THE MEANING OF FAITH.

Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, and the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld. (Hebrew 11).
"Assured expectation" translates the Greek word 'hypothesis'. This term is common in ancient papyrus business documents. it conveys the idea of something that underlies visible conditions and guarantees a future possession. It is the title-deed of things hoped for.
The Greek meaning of the word e'le.khos, meaning 'evident demonstration', conveys the idea of bringing forth evidence that demonstrate something, particularly something contrary to what appears to be the case. Thereby this evidence makes clear what has not been discerned before and so refutes what only appeared to be the case. The 'evident demonstration', or evidence for conviction, is so positive or powerful that Faith is said to be it. Faith is therefore, the basis for Hope and the evidence for Conviction concerning unseen realities. Faith is based on concrete evidence. The visible creative works testify to the existence of an invisible Creator.
The person who may ridicule Faith usually has faith in tried and trusted friends. The scientist has faith in the principles of his branch of science. It bases new experiments on past discoveries and look for new discoveries on the basis of those things already established as true. Likewise, the farmer prepares his soil and sows the seed, expecting, as in previous years, that the seed will sprout and that the plants will grow as they receive the needed moisture and sunshine. Therefore Faith in the stability of the natural laws governing the universe constitutes a foundation for man's plans and activities.
Such stability is alluded to by the writer of Ecclesiastes when he says: "The sun also has flashed forth, and the sun has set, and it is coming panting to its place where it is going to flash forth. The wind is going to the South, and it is circling around to the North. Round and round it is continually circling, and right back to its circling the wind is returning. All the winter torrents are going forth to the sea, yet the sea itself is not full. To the place where the winter torrents are going forth, there they are returning so as to go forth." (Ecclesiastes 1).
The entire life course of a Christian is governed by Faith, enabling him/her to overcome obstacles that would hinder his/her service to God. It serves as a protective shield in the Christian's spiritual warfare, helping him/her to overcome the Devil and be a conqueror of the World. Faith cannot be taken for granted, because lack of faith is the sin that so easily entangles one.
To maintain a firm Faith requires putting up a hard fight for it, resisting men who could plunge one into immorality, combating the works of the flesh, avoiding the snare of materialism, shunning faith-destroy
philosophies and traditions of men.
When answering the apostles' question concerning His future presence and the conclusion of the existing system of things, Jesus Christ included a parable dealing with a "faithful and discreet slave" and an "evil slave by saying, Who, then is a faithful and wise servant? It is the one that his master has placed in charge of the other servants to give them their food at the proper time. How happy that servant is if his master finds him doing this when he comes home! Indeed, I tell you, the master will put that servant in charge of all his property. But if he is a bad servant, he will tell himself that his master will not come back for a long time, and he will begin to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. Then that servant's master will come back one day when the servant does not expect him and at a time he does not know. The master will cut him in pieces and make him share the fate of the hypocrites. There he will cry and gnash his teeth. ((Matthew 24: 45-51)).
In the parallel illustration at Luke 12, the slave is called a "steward," that is, a house manager or administrator, one placed over servants, though he is himself a servant.
Those forming the Christian congregation are referred to by the apostle Paul as "members of the Household of God."
Ephesians 2 says, "In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins. At that time you followed the World's evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God. Actually all of us (Paul himself) were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's Anger. But God's mercy is so abundant, and His Love for us is so great, that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience He brought us to Life with Christ. It is by God's grace that we have been saved. In our union with Christ Jesus he raised us up with Him to rule with Him in the heavenly world. ... You Gentiles by birth
-called "the uncircumcised" by the Jews, who call themselves "the circumcised" (which refers to what men do to their bodies)- remember Gentiles what you were in the past. At that time you were apart from Christ. You were foreigners and did not belong to God's chosen people. You had no part in the Covenants, which were based on God's Promises to His people, and you lived in this World without Hope and without God. But now, in union with Christ Jesus, you, who used to be far away, have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For Christ Himself have brought us Peace by making Jews and Gentiles one people. With His own body He broke down the wall that separated them and kept them enemies."(2: 1-14)
"He abolished the Jewish Law with its commandments and rules, in order to create out of the two races one new people in union with Himself, in this way making Peace. By His death on the cross Christ destroyed their enmity; by means of the cross He united both races into One Body and brought them back to God." (2: 15-16)
"Christ came and preached the Good News of Peace to all -to the Gentiles who were far away from God, and to the Jews, who were near to Him. Therefore, it is Through Christ that all of us, Jews and Gentiles, are able to come in the One Spirit into the presence of the Father." (2: 17-18)
"Gentiles (Paul says), you are not foreigners or strangers any longer; you are now 'citizens' together with God's people and "members of the Family of God. You, too, are built upon 'the foundation' laid by the apostles and prophets, 'the cornerstone being Christ Jesus Himself.' He is the One 'Who holds the whole building together' and makes it grow into 'a Sacred Temple dedicated to the Lord.' In union with Him both races are being built together into a place where God lives through His Spirit." (2:19-22)