The eleventh chapter of the Book of Hebrews defines faith. If an individual desires a comprehensive definition of living by faith he may obtain one by examining the manner in which the heroes of old responded to the Lord.

At no point in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews is there a reference to belief in a "statement of faith."

Furthermore, all of the illustrations of living by faith (in Hebrews, Chapter 11) are taken from the behavior of people who served God under previous covenants. Therefore the principle that the righteous live by humble dependence upon God is always and eternally true. The concept of the just living by faith is not a peculiar aspect of the new covenant, a device by which we can behave unrighteously and yet be under the blessing of God.

Salvation. What the Christian salvation is, is in very great need of redefinition.

Salvation is defined today as a blanket forgiveness of our sins, an unconditional amnesty, the purpose of which is to grant us escape from Hell and entrance into the spirit Paradise when we die. To this has been added a flight to Heaven just before the great tribulation commences. Once in Heaven we will live in mansions and possess acres of diamonds. What happens after that seems to be uncertain. This salvation is for Gentiles. The inheritance of the Jews is a kingdom on the earth.

The above is a set of fables. It is an accumulation of traditions added over the past two thousand years. It is as far from the Divine redemption as the Islamic or Hindu religions or the happy hunting grounds of the American Indian.

Salvation is not from earth to Heaven, it is from the presence and image of Satan to the Presence and image of God.

Salvation is not a change of where we are but of what we are.

The problem is, people are sinners. God cannot live with them. His righteous Nature requires that sin be punished; therefore, people live in agony and death. God desires to live joyously among His creatures but their behavior prevents His doing so.

The solution is not to forgive people and carry them to the spirit Paradise. What would this accomplish? Sin began in the spirit Paradise. What would be the benefit of bringing sinners back into Paradise?

The solution to the problem of sinful people is to change the people.

No previous covenant of God has issued the power, the grace to change people, although God's elect always have been admonished to behave righteously. None of the prior covenants, including the Law of Moses, contains the redemptive grace that changes people.

But the new covenant changes people, it does not merely forgive them. The new covenant writes the law of God in the mind and heart. The new covenant writes the law of God in the inner man by creating Christ in the inner man.

The new creation, Christ in the inner man, does not sin. He does not sin because he has been born of God.

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (I John 3:9)

As soon as people have been transformed by the indwelling Christ, they are ready to walk with God and can serve God anywhere in His creation. They are equally at home in Heaven and on the earth.

To be continued.