What is "Faith"?

[B Griffin]

Faith Part 1

	Basic Form​	Negative Form​
Noun​	πιστ-ις: “confidence”, “trust”, “faith”​	α-πιστ-ια: “unfaithfulness”, “distrust”, “doubt”​
Verb​	πιστ-ευω: “to trust”, “to rely on”, “to believe”​	α-πιστ-εω: “to refuse to believe”, “to be distrustful”, “to be unbelieving”​
Adjective​	πιστ-ος: “trusting”, “faithful”, “trustworthy”​	α-πιστ-ος: “distrustful”, “unfaithful”, “unreliable”​

Let’s consider the Greek word in the New Testament that we translate faith. That word is πιστις. Don’t worry if you can’t read it. Just look at the first four letters, πιστ-. This is the stem, and it carries the meaning of the word. In this case, the stem means “faith”. The last two letters, -ις, form the ending. Greek endings differentiate parts of speech. In this case, the ending tells us that Πιστις is a noun. The same stem with the ending, -ευω, is a verb. With -ος as its ending, it is an adjective. In Greek, to form the negative of a word they may add an alpha-prefix (α-). This is like our word atypical, which means “not typical.”

Look at the noun, verb, and adjectival forms of the Greek word for faith in the table above.https://www.christianforums.com/#_edn1 Notice that the stem (πιστ-) is the same in each instance, and that the negative forms all have the alpha-prefix (α-).

I am showing this table, in spite of the fact that most readers probably do not know the Greek language, in order to help clarify the meaning of faith. Faith can be mysterious and hard to understand, or twisted, and made even harder to understand. But this table makes it clear that if a person has faith, it simply means that he has confidence or trust in someone or something. To be without faith means that he lacks confidence or that he refuses to believe. And a faithful person is someone who trusts someone or something, or one who is trustworthy. He is the opposite of one who is distrustful or unreliable.

As faith relates to our interaction with God, it means that we trust Him, rely on Him, and have confidence in Him. Faith towards God does not start with us, but always starts with Him. He communicates with us (and on our behalf to the Father) in words that defy speech (Rom. 8:26), and He lets us decide how we respond to Him. If we receive and believe what He says, then we respond in faith. If we reject what He says or refuse to believe, then we respond in unbelief. Therefore, faith is not mysterious or hard to understand. Faith simply means that we believe God when He communicates with us.​

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https://www.christianforums.com/#_ednref1 Theological dictionary of the New Testament. 1964–c1976. Vols. 5–9 edited by Gerhard Friedrich. Vol. 10 compiled by Ronald Pitkin. (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (6:174). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

 

[Hawkins]

To me, it's a very misunderstood concept which only God is correct about it, but not humans.

Faith is the fundamental element for humans to reach a truth. To put it another way, humans cannot reach any truth without the using of faith.

Is it Biden won the election or is it Trump? Somehow your faith will tell you who actually won. That's how our reality operates.

 

[sandman]

Faith or believing is a quality not a quantity …You either have it or you don’t. We have the capacity (measure) to believe the same as Jesus Christ.

Believing is not rated on a scale of 1 to 100% of quality ….we are either at 100% or no dice. It’s an immutable law set up by God that does not change. When a person believes either promises in His Word or revelation from God, they will get the desired results …not because the person is so great…. but because God is the prime mover …. and the person actuates by believing.

What does believing involve ………………action.

James 2 sets the course of believing succinctly ….although KJ is somewhat misleading.

Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

A better translation would be. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so believing without action is dead also.

Wings like Eagles quoted the great verse Hebrews _11:1 which I will give a literal of:

11:1 Now believing is the title deed of things hoped for the evidence they are yours before you have them.

If you have a clean title to a car …. it’s yours…. That’s believing

That is believing …you walk with the knowledge, trust, confidence…..that it is yours… or it has been accomplished. It is the same confidence you have knowing that when you get into your automobile… that key will fit in the ignition (for the keyless fob peeps …just pretend.) You don’t sit in the auto and debate or wonder or question if the key will work …. you know (believe) it does.

 

[tonychanyt]

Faith or believing is a quality not a quantity

Berean Study Bible, Luke 17:

5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Add to us faith!”
6 And the Lord said, “If you have faith like a grain of mustard, you would have said to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would have obeyed you.

