Introduction: Redefining Faith
Faith is not simply a tool to request from the Lord what we need. For decades, many people in God’s people have reduced faith to a petition mechanism: “Have faith and you will receive.” However, this understanding is incomplete and, in a certain sense, religiously limited.
Faith is the very substance of spiritual life in Christ Jesus. Without faith, it is impossible to develop a truly spiritual existence. As the Word establishes: “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6).
The Apostle Paul declares in Romans that “those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” But this spiritual guidance is only possible through faith. Life in Christ Jesus is, fundamentally, a life of daily faith.
Faith as Spiritual Attribute
When we grow in faith, the Holy Spirit grants us spiritual attributes directly from His Presence. These are not symbolic or allegorical, but real and manifest gifts that transform our existence.
In chapter 11 of the Epistle to the Hebrews, we find a profound revelation about these attributes. Below, we will explore eight of the most outstanding ones that the Holy Spirit grants to those who walk in faith.
1. Faith Brings Understanding of God’s Word
Biblical reference: “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible” (Hebrews 11:3).
One of the first attributes that develops when we grow in faith is understanding of God’s Word and His Work. Many people express: “I read the Word and it is as if I had not read anything at all.” The answer is that they have not grown sufficiently in faith.
It is fundamental to distinguish between two concepts that are frequently confused:
Interpretation vs. Understanding: Interpretation is an academic process, the result of studies in hermeneutics. Understanding, on the other hand, is a gift of the Holy Spirit. As the Lord Jesus declares in Luke 24:45: “Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”
The Apostle Paul asks: “Who knows the thoughts of God? The Spirit of God. And it is He who reveals them to us” (1 Corinthians 2:11). The Holy Spirit is the one who reveals, opens, and gives understanding of the Word, not academic studies.
In the Gospel of John, the Lord Jesus promises His disciples: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; he will not speak on his own, but will tell you what he has heard” (John 14:26 and 16:13).
Conclusion: When faith grows, Divine Understanding flows. If someone does not understand God’s Word, it is a sign that there is still growth to be developed in faith.
2. Faith Brings Grace in the Eyes of God
Biblical reference: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
The second attribute is that of Divine Grace. Faith generates grace both in the eyes of God and in the eyes of all those around us.
In the Holy Scriptures we find the recurrent expression: “He found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” This is not merely literary or colloquial; it describes what happens in the life of one who has developed faith.
In Genesis 6:8 we read: “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” Why did Noah find favor? Not through fasting or religious practices, but because Noah walked in faith and lived by faith.
In a similar way, when Queen Esther entered the palace before King Ahasuerus, she “found favor” (Esther 5:2). The foundation was not the three-day fast, but her faith that sustained her.
The Difference Between Faith and Works: Many people make the mistake of trying to “force” God through religious practices. However, Divine Grace is granted through lived faith. The Apostle Paul expresses: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God” (Galatians 2:20).
When a person lives by faith, daily and genuinely, they naturally receive Divine Grace. This grace manifests in relationships, in opportunities, in the favor that others show us.
If someone identifies that they do not find favor in the eyes of those around them, the answer is clear: they have not grown sufficiently in faith.
3. Faith Brings Physical Strength
Biblical reference: “By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and past the age of childbearing, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise” (Hebrews 11:11).
The third attribute is revolutionary: faith grants real physical strength. This is not a symbolic or allegorical concept, but a tangible manifestation of power.
Sarah, being barren and advanced in age, “was enabled to bear children.” This strength was not temporary; from that moment on, Sarah lived with considerably greater vitality than she had before.
Spiritual Strength Manifests Physically: In the Book of Psalms it is declared: “Your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:5). We frequently interpret this symbolically, but the reality is that faith produces observable physical strength.
The Prophet Isaiah expresses it quite forcefully:
“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31).
Notice two key terms in verse 31: “will not grow weary” and “will not be faint.” The text clearly speaks of physical strength.
A Common Error: Many physical weaknesses that we experience are not the result of poor nutrition, lack of vitamins, mineral deficiency, or lack of exercise. They are consequences of neglect in growing in faith.
The world has established concepts for us that, at times, are contrary to biblical revelation. We believe that physical strength depends solely on material factors. However, physical strength is an attribute that proceeds from the Spirit of God and is granted to those who walk in faith.
