Thought For The Week

Have you ever wondered why faith is necessary for salvation? It’s a question that hit me while preparing a sermon series on Genesis 1–11, which I’ve called "Beginnings." The spark came from an article by Kevin Cain titled "Why Are We Losing Them?" He argues that when we water down the Bible’s opening chapters to fit scientific theories, we leave young people doubting Scripture’s reliability—especially about Creation. Over time, bombarded by evolution in schools and compromises from churches, many walk away from faith entirely. That got me thinking: if God’s truth is so vital, why doesn’t He just show Himself and settle the debate? Why hinge our salvation on faith instead of sight?

Scripture offers a starting point. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." It’s not blind—it’s a confident trust in what’s real, even if invisible. Paul expands this in Romans 1:18-20, saying God’s "invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen" in creation. Think of a watch: you don’t need to meet the watchmaker to know he exists. Creation screams design. Yet, if it’s that obvious, why not reveal Himself fully? Wouldn’t we all follow Him if we saw His glory firsthand?

This question led me to a deeper truth: we live in two realms. The Bible reveals a spiritual realm—where God, the Holy Spirit, and angels dwell—and a physical realm, where we navigate life. Genesis 1:1 introduces God as Creator; verse 2 mentions the Spirit; later, Jesus says, "God is spirit" (John 4:24). Angels, too, are spirits (Hebrews 1:7). But here’s the catch: we can’t see this spiritual realm. John writes, "No one has seen God at any time" (1 John 4:12). God told Moses, "No one may see me and live" (Exodus 33:20). Paul calls Him "invisible" (1 Timothy 1:17), dwelling in "unapproachable light" (1 Timothy 6:16).

Occasionally, God lifts the veil. Balaam’s donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, and God opened Balaam’s eyes to see it too (Numbers 22:31-33). Elisha’s servant glimpsed a spiritual army after God intervened (2 Kings 6:15-17). But normally, the spiritual is hidden—deliberately so. Paul hints why in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, describing a man caught up to heaven who heard "inexpressible words" not permitted on earth. Even Christ’s death was a "hidden wisdom" the rulers of this age didn’t grasp, or "they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (1 Corinthians 2:6-8).

This separation creates two domains: the spiritual as the "Realm of Sight," where God’s glory is directly experienced, and the physical as the "Realm of Faith," where we trust without seeing. Why design it this way? I believe it’s tied to God’s plan for salvation. Before creation, God planned to make sentient beings—angels and humans—with free choice to accept or reject Him. Both realms fall: angels rebelled (Jude 1:6; 2 Peter 2:4), and humanity sinned (Genesis 3). But their fates differ.

Angels live in the Realm of Sight. They see God’s glory up close. If they reject Him—like the fallen angels bound for judgment—it’s with full knowledge. Scripture offers them no redemption: "God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell" (2 Peter 2:4). Humans, though, dwell in the Realm of Faith. We don’t see God directly; our rejection carries ignorance of His full presence. Maybe that’s why Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34). Hebrews 2:14-18 confirms this: Christ became human "to make atonement for the sins of the people," not angels.

So, why faith? Because while we’re in the Realm of Faith, God’s hiddenness preserves our opportunity for grace. If we saw Him fully and still rebelled—like angels—would we even be offered redemption? They weren’t. Faith, based on divinely revealed information, bridges our limited knowledge, making salvation possible. Paul nails it: "We walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). We’re saved "by grace through faith" (Ephesians 2:8) to show God’s righteousness, "that He might be just and the justifier of [those] who [have] faith in Jesus" Romans 3:26.

Contrast this with naturalism’s faith—like assuming rock strata took billions of years to form, unobservable by anyone. Both sides require belief, but God’s way offers hope. The spiritual Realm of Sight awaits us in eternity, but for now, faith is our lifeline. It’s why Genesis matters: it’s God’s truth claim about reality, calling us to trust Him. What do you think—does this explain why faith is our path to salvation?