Free: "In fact, the Bible both encourages and exhorts believers to ACT on their faith.
If faith WAS "belief in action", then NONE of those verses would be meaningful."
The first answer for Freegrace, is we are instructed to not use our liberty (freedom) for an occasion to the flesh, but to serve ( no freedom) one another in love..
Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Free: "But show me the definition of faith that is "belief in action"."
Here is your definition.
God is a Spirit.
The Spirit of the Lord, rested on the Son of God, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
We having the same Spirit of faith. ( gift of the Holy Ghost)
Fruit of the Spirit if faith.
We think soberly according as God has given to every man a measure of faith. 9 Spirit of faith)
And that we may be delivered from the unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. ( men have faith in the flesh, where there is no truth)...
John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
2 Corinthians 4:13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
2 Thessalonians 3:2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
Through faith, the worlds were framed by the Word of God ( through the faith of Jesus Christ)
God said, let there be light, and there was light...
Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Genesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Free: "If faith WAS "belief in action", then NONE of those verses would be meaningful."
Faith, we have read, is Spirit, that is why it is now Holy faith, and why they now keep themselves in the love of God, as the Holy Ghost is given to them to have Holy faith with, and the love of God is shed into their hearts, as before this they could not believe in the love of the truth, both love and truth would be nonsense to them, by not having any love in them to understand what love is, by not having the Spirit of truth in them, to know what truth is, neither believing in the Holy Lord God, without Holy faith being given into them to understand/believe with, which is the gift of the Holy Ghost ( the purpose of the Spirit being given is so we can have the same Spirit of faith ( as Christ/Christs Spirit given, to call on the Lord with, in truth....
Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Here is why the man without the gift of the Spirit, to them all of the preaching of the Spirit, is foolishness ( Gods testimony in the Spirit, as the words of Jesus are SPIRIT).
It does not enter into the heart of man ( to believe) as God reveals them ( to the ones He calls and gives the Spirit of faith to) by His Spirit.
The natural man receives not, ( cannot believe in) the things of the Spirit of God, because they are Spiritually discerned.
This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive ( cannot believe in) as it cannot know Him without the Spirit of God given, to know Him by which is why it is grace to whom the Lord will have mercy on..
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Romans 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.