by Peter Homeier

In October 1985, Peter Homeier — an engineer at the Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, California — posted this essay to net.religion.christian, the Usenet newsgroup for Christian theological discussion. It is among the most carefully structured of his series of evangelical expositions, and arguably the deepest.

Homeier begins with a definition from Hebrews 11: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." He distinguishes faith from intellectual assent alone, from emotional experience alone, and from moral works — while insisting that none of these are absent from the life of faith. The key distinction is that faith itself is not a human achievement but a gift from God.

The essay turns on a close reading of Hebrews 11, the New Testament's "Hall of Faith" — the long roll-call of those who "through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire." But Homeier pauses at the point where the tone changes: "And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection... They were stoned, they were sawn in two." The same faith that conquers is also the faith that suffers without visible rescue.

This is, Homeier argues, the deepest mystery of faith: that God sometimes withdraws His visible protection, allowing terrible sorrows to come upon His beloved children, "when the world feels as empty and drear as if there were no God." He does not resolve the mystery easily. The answer he offers is not a theodicy but an example: Jesus on the cross, where everything around said God had forgotten Him, and He maintained His faith in the Father even to death.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved." (Acts 16:31)

To become saved, to move from this world system of darkness into the light and fellowship of the kingdom of God, requires faith. It is not something that can be established by good deeds, however noble and sacrificial. (Romans 3:20) It is not something that can be achieved just by intellectual study and rationalization. (1 Corinthians 1:20) Nor is it something that comes purely as an emotional experience. This is not to say that there will not be righteous acts of love, powerful and cogent reasonings about God, or deep-felt emotions caught up with the whole experience of salvation. But the key is faith.

What Faith Is

This is what opens the door to the kingdom. But in this society, faith is not well understood. In the 11th chapter of the book of Hebrews faith is defined for us: "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen... But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:1, 6)

Faith does not come from ourselves, but rather it is itself a gift from God. Faith is not a work that we do, as if we could by some passion of fervor and intensity achieve enough faith to ask for people to be healed or mountains to be moved. But faith is something that we grow in over time, walking in the faith that we have been given up to now. This is not to say that people are not responsible for not believing; they cannot say, "Well, I guess God just never gave me the gift of faith, so I am excused for not accepting Christ!" Ask for faith, and God will give it to you.

Faith is not a work. It is the easiest thing in the world. A little baby can have enough faith to accept Jesus as Lord. But we adults have to make it a big process, when really it is very simple. Just think of how a little child has faith in Jesus. That is how you should have faith. "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3)

Often people feel like they wish they had more faith than they do. That is a good wish! When the disciples asked Jesus, "Increase our faith," he responded by encouraging them to seek faith by telling them that if they had only faith as big as a mustard seed (an extremely minute seed!) then they would literally be able to say to a mountain, "Be lifted up, and be thrown into the sea!" and the mountain would obey them. There is an enormous reservoir of power available to people who will pray believing.

One excellent way to increase in faith is to do a lot of Bible study. "So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." In seeing the faith of the other great men in the Bible, our own faith is strengthened. In seeing the great deeds of God and the love He bears towards us, we are encouraged to trust Him and believe Him that He is able to do all He has promised.

Now whatever level of faith the Lord has given to you, walk in it! Exercise your faith. For example, pray for things, like the healing of ill people you know, trusting the promise that says "by His stripes we are healed." When difficult decisions come up in your life, ask the Lord what you should do, and wait for His answer. He will answer you. It will not be in the way you expect, but if you are really willing to hear Him and obey Him, then He will show you His will. If you believe in Him, then wait and listen until He answers. Do not rush off, grabbing things back into your own hands, thinking that God has forgotten you! When it is time, He will do what He has promised. But faith waits patiently.

The Hall of Faith

Read in Hebrews chapter 11 for the great roll call of the heroes of the faith. "And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again." (Hebrews 11:32–35)

But now note how the tone changes:

"And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented — of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth." (Hebrews 11:35–38)

This shows one of the deepest mysteries of faith. As the first half of the scripture shows, many times we achieve great visible victories through faith in God, as Daniel was saved in the lion's den. But there is another level of maturity, when God appears to withdraw His protection, allowing terrible sorrows to come upon His beloved children, when it appears that there is no comfort or peace from Him, when the world feels as empty and drear as if there were no God.

But this is for our good that He allows this, that He might build our faith in times of darkness, stress, and trouble. He wants us to believe in Him even when we cannot see His salvation anywhere at hand. He will take us right up to the brink of Hell, and we may even topple in. But God has not sent us in without an example. Jesus also endured the Cross, when everything around said that God had forgotten Him, abandoned Him to an ignominious death. He could have taken things into His own hands, summoning legions of angels and coming down from the cross. But Jesus maintained His faith in the Father, even to death. And because He did, God raised Him from the dead.

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1–2)

Colophon

Written by Peter Homeier, The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, California. Posted to net.religion.christian, Wednesday, October 9, 1985. Article-ID: aero.497. This essay is part of Homeier's 1985 series of evangelical expositions; related essays in this archive include The Tragedy of Sin, The Cross of Christ, The Love of God, and The Meaning of Salvation.

Preserved from the Usenet archive for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026. Original Message-ID: [email protected].

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