Snap Shot
“The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.”[1]
Faith is the essential element in man knowing God; it is the only road that leads to Him: “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6 ESV).
‘Faith’ in the Languages
For all intended purposes there is no Hebrew noun in the Old Testament that is rendered as faith; rather, it conveys the idea of faith with verb forms. “Perhaps that is because the Hebrews regarded faith as something one does rather than has, an activity rather than a possession”[2] (emphasis mine).
In the New Testament the verb form of faith has two basic meanings: 1) to believe what someone says; to accept a statement (particularly of a religious nature) as true and 2) a personal trust as distinct from mere credence or belief.[3]
Therefore, faith in God is
a personal action of believing what He said, “But if you do not believe his [Moses] writings, how will you believe my words?” (John 5:47 ESV);
and trusting who He is, “And Jesus answered them, Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22 ESV).
The Magnitude of Faith
For the believer faith is the way of life: “… And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20 ESV).
Everything available to the believer is made possible by faith:
• Salvation through faith
“For by grace are ye saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8).
• Sanctification through faith
“And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:9).
• Baptism of the Holy Spirit through faith
“That we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:14).
• Protection through faith
“Who are kept by the power of God through faith” (1 Peter 1:5).
• Perfect peace through faith
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3).
• Healing through faith
“And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up” (James 5:14).
• Victory over adversaries through faith. The main adversaries of the believer may be summed up as: the world, the flesh, and the Devil (cf. Ephesians 2:1-3).
· “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).
· “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16 ESV).
· “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not” (Luke. 22:31, 32).
Conclusion
“Faith is a persuasion as it applies to the invisible. The realities of God’s kingdom are by nature invisible realities, that is, invisible to natural sight. Faith is that faculty by which the spiritual realities are perceived as being real, and capable of being realized. He who has faith has eyes for the spiritual. Faith is to the Christian real “evidence.” He needs no other evidence in order to proceed in accord with the revealed will of God.”[4]
