When Jesus healed people, He often told them, “Your faith has healed you.” For example, this is what He told the woman with the blood malady when He healed her. [1] Jesus said this to a blind Bartimaeus when he restored His sight.[2] The Samaritan leper, who was the only one among the ten lepers who returned to thank Jesus, heard these same words.[3] In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus healed an unnamed blind man and said: “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Luke 18:42-43 (NIV) Jesus was saying more than we may realize.
The Greek word He used for “healed” is “sōzō” (σῴζω—pronounced sode’-zo). It can refer to physical healing, but it can also mean to make someone “whole” in the sense of “saving” them spiritually.[4] For example, the same Greek word is used in John 3:16-17 when Jesus declared: 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be SAVED.” (NKJV) The word “SAVED” is that same Greek word for “HEALED.” So, when Jesus says, “Your faith has healed you,” it goes much farther than a physical cure. He offered them, as He offers us today, a spiritual wholeness that opens the door to eternal salvation through FAITH. For as Paul said: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through FAITH.” Ephesians 2:8 (NIV) That is why faith is so important.[5]
So, what is faith? It is a vital question for Christians today because many are confused about the nature of true, saving faith. Some think that faith is merely believing in something. For them, a simple statement like, “I believe in God,” is sufficient to be deemed “faith.” But, faith involves much more than that. Merely saying, “I believe in God,” is nothing more than the mental acknowledgement that God exists. Jesus’ brother, James, makes it clear that this alone is insufficient when he says: 19 “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.” James 2:19 (NLT2) So, where can we find a good definition of faith that we can rely upon? Well, let’s go to the best source. That source is the Bible.
One of the best definitions of faith is found in the 11th chapter of the Book of Hebrews. We’d do well to pay attention to Hebrews because many New Testament scholars rank it as second only to Paul’s letter to the Romans in theological significance. Unfortunately, there is no certainty as to who the author of Hebrews may have been. Possible candidates include Paul, Barnabas, Luke or Apollos, but no one knows for sure. [6] Perhaps it is best to say that Hebrews should be attributed to the Holy Spirit, who inspired an unknown, human author to write it. In any event, for today and next Sunday, we will review Hebrews 11 to better understand what it is about faith that can heal you in the eternal, spiritual sense.
Although Hebrews 11 provides a thorough definition of Christian faith, it is not a definition like you’d find in a dictionary. Rather, it is a definition of faith described by way of example, by the attitudes one adopts and by the way one lives his or her life by trusting in Christ. Listen as the writer of Hebrews begins this definition of saving faith: “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) Let’s flesh that out a bit. Think of this in terms of what Paul meant when he stated: “We don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 2nd Corinthians 4:18 (NLT2) A. W. Tozer (the great preacher of the 1950’s and 60’s) described faith, in terms of Hebrews 11, like this: “At the root of the Christian life lies belief in the invisible. The object of the Christian’s faith is unseen reality.” [7] For a more recent example of someone who frequently expresses this same spiritual mindset, consider the New York Yankees’ star outfielder, Aaron Judge. He often publicly quotes as one of his favorite Scriptures 2nd Corinthians 5:7 in which Paul said: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (ESV) In fact, this bible verse is displayed prominently as the banner at the top of Aaron Judge’s “X” page.[8] The Apostle Paul, the preacher A. W. Tozer, the ballplayer Aaron Judge—each of them have trusted in the promises of our invisible God. They have found their faith in what is unseen by seeing with the eyes of their souls.
Nevertheless, many people have trouble believing in the “invisible.” They tend to think, “How can I believe in the invisible—it could never sustain me.” And yet, while offering that very thought, the invisible air that they breathe provides the oxygen that sustains them. They think in terms of “seeing is believing”; whereas, God’s Word says, “believing is seeing.” Believing in God is what gives you spiritual sight. It takes you out of the darkness of this world and into the light of Jesus Christ. In fact, that is one of the reasons Jesus healed so many people who were blind. Jesus wants us to understand that when He told Bartimaeus, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you”—not only was sight restored to the eyes in his head, but also to the “eyes” of his heart. His faith in Jesus to meet his physical defects healed his spiritual brokenness as well. Only then could the man truly “see” the reality of God’s love, mercy and grace.