Is it possible to add to or subtract from faith as if faith can be quantified by a number?

Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another. 6 We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith;

Proportional faith by multiplication?

Is faith measurable by some means even by some unknown spiritual means somehow?

Are the disciples, Jesus, and Paul talking about different degrees of faith?

The following is from Nigel:

Jesus said :

I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel [Matthew 8:10 KJV].

and, also :

O ye of little faith [Matthew 8:26 KJV.

In the context of these two quantified estimations, across a spectrum of 'little' to 'great' Jesus' comments relate to what people did, or said, or what attitude they had.

It was visible.

James has much to say about this :

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? [James 2:14 KJV]

Faith, itself, as a quality, can only be 'measured' by God. And he does so, for he justifies them that believe, because he, alone, can see the faith. And can see his own righteousness, the righteousness of God, within that faith. Therefore 'Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him (by God) unto righteousness (divine righteousness)'. Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:9, Romans 4:22, James 2:23.

Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law ... but that which is, through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God, by faith. [Phil 3:9]

But living faith can also be seen, by others as well, by works: by deeds, by words, by attitudes.

And thus the faith can be 'quantified'. By the quantity and quality of the evident results of that vibrant faith.

 

[ByTheSpirit]

Faith is action. It need not be a difficult thing to comprehend.

If a person comes to your door and tells you that your house is on fire. How you respond to that message will say if you have faith in that message or not. If you leave the house to save your life, then you believed. If you do not leave, then you did not believe.

James says as much in James 2:14-26. Genuine faith is action. Those who say they have faith but do not show it in the way they live are lying.

Faith can be affected by a number of things:

1. The person or thing I'm placing my faith in
2. My own experience
3. The experiences of those around me

All of these elements can affect the amount of faith a person possesses. The more you exercise your faith, the stronger it becomes. Example:

A father and child go to a park every day, and he sets his child in his lap and slides down the slide. One day, the father decides to let his child go it alone while watching safely at the bottom. The child is too scared to slide without the father's immediate embrace, and even though the father is at the base of the slide encouraging the child to give it a shot, the child is scared. But suddenly they get a rush of confidence and they whip down. The child will never again have a lack of faith that the slide won't hurt them, but they had to exercise their faith.

Another example.

A student who is scared of public speaking is suddenly called upon to give a report in front of the class. At first it's a very rough experience, they stammer and shake with anxiety. But as that student steps out more and speaks in front of their peers, they begin to gain confidence to the point where public speaking doesn't affect them hardly at all any more.

In both of these examples, these people exercised their faith and through the constant exercise their faith, their confidence grew.

When we step out in faith to serve the Lord, we will grow in confidence of His provision and leadership. So when Jesus told the disciples after they had asked Him to increase their faith that all they needed to do was exercise what faith they had at the moment, this is what He was referring to.

 

[Clare73]

Faith Part 1

	Basic Form​	Negative Form​
Noun​	πιστ-ις: “confidence”, “trust”, “faith”​	α-πιστ-ια: “unfaithfulness”, “distrust”, “doubt”​
Verb​	πιστ-ευω: “to trust”, “to rely on”, “to believe”​	α-πιστ-εω: “to refuse to believe”, “to be distrustful”, “to be unbelieving”​
Adjective​	πιστ-ος: “trusting”, “faithful”, “trustworthy”​	α-πιστ-ος: “distrustful”, “unfaithful”, “unreliable”​

Let’s consider the Greek word in the New Testament that we translate faith. That word is πιστις. Don’t worry if you can’t read it. Just look at the first four letters, πιστ-. This is the stem, and it carries the meaning of the word. In this case, the stem means “faith”. The last two letters, -ις, form the ending. Greek endings differentiate parts of speech. In this case, the ending tells us that Πιστις is a noun. The same stem with the ending, -ευω, is a verb. With -ος as its ending, it is an adjective. In Greek, to form the negative of a word they may add an alpha-prefix (α-). This is like our word atypical, which means “not typical.”

Look at the noun, verb, and adjectival forms of the Greek word for faith in the table above.Christian Forums Notice that the stem (πιστ-) is the same in each instance, and that the negative forms all have the alpha-prefix (α-).

