Firm conviction is a requirement for having faith. Other definitions of faith include total trust, confidence, dependence, or dedication. Doubt is the antithesis of faith. The Bible’s closest to giving a specific description is Hebrews 11:1, which states that “faith is the conviction of things not seen, the assurance of things hoped for.” So, what is the meaning of faith in the Bible?
Having faith means having confidence in things we think are accurate but cannot see with our physical eyes. According to God’s Word, it is impossible to please God without faith.
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What Is Faith?
In Hebrews 11:1, the Bible briefly defines the word “faith”: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” What do we hope for? We pray that God is dependable and keeps His word. Through the help of the Holy Spirit, we can be sure that we will receive God’s saving faith, promises of salvation, eternal life, and bodily resurrection.
Our issue is acknowledged in the second portion of this definition: “God is unseen[1].” We are also unable to view heaven. We do not see eternal life, which begins with our salvation here on earth, but our faith in God assures us of these things. Again, we rely on the unquestionable integrity of God’s character rather than on empirical, scientific evidence.
God’s inability to lie is one of the things the Bible teaches us about Him. He has unblemished honesty; therefore, we can believe Him when He says something is accurate about the Bible because of who God is. The Bible has many obscure passages, but Christians accept them because they believe in a reliable God.
Faith is boosted by spending more time in prayer and studying God’s Word, the Bible. In everything, Paul advised the Philippians to “pray and petition, with thanksgiving, letting your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7).
The believers in the Church of God in Philippi accepted and followed God’s Word. Their faith (confidence and trust) grew as they listened to and followed Paul’s advice to give their worries to God in believing prayer.
Because it is how we communicate with God, faith is crucial: “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). We profit from what Jesus has done for us because of our faith. He led us into perfect obedience to God, paid the price for our sinful disobedience against Him, and then triumphed over sin, death, and the devil by rising from the grave. We gain forgiveness for our sins and the gift of eternal life by placing our confidence in Him.
What Is The Biblical Definition Of Faith?
The Greek word for “faith” that appears most frequently in the New Testament is pistis. It conveys a conviction or belief along with the supplementary notion of trust. Faith is more than an academic position; it is a conviction that motivates action.
As James 2:26 says, “Faith apart from works is dead, just as the body is without the spirit.” James talks about showing his faith through his deeds. Frequently, our actions speak louder about our beliefs than our words do.
The focus of faith in the Bible is on God and His promises. The meeting between Abram and God is a striking illustration of this. Abram “believed the Lord, and he counted it to Him as righteousness in response to God’s promise of innumerable descendants” (Genesis 15:6).
The Apostle Paul comments on this by saying, “No unbelief made him waver regarding the promise of God, but he became strong in his faith as he offered honor to God, completely sure that God could perform what he had promised” (Romans 4:20–21). Faith is placing your trust in God and believing He will keep His word.
Genuine biblical faith manifests itself in daily life. According to James, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:17). Love is the mechanism by which faith produces observable signs of its presence in a person’s life (Galatians 5:6).
In other words, obedience that pleases God is motivated by faith rather than simply out of a sense of duty or responsibility. The contrast between a husband who purchases flowers for his wife solely out of obligation and one who does so out of joy is immense.
Where Does Faith Come From?
Jesus is credited as being the founder of our faith in Hebrews 12. In 2 Peter 1:1, we read, “To those who have been given confidence in our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, it is as priceless as our own.” Faith in Jesus is a gift given to us. It is a gift from God to us. All who accept God’s grace will also receive the faith required to believe in Him.
As was already mentioned, hearing God’s will is how faith is learned. Until the end, Jesus’ committed followers are to spread the word of God to everyone. The worth of the relationship increases as you read the Bible and grasp who Christ is and what it means to believe in Him. Put all your faith in the Lord, and don’t rely on your knowledge. Recognize Him in your actions, and He will clear your path (Proverbs 3:5–6).
