Faith, what is it?

I ran across this and wanted to pass it on...

"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 things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God translated him: for before his translation he had his testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:1-6

Only one ingredient is needed to complete faith, and that is trust.

Commit yourself to the merciful God, rest your hope on the gracious gospel.

Trust your soul to the dying and living Savior.

Wash away your sins in the atoning blood.

Accept His perfect righteousness and all is well.

Trust in the lifeblood of faith, there is no saving faith without it.

The Puritans were accustomed to explain faith by the word recumbency.

It means leaning upon a thing.

Lean with all your weight upon Christ.

It would be a far better illustration still if I said, "Fall at full length and lie on the Rock of Ages Cast yourself upon Jesus; rest in Him, commit yourself to Him."

That done, you have exercised saving faith.

Faith is not a blind thing, for faith begins with knowledge.

It is not a speculative thing; for faith believes facts for which is sure.

It is not an unpractical, dreamy thing.

For faith trusts and stakes its destiny upon the truth of revelation.

That is one way of describing what faith is.

I wonder whether I have confounded it already.

Let me try again.

Faith is believing that Christ is what He is said to be and that he will do what He has promised to do, and then to expect this of Him.

The Scripture speaks of Jesus Christ as being God.

God in human flesh.

Perfect in His character.

As being as sin offering on our behalf.

Bearing our own sins in His own body on the tree.

The Scripture speaks of Him as having finished transgression, made an end to sin, and brought in everlasting righteousness.

The sacred records further tell us that He "rose again from the dead."

That He "ever liveth to make intercession for [us]."

That He has gone up into glory and has taken possession of heaven on behalf of His people.

That He will shortly come again "to judge the world in righteousness, and His people with equity."

We are most firmly to believe that it is even so; for this is the testimony of God the Father when He said, "This is my beloved Son; hear Him."

This is also testified by God the Holy Spirit; for the Spirit has borne witness to Christ, both in the inspired Word and by many miracles and by His working in the hearts of men.

We are to believe this testimony to be true.

- Charles H. Spurgeon - Taken from "They Walked With God"