FAITH

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Chr life. 2 - 1 Jacques Rase
FAITH
The lesson of this week invites us to reflect on the theme of faith. One of the chapters
important about this is Hebrews 11. Without dwelling on the various examples we
try to draw some lessons from this text.

1. Context:
This Epistle was sent to the Christians of Jewish origin disconcerted by the destruction of
Temple of Jerusalem and the disappearance of what was concrete, visible and palpable in the
living their faith (sacrifice, liturgy, ...). It speaks to a church of the things that disappointed
have not been realized. These Christians are tempted to go back, because
the expression of Christian faith seems vague, less concrete.
The end of Chapter 10 (V.32-39) remind recipients of the Epistle their struggle,
they have suffered with courage and dedication, and ask them not to lose their
confidence and zeal of yesteryear, but instead to wait for the achievement of strong
promises of God. She spoke about the contrast between the attitude of faith and that of
Evasions ( "out" V.38).
The passage that follows this chapter (Heb 12.1-3), will resume this theme of faith and fidelity that
endure the test.
_ M'arrive there at times, be tempted to "drop"? What are the
reasons: changes in the church that Jesus is not forthcoming, other reasons?
_ What I can, then, to hold out?

2. What is faith?
This is one of the words used in our "patois of Canaan." But what does it
exactly?
_ Formulate a few words in your definition of faith. . . . . . . . .
In Hebrew as in Greek, the words faith and belief have the same root.
The verb believe is from the Hebrew word aman, meaning "strong bear", and expressed
a worn baby in her arms by holding it firmly to ensure
safe protection. Hence, trust, rely on someone who is on course. The
substance of this root have a sense of proven stability, continuity, consistency,
loyalty. Chouraqui translates to "grip".

Chr life. 2 - Jacques Shave 2
Faith describes the strong relationship that can exist between man and God, and
involves 2 partners. It is not just a mental attitude, but a
total commitment.
_ Read now defining Heb 11.1, and compare it with yours. What
are the differences? Do you think it is comprehensive and covers all content of
faith?

3. The action of God: Heb 11.1,2.
Verse 1: We are not at an absolute definition of faith, but to a
Following the discussion of Chapter 10 of the faith-fidelity defined as the attitude of concrete
believing that even in difficulties, is firmly and resolutely committed to the God who
made promises.
"Faith is a sign of what we hoped" the very word used here (hupostasis) is
better translated as "foundation", "guarantee" that "insurance". This is not the
sense of confidence of the believer, but a lived experience really that
foreshadows what is expected.
"... And a demonstration of the invisible realities": note the paradox: faith faithfulness
demonstrates what it is not because they are because God and his kingdom. Faith is
God's work in the hearts of the faithful, and when it is experienced by the latter, it
also becomes a proof of the reality of God for all those who observe the effects
it produces in the life of the believer.
_ Read this verse in light of this idea and see if you can discover a
meaning different from what you have always believed there to see.
_ Think about how these two statements could highlight the role
of God in the relationship of faith.
_ What is that faith has changed in my life? This gives me there for sure
the existence of the Kingdom? What am I "an open letter"?
Verse 2: literally "in it, the old have received a good testimony." This passage
shows that in the context of the relationship of faith, the testimony of God is
manifest. The approval of God shows that faith has a genuine connection with
the invisible and the property sought.
Verses 1 and 2 highlight the presence and action of God in true faith. They
complement the end of Chapter 10, which focused mainly on the part of human faith.

Chr life. 2 - 3 Jacques Rase
_ You can see that the relationship between 2 people is good, but what evidence avonsnous
it is a true love? What about my relationship with God? How do I
whether this is a true love? Are there any evidence?

