1 Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality–faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. 2 For by this [kind of] faith the men of old gained [divine] approval.

As we’ve just seen, the recipients of this letter were suffering persecution. The author just told them that they need endurance. So how do you endure? Easier said than done. What better way than to have examples set before you of those who have endured? This chapter of Hebrews is often called the “Hall of Faith”. It provides a number of prime examples of OT saints who endured – from Abel chronologically through to the prophets. That’s the power of a testimony! How did they endure? All these stellar examples had one common trait: faith. Their faith was the foundation on which they built endurance. 

What other way to start a chapter on faith but with a definition. Read it a few times. This is faith. This is not the action of displaying faith, it is faith. I like the elaboration AMP version adds – especially “title deed”. The title is not the property itself but a guarantee that it exists and belongs to the holder of deed. What do you hope for? If it is based on a promise of God, it is “divinely guaranteed”, like we talked about previously in Hebrews 6:17 where God promised with an oath. By what greater thing can God promise than Himself? The key promise of God to us is not “no sufferings” (in fact Jesus told us that “in this world we will have tribulations”), but salvation, a great salvation. 

Now what is evidence? In a court of law, to prove anything, you need evidence. How do you prove something that can’t be seen, like salvation? Faith, that’s how. Faith is our evidence. Now, take that faith, which we all have, and leverage it into endurance to “fight the fight and finish the race”. 2 Timothy 4:6–8.