And yet, some still refuse to believe. They contend that Christians blindly accept God without reasons to support their faith. They fail to realize that some of the most brilliant minds who have ever lived found faith in God to be more than reasonable. Saint Augustine of Hippo, who is recognized as one of the great intellectuals of his day, rightly said: “God does not expect us to submit our faith to Him without reason, but the very limits of our reason make faith a necessity.” [9] Or, consider the words of John Stott, the Christian theologian who was named by Time magazine in 2005 as one of the 100 most influential thinkers in the world. Stott said: “Faith and sight are set in opposition to each other in Scripture, but not faith and reason... True faith is essentially reasonable because it trusts in the character and the promises of God. A believing Christian is one whose mind reflects and rests on these certitudes.” [10]
The list of top intellectuals and scientists who find their faith in Christ to be abundantly reasonable is quite extensive. In the field of philosophy, we have such widely known intellectuals as Alvin Plantinga and William Lane Craig. Or, consider, Nicholas Wolterstorff, who is Professor Emeritus of Philosophical Theology at Yale University. He is one of the founders of the Society of Christian Philosophers and has written extensively about his faith in Christ and how it shapes his views on justice and human equality.[11] There are many eminent scientists who are followers of Jesus, including Francis Collins, who is one of the leaders of the Human Genome Project; John Polkinghorne, a top quantum physicist who happens to be an Anglican priest; John Lennox, a mathematician and expert in bioethics as well as a Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University—just to name a few of the greatest minds of the day who find their faith in Jesus Christ to be more than reasonable.
Are there Christian women who have contributed their intellectual abilities to the advancement of humanity? Yes, of course. For example, we have Jennifer Wiseman, who is an outspoken American Christian astrophysicist, renowned for her research on star formation. Joan Roughgarden is a well-respected biologist and ecologist who has written extensively about the relationship between science and faith in God. In the field of philosophy, Eleonore Stump is a professor at Saint Louis University who is a widely accepted Christian philosopher.
Add to the list the many brilliant minds of the past who were also Christians. Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, was a devout Christian whose faith influenced her scientific approach to healthcare. Also, Mary Anning was a devout Christian who was a pioneer in modern fossil collection. She is well known for her contributions in modernizing the field of paleontology. Then of, course, we all are familiar with such famous Christians as Isaac Newton, Michael Faraday, Blaise Pascal and Johannes Kepler. The list goes on and on.[12]
Why do I mention all of these brilliant people? The answer is bound up in something the Apostle Peter taught us. Peter said: “Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord, and if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him, and do it in a gentle and respectful way.” 1st Peter 3:15 (TLB) One of the first objections you’ll hear against the Christian faith, and against the Bible in general, is that modern, intelligent, educated people today could not possibly believe in what the Bible has to say. Don’t give in to such a weak objection. Point to all these brilliant people when you witness to others about your “hope in the things unseen”—your faith in God. There’s a good chance that it will help those who are skeptical about the reasonableness of your faith. Your answer may encourage them to take that intellectual leap necessary to accept Christ.
As Hebrews 11 continues, it expands upon this very discussion because it speaks of the wonders of God’s Creation. These brilliant scientists, physicists, mathematicians, biologists and so forth have delved deeply into the study of nature itself. Their unanimous conclusion is that God created all of it—this entire universe! Not only that—they are also committed to the reality that God is sovereign over all things. There is not one thing that is exempt from His will and His rule. So, what does the Book of Hebrews have to say along these lines? It says, with absolute confidence, the following: 2 “Men of God in days of old were famous for their faith. 3 By faith—by believing God—we know that the world and the stars—in fact, all things—were made at God’s command; and that they were all made from things that can’t be seen.” Hebrews 11:1-3 (TLB)
It is fascinating that the writer of Hebrews starts his argument for faith in God by pointing to the creation of the universe. The early chapters of the Book of Genesis describe how God created everything. It states unambiguously in the New King James Version, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 (NKJV) Or, more to the point, Today’s English Version puts it this way: “In the beginning, … God created the universe.” Genesis 1:1 This is further explained in John’s Gospel which assures us: 1 “In the beginning the Word [referring to God’s Son—Jesus] already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through Him [Jesus Christ], and nothing was created except through Him.” John 1:1-3 (NLT2) This is completely consistent with Genesis 1:1. God the Father and God the Son (along with the Holy Spirit) are One as the Trinity. And so, these biblical accounts are telling us God created everything. For us, God’s creation of the universe is one of the core beliefs of our faith.
