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“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
— Hebrews 11:1
That is our starting point. Not human opinion. Not religious tradition. The written Word of God.
This song, “Rock of Faith,” gathers together some of the most important statements in all Scripture about the life of faith:
These verses describe not a passing mood, but a way of living. Not a vague optimism, but a solid, objective foundation. Faith is not a religious feeling. Faith is the God-given means by which we lay hold of invisible realities and bring them to bear upon the visible world.
This teaching will show that:
1. Faith rests on the reliability of God’s character and Word.
2. Faith is a way of life, not a momentary decision.
3. Faith requires laying aside weights and sins.
4. Faith focuses on a Person—Jesus, the author and finisher of faith.
5. Faith expresses itself in practical obedience: trusting, doing good, dwelling, and remaining faithful.
“Rock of Faith” is an accurate title, because true, biblical faith is not a cloud; it is a rock. It is founded in God Himself, who cannot lie.
Let us look at what the Word of God says.
---
### Hebrews 11–12: Faith in the Midst of Pressure
The epistle to the Hebrews was written to Jewish believers in Jesus who were undergoing intense pressure. Many had suffered loss of property, rejection, persecution. The temptation was to draw back—to return to old religious forms and abandon the radical simplicity of faith in Christ.
In Hebrews 10:32–34, the writer reminds them:
> “But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings… you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.”
These believers had already paid a price. Now they stood at a crossroads. Would they press on in faith, or shrink back in fear and unbelief?
So the writer says, just before Hebrews 11:
> “But my righteous one shall live by faith,
> and if he shrinks back,
> my soul has no pleasure in him.”
> — Hebrews 10:38, quoting Habakkuk 2:4
Then comes Hebrews 11, often called the “Hall of Faith.” One after another, Old Testament men and women are held up as examples: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, and many others. They did not live by sight. They lived by trusting the unseen God and obeying His Word, often at great personal cost.
Immediately after this list, Hebrews 12 continues:
> “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight… and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus…”
> — Hebrews 12:1–2
The picture is of a stadium. Those who ran before us are now “witnesses”—not spectators in the modern entertainment sense, but testifiers. Their lives testify that faith works. God is faithful. His Word is reliable.
### Habakkuk 2:4: Faith in a Time of Judgment
Habakkuk prophesied at a time when violence, injustice, and corruption filled Judah. He cried out to God, wondering why the wicked seemed to prosper. God answered that judgment would come through the Babylonians, a fierce and cruel nation.
In that context, God gives a central statement:
> “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
> but the righteous shall live by his faith.”
> — Habakkuk 2:4
There are only two ways to live:
This verse becomes a cornerstone for New Testament teaching on justification:
In every case, the message is the same: God’s righteous ones will live—not by law, sight, or self-effort—but by faith.
### Psalm 37:3: Faith in a World of Evil
Psalm 37 is written to believers troubled by evil people who seem to succeed. The psalmist says:
> “Trust in the Lord, and do good;
> dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.”
> — Psalm 37:3
Do not fret. Do not envy. Do not be agitated by apparent injustice. Instead:
1. Trust in the Lord.
2. Do good.
3. Dwell where God has placed you.
4. Cultivate faithfulness.
That is faith applied to daily life.
So we have three settings:
In each case, the answer is the same: the righteous live by faith.
---
### 1. “Faith” – *Pistis* (Greek) / *’Emunah* (Hebrew)
In Hebrews 11:1, the Greek word for “faith” is πίστις (*pistis*).
*Pistis* means more than mental agreement. It carries the idea of:
In Habakkuk 2:4, the Hebrew word is אֱמוּנָה (*’emunah*).
*’Emunah* means:
So when Scripture says, “the righteous shall live by faith,” it implies two things:
1. They rely upon the reliability of God.
2. They themselves become stable, steady, faithful in response.
Faith is not an unstable emotion. It is a settled reliance on a God who cannot lie.
