What does it mean when Paul says: "Without faith it is impossible to please God"? What does a person have faith in? A lot of people say they believe in God but have very little idea about who God is, what He has said, what He is saying now, what He did and what He is doing amongst us today. They don't have any real relationship with God, let alone have any desire to seek God personally and communicate with Him on a regular basis. It is like I always try to speak to you but you never respond nor proactively approach me and dialogue with me. lf this is how you relate with God, do you think such attitude would be pleasing to Him?
A lot of people only believe in the existence of God (or gods) in their minds but God does not have any involvement in their lives. "Without faith it is impossible to please God" meaning: "Unless a person has faith in God, has faith in who Jesus says He is, and constantly approaches Him in faith to seek after Him, such person cannot possibly please God".
"… he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him". What are the rewards? Paul is not talking about financial or materialistic rewards. Rather, God rewards the seeker of Christ by speaking to him and continually revealing more of Himself to him. No one ever prays sincerely to Jesus: "Lord, reveal Yourself to me, I want to know You…" and not receive answers one way or another from Him. Not so if the god that you seek is a false god.
Faith in God is simply believing who Jesus Christ says He is, that He is the only true God in the entire universe!
If I tell you who I am, you can choose to believe what I tell you is true or not. If you don't even believe in what I say, not only do you disbelieve in my words, you disbelieve in who I say that I am.
"He who comes to God must believe that He is". Do you believe Jesus is who He says He is?
Jesus never says that He is a religious leader or a moral teacher or a prophet sent by God. Rather, He puts Himself on the same level as God the Father, leaving no doubt that He indeed is God the Son!
When Jesus made that remarkable claim, He created a huge uproar amongst the Jewish religious hierarchy who thought that His statement was blasphemy.
Those Jewish leaders immediately tried to stone Jesus for blasphemy, for according to their laws, blasphemy towards God is punishable by death, and it is for His unique claim of Him being God that the religious leaders put Jesus on the cross. To His death, Jesus never denied His true identity.
Thank God, the resurrection of Jesus three days after His death on the cross proves beyond any doubt that Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of the living God!
Jesus reveals to us that He is the Son of God. Do you believe with all your heart that Jesus is who He says He is, the only true and living God who came and died on the cross for our sins, and was resurrected three days after?