Believing in God’s existence | Pleasing God |
| Believing in God’s promises | Receiving righteousness |
| Trusting in God’s plan | Experiencing peace |
| Seeking God earnestly | Being rewarded by God |
| Having faith in Jesus | Receiving salvation |
| Obeying God’s commands | Experiencing blessings |
| Trusting in God’s provision | Being provided for |
| Enduring trials with faith | Building character |
| Praying with faith | Receiving answers to prayers |
| Sharing faith with others | Spreading the gospel |
Example Bible Stories:
- Enoch’s Walk with God: Enoch’s pleasing God and being taken up to heaven (Genesis 5:24) was due to his faith, demonstrating the relational aspect of faith.
- Moses Choosing to Suffer with God’s People: Moses’ choice to identify with the Israelites (Hebrews 11:24-26) was a faith decision valuing God’s approval over Egyptian treasures.
- The Centurion’s Faith: Jesus marveled at the centurion’s faith (Matthew 8:5-13), which brought healing to his servant, showing faith’s role in God’s response.
5. Faith as Trust Beyond Understanding
| Action | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Believe | Salvation (John 3:16) |
| Trust | Peace (Isaiah 26:3) |
| Obey | Blessings (Deuteronomy 28:1-2) |
| Endure | Crown of Life (James 1:12) |
| Hope | Renewal (Isaiah 40:31) |
| Confess | Forgiveness (1 John 1:9) |
| Love | Eternal Life (John 3:36) |
| Pray | Receive Grace (Hebrews 4:16) |
| Serve | Reward (Colossians 3:23-24) |
| Repent | Times of Refreshing (Acts 3:19) |
Example Bible Stories:
- Gideon’s Reduced Army: Gideon’s victory with a reduced army (Judges 7) highlights faith in God’s strategy over human logic.
- Peter’s Fishing Catch: After a fruitless night, Peter’s faith in Jesus’ command to cast the nets (Luke 5:4-6) resulted in a miraculous catch, showing trust beyond understanding.
- Abraham’s Journey to a New Land: Abraham’s journey to an unknown land (Hebrews 11:8) was an act of faith, trusting in God’s promise without seeing the complete picture.