Faith is both the foundation and the forward motion of the Christian life. Hebrews 11 and Ephesians 2:11–22 guide us to consider faith’s personal and communal dimensions. In these passages, we see how trust in God’s promises anchors the believer and how those promises unite all who trust in Christ.

Hebrews Eleven

Hebrews 11 is often called the Hall of Faith. It recounts the lives of men and women who lived with enduring trust in God—from Abel, whose offering testified to his faith, to Abraham, who obeyed God’s call to an unknown land, to Moses, who chose the reproach of Christ over the treasures of Egypt. Each hero of faith acted on God’s promises, even when the fulfillment was beyond their sight. Faith is thus described as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1, BSB). This assurance led these saints to persevere through trials, trusting God’s word as reality even when the evidence of fulfillment was delayed.

But these saints did not live in isolation. Though separated by generations, they were united in one story—the unfolding work of God to redeem a people for Himself. The author of Hebrews reminds us that “God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:40, BSB). Their faith anticipated Christ, the mediator of the new covenant, who fulfills all God’s promises.

Ephesians Two

Ephesians 2:11–22 complements this picture by showing how Christ’s fulfillment of these promises draws together people from every background into one reconciled community. Paul writes to the Gentiles, reminding them of their past alienation from the covenants of promise: “Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12, BSB). But now, through Christ’s atoning work, “you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13, BSB). Faith in Christ not only reconciles individuals to God but also unites them as members of one household.

The image Paul uses is striking. Christ Himself is our peace. He “has broken down the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14, BSB), reconciling Jew and Gentile into one new humanity. The dividing wall, whether symbolic of cultural, religious, or ethnic separation, no longer stands. In its place, Christ creates unity, making one body and granting all believers access to the Father through the Spirit.

The True Temple

This unified body is described as a “holy temple in the Lord” (Ephesians 2:21, BSB). Here, Paul’s metaphor points to the communal outcome of faith. Believers, as living stones, are built together into a dwelling place for God. This echoes the hope of the faithful in Hebrews 11, who longed for a heavenly city, designed and built by God (Hebrews 11:10). Now, that city is not just a future reality but a present calling for the Church to live as God’s temple, a visible sign of His presence and glory in the world.

Together, Hebrews 11 and Ephesians 2 remind us that faith is both personal and corporate. The faith exemplified by Noah, Abraham, Moses, and others teaches us to trust God’s promises, even when the fulfillment is unseen. Ephesians 2 expands this view, showing us that the promises of God, fulfilled in Christ, reconcile not only individuals to God but also believers to one another.

How, then, do these truths speak to us? Hebrews 11 calls us to live by faith, confident in God’s word, and persevering through trials. It reminds us that the promises of God often unfold beyond our lifetime, yet they remain sure. Ephesians 2 challenges us to live out the communal implications of that faith, breaking down barriers that divide and embodying the unity Christ achieved. The Church’s identity as one reconciled people is not merely a theological idea; it is a calling to live as a household where God dwells.

A Saving Faith

Faith itself is a gift from God, not a product of human effort. As Paul writes earlier in Ephesians, “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9, BSB). This divine origin of faith humbles us and assures us that the very ability to trust God comes from His grace. Thus, the faith displayed in Hebrews 11 and the unity described in Ephesians 2 are both rooted in God’s gracious initiative.

As we consider these passages, we are invited to reflect: Does our faith, like that of the saints in Hebrews 11, lead us to obedient trust in God’s promises? And does that faith compel us to seek unity within the body of Christ, displaying the reconciliation described in Ephesians 2? Faith that endures also unites, for the God who calls us to persevere is the God who calls us to love.

Cross-references:

• Romans 4:20–22 – Abraham’s unwavering faith in God’s promises.
• Galatians 3:26–29 – Unity of all believers as heirs of the promise.
• 1 Peter 2:4–5 – Believers as living stones being built into a spiritual house.

---