The Bible says faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1. This verse is a profound statement about what it means to have faith in God. It is not intended to be a comprehensive description of a much broader theological concept; yet, it contains two critical descriptions of faith. As a lawyer, the first two words that stand out to me are “substance” and “evidence.” In law, substantive evidence is that which proves a claim, as distinguished from evidence that suggests a witness is not being honest or is being disingenuous, or evidence that might be considered circumstantial. Scholars suggest that in Greek, the word “substance” can refer to a title deed. Thus, faith is the title deed of things hoped for.
The next word, “hope,” is often used in Scripture in connection with faith. The New Testament says that hope for what is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? Romans 8:24. Faith is an argument for that which is not yet seen. What is not seen is God and Jesus Christ. There is strong and substantial evidence that both exist and are alive. The Bible itself is a trustworthy and substantive source of evidence. It is evidence that demands a verdict.
Before I became a believer, a “thing hoped for” would be the truth. Discovering the truth about my life and the reasons I was alive would be a worthwhile goal. I believed in objective truth, as opposed to a life of subjective truth that changes over time and across cultures. The hope in the Bible is salvation, forgiveness, peace, and eternal life. Speaking of hope, I hope you continue to read about my faith journey on these pages.