Moses and Aaron were successful in leading the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, and eventually in conquering the land of Canaan. Through faith, they kept the Passover. Through faith, they passed through the Red Sea. Through faith, the walls of Jericho came down, Hebrews, chapter 11, verses 28 through 30. Like Abel, like Noah, like Moses and Aaron, we, too, must have an active and working faith. In speaking of Abraham, James says, “You must see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his FAITH was MADE COMPLETE by WHAT HE DID,” James 2, and verse 22.

So, the characteristics of faith include being able to see what is unseen. They include us acting on the divine knowledge that we have. And also, a characteristic of faith is that it allows us to endure to the end. This seems to be the Hebrew writer’s chief point that he’s making in the 11th chapter. He actually sets this up in the 10th chapter, verses 35 and 36. He writes, “So do not throw away your CONFIDENCE. It will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the Will of God, you will receive what He has promised.” And then, verse 1 of Hebrews, chapter 11: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see.” In other words, the Hebrew writer is saying, “Don’t be discouraged! Have faith!” Or, as we might say, “keep the faith”, and let that faith be lasting and enduring to the end! This principle of endurance and perseverance is illustrated for us by the great men of the Bible throughout this 11th chapter of the book of Hebrews. We’re told in that chapter 11 that Abraham endured. Verses 13 through 16 tell us that the Patriarchs endured. Verses 21 and 22 tell us that Jacob and Joseph endured. But the chief example of endurance and perseverance is Christ Himself.

And if we look at the following chapter, Hebrews, chapter 12, and we look at the first three verses, we see here what a great example Christ is for us in this area. It says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with PERSEVERANCE the race marked out before us. Let us fix our eyes on JESUS, the PIONEER and PERFECTER of our faith, Who, for the joy set before Him, ENDURED the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him, Who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will NOT grow weary and lose heart.”

Jesus looked beyond the moment. He looked to the final joy that He knew awaited. He endured the cross while scorning, or despising, the shame of it. He was victorious by faith and is NOW at the right hand of the Father. He was the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, or, as some of the old Bible translations translate that, He was the author and finisher of our faith. He is our prime example!

So, let’s remember. True spiritual faith involves, first, seeing the unseen; second, acting on that divine knowledge; and third, enduring to the end. Each one of us needs to be faithful.

And as we conclude tonight, let me ask, “What IS the condition of your faith tonight? Is your faith a dead faith?” We’re reminded once again of what James had to say. He said, “Faith without works is dead,” James 2:26. So, if you have faith, but works do not accompany the faith, are we better off than the demons, which James writes about? They have faith, but their faith is not accompanied by righteous works.

Is your faith tonight a little faith? In Matthew, the 8th chapter, the story of Peter making his attempt to walk on the water is recorded for us. And as Peter sinks, Jesus chides him and says, “O ye of little faith!” Peter, at that moment at least, had little faith. What about us tonight? How much faith do we have? Do we have much faith? Or do we have little faith?

Is our faith tonight a weak faith? Paul writes in Romans, the 14th chapter, and verse 1, and he urges the brethren to “accept him whose faith is weak.” We generally understand that to be, perhaps, a new convert—maybe someone who has not grown in the faith as they should. And so, tonight, is your faith a weak faith?

OR, conversely, is your faith a strong faith, like the faith of Abraham? Paul writes in Romans, the 4th chapter, verse 20, “Speaking of Abraham, he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in the faith, giving God the glory.” Is your faith tonight a great faith? Do you have a great faith like the Centurion, who asked Jesus to heal his sick child by just speaking the words? He believed that Jesus, even from afar, could accomplish that. And this caused Jesus to remark in Matthew, the 8th chapter, verse 10, “I have not found so great a faith, no, not in all Israel!”

Is your faith tonight a perfect faith? James, once again speaking of Abraham, says, “Ye see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete (or perfect) by what he did.”

So, I leave those questions with you. You consider those. Is your faith a dead faith? Is it little faith? Is it a weak faith? Or is your faith strong? Is it great? And is it perfect, or complete, like that of Abraham?

One of the great truths about faith is that we never get to the end of it. Just like we never get to the end of our ability to gain knowledge, we never get to the end of our ability to grow and develop in faith. And so, understanding what we’ve talked about tonight, I urge each of us to examine our lives. And if we need to strengthen our faith, let’s make up our minds to do that, and do it this very night—begin this very night.

Faith is also the first step on the road to obedience and becoming a child of God. If you have faith—if you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, then you need to act upon that faith, and you need to be obedient in baptism.