I am showing this table, in spite of the fact that most readers probably do not know the Greek language, in order to help clarify the meaning of faith. Faith can be mysterious and hard to understand, or twisted, and made even harder to understand. But this table makes it clear that if a person has faith, it simply means that he has confidence or trust in someone or something. To be without faith means that he lacks confidence or that he refuses to believe. And a faithful person is someone who trusts someone or something, or one who is trustworthy. He is the opposite of one who is distrustful or unreliable.

As faith relates to our interaction with God, it means that we trust Him, rely on Him, and have confidence in Him. Faith towards God does not start with us, but always starts with Him. He communicates with us (and on our behalf to the Father) in words that defy speech (Rom. 8:26), and He lets us decide how we respond to Him. If we receive and believe what He says, then we respond in faith. If we reject what He says or refuse to believe, then we respond in unbelief. Therefore, faith is not mysterious or hard to understand. Faith simply means that we believe God when He communicates with us.​

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Christian Forums Theological dictionary of the New Testament. 1964–c1976. Vols. 5–9 edited by Gerhard Friedrich. Vol. 10 compiled by Ronald Pitkin. (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (6:174). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

Faith is belief in and trust on.

 

[Fervent]

Children don't need anyone to explain to them what it is to have faith. Multiplying words more often reduces clarity rather than increases it.

 

[B Griffin]

Faith is an essential ingredient in our quest to live lives that are well pleasing to God. Without hearing from God and believing what He says, it is impossible to please Him. That is what Hebrews 11:6 says: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him.” And everything we do that is not the result of trusting Him constitutes walking naturally, in the flesh, and is sinful. That is what Romans 14:23 says: “Whatever is not from faith is sin.”

 

[Soyeong]

Faith Part 1

	Basic Form​	Negative Form​
Noun​	πιστ-ις: “confidence”, “trust”, “faith”​	α-πιστ-ια: “unfaithfulness”, “distrust”, “doubt”​
Verb​	πιστ-ευω: “to trust”, “to rely on”, “to believe”​	α-πιστ-εω: “to refuse to believe”, “to be distrustful”, “to be unbelieving”​
Adjective​	πιστ-ος: “trusting”, “faithful”, “trustworthy”​	α-πιστ-ος: “distrustful”, “unfaithful”, “unreliable”​

Let’s consider the Greek word in the New Testament that we translate faith. That word is πιστις. Don’t worry if you can’t read it. Just look at the first four letters, πιστ-. This is the stem, and it carries the meaning of the word. In this case, the stem means “faith”. The last two letters, -ις, form the ending. Greek endings differentiate parts of speech. In this case, the ending tells us that Πιστις is a noun. The same stem with the ending, -ευω, is a verb. With -ος as its ending, it is an adjective. In Greek, to form the negative of a word they may add an alpha-prefix (α-). This is like our word atypical, which means “not typical.”

Look at the noun, verb, and adjectival forms of the Greek word for faith in the table above.Christian Forums Notice that the stem (πιστ-) is the same in each instance, and that the negative forms all have the alpha-prefix (α-).

I am showing this table, in spite of the fact that most readers probably do not know the Greek language, in order to help clarify the meaning of faith. Faith can be mysterious and hard to understand, or twisted, and made even harder to understand. But this table makes it clear that if a person has faith, it simply means that he has confidence or trust in someone or something. To be without faith means that he lacks confidence or that he refuses to believe. And a faithful person is someone who trusts someone or something, or one who is trustworthy. He is the opposite of one who is distrustful or unreliable.

As faith relates to our interaction with God, it means that we trust Him, rely on Him, and have confidence in Him. Faith towards God does not start with us, but always starts with Him. He communicates with us (and on our behalf to the Father) in words that defy speech (Rom. 8:26), and He lets us decide how we respond to Him. If we receive and believe what He says, then we respond in faith. If we reject what He says or refuse to believe, then we respond in unbelief. Therefore, faith is not mysterious or hard to understand. Faith simply means that we believe God when He communicates with us.​

---

Christian Forums Theological dictionary of the New Testament. 1964–c1976. Vols. 5–9 edited by Gerhard Friedrich. Vol. 10 compiled by Ronald Pitkin. (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (6:174). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

I've seen someone argue that we should use the verb "faithing" like "trusting" and I agree that for some reason speaking about "trust" makes "faith" easier to understand. God is trustworthy, therefore what He has instructed is also trustworthy (Psalms 19:7), so having faith in God is not just trusting, relying, and having confidence in Him, but also in what He has instructed, while it is contradictory to trust God for salvation while not trusting in what He has instructed for salvation. If someone is a doer of actions that are in obedience to what God has instructed, then the significance is not that they are trying to earn their salvation as the result, but that their actions are expressing that they trust God to guide them in how to rightly live, and it is through that faith that they are being saved from being a doer of actions that are in disobedience to what God has instructed.

