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Bible News
(December 2008)
UNDERSTANDING FAITH
Many people talk about faith,
and claim they have faith, but do not truly understand what
faith is. What exactly is faith? What are the signs or proof
of faith? In this study, we are going to answer all these
questions.
FAITH is to trust. It is
to persuade, to draw towards anything, to conciliate; to
believe, to obey. In the Greek Lexicon of Hederic it is
said, the primitive signification of the verb is to bind and
draw or lead, as signifies a rope or cable. But this remark
is a little incorrect. The sense of the verb, from which
that of rope and binding is derived, is to strain, to draw,
and thus to bind or make fast. A rope or cable is that which
makes fast.
Faith as a belief is the assent
(to admit as true; to agree, yield or concede) of the mind
to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on his
authority and veracity, without other evidence; the judgment
that what another states or testifies is the truth. Example:
“I have strong faith or no faith in the testimony of a
witness or in what a historian narrates”.
Faith is the assent (agreement)
of the mind to the truth of a proposition advanced by
another; belief, or probable evidence of any kind.
In theology, faith is the assent
of the mind or understanding to the truth of what God has
revealed. Simple belief of the scriptures, of the being and
perfections of God, and of the existence, character and
doctrines of Christ, founded on the testimony of the sacred
writers, is called historical or speculative faith; a faith
little distinguished from the belief of the existence and
achievements of Alexander or of Cesar.
Evangelical, justifying, or
saving faith, is the assent of the mind to the truth of
divine revelation, on the authority of God's testimony,
accompanied with a cordial assent of the will or approbation
of the heart; an entire confidence or trust in God's
character and declarations, and in the character and
doctrines of Christ, with an unreserved surrender of the
will to his guidance, and dependence on his merits for
salvation. In other words, that firm belief of God's
testimony, and of the truth of the gospel, which influences
the will, and leads to an entire reliance on Christ for
salvation.
Being justified by faith
Rom 5:1-2
5:1 Therefore, since we have
been justified through faith, we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access
by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we
rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
NIV
Without faith it is
impossible to please God
Heb 11:6
6 And without faith it is
impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him
must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who
earnestly seek him.
NIV
For we walk by faith, and not
by sight
2 Cor 5:7
7(For we walk by faith , not
by sight :)
KJV
2 Cor 5:7
7 We live by faith, not by
sight.
NIV
With the heart man believeth
to righteousness
Rom 10:10
10 For with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession
is made unto salvation.
KJV
Faith is an action word
The faith of the gospel is that
emotion of the mind, which is called trust or confidence,
exercised towards the moral character of God, and
particularly of the Savior. Faith is an affectionate
practical confidence in the testimony of God. Faith is a
firm, cordial belief in the veracity of God, in all the
declarations of his word; or a full and affectionate
confidence in the certainty of those things which God has
declared, and because he has declared them.
Faith, in its true idea, is a
reliance as simple as possible upon the word, power, love,
and the person of God. It is precisely that which, on man's
side, adjusts him to the living and merciful presence
and action of a trusted God.
Faith is rest in the finished
work of Jesus Christ on Calvary cross. Faith is rest in the
faithfulness of God to His words and promises. Faith is rest
in the ability and willingness of God to meet one’s needs
and answer his prayers.
Isa 30:15
15 This is what the Sovereign
LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest
is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.
NIV
Faith is based on the word of
God and rooted in the heart.
Faith means absolute trust in
God. Faith in God means rest in the ability and willingness
of God to answer and meet your needs. Faith in God means
confidence in God and calmness of spirit, mind and emotions
as one waits on God to fulfill His promises.
Faith is more of an action word.
It is acting upon that which a man believes. Faith excites,
and moves a man to action. Faith is a force that propels
action to actualize one’s conviction and desire. Faith is a
deep-rooted conviction that makes a man to see the things
that are not as though they were. This is the reason why a
man cannot have faith and not take steps to act out his
faith. When faith is in the heart, the mouth cannot be
silent but speak out what is in the heart.
Heb 11:1
11:1 Now faith is being sure
of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2
This is what the ancients were commended for.
NIV
Faith is the assurance of things
hoped for. It is not just the assent of the mind to the
truth of God, but a passionate, affectionate, practical
confidence in the testimony or word of God that results in
acts that produces results. Faith is never passive, but
active. Faith is now – a current active state geared towards
achieving a definite result.
Faith and the tongue
The world was created by God
through the spoken word of the mouth. Nothing was created
without the word, including man. God’s authority is
exercised through the spoken word.
John 1:1-5
1:1 In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The
same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made
by him; and without him was not any thing made that was
made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness
comprehended it not.
KJV
There is power in the mouth of
every man. There is life and death in the tongue of man. You
can give life and take away life through what you say. With
faith in your heart, your mouth will speak into existence
that which you have faith for and are expecting to come to
pass.
Prov 18:21-22
21 The tongue has the power
of life and death, and those who love it will eat its
fruit. 22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and
receives favor from the LORD.
NIV
You cannot believe and not
speak. You cannot have faith and not speak. What your heart
believes, your mouth will speak with intention to see it
come to pass. That is what faith is – confessing your belief
with passion, affectionate, practical confidence. The spirit
of faith is about believing and speaking out what you
believe. Faith is speaking out your belief and acting on it.
2 Cor 4:13
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;
KJV
Faith is seeing yourself the
way God sees you
Rom 6:11
11 In the same way, count
yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
NIV
Faith is counting, reckoning,
considering or seeing yourself as God sees you. If you truly
believe what the word of God says you are, have or can do,
the law of faith demands that you change the picture you
have in your head to comply with what you now believe based
on your discovery from the word of God. Apostle Paul in the
above passage teaches that the believer now delivered from
sin and its power, and under grace and not under the law,
should start seeing himself as free from sin, for that is
the only way to experience freedom from sin. Faith is
believing you are who God says you are, you have what God
says you have, and you can do what God says you can do.
Faith is constantly seeing yourself in the way the scripture
describes you as you face challenges, pursue your dreams,
and expect God to manifest in your life and situation.
As you continue to see yourself
as free from sin, sin will start loosing its power over you
and you will discover you are walking in victory over sin
daily. It doesn’t matter what your current situation is,
what is important is what God says about you. Keep your eyes
on it and prove your faith by changing the picture in your
head and start seeing yourself the way you are described by
God. Talk of yourself as spoken by God in His word. Package
and carry yourself as God has described you. Always act upon
the word of God that you believe. The proof of faith is
acting out your faith. The proof of faith is obedience to
the demands of the word of God.
Keep seeing yourself the way God
sees you and has described you the believer in His word. The
more you do that, the more your life will manifest the word
of God. Your seeing yourself the way God sees you is faith
in action. What you think and say about youself and what men
say about you does not matter. What counts is what God says
about you. For that is the truth about who you really are.
No one can know you more than the one that made and saved
you. His description of you is perfect and true. Accept it
and begin seeing yourself in the light of it, and soon you
will become it in daily practical living.
Faith and renewing the mind
If you have believed a certain
truth of God, you allow that truth to change the way you
think to show your faith and confidence in it. You drop your
old opinion and belief and you start seeing yourself in the
light of the truth of God. A renewed mind has stopped seeing
with the old eyes, but now sees with the eyes of God (the
truth received from God’s word). A renewed mind is a mind
that has dropped the old belief and has accepted the new and
is disciplining self to make sure his life complies with the
knowledge received. When a man has faith in a certain
truth, he never lets go off it. He holds on to it no matter
the challenge or temptation that will come his way. He never
goes contrary to it from the moment of renewal till death.
Let the word of God renew your mind through faith.
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