The Example of Samson: The physical strength of Samson did not come from his long hair, as is commonly believed. The hair was merely a sign. Samson’s strength was “the manifestation and operation of God’s Spirit” in him. When Samson pushed down the two pillars to which he was bound, his hair had been cut short, but God’s Spirit manifested powerfully.
Conclusion: Frequent physical weakness in many of God’s men and women is an indicator of neglect in growing in faith. As the Apostle Paul wrote: “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Those who live this way receive the strength of the Divine Spirit.
4. Faith Allows Us to Inherit Spiritual Blessings
Biblical reference: “And so he became heir of the righteousness that is in accordance with faith” (Hebrews 11:7).
The fourth attribute challenges a common belief: faith and spiritual benefits can be inherited. While it is true that each person has an individual and non-transferable responsibility before God, it is also possible that those who have grown in faith can inherit blessings, gifts, and ministries to the next generations.
The Transfer of Faith: The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy:
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5).
Note the progression: grandmother Lois transmitted faith to mother Eunice, who transmitted it to Timothy. Faith can be inherited through generations.
Why Are There Breaks Between Generations? The answer is clear: there is a generational break when one has not grown enough in faith to pass it on. One generation may have grown in faith, served God, and heard His voice; but if it has not deepened in faith, the next generation seems to “be born from nowhere.”
The transfer is not genetic, it is spiritual. A father or mother who has developed a specific ministry can transmit that ministry to their children. In the same way, spiritual gifts can flow through family lines when there is genuine growth in faith.
Personal Responsibility: Although faith can be inherited, each person is responsible for making it grow and maintaining it. It is not enough to have received faith from our parents; we must develop it, cultivate it, and deepen ourselves in it.
5. Faith Makes Us Live in the Supernatural of God’s Kingdom
Biblical reference: “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth” (Hebrews 11:13).
The fifth attribute is profound: faith allows us to live on earth as if we were living in heaven. In other words, we live within the supernatural of God’s Kingdom.
The men and women of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 lived on earth, but they experienced the reality of the Heavenly Kingdom. They were not defeated people; they were people of the Kingdom, establishing the presence of the Kingdom in the places where they lived.
The Difference Between Church and Kingdom: It is not the same to live within a church as to live within the Kingdom of Heaven. Unfortunately, in many contemporary churches, the Gospel of God’s Kingdom has not been established. A gospel without deep doctrine is preached, emphasizing the religious rather than the truly spiritual.
What Jesus Taught After the Resurrection: In the Book of Acts it is recorded:
“After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3).
Jesus did not ascend immediately after His resurrection. He remained for 40 days teaching His apostles about God’s Kingdom. This is the supernatural that is available to those who live in faith.
The Authority of the Believer: The Lord declares:
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).
Although these words were directed specifically to Peter, they represent the authority available to all men and women of faith. Those who live in faith participate in this supernatural authority.
Living in the Supernatural Daily: It is not a matter of sporadic miracles or occasional wonders. Those who walk in genuine faith live in the supernatural continuously: 24 hours, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. This is the life that God has destined for His children.
6. Faith Makes Us Participants in the Resurrection of the Dead
Biblical reference: “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’ Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead” (Hebrews 11:17-19).
The sixth attribute has profound eschatological implications: faith makes us participants in the resurrection of the dead.
Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac, his only and beloved son, because he knew that “God could even raise the dead.” In other words, Abraham had faith in the resurrection. Isaac also participated in this revelation; that is why he asked his father: “Father, the wood is here, and the fire is here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” (Genesis 22:7). Isaac knew, by revelation of the Spirit, what was about to happen.
The Consciousness of the Resurrection: Today, very few people of faith have a true consciousness of the resurrection of the dead. Evidence of this lack of consciousness is the growing acceptance of cremation among believers.
Whom Do the Holy Scriptures Refer to as Cremated? Only one case: Achan and his family, who were cremated along with all his possessions as judgment for his sin (Joshua 7:25). All other righteous people were buried.
The Teaching of Jesus: The Lord Jesus redefines death as a sleep:
“The child is not dead but asleep” (Mark 5:39).
When Lazarus died, Jesus declared: “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up” (John 11:11).