The core of faith is assent to the truth, and permission to any revealed truth rests ultimately on the reality of God. Saving faith gets its name because of the eternal life inseparably connected with it. Jesus becomes more valuable and precious to you and your life as you get to know Him better. As you get to know Him better, your faith in Him develops because He gives it to you through His word.
Example In The New Testament
Two blind men approached Jesus and pleaded for His healing in Matthew 9:27–30, which illustrates this term. Jesus initially asked them, “Do you believe I can do this?” He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith, let it be to you,” and they responded, “Yes, Lord.” Then their eyes were opened.
The substance or actuality they longed for was their faith and confidence in Jesus’ ability to grant them sight. Additionally, it provided them with proof or belief that they would get their want. They had faith that it would happen because they felt it would, in other words.
Example In The Old Testament
Another illustration is the three friends of Daniel who would not submit to King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden picture. Threats of tossing people alive into a raging pit if they did not bow to the image were made.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, three young Jewish men who refrained from bowing before the statue, spoke to King Nebuchadnezzar and said, “If that is the case, then the God we worship can save us from the blazing fire, and, O King, He will also rescue us from your hands. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not worship the gold statue you have erected or serve your gods (Daniel 3:17–18).”
They had no idea how God would rescue them from the burning furnace, whether it was immediately by sparing their lives or at the resurrection. Their trust or faith served as the foundation for their hopes and served as proof of things that they had not yet seen or received.
Indeed, by following God, we look forward to a world beyond this one called the kingdom of God, where we will dwell in harmony with Him forever. Faith is the belief that God exists and He is real.
How Do We Obtain Faith?
In addition to developing, faith can also get more substantial. From a small amount of trust to faith that can move mountains, the Bible mentions varying degrees of belief. Like an actual muscle, faith strengthens as it is fed and exercised. By reflecting on God’s Word, we should maintain our faith.
We should practice it by responding to everything by following God’s Word. This encompasses how we deal with issues, fears, and concerns. God wants His children to put all their trust in Him and not worry about anything. Just one example of how we might practice our Christian faith and the Christian life is by not worrying.
We shall behave and speak as though God’s words are valid if we sincerely believe them. You will talk and act as someone who believes that Jesus is the Son of God if you have that belief. If you genuinely think God will meet your wants, you will speak and behave accordingly. You will conduct and communicate by your idea that God wants you to be well.
We might better understand how hearing the gospel of Christ made us realize how precious He is by reflecting on our personal experiences of salvation. We started to value everything that the Lord Jesus did for us. We automatically started to believe in Him.
Therefore, the Lord is the source of our faith, not ourselves. And in our case, the gospel of Christ is how we first encountered faith. It didn’t happen because I tried to believe. We received faith in the word of Christ that was spoken to us. This is how God first gave us this priceless faith.
3 Key Bible Verses About Faith
Galatians 2:16: “Be aware that a person is justified by faith in Jesus Christ, not by the deeds of the law. In order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by keeping the law, we have also placed our faith in Him. This is because no one can be justified by keeping the law.”
1 Peter 1:8–9: “You believe in Him and are thrilled with an indescribable and wonderful delight because you are getting the fruit of your faith, the salvation of your souls, even though you have not seen Him.”
James 5:14–15: “Is anyone ill among you? They should invite the church’s elders to pray for them and anoint them with oil in the Lord’s name. And the sick person will recover thanks to the prayer offered in faith; the Lord will exalt them. They will be pardoned if they have sinned.”
Conclusion
The Bible is an inspired word from God. Faith is confidence, assurance, and trust in God. Genuinely believing in God is not the same as living out your beliefs. It can be seen in one’s devotion to and submission to God.
It might be challenging to look past the struggles of this life and through the clouds of this world. We don’t always sense God’s presence or comprehend His instructions. Finding God requires confidence, as does keeping our gaze fixed on Him so we can see the task through to completion. If we earnestly ask God to do so and strive to get closer to Him by prayer and reading His Word, He will strengthen our faith.
