Evidence of Things Not Seen

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)

This verse refers to faith as evidence. That means it is an indication or token of spiritual realities that are not perceived by the natural eye of man. Apart from possessing the spiritual capacity of faith, men are cut off from the bedrock spiritual truths of God. They may build an observational "truth" that resembles spiritual truth through a careful but short-sighted application of cause and effect, but they will never ascribe the origin of this truth to God, because they neither "believe that he is" nor that "he is a rewarder of them who diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6). This leads to an observational truth without mooring. A man without faith might say, "From my observation, murder is bad." This may seem to agree with biblical ethics, but only superficially. The believer and the unbeliever my agree that "murder is bad" but he underlying basis for that belief is different. Where the unbeliever insists that this truth arises from observation, the believer insists that this truth arises from the word of God, and the observational evidence merely affirms that more fundamental truth.

REGENERATION IS NOT SEEN

One of the "things not seen" of which faith is an evidence is regeneration. When one is born from above, the spiritual capacity of faith is imparted to them as a fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God (Galatians 4:6, 5:22). The presence of faith in a child of God is evidence that God has quickened them to life in Christ. We do not see this new birth, indeed, "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation" (Luke 17:20), but when we see the presence of faith, we have evidence that regeneration has transpired.

FINALLY

Understanding the proper role of faith and that it is acquired through a sovereign, life-imparting, immediate act of God cuts through the fog of a thousand false doctrines that exist in Christendom.

- Elder Daniel Samons