The Substance of Faith
Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser
Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town, November 2016

Here are some infrastructures that build our substance of faith

Scripture:
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

Quick Definitions:
Faith (G4102 “pistis”) Thayer Definition:
1) conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it
1a) relating to God
1a1) the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ
1b) relating to Christ
1b1) a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God
1c) the religious beliefs of Christians
1d) belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same
2) fidelity, faithfulness
2a) the character of one who can be relied on
Part of Speech: noun feminine

Faith in the Hebrew Language
Hab 2:4 but the just shall live by his faith.

H530 \’e?mu?na?h pronounced em-oo-naw\’,
Feminine of H529; literally firmness; figuratively security; moral fidelity: – faith (-ful, -ly, -ness, [man]), set office, stability, steady, truly, truth, verily.

Substance (G5287 “hupostasis” Thayer Definition.)
1) a setting or placing under
1a) thing put under, substructure, foundation
2) that which has foundation, is firm
2a) that which has actual existence
2a1) a substance, real being
2b) the substantial quality, nature, of a person or thing
2c) the steadfastness of mind, firmness, courage, resolution
2c1) confidence, firm trust, assurance
Part of Speech: noun feminine
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from a compound of G5259 and G2476
Citing in TDNT: 8:572, 1237

Substance in the Hebrew
Psa 139:16 Your eyes saw my substance (go?lem “embryo” H1564) , being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

Jesus is the Author and Finisher of Our Faith
Heb 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Faith comes by hearing and Hearing by the Word of God
Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith is accompanied by works
Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Faith is tested and becomes precious
1Pe 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
1Pe 1:7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

Christ is revealed
When our infrastructure of substance reveals our faith – people see Jesus in us!