Although Lazarus had physically died, Jesus presented him as sleeping. Why? Because the Lord said: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die” (John 11:25).
The Practical Implication: The person of faith understands that death is not the end, but a sleep from which they will wake in the resurrection. Therefore, they treat the body with respect, awaiting the day of glorious resurrection.
7. Faith Allows Us to Perform Supernatural Work
Biblical reference: “By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days” (Hebrews 11:30).
The seventh attribute is extraordinary: faith brings about manifest supernatural work. It is not logical, it is not rationally explainable. It is simply the operation of Divine Power.
The walls of Jericho did not fall through conventional military techniques. They fell because the people of Israel, guided by faith, obeyed the Lord’s command: to march around the city for seven days and then to march around it seven times on the seventh day, shouting.
The Example of Jehoshaphat: A parallel illustration is found in 2 Chronicles 20:22:
“As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated” (2 Chronicles 20:22).
Three enemy nations—Moab, Ammon, and Seir—had allied against Judah. How did King Jehoshaphat respond? He did not prepare a conventional army. He instructed the people to sing and praise.
From one moment to the next, everything changed. What had been a scenario of total defeat was transformed into a complete victory. The enemies destroyed each other.
Faith Transcends Logic: In faith there is no place for logic or human reason. Many of us try to explain things rationally, but when we operate in faith, we are operating on a different plane: that of the Spirit.
It is supernatural work, inexplicable by natural means. It is the direct manifestation of God’s Power.
8. Faith Integrates Us into the Generation of Revelation
Biblical reference: “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient” (Hebrews 11:31).
The eighth attribute is transformative: faith grafts us into the genealogy of the children of Revelation. It integrates us into the generation of men and women of righteousness who participate in God’s Revelation.
Rahab was a woman who lived in a worldly manner, labeled as a prostitute. However, when she trusted in the God of Israel and protected the Hebrew spies, she experienced a radical transformation. Not only was she saved from the destruction of Jericho, but she was grafted into the genealogical line of Christ.
In Matthew 1:5 it is recorded: “Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse” (Matthew 1:5).
From this line comes King David, and eventually, the Messiah Jesus. Rahab, the foreigner, the woman of questionable reputation, is integrated into the genealogy of the Savior through her faith.
The Meaning of Being Chosen: Jesus said: “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). One cannot be chosen simply by desiring it. The chosen are men and women who have been grafted into the generation of faith and revelation, precisely because of faith.
There may be people in an environment of revelation who cannot enter that revelation. Why? Because revelation is not communicated academically, rationally, or mentally. Revelation is communicated only through faith.
When someone grows in faith, they are grafted into a specialized generation, the generation of God’s children, the generation of revelation. They become participants in mysteries and truths that remain hidden from others.
Conclusion: Faith as the Substance of Life
We have explored eight spiritual attributes that flow from faith:
- Understanding of God’s Word
- Grace in the eyes of God and mankind
- Manifest physical strength
- Ability to inherit spiritual blessings
- Life in the supernatural of God’s Kingdom
- Participation in the resurrection of the dead
- Accomplishment of supernatural work
- Integration into the generation of revelation
Faith is not a means to obtain what we ask for. Faith is the substance of spiritual life, the means by which we live in God’s Kingdom in the midst of the earth.
The Apostle Paul writes: “The righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:17). This is the way the Lord has established for us to live within the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth.
The Responsibility That Corresponds to Us
God grants faith initially. Then, it corresponds to each man and woman to make it grow and multiply it. This is the great problem of many believers: despite having passed 5, 10, 15 or more years since their conversion, they maintain the same measure of faith that they received when they came to Christ. They have not made it grow. They have not developed it.
The Apostle Paul exhorts: “The creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed” (Romans 8:19). Who are the glorious manifestation of God’s children? Men and women of faith who live with the attributes granted by the Holy Spirit.
It is not a human invention. It is the manifestation of the Spirit of the Living God, who grants the capacity to live in the supernatural, who bestows gifts and ministries, who allows us to pass on to our generations everything that the Lord has given to each of us.
But from here on, the responsibility is each of ours. May we be found faithful in the growth of our faith, so that we may live fully with the attributes that the Divinity has designated for His children.