In Proverbs 3:5-7, we have a choice of whether we are going to lean on our own understanding of right and wrong by doing what is right in our own eyes or whether we are going to trust in God with all of our heart to correct divide between right and wrong through what He has instructed in all of our ways and He will make our way straight, and this is what it means to have faith. As with anyone, a person must show us that that they are trustworthy before we can decide to put our trust in them.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Faith to me is belief without proof. Though there is plenty of proof available to believe in Him, some need an extraordinary amount of proof to believe, they lack faith, while others just hear His name, Jesus Christ of Nazareth and believe with great faith. Blessings

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

 

[Clare73]

Faith to me is belief without proof. Though there is plenty of proof available to believe in Him, some need an extraordinary amount of proof to believe, they lack faith, while others just hear His name, Jesus Christ of Nazareth and believe with great faith. Blessings

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

I don't know. . .I would have to call the powerful and exceedingly convincing testimony of the Holy Spirit to my spirit of the absolute truth of God's word was undeniable proof for me.

 

[sandman]

Berean Study Bible, Luke 17:


Is it possible to add to or subtract from faith as if faith can be quantified by a number?


Proportional faith by multiplication?

Is faith measurable by some means even by some unknown spiritual means somehow?

Are the disciples, Jesus, and Paul talking about different degrees of faith?

The following is from Nigel:

Jesus said :


and, also :


In the context of these two quantified estimations, across a spectrum of 'little' to 'great' Jesus' comments relate to what people did, or said, or what attitude they had.

It was visible.

James has much to say about this :


Faith, itself, as a quality, can only be 'measured' by God. And he does so, for he justifies them that believe, because he, alone, can see the faith. And can see his own righteousness, the righteousness of God, within that faith. Therefore 'Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him (by God) unto righteousness (divine righteousness)'. Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:9, Romans 4:22, James 2:23.


But living faith can also be seen, by others as well, by works: by deeds, by words, by attitudes.

And thus the faith can be 'quantified'. By the quantity and quality of the evident results of that vibrant faith.

I understand what you are saying, and it does take some mental discipline to get beyond the way words are used in various versions… and the way we have used the word faith as in a measurable or quantifiable sense.

The distinction many times is in the action of or the belief in. The belief in … is more likely to be measurable although I am not sure how, but the action of ….which triggers results from Gods promises or revelation …. is yea or nay. You either believe fully or you don’t.

I have much more I would like to express regarding this word.... but I can’t do it for the next couple of days ….and/or if things go sideways ….I won’t be back till Christ returns. I’m praying for the best and I really do want to continue this conversation….

 

[Fervent]

Faith to me is belief without proof. Though there is plenty of proof available to believe in Him, some need an extraordinary amount of proof to believe, they lack faith, while others just hear His name, Jesus Christ of Nazareth and believe with great faith. Blessings

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Do you not have a relationship with Christ? Is that relationship not proof in itself? Sometimes it seems like faith is belief without proof because people treat belief in Christ as a proposition, rather than recognizing it is based on encounter and relationship with a personal God.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Do you not have a relationship with Christ? Is that relationship not proof in itself? Sometimes it seems like faith is belief without proof because people treat belief in Christ as a proposition, rather than recognizing it is based on encounter and relationship with a personal God.

I needed no proof to believe. I loved Him first. Blessings.