### 2. “Assurance” – *Hypostasis* (Greek)
Hebrews 11:1:
> “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for…”
The Greek word translated “assurance” is ὑπόστασις (*hypostasis*).
*Hypostasis* literally means:
In ancient usage, *hypostasis* could refer to a document that guaranteed ownership—a title-deed. Faith, then, is like the title-deed of what we hope for. The property may not yet be in our hand, but the legal document is in our possession.
So:
This removes faith from the realm of vague wishing. Faith is a present, inward certainty based on the Word and character of God.
---
### Verse 1
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen.
For by it, the people of old received their commendation.”
This is a direct quotation of Hebrews 11:1–2.
#### 1. Assurance and Conviction
“Conviction of things not seen” uses the Greek word ἔλεγχος (*elegchos*), meaning:
Faith does not create reality. Faith recognizes and responds to spiritual reality before it becomes visible.
Faith is the God-given means by which we align ourselves with that unseen reality and see it manifested in our lives.
#### 2. Commendation from God
“For by it the people of old received their commendation.”
Every man and woman in Hebrews 11 is commended not for natural ability, religious status, or personal brilliance. They are commended for faith.
Faith is the one essential requirement for God’s approval:
> “And without faith it is impossible to please him…”
> — Hebrews 11:6
Many strive to impress God with good works, intellect, or emotion. Scripture is clear: without faith, it is impossible—even with the best intentions—to please God.
### Chorus
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight.”
#### 1. The “Cloud of Witnesses”
Hebrews 12:1 begins with “therefore.” It connects directly to chapter 11. That “great cloud of witnesses” are the men and women just described. Their lives bear witness to the faithfulness of God.
The picture is not of passive observers, but of their testimonies, through Scripture, surrounding us and encouraging us: “We walked this path. God proved Himself. He will do the same for you if you trust Him.”
#### 2. Lay Aside Every Weight
“Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely…” (Hebrews 12:1).
There is a distinction between:
Many believers attempt to run the race of faith while loaded with baggage. Faith demands separation from anything that hinders obedience.
This is spiritual warfare in practical terms. The enemy is continually trying to:
The command is active: “let us lay aside…” This is an act of the will, based on the truth of God’s Word, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
### Verse 2
“And let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.”
#### 1. The Race Set Before Us
The Christian life is not a casual stroll; it is a race. Not a sprint, but a marathon. It requires endurance.
“Endurance” translates the Greek ὑπομονή (*hypomonē*):
This is essential to faith. Faith is not proved by how we begin, but how we continue. Many start with enthusiasm but falter when tests come. True faith endures.
The race is “set before us.” It is not self-chosen. God appoints each believer’s course. You are not called to run another person’s race, but the one God has marked out for you.
#### 2. Looking to Jesus – The Center of Faith
“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
The Greek word for “looking” is ἀφορῶντες (*aphorōntes*), meaning:
Faith has an object. Biblical faith is not “believing in belief.” It is fixing our eyes on a Person.
Jesus is called:
He both initiates faith in us and brings it to completion. Our responsibility is to keep our gaze fixed on Him:
This is crucial in spiritual warfare. Satan’s primary tactic is to divert our eyes: to get us absorbed with our failures, our wounds, other people’s sins, or the world’s turmoil. Faith regains focus: “looking to Jesus.”
### Bridge
“The righteous shall live by faith.
Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.”
Here the lyrics bring together Habakkuk 2:4 and Psalm 37:3.
#### 1. “The Righteous Shall Live by Faith”
This is not simply “the righteous shall be saved by faith,” though that is true. It is broader: their entire mode of existence is faith.
Faith is the pipeline through which every aspect of God’s grace flows:
To “live by faith” means that in every situation—pressure, blessing, trial, uncertainty—we ask: “What has God said? What does His Word reveal? How do I act in line with that, regardless of what I see or feel?”
#### 2. “Trust in the Lord and Do Good”
Psalm 37:3 provides the practical outworking.
