Nun - Jesus Christ: The Substance of our Faith

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Hebrews 11:1ff (Spoke 14, Cycle 3)

These words open the great memorial to the countless saints who lived faith-filled lives unto God. Though this chapter contains twenty-five occurrences of the word faith, expressing the essence of the Nun KeyWord ne'eman (faithful), it barely touches the great cloud of God's witnesses, being restricted by limits of space and time:

And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire ...

Hebrews 11:32ff (Spoke 14, Cycle 3)

God used the word translated as substance (υποστασιϛ, hupostasis), also in the opening passage of Hebrews where it is translated as person. There is a profound parallel between these verses that reveals the true "substance" of our faith, the Lord Jesus Who, though we have not seen Him with our eyes, is the object of all our hope, the Author and Finisher of our Faith:

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1ff (Spoke 14, Cycle 3)

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