What is the meaning of Hebrews 11:3? By faith we understand • Faith is the lens that lets us grasp realities we cannot touch or test in a lab. Hebrews 11:1 calls faith “the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.” • Our confidence rests on God’s trustworthy character, not human speculation (Proverbs 3:5-6). • Scripture insists that faith comes by hearing “the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17), so believing God’s testimony about creation is a natural act of faith. • Walking “by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7) keeps us anchored when cultural assumptions contradict divine revelation. that the universe was formed • The verse points back to Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Everything—from galaxies to grains of sand—has an intentional origin. • “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made” (Psalm 33:6); nothing evolved randomly or autonomously. • Peter reminds believers that “long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed” (2 Peter 3:5), underscoring continuity between Old and New Testament witness. • Revelation 4:11 celebrates that all things “were created” and “have their being” because God willed it. at God’s command • Creation happened through divine speech: “For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm” (Psalm 33:9). • Each Genesis day opens with “And God said,” highlighting the power of His word. • God’s word is never idle—Isaiah 55:11 assures it accomplishes what He desires. • Psalm 148:5 invites all creation to praise the Lord “for He commanded, and they were created,” echoing Hebrews 11:3. so that what is seen • The visible cosmos—the stars we gaze at, the soil beneath our feet—testifies to its Maker (Romans 1:20). • “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1), turning everyday sights into ongoing sermons. • Colossians 1:16 affirms that “all things visible and invisible” were created through and for Christ, binding the seen world to its unseen Source. was not made out of what was visible • Scripture presents creation ex nihilo—out of nothing material. Genesis 1:3 records, “Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light,” without pre-existing raw materials. • John 1:3 reinforces: “Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.” • This truth humbles human pride; matter is not eternal, God is. • It also assures believers that the same God who called the universe into being can intervene powerfully in our lives. summary Hebrews 11:3 teaches that believers, relying on God’s reliable word, grasp a foundational reality: the entire universe sprang into existence by God’s sovereign command, without pre-existing matter. Everything we see reveals an invisible yet all-powerful Creator who speaks and accomplishes His purposes. Understanding creation by faith anchors our worldview, fuels our worship, and fortifies our trust that the God who formed worlds can shape our present and future. |
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