The Bible defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). We could then say the reliability of the substance is what merits one’s faith in it. It’s undeniable that faith without its reliable undergirding substance is really no faith at all, it’s just as a wish, or false hope that has no merit.

For, there have been different “faith requirements” that have merited or substantiated the promised hope as it was offered by God in the different dispensational ages we see in the Bible. We must recognize the dispensational differences in what is considered by God to be the ‘substance of that faith’ as it is revealed from God. Here are just two examples;

• Noah had faith in a coming flood and salvation by building an ark, as God had promised him.
• Moses had faith in God who would deliver them from Egypt, and salvation from enemy bondage, as God had promised Him for Israel.

In each case it was by their faith in the instructions and promises of God that was the ‘substance of their faith’ and sufficient to save them … IF they obeyed.

Therefore, those today who do not study to “rightly divide” the Scripture to determine exactly ‘what faith’ and ‘what hope’ applies to them during today’s age of “the grace of God” are plagued with gross misunderstandings that makes their faith ineffectual. Inevitably, they wind up with the false religious idea that tell them their faith must be in What They Do and how well They Perform It. This then totally misses the mark of God’s ‘pure grace’ and it is an error that results in souls being lost and destined for “everlasting destruction” (2Thes. 1:9). We cannot be saved by our pathetic performance under religion’s demands or laws.

So, as we saw with Noah, Moses and Israel, it is a gross misconception to think that the substance and hope of faith of God’s expectations remains the same in every age and for every group we read of in the Bible. In each of the seven Biblical dispensations God changed the program and basis of relationship.

Yet, the Scripture consistently records that ‘the just (righteous) in every age shall live by faith.’ But FAITH IN WHAT? We must note that the substance or content of that faith changes as it was revealed differently by God in the several dispensational relational ages.

“¹⁷… the Righteousness [ordained] of God [is] Revealed from Faith to Faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.”  ¹⁹ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.” - Romans 1:17,

It is an unchangeable principle of God that the righteous ones, in any age, must live by faith, and operate according to the obedience of that faith that God revealed to them (Acts 6:7, Romans 1:5).

“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.” – Hebrews 11:6

“The Hope of Israel” - It is clearly stated in the opening verse, James 1:1, where he writes to the “twelve tribes” and “(his) my brethren,” who were Israelites, “scattered” by the persecution from unbelieving Apostate Israel. He writes concerning the faith and hope of Israel during the Pentecostal period. It is during this time that Jesus’ “ gospel of the kingdom” was preached by Peter to Israel proclaiming the ‘last days’ before Christ’s return (Acts 2:16-17, 3:19-21).

Instead of having our present hope Based Upon the Preaching of The Cross… ISRAEL’S Faith and Hope Was in The Salvation to be Offered by The Coming Holy One and His Promised ‘Kingdom’ (Lk. 1:68-75).

It was this information that Peter presented to Israel at Pentecost (Acts 2:22) for acceptance by faith and obedience. “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ [Gk. Christos, Messiah, the Holy One].” – Acts 2:36

Along with believing Jesus to be the Holy One, Peter called upon Israel to repent and perform the WORKS necessary to exhibit their repentance according to what Jesus had taught.

“For I say unto you, That except [unless] your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:20

A Faith That Produces Works: In order to enter the kingdom, Jesus taught that Israel, to who He came to address, must be righteous. In fact, they must be ‘perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect’ (Matthew 5:48).

If a believer was to have faith in the coming kingdom with Jesus as its Messiah, then they would of necessity be obliged to perform the works of the law as obedience to that faith.

The substance of the faith was then defined as entering the coming kingdom with Jesus as Messiah. The obedience to that faith would naturally be performing the works required to enter the kingdom, to be admitted into Jesus’ kingdom.

“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” – John 14:21

When faith was obeyed by these Jewish believers, they would exhibit the works required by their faith. The substance of their faith was obedience to the law, even under the new covenant, as Jesus, the Holy One, both taught and exemplified (Matthew 5:20, 8:4, 23:2-3).

A Dead Faith:

If the substance of your faith as an Israelite was the coming kingdom, which required a righteous performance of works for admission, then one could evaluate a person’s faith by their obedience to perform works. “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” – James 2:20

The faith of these Jewish believers at Pentecost demanded the obedience of works. Otherwise, the substance of their faith was not alive – it was dead!