4. The human dimension: Heb 11.3-6
Verse 3. It is a dimension of faith to the man: we understand
(verb that belongs to intellectual vocabulary, understand the intelligence).
Faith is not just a feeling and a voluntary act, but also a
correct intellectual understanding of the role of God here in creation. At the same
time again, we discover a God who though invisible, acts in the concrete
the occasion of the establishment.
Faced with the revelation of the Bible on the origin of the world, the believer must exercise
confidence, but confidence wise and intelligent.
_ Are there any link between faith and understanding? To what extent my faith is it
rational?
_ Far our relationship with God depends on it because we understand who and what
is God?
Verses 4-5 - They stress the link between faith and divine approval. This approval is
translated in terms of reward. But it is more often than expected this.
The approval of his partner, friendship or love, is alone sufficient to
do good and help them feel better. The same is true for the small child with a
fundamental need to feel appreciated and valued. It is the same between humans
and God, in the context of faith.
_ Do you think that the expectation of a reward should be the key driver of our
relationship with God? The believer can live the approval of another way?
Verse 6-8: These verses focus on 3 major dimensions of faith:
- The head thinking brain faith, believe. Faith implies further research
of God and approach to approach him. It is a dynamic process!
- The heart: the relationship. Confidence comes from personal relationship with God. More
God attends the believer, the more it is forced to trust Him.
Chr life. 2 - 4 Jacques Rase
- Hand: The appearance of obedience. Faith is started. It results in
facts.
Faith is multidimensional. Everyone is in a different point between the 3 vectors:
belief, trust, obedience. The danger is to focus on a dimension
forgetting the other: belief without obedience, obedience without belief or without
trust.
_ In a postmodern world where people accept as valid what
corresponds to their personal experience and internal, what is still the place of
understanding?
_ When I compare my experience of faith with these three dimensions, what is the dimension
that the most developed home? That I tend to leave?
_ What if my faith is well balanced?

5. Examples of faith:
In the various examples from the Old Testament, faith is often a
paradox. Thus:
- What you see is not what is visible (3)
- Abel still speaks through its offerings, but he died (4)
- It no longer sees Enoch, but it is alive (5)
- Noah is warned of what is not yet (7)
- Abraham hand not knowing (8)
- Sara hopes, despite his advanced age (11)
- They are all dead, but they all welcomed ... (13)
- Abraham had a son, but it is being tested (17)
- Jacob, when dying, blessed (21)
- Joseph ... close to its end (22)
- Moses hid ... (23)
- The sea is crossed, but the Egyptians are swallowed (29)
- The walls are impregnable, but they fall (30)
- Rahab is a prostitute, but it saves (31)
- ... ...

Chr life. 2 - 5 Jacques Rase
In this chapter, faith is anything but normal. Anything but consistent. Everything but the
logic. Everything but happiness easy.
There is a strong tendency in the Church to speak of faith as if it were a good food
packaged, the same for everyone.
Heb 11 this faith so highly diversified. Both those that triumph
one who suffers. There is no authentic standards.
_ What are the paradoxes that I see in my Christian experience?
_ To what extent do I accept that the faith of the other does not live in the
same as mine?

6. Hope
Verses 39.40: In these 2 v., there are all the important points of the section.
The positive phase of the successes of the faith, and negative phases of secondment not
are one and the other as steps towards a higher purpose: the fulfillment in God.
The v.33 says that through faith, they saw result of promises, but these
Partial achievements are not to be confused with the achievement of final
promise.
You can not have strong faith without a hope. The concept of hope translates
orientation of the believer to the future and is based on trust in a sovereign God who
undertakes. It is connected under inheritance, promise, progeny that are reflected
several times in the chapter.
_ The hope is it for me an essential element of faith? How to manifestet -
it in my life?
_ How does the knowledge that we will share the salvation alongside those heroes
of faith tells me will happen to the love of God?
Conclusion
This chapter does not offer a definition of faith, but offers several
approaches. If a definition of faith is impossible, but we can
even outline its main features:

Chr life. 2 - 6 Jacques Rase
- The human side, faith is to approach God, trust in him and
its promises, loyalty and perseverance. It requires knowledge
thought that causes significant changes in value
- As for God, it is a certificate and a share in us, now
and below, which shows his love and loyalty, ensures the good things to come and
demonstrates the invisible.
This faith - definition of the relationship of the believer with his God, is both belief
trust and obedience. It is the only real way to receive forgiveness and salvation
offered by God.
"We walk by faith and not by sight" (2 Cor 5.7)

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