What was the result of these two lines of evidence presented by Peter? Peter said that they could know ASSUREDLY… In other words, because of the evidence which Peter had presented, they could know…for…certain…that Jesus…was…the Son of God. He proved these things to 3000 Jews on the day of Pentecost. It was the proof, provided by this evidence, which caused them to know ASSUREDLY. It was this evidence which caused their faith. It was their faith which, then, led to their obedience to the command to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins.

Again, let me emphasize that true faith comes as a result of being convinced of the Truth of a thing by the evidence which is presented. One other example will cement in our minds this concept:

In Luke, chapter 1, verses 1 through 4, we read the introduction of Luke’s Gospel, and I’d like you to pay close attention to what Luke wrote to Theophilus: “Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, 2 even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word, 3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 that thou mightest know the certainty concerning the things wherein thou was instructed.”

Why did Luke write these things to Theophilus? So that this man might know the certainty of the things which he had been taught concerning the life of Jesus Christ. Notice that Luke based his words to Theophilus upon evidence, “having traced the course of all things accurately from the first,” and that he wrote these things based upon the eyewitness testimony of those who had been with Jesus—evidence which had been provided to him, evidence which had caused his own Christian faith.

One important thing to realize, also, is that Luke and all the writers of Scripture were directly guided by the Holy Spirit in the things which they wrote. Since this is the case, then it becomes apparent that God Himself continually reaffirms, through His Word, the importance of faith based upon evidence. God does not demand that we believe in Him and have trust in Him just because He says so. He does, however, demand that we have faith based upon evidence that He has provided for us in His inspired Word.

Indeed, the whole of the inspired New Testament speaks to us of evidence—evidence, which has its sole purpose the fostering of faith in the hearts of those who investigate, who diligently seek God. This purpose is again made clear by what John wrote through the inspiration of the Spirit in 1 John 1, verses 1 through 3. He wrote, “That which was from the beginning, That which we have heard, That which we have seen with our eyes, That which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life 2(and the Life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you the Life, the Eternal (Life), Which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us); 3 that Which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ…”

John wrote that he and those other apostles heard, saw, beheld, and handled the Word of Life, Jesus Christ, and that the coming of Jesus resulted in the promise of eternal life in the Son of God. He wrote that it was his purpose to declare these things unto mankind so that those who become convinced of the Truth of his evidence might have fellowship, not only with all who would believe these things, but also fellowship—fellowship…togetherness…with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

Does this sound in any way like “blind faith”? Of course it doesn’t. Faith is based upon evidence—evidence which convinces.

So, what is the definition of true biblical “faith”? Putting all of these we’ve studied this morning into one definition of “faith,” we arrive at this: Faith, which comes from a study of God’s Word—a diligent study of the evidence for God’s existence and His promises—is a CONVICTION and a BELIEF which is based SOLELY on an INVESTIGATION of the EVIDENCE which has been provided. Faith is belief and trust in God and Jesus Christ based upon this evidence—evidence which, itself, is based upon the eyewitness testimony of those who saw the life of Jesus—His death, His burial AND His resurrection from the dead; eyewitness testimony which proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus died for our sins, and was resurrected so that we might have hope of eternal life.

Faith is a result of being convinced of the evidence which God has provided of the things which we hope for, and faith is ALSO the result of being convinced of the evidence which God has provided for us of the things which are not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 does not teach that we have faith because we have irrationally wanted to believe in the things for which we hope. It does not teach that we have faith because we irrationally want to believe in the things we can’t see. But it does teach that we have faith because of the evidence of these things which have been provided for us in the Word of God.