I want to thank all who responded and commented.
God Bless!
I have FINALLY figured out what has been bugging me about this.
We are to exam ourselves to find out if we are in *the faith*, as if faith is something to be in.
Catholics use the term *the faith* as a synonym for Catholicism. Others use it in terms of religion, as in a denomination.
It’s not my being in *the faith* that saves me. I’m not saved because I’m in *the faith*, I’m saved because I’m in Jesus.
It’s Jesus who saves me THROUGH the mechanism of faith. *The faith* is not a thing.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
So, I am not going to see if I’m in *the faith* because being a religious system does not do anything for me.
Excellent commentary on Hebrews.
Much of that book has given a lot of people a lot of trouble and I’ve heard many pastors try to explain it who didn’t do such a good job.