By: Rev Dr Colin Hurt.
Introduction
The subject of faith is the most important topic in the Bible. Without faith we are lost. Without faith we cannot please God. Without faith we can achieve nothing in the spiritual realm. Yet many in the church do not understand what the Bible has to say about faith. Some have taught that we must have faith in our words, or that we must have faith in our faith. The Bible teaches that we must have faith in our God.
The Nature of Faith
Definition
The Greek word pistis can mean either faith or faithfulness (cf. Romans 3:3; Galatians 5:22; Titus 2:10). The verb pisteuo is almost always translated believe. The Hebrew words emun and emunah usually have the meaning of faithfulness. The verb aman, often translated believe really expresses the idea of remaining steadfast (but cf. Genesis 15:6 & Romans 4:3). From the foregoing we can arrive at a working definition: faithfulness is the inspiring of confidence; faith is the possession of confidence. Another important OT word is “trust” (Hebrews chacah) (cf Psalms 7:1; 11:1; 16:1 etc.). The word always refers to trust in a person. Knowledge of truth is essential to faith (cf. Romans 10:13-17) but is not faith. Assent to truth is essential (Matthew 9:28; James 2:19) but is not faith. Faith is “the consent of the will to the assent of the understanding” (Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia).
Origins of the New Testament doctrine
One of the most important Old Testament texts used in the New Testament is Habakkuk 2:4 “the righteous will live by his faith”. It is used by New Testament writers with the meaning of active faith. In Romans 1:17 Paul uses the quotation to demonstrate that “righteousness is by faith from first to last”. In Galatians 3:11 he uses the verse to contrast justification by faith with justification by works. The writer of Hebrews also applies the statement to salvation by faith (10:38) and indeed seems to use it as a text for the whole of chapter 11, the great discourse on faith.
New Testament concepts of faith
Faith is primarily in a person (Ephesians 1:15; Romans 3:26; Galatians 2:16 etc.).
Faith for salvation (Acts 20:21), faith for living (Galatians 2:20) and faith for healing (Acts 3:16). As faith is in a person rather than in faith itself, increased faith can come only by increased knowledge of that person.
Faith accepts certain facts about that person.
Faith in His messiahship (1 John 5:1), faith in His sonship (1 John 5:5) and faith in His resurrection (Romans 10:9).
NOTE: This aspect of faith is very important. To believe a person’s statements is to express faith in the veracity of the person himself. To disbelieve his statements is to express doubt about the person. (cf. 1 John 5:10)
Faith is commanded and therefore must be possible (Romans 1:16; 10:9).
Many teach that faith is something which God imparts and that therefore we cannot believe without the enabling of God. One verse used to demonstrate this is Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—” It is assumed that the gift from God is faith. The Greek, however, does not allow for this; faith is feminine and this is neuter. The word this “refers to the general idea of salvation” (Wuest).
Faith comes by accepting the preached word (Romans 10:17).
What is called “positive confession” cannot produce faith, it can merely evidence faith. By constantly confessing certain scriptures in order to make them come true, some Christians have become guilty of incantation.
Faith cannot make God act contrary to His will (1 John 5:14).
By constantly demanding things from God which are not his will it is possible to persuade God to give them, but this is an act of judgment (cf. Numbers 11:4-34).
Faith expects but does not demand (Hebrews 6:12).
The Operation of faith
The things achieved by faith (Hebrews 11)
The writer of Hebrews gives a list of things which have been achieved by faith. A few of them follow:
Faith gives assurance to our hopes (Hebrews 11:1).
In the NT hope refers to things which are as yet not received but revealed by the Scriptures to be God’s will.
Faith gives certainty concerning the invisible (Hebrews 11:1).
Into this category come such things as God Himself, heaven, eternity, angels, etc..
Faith gives understanding (11:3).
It is remarkable that what the writer refers to here is the creation itself, possibly the one event which has been challenged more often than any other.
By faith we worship (11:4).
By faith we please God (11:5-6).
By faith we go into the unknown (11:8-10).
By faith we reproduce (11:11-12).
By faith we die (11:13-16).
By faith we pass the test (11:17-19).
By faith we bless others (11:20-21).
By faith we undergo trials (11:35-39).
The Evidence of faith
It is significant that James refers to two incidents also used by the writer of Hebrews. From these he demonstrates the importance of works as an evidence of faith. It is safe to conclude that the only tangible evidence of faith is action. “Faith which does not impel to action, which does not result in a changed relation to God and Christ, which does not work transformingly in life, is not biblical faith.” (C.I. Scofield)
So, let’s get to know Jesus better; our faith will increase and nothing will be impossible.