 

[tdidymas]

Faith Part 1

	Basic Form​	Negative Form​
Noun​	πιστ-ις: “confidence”, “trust”, “faith”​	α-πιστ-ια: “unfaithfulness”, “distrust”, “doubt”​
Verb​	πιστ-ευω: “to trust”, “to rely on”, “to believe”​	α-πιστ-εω: “to refuse to believe”, “to be distrustful”, “to be unbelieving”​
Adjective​	πιστ-ος: “trusting”, “faithful”, “trustworthy”​	α-πιστ-ος: “distrustful”, “unfaithful”, “unreliable”​

Let’s consider the Greek word in the New Testament that we translate faith. That word is πιστις. Don’t worry if you can’t read it. Just look at the first four letters, πιστ-. This is the stem, and it carries the meaning of the word. In this case, the stem means “faith”. The last two letters, -ις, form the ending. Greek endings differentiate parts of speech. In this case, the ending tells us that Πιστις is a noun. The same stem with the ending, -ευω, is a verb. With -ος as its ending, it is an adjective. In Greek, to form the negative of a word they may add an alpha-prefix (α-). This is like our word atypical, which means “not typical.”

Look at the noun, verb, and adjectival forms of the Greek word for faith in the table above.Christian Forums Notice that the stem (πιστ-) is the same in each instance, and that the negative forms all have the alpha-prefix (α-).

I am showing this table, in spite of the fact that most readers probably do not know the Greek language, in order to help clarify the meaning of faith. Faith can be mysterious and hard to understand, or twisted, and made even harder to understand. But this table makes it clear that if a person has faith, it simply means that he has confidence or trust in someone or something. To be without faith means that he lacks confidence or that he refuses to believe. And a faithful person is someone who trusts someone or something, or one who is trustworthy. He is the opposite of one who is distrustful or unreliable.

As faith relates to our interaction with God, it means that we trust Him, rely on Him, and have confidence in Him. Faith towards God does not start with us, but always starts with Him. He communicates with us (and on our behalf to the Father) in words that defy speech (Rom. 8:26), and He lets us decide how we respond to Him. If we receive and believe what He says, then we respond in faith. If we reject what He says or refuse to believe, then we respond in unbelief. Therefore, faith is not mysterious or hard to understand. Faith simply means that we believe God when He communicates with us.​

---

Christian Forums Theological dictionary of the New Testament. 1964–c1976. Vols. 5–9 edited by Gerhard Friedrich. Vol. 10 compiled by Ronald Pitkin. (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (6:174). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

The writer of Hebrews made an attempt at a definition in a single sentence: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (KJV), Heb. 11:1. It was an indication that the misuse of the term has been with us since the beginning. People are generally confused about what faith is.



James 2:17 says, “faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” He was addressing the error of faith as a theory as opposed to faith as action. The command to believe requires the action to obey God – repent and believe the good news.



Another example of faith in error we find in Mat. 6:1-2, where Jesus is addressing the faith of the Pharisees, who were full of self-righteous pride. “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” So then, believing is very much a part of a favorable relationship with God.



From scripture, we can see that there are several aspects to Biblical faith:

1. The aspect of a directional path:

John 14:6 – Jesus is “the Way”

Acts 9:2, 22:14 – Disciples of Jesus were said to have been followers of the way.

Salvation was called “the way” – Acts 16:17, 18:25, 24:14. Therefore, the way to life is a journey, in which a person is going toward God, that is, in pursuit of God. Many times the prophets call for people to turn toward God – 2 Chron. 7:14, Jer. 29:13, Mat. 6:33. The journey is a constant seeking and turning toward God. And Jesus spoke of the way to life – Mat. 7:14, the way leading to life, and a walk:

Jn. 12:35 “Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.”

Rom. 8:4 “that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

This means that the Christian experience is not a one-time event or an instant satisfaction. It requires living out life in the right direction. Therefore, 1 Jn. 3:6 is not about absolutes, but about direction. “Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.” The Greek tense indicates ongoing action, not a one-time absolute.

1 Jn. 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” vs. 3:9 "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God"
shows that faith and deliverance from sin is not about absolutes, but about the direction of one's life. It's about who we are putting our faith in.



