Faith – The Only Way to Please God

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith
Habakkuk 2:4

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith
Romans 1:17

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith.
Galatians 3:11

Now the just shall live by faith but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Hebrews 10:38

These verses above make it clear that the lifestyle of Christians—those justified by the blood of Jesus—should be a lifestyle of faith.

Scripture further emphasizes that without faith, it is impossible to please God:

Hebrews 11:6 : “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
The word “without” in this verse comes from the Greek word “choris,” meaning to be outside of something, as someone who lives outside the boundaries of a city.
The word “impossible” is translated from the Greek word “adunatos,” which implies a lack of capability or ability, suggesting weakness or impotence.
The word “please” comes from the Greek word “euarestesa,” a combination of “eu” (meaning well) and “arestos” (meaning enjoyable or pleasing). Together, these words convey the pleasure one experiences from something that is especially excellent or delightful.

Given these meanings, the first part of Hebrews 11:6 can be understood as follows: “Outside the realm of faith, you are incapable, weak, or impotent to bring delight and pleasure to God.”

Our primary desire should be to please our Creator, whom we call our Father. Just as earthly parents long to be pleased by their children, our Heavenly Father desires to be pleased by His children. Therefore, everything we do should be an act of faith, as Scripture states that whatever is done without faith is considered sin in God’s eyes:
Romans 14:23 : “And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

As God’s children, it is our responsibility to understand what faith is and how to operate in it, as we all have an inherent desire to please Him.

Let’s delve into the definition of faith:
Hebrews 11:1 : “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
The word “substance” in this verse is derived from the Greek word “hupostasis,” which is a combination of “hupo” (meaning to be near or under something) and “stasis” (a form of the Greek word “histimi,” meaning to stand). Together, “hupostasis” means to stand by something. It reflects the attitude and actions of a person who is determined to stand by a promise and refuses to waver.

The word for “hope” seen in the Bible is completely different from the way we use the word in our day to day language. When we say, “I hope so”, we mean “maybe or may be not”. But in scripture it is the Greek word “elpizo” which means “a confident expectation of good things to come.”

All this clearly defines that a person who is in faith has firmly committed to a promise from God, declaring, “This has been promised to me, and I will never let go of it. I will stand by this until I receive the fulfillment of what has been guaranteed.”

It’s much like a bulldog that has found the bone of its dreams, clamping down on it with unyielding force and refusing to let go. No matter how hard someone tries to pull the bone away, the dog will not release its grip.

Similarly, when you have faith, you stand unwaveringly on what God has declared in His Word. Like a bulldog holding onto its bone, you persistently cling to His promises until they manifest in your life.

- Joji Lalu