Only someone who did not have faith of a coming kingdom, or did not want to enter the coming kingdom would deny the necessary works.

James reasons that a man reaches justification, which is the proof of salvation, through the necessary works.

“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified [counted as being righteous], and not by faith only.” – James 2:24

Another Hope, Another Faith:

Before Paul’s “revelation of the mystery [God’s secret plan of the cross]” (Rom. 16:25) the substance of faith always included God’s involvement with the Nation Israel, its promised kingdom, and its associated covenants.

It was not until Paul that Salvation Was Offered By Grace Through Faith Alone… totally apart from the special Nation of Israel, kingdom requirements, or covenant stipulations (Rom 4:5, 11:6, Eph 2:8-9, Eph 2:12).

Paul offered a hope that was not based upon a promised earthly kingdom of peace and Messiah’s righteous rule on earth… but rather a hope of salvation found within the preaching of the cross of the Son of God, Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:7, Rom. 5:2-4).

“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:7
“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; ⁴ And patience, experience; and experience, hope:” Romans 5:2-4

The saving faith Paul taught includes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ who was delivered for our offences and raised again for our free justification (Rom. 4:25).

We are given free justification by grace apart from any meritorious work of our own (Rom. 3:24).

“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” - Romans 11:6

Contained in this further revelation which was not revealed to Peter, James, or John prior to Paul was that our faith is not in a covenantal law, which required performance, but rather in the shed blood and death of Jesus Christ … for our sins.

“But NOW the righteousness of God [that comes] without the law is manifested… – Rom. 3:21a

The Obedience of Faith:

Today the substance of our faith is the atoning work of Christ at the cross … in our place (Gal. 2:16, Rom. 3:21-26).

Unique to this dispensation of emphatic grace, the obedience to this faith requires Faith Alone and No Works of Us at All!

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” – Rom. 4:5

Instead of evaluating our faith based upon performance, our faith is evaluated based on Christ’s performance in our place, which is sufficient for every man! Praise God! It was when we were weak, and given up by God as enemies, Christ died for us:

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” – Romans 5:6

Faith that is Dead – ^“… faith without works is dead?” James 2:20 (KJV)

Many unlearned bible teachers foolishly cite James 2:14-26 seeking to still justify a performance-based evaluation of ‘true’ faith during today’s dispensation of grace. But, unknowingly, they are robbing people of the benefits of the righteousness of God in Christ, which only comes Freely by Grace, through Faith alone in Christ alone (Romans 3:22-24, 5:2).

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that NOT of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God: ⁹ Not of WORKS, lest any man should boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9

Gifts are not earned or worked for. During today’s “dispensation of the grace of God,” for faith to be dead as James calls it, the substance of that faith must be inactive or dead. That is, if we are saved and our faith is in the resurrected Jesus Christ’s work on the cross… then a ‘dead faith’ would be like preaching a dead Jesus whose cross was ineffective, and that He is not able to perform that which He has promised those who believe. We need the like faith of Abraham.

“And being not weak in faith, he [Abraham] considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: ²⁰   He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; ²¹ And being fully persuaded that, what he [God] had promised, he was able also to perform.” - Romans 4:19-21

If we depend upon our work to keep laws, rules, and precepts, we are living apart from faith exercised under God’s pure Grace that is for today … we make Christ’s sacrifice of no benefit.

“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of [thinks] you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” - Galatians 5:4

Contrariwise, any person who has faith in the cross of Christ has the full assurance of salvation because God is able to perform that which we could not – by Christ making the proper atonement (payment) of our sins.

Our faith could only be annulled or be dead faith if the work of Christ was annulled or insufficient; but that is Impossible! His sacrifice was once and forever adequate.

“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his [Jesus’] own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having Obtained Eternal Redemption For Us.” Hebrews 9:12 (KJV)

Don’t be robbed of the glorious grace of God by a lack of “rightly dividing” the Scriptures. The substance of our faith (the Cross) today is quite different than the substance of faith was in previous dispensations. Today it is the precious truth of the efficacious atoning blood of Jesus alone that is both the focus and the climax of the “gospel of the grace of God”!

Whereas James taught Israel that faith additionally required works of faith in order to be ‘perfect,’ we are given a perfect position by our faith in Christ alone! (2 Cor 5:21, Phil 3:12)

“For he [The Father] hath made him [Jesus] to be SIN for us, who knew no sin; [so] that we might be made the righteousness of God in [union with] him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21