Scientists who work from a Christian perspective will tell you that the Genesis narrative is consistent with our modern understanding of the origins of the universe.[13] The problem is that we sometimes get bogged down in the argument about whether it was created in seven literal 24-hour days (which is certainly possible for God to do), or if the seven-day format is a metaphorical way of explaining God’s orderly manner in creating this world in phases over thousands, or even millions, of years. So, which is the correct way of interpreting the Creation account in Genesis? Is it a literal account or a metaphorical one?
Before you answer that, think about Moses when God spoke to him from the burning bush. In Exodus 3, God told him that He would free the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and bring them “to a land flowing with milk and honey.”[14] When the Israelites reached the borders of the Promised Land, they did not encounter a gooey wall of honey interlaced with flowing milk. Rather, God’s Word used the metaphors of “milk” and “honey” to describe the rich and productive land where His people would flourish. Yet, the description was also literal. There were, in fact, many real honeybees and real herds of cattle in the Promised Land that would provide great agricultural benefits to the Israelites. Or, take an example out of the New Testament. If you look in John 10:7, the Bible says, “Jesus is a door.”[15] Is He actually a door—like that wooden church door behind you? No, again, the Bible is using a metaphor. But, it is a realistic metaphor that points to a literal reality. Jesus literally is the only “door” that opens the way into God’s Heavenly Kingdom.
As you can see, much of the Genesis account of Creation was communicated figuratively using metaphors, and literally through the presentation of actual facts. What I mean by that is Genesis is completely true. You see, for God to explain to us exactly how He created our world and everything in it would be like explaining the workings of a quantum computer to a parakeet. Bear in mind that God gave the Genesis narrative of creation to Moses. Moses was a man living about 3,500 years ago. This creation narrative was designed to serve God’s people for all the many years after Moses received it. So, it certainly makes sense that God, in His wisdom, presented the Creation Story in a manner that would be useful for mere human beings from ancient times through to modern times. It had to be understandable to those who lived thousands of years ago as well as to us today.
And yet, exactly how God went about His creative work remains a mystery. It remains a mystery to us as Christians and is still mysterious in thousands of ways to scientists as well. But, for those whose faith has healed them, it is a mystery only for the time being. In this regard, Paul said that, in this present life, we see as though we are looking into a “cloudy mirror.” By this, he meant that our understanding of things is restricted by the limited capacities of our human minds. But, when we pass from this world, we are going to see Jesus face to face. That’s when things are going to change. Paul explains: “Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” 1st Corinthians 13:12 (NLT2) So yes!—one day, that dark and cloudy mirror is going to be wiped clean by the Hand of God. What are mysteries now will be perfectly clear then. We’ll look back on those Scriptures that were so perplexing for us in this life and say, “Wow—now it is perfectly clear. Now, I see why God said it the way He did! And, it is all perfectly true.”
For now, we have faith that God’s Word—and all that’s in it—is without error. Yes, there are parts that are difficult to know just how literally or metaphorically we are to take them. Nevertheless, God’s underlying message throughout the Bible is very plain and simple. God turns to us and says, “It’s all true—JUST TRUST ME.” For example, the Prophet Isaiah says, to: “TRUST in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.” Isaiah 26:4 (NLT2) David sang out in Psalm 37: “Give yourself to the LORD; TRUST in Him, and He will help you.” Psalm 37:5 (TEV) Finally, Jeremiah points to God’s blessing when we have faith in Him, saying: 7 “Blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.” Jeremiah 17:7-8a (NLT2)
Once again, consider the words of Hebrews 11:1-2 which tell us: 1 “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.” (NIV) In other words, God’s people from ancient times who truly trusted in Him were confident of His explanation of Himself as being their Creator. They trusted His promises and were sure of His protection. They could not always see these things with their eyes, but they trusted God’s promises in their hearts. This is the essence of FAITH.
