We do not have to read far in the eleventh chapter of the Book of Hebrews before we come to the conclusion that the righteous of all ages (not just of the Christian Era) have pleased God by faith, and that "faith" is not a statement of doctrinal belief but an interaction with God.

Whether we are speaking of Noah, or Abraham, or Moses, or Joseph, we see that scriptural faith is not referring to knowledge of the Scriptures. Faith is life lived in communion with God, in obedience to His revealed will. This is what biblical faith is.

Noah was not moved with fear to reassert his belief in a catechism or a confession of faith. Noah's faith built a ship. Abraham's faith lived in tents instead of costly, permanent dwelling places. Moses' faith removed him from the luxuries of Egypt and exposed him to the rigors of the desert. Joseph's faith fled from Potiphar's wife and endured patiently in prison.

The eleventh chapter of the Book of Hebrews is a long definition of faith—faith that is revealed by the works that always follow true faith.

We understand, therefore, that the scriptural definition of faith, the faith that saves us, that delivers us from sin and brings us into union with God, is a moment by moment looking to the living Jesus and interacting constantly with Him, obeying Him in every detail of personality and behavior. Faith and obedience are closely related in thought and action.

It may be noted that true Christians are not divided on this fact. All saints and servants of the Lord recognize that a simple looking to Jesus is the one essential element of Christianity. The only reason we quarrel among ourselves is that our knowledge of spiritual facts differs one from the other. Yet, such knowledge contains no saving grace.

Saving grace is found only in genuine faith, in looking to Jesus and interacting with Him. Knowledge divides and is lifeless. Walking with Jesus brings us together and causes an increase in eternal life in our personalities.

It is our carnality that provokes us to become angry with those who do not believe in the theological positions we hold. If our opponent is having fellowship with Jesus, and we are having fellowship with Jesus, why should we quarrel? If one or the other (or both of us) is not living in Jesus, no good fruit will proceed from the discussion. It is foolish to argue over a position regarding spiritual truth when such mental knowledge is neither faith nor eternal life.

The purpose of the Scriptures is to keep us on target in approaching the Lord and having fellowship with Him. The knowledge of the Scriptures brings no eternal life. It only is as the Scriptures bring us to Him who is the Lord of Life that we gain eternal life.

To be continued.