Faith Sees and Understands

Faith has the ability to see or know what would otherwise be invisible.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

We might call it spiritual sight or understanding. Jesus said that “lost” people have no ability to know who he is or to recognize God’s work all around them. They are spiritually blind.

This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. ¹⁴ Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “‘“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” ¹⁵ For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ ¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷ For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Matthew 13:13-17 (ESV)

Sin blinds us spiritually and keeps us from understanding the Gospel and seeing who Jesus really is.

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV)

It prevents people from seeing the clear evidence of the Creator in his creation. As David wrote in the Psalms –

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. ² Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. ³ There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Psalm 19:1-3 (ESV)

Children readily understand that there is a God, but years of humanist propaganda in our schools and reliance on darkened human reasoning has convinced many that the universe in which we live spontaneously sprang into existence. The spiritually blind cannot see clear evidence of God’s existence anywhere and they refuse to honor Him. Many go so far as to deny the Creator’s very existence, which is the height of sin and arrogance. It is actually laughable, which is why God says he sits in heaven and laughs at those who try to overthrow his rule (Psalm 2:4). Conversely, those with faith understand the truth.

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. Hebrews 11:3 (ESV)

Jesus told the Pharisees, who could not bring themselves to acknowledge his identity as the Messiah, that they were among the spiritually blind, which they found deeply offensive. They imagined themselves to be among the spiritual elite.

Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” ⁴⁰ Some Pharisees who were standing nearby heard him and asked, “Are you saying we’re blind?” ⁴¹ “If you were blind, you wouldn’t be guilty,” Jesus replied. “But you remain guilty because you claim you can see. John 9:39-41 (NLT)

Claiming to see, they rejected the Messiah, bringing great condemnation upon themselves and leading many others astray. Eventually their blindness led them down the path of murdering God’s Holy One. Jesus warned us about following such leaders.

Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” Matthew 15:14 (ESV)

The Holy Spirit is the only person who has the power to open blinded eyes, spiritually and physically. Understanding this, Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus.

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, ¹⁶ I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, ¹⁸ having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might ²⁰ that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. ²² And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:15-23 (ESV)

The Spirit opened the apostle Peter’s eyes to Jesus’ true identity.

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 16:15-17 (ESV)

Seeing Jesus by the Spirit creates faith in our hearts, which saves us.

"For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." John 6:40 (NASB)

Faith not only sees evidence of God in creation and understands who Jesus is, it also allows us to see what God is doing all around us and to lay hold of his promises by faith.

Jesus said that he only did what he saw the his heavenly Father doing. (John 5:19) He saw with spiritual eyes by faith, just as we must. Paul was also able to observe with the eyes of faith what God was doing.

Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. ⁹ He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, ¹⁰ said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. Acts 14:8-10 (ESV)

The Spirit will show and communicate to us everything we need to know to be effective ministers of the New Covenant. Faith also sees by faith what God is going to do in the future. It maintains faithful hope in God’s promises until they come to pass.