In closing, consider the words of one Christian commentator who summarized this well: “To walk in greater levels of faith..., it is important that you do not try to figure out, calculate, or reason how God is going to heal, deliver, set free or meet your needs. Rather, you must just believe. When you try to figure out in your mind how God is going to do something, then you are not trusting Him. God never told us that faith required us to figure it out; rather faith requires us to rely on the truth and integrity of God's Word. Many Christians try to figure out how they are going to get what they have asked God for… [But, when they think and act in that way, it’s a sign], they don't really have faith in God.” [16]
So, when we “walk by faith, and not by sight,” we must acknowledge three things. No. 1: In times of trouble, our understanding is limited and more times than not, we cannot see how things are going to work out. No. 2: God knows how things are going to work out and, therefore, He is trustworthy—we can rely upon Him in everything, every time. And finally, No. 3: Our ultimate healing will come when we finally surrender control and place our trust in His promises. As you leave this morning, take the following truth with you: God doesn’t demand that we figure everything out. We don’t need to have all the answers—we just need to have FAITH that God already does! Let that be the basis of your faith—for that is the only faith that will heal you.
Darvin Satterwhite, Pastor
Forest Hill Baptist Church
October 5, 2025
©2025 All Rights Reserved as follows:
Anyone is at liberty to use this sermon or any portions thereof for educational or religious purposes, with or without credit. The pastor believes the material presented herein to be true to the teaching of Scripture, and desires to further, not restrict, its potential use as an aid in the study of God’s Word. The publication of this material is a grace ministry of Forest Hill Baptist Church in Louisa, Virginia.
Visit us on our Face Book page at https://www.facebook.com/4409sspotswoodrdgordonsvilleva.
[1] Matthew 9:22 “Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter,’ He said, ‘your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed from that moment.” (NIV)
[2] Mark 10:51-52 51 “‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ Jesus asked him. The blind man said, ‘Rabbi, I want to see.’ 52 ‘Go,’ said Jesus, ‘your faith has healed you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.” (NIV)
[3] Luke 17:17-19 17 “Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ 19 Then He said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’” (NIV)
[4] James Strong, Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary, (Austin, TX: WORDsearch Corp., 2007), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "4982".
[5] Rebecca Mashburn, “What Did Jesus Really Mean by ‘Your Faith Has Made You Well’?” Christianity.com, https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/what-did-jesus-really-mean-by-your-faith-has-made-you-well.html (June 30, 2022).
[6] “Who Wrote Hebrews?” BibleHub.com, https://biblehub.com/q/who_wrote_hebrews.htm (accessed October 2, 2025).
[7] A. W. Tozer, Edythe Draper, Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1992), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "Faith/Belief".
[8] Cole Claybourn, “Yankees star Aaron Judge off to blistering start as he keeps faith as his ‘foundation,’” Sportsspectrum.com, https://sportsspectrum.com/sport/baseball/2025/05/01/yankees-aaron-judge-blistering-start-faith-foundation/ (May 1, 2025).
[9] Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Edythe Draper, Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1992), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "Faith/Reason".
[10] John R. W. Stott (1921- )Edythe Draper, Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1992), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "Faith/Reason".
[11] Wikipedia contributors. (2025, June 1). Nicholas Wolterstorff. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 14:13, October 2, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nicholas_Wolterstorff&oldid=1293343357.
[12] “34 Great Scientists Who Were Committed Christians,” Famousscientists.org, https://www.famousscientists.org/great-scientists-christians/ (accessed October 2, 2025).
[13] John Lennox, “How does the biblical story of creation and science fit together?”
https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/how-does-the-biblical-story-of-creation-and-science-fit-together/ (accessed October 2, 2025).
[14] Exodus 3:8 “So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey...” (NASB)
[15] John 10:9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (NASB)
[16] “Trust Is Not Figuring It Out,” Sundayschoolnetwork.com, https://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com/sermon_trusting-God.html (accessed October 2, 2025).