2. The aspect of the object of faith:

Jesus is the object of our faith. It means that our faith is directed toward Him, not toward ourselves. A slogan of the culture says “believe in yourself.” But that’s the wrong direction for faith. People who think they can get to heaven by obeying the 10 Commandments have their faith misdirected. It should not be directed toward ourselves or the law, but toward Christ. Heb. 12:2 says that we should “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith.” In Isa. 49:26, God says “I, the Lord, am your Savior.” This implies that we cannot save ourselves, we must look to the Lord Jesus for salvation.
Heb. 12:1 "... looking to Jesus, the author and perfector of faith"



3. The aspect of being rescued from a sinful condition:

Mat. 1:21 says that Jesus comes to save His people from their sins. Notice it doesn’t say “from the penalty of their sins,” but rather “from their sins.” 1 Jn. 3:8 says that Jesus came to destroy the work of the devil, which is the sinful nature. There is a false gospel going around in certain circles which essentially teaches that Jesus saves from hell, but not from the sinful nature. Such teaching offers excuse for people to continue sinning and still expect to be welcomed into heaven. It simply is not so, and is no gospel at all.

Sin is a serious problem, and God will judge every person according to what they have done in their life. Rom. 14:10 says “we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” Jesus will say to those he separates out to his left, “depart from Me, you workers of iniquity” (Luke 13:27). The future lake of fire judgment teaches us that sin is a “grave” issue that God will certainly deal with in a final and fatal manner. 2 Pet. 3:9 says that God is patient toward us, not willing that we should perish, but that all of us should come to repentance.

But the hope is in Jesus Christ, and the means to that hope is to put our trust in Him to rescue us from our wrong ways. 1 Pet. 2:24 says that Jesus bore our sins on the cross in His body, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, for by His wounds we are healed. And this hope secures our future, as Heb. 6:19 indicates.



4. The aspect of the fear of God:

Lk. 12:4-5 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” This is a healthy respect of who God is relative to yourself.

Ps. 103:11 “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him”



5. The aspect of having an eternal vision:

2 Cor. 4:18 – we look to things unseen

1 Pet. 2:11 – we are strangers and aliens in this world

Phil. 3:20 “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”

Luke 12:33-34 “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

John 3:3 – Spiritual birth is required to see God’s kingdom. The idea is that the power of God establishes His kingdom on Earth, and a spiritual vision sees it.

The Christian life is a lifetime journey and a life-long project. Therefore, we must decide that we are in it for life, and no going back to self-centered conceited pleasures.



6. The aspect of God working in the heart of the believer:

Phil. 2:12-13 – God is at work

Eph. 2:10 – God’s people is God’s workmanship

Mat. 1:23 – Emmanuel means God is with us

Jn. 15:4-5 – Abide in Christ to bear fruit for the kingdom of God

Jn. 14:16 – The Holy Spirit is given to us to help us walk with God

Isa. 40:4 – The rough places made plain refers to the power of God to help us in our pursuit of holiness, turning the impossible to the possible

In response to the question “who can be saved” that the disciples asked, Jesus answered, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” (Luke 18:27)

Mat. 11:30 – Jesus makes the burden of righteousness easy to carry

The Providence of God is assumed, since it is taught in the O.T.:

Isa 48:3 “I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.” The future is made by God acting by His wisdom and power. We should apply this to our future, that we are in God’s hands: “He has the whole world in His hands,” how much more our individual lives?

Job 12:23 “He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them.” If nations, then how much more our miniscule individual lives?

Ps. 18:29 “With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.”

The apostle Peter applies this to our spiritual Christian life, in saying (2 Pet. 1:3) “By these great and precious promises, God has provided everything we need pertaining to life and godliness.”

The apostle Paul also applies the concept of God’s providence to every Christian in Phil 2:13 in saying “God is at work in you, to will and do His good pleasure.” This statement is in reference to our personal salvation, and the spiritual fruit we are to bear.

The only conclusion we can come to as a result of this is that we must trust God to help us do His will. We not only have to obey Christ in all that He commanded, but we have to trust God to help us fulfill it. This is the faith that justifies us in the sight of God. If Jesus actually reconciled us with God, then God is really with us to direct, guide, and empower us for His service. Are you trusting Christ to heal your spirit and guide your life every day?

1 Pet. 2:25 “For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” Returning to God for His help in all matters of life is the act of faith.



7. The aspect of trust:

Prov. 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Ps. 4:5 “Offer the sacrifices of righteousness and trust in the Lord”

Mk. 1:15 “the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

So, how can you say you believe in Christ, if you aren’t trusting what He said? If Jesus promises blessing and favor from God if you obey Him, then to have faith in Christ is to trust that what He says is right (and obey), regardless of your own feelings or opinion.