Some want to “trust” without doing. Others want to “do” without trusting. Scripture unites both. True faith always produces obedience and good works (see James 2:17–22). Any faith that does not lead to action is dead.
#### 3. “Dwell in the Land and Befriend Faithfulness”
“Dwell in the land” speaks of staying where God has placed you, instead of running restlessly from one situation to another, seeking outward change instead of inward transformation.
“Befriend faithfulness” (ESV) can also be rendered “feed on faithfulness” (NKJV). The Hebrew word is related to shepherding. Picture feeding upon God’s faithfulness as a continual diet.
This implies:
The “rock of faith” is built by repeated, deliberate feeding on the faithfulness of God.
### Outro
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for.”
The song returns to Hebrews 11:1, bringing us back to the foundation.
True faith does not deny present realities—sickness, lack, persecution, injustice—but it refuses to let them be final. Faith takes God’s Word as the ultimate reality and lives accordingly.
---
To move from theory to practice, we must respond to these truths in definite ways.
### 1. First, We Must Renounce Sight as Our Final Authority
Faith does not make us irrational, but it changes the order of authority in our lives.
We must make a conscious decision:
“I will no longer allow what I see, feel, or fear to overrule what God has spoken.”
Practical steps:
### 2. Second, We Must Lay Aside Every Weight and Sin
Hebrews 12:1 is a command, not a suggestion.
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you:
Then, act decisively:
Faith is not passive. It takes radical steps in obedience.
### 3. Third, We Must Fix Our Gaze on Jesus Daily
“Looking to Jesus” is not a one-time act, but a daily discipline.
Practically:
The more we look to Jesus, the more faith is energized. Faith is not produced by self-analysis, but by Christ-focus:
> “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
> — Romans 10:17
### 4. Fourth, We Must Practice “Trust and Do Good” Where We Are
Psalm 37:3 is intensely practical. It answers a common temptation: “If my circumstances were different, I could live by faith.” Scripture says: “Dwell in the land… befriend faithfulness” where you are.
This means:
Faith is proved in the ordinary:
As you “do good” in the power of the Holy Spirit, your faith becomes a solid rock, not a theory.
---
### Scriptural Proclamation
Say this aloud, thoughtfully and deliberately, based on the Scriptures behind “Rock of Faith”:
> I declare that I do not live by sight, but by faith.
>
> Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
> the conviction of things not seen.
>
> I belong to the righteous, and the righteous shall live by faith.
> I refuse to draw back in fear or unbelief.
>
> I am surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses,
> whose lives testify that God is faithful.
> Therefore, I lay aside every weight
> and every sin that would cling to me.
>
> I run with endurance the race that is set before me,
> looking away from all else and fixing my eyes on Jesus,
> the author and finisher of my faith.
>
> I choose to trust in the Lord and do good.
> I will dwell where He has placed me
> and I will feed on His faithfulness.
>
> My faith rests not on feelings,
> but on the unchanging Word and character of God.
> Jesus is my Rock of faith,
> and in Him I stand.
> Amen.
### Prayer
Lord God,
You are faithful and true. Your Word is settled in heaven and cannot be broken. I ask You now, in the name of Jesus, to work in me the faith that pleases You.
Where I have lived by sight, forgive me. Where I have allowed fear, doubt, and compromise to control me, I repent. By Your Holy Spirit, enable me to lay aside every weight and every sin.
Open my eyes to Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith. Draw my focus away from myself, away from circumstances, away from other people, and fix it upon Him. Strengthen me to run with endurance the race You have set before me.
Teach me to trust in You and do good. Help me to be faithful where You have placed me, feeding daily on Your faithfulness. Let my life become a testimony, added to that great cloud of witnesses, that You are worthy of trust.
I receive Your Word as my rock—my assurance, my title-deed to every promise You have made. Establish me, O Lord, in true, biblical faith.
In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Rock of faith.
Amen.
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