8. The aspect of increase:

Pro 4:18 “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” Maturing in the Christian life takes time, so we have to be all in it for life. There is no turning back.



9. The aspect of perseverance:

Prov. 24:16 “though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.”

This implies that the one who is right with God has his sights set on a better life for himself and others in his life. The righteous man is concerned with how his life shows that his faith is real, because his God is real.

Mat. 5:16 “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Our lives display to others around us how real our faith is.



Conclusion:

All of these aspects of the faith is how it is defined in the scripture. This might not be an exhaustive list, but you should be able to see how people go wrong if they are trying to believe any other way. The reason why there is so much controversy about the Christian faith, and why so many people are confused, is because they are ignorant of what the Bible actually says about it.

 

[honey badger]

scrip tells us that Faith is the substance/person of God/Christ ...

 

[Divide]

because he, alone, can see the faith. And can see his own righteousness, the righteousness of God, within that faith.

Isn't that what I said in that other thread? The Lord sees us as righteous and perfect, in spirit.

 

[Divide]

Have you guys ever heard one of those stories where a mother picks up a heavy automobile to save her trapped child? I've heard several of these stories over the years. Do those incidents relate to the topic of Faith? Of course they do!

I believe that sometimes they pray and sometimes they don't but they have been able to save thier child. Where does that come from? Is it from their heart? ( a fervant mans prayer can avail much...) Her emotions will be high and there will be fervency in her actions. She knows she can't lift a car! But she does anyway. Because in that moment of her child being trapped and in danger, the love that she has for her child makes her fervantly try to do what she can. (In our weakness, is His strength) so even if she did not pray, did God count her fervancy as a prayer and then give her the strength to lift the car? I think it is highly possible, even probable.

 

[Divide]

I once had a prayer answered that I did not pray! I thought about praying but I remembered a scripture that seemed to say that, I really don't need to pray for that.
So it was that action of standing on the Word that was the Faith, so Jesus was all over it!! That's what He does!

It was soon after my aaccident that messed up my back, and I was out of recovery but it sure did continue to hurt. I did good to walk back and forth around the house but I couldn't walk far. And I felt that this was inhibiting me from doing more for the Lord and I felt bad that I couldn't walk much and wrecked my new good truck and was now back to pc of crap. SO I prayed about it and asked the Lord if He could give a job to do for the Kingdom...that I could do from my easy chair from home! (Really!) I said my Amen and within 60 seconds my phone rang. An old friend that I havent seen in a couple years. Hey you know about God, do you mind if I come over and ask you some questions about God, and we can visit too. I knew immediately that God had answered this prayer.

Now I try to be a good host and we was all coffee drinkers so I went up to put a pot on and there was only enough for a half pot of coffee left. I made it and knew I had no more, and being self employed and it was my slow season, I had no money. I almost prayed about it, but I decided not to to, because the scripture came to mind, Take no thought for tomorrow the Lord knows your needs before you ask Him...SO I didn't pray for money or work. And just trusted that, the Lord will take care of me and I need not fret about it, so I put it out of my mind and went back to waiting on my friend to show up. I had just poured the very last cup of coffee and am about to have company...Oh well.

Knock knock knock, he's here, I can witness to him from my easy chair and help the Kingdom! God is soo good! I let my friend in the door and the first thing he says is, I brought you something and he hands me a 2 pound sack of gourmet coffee beans! (TILT). Whoa!

I didn't tell him I was out of coffee. I knew I did not pray for this. But suddenly I realized that I was acting in faith by deciding to not pray and ask, but I stood on His word which said, don't worry about it. And that's why He answered it. Because I believed and stood on His word.

I didn't consciously do anything except to decide, I don't need to pray about it. And it was knocking on my door within 30 minutes of not praying, Lol! God is Great!!

Faith? You betcha.

It seems sort of incredible that the Creator of the Univers delivered coffee to my house for me! But it's entirely true.

 

[tonychanyt]

Isn't that what I said in that other thread? The Lord sees us as righteous and perfect, in spirit.

Do you distinguish between your human spirit from the Holy Spirit?