What Is "Faith"?
What is your concept of faith? How would you define it? Is it a miraculous gift of God bestowed upon you by prayer? Is it some mysterious feeling you get in the pit of your stomach or in your chest when you "get religion"? Just what is faith?
Since our desire is to let the word of God define our convictions for us, we look to it for the answer to the question. In Hebrews 11:1 the writer states, by the pen of inspiration, "Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen." We hope for things that are not seen; faith is not hope; hope depends on faith. Faith is an assurance; a conviction.
The next question then is, how do we become assured and convinced? In John 20:30,31 the apostle tells us, "Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye may have life in His name." Note these words, "these are written, that ye may believe...." John, in his gospel, sets forth evidence to the fact that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. When we study that evidence and accept it as truth we then believe the only logical conclusion — Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God!
Paul writes in Romans 10:17, "So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ." We obtain faith from the Word of Christ as we study and accept the evidence presented therein.
However, we hasten to point out that faith is not just knowledge. Faith is assurance and conviction depending on knowledge. In other words, faith is a state of mind brought about by our study of God's Word. A continual study of the Bible is one of the most important things a Christian must do in order to please God, A learning of Bible teaching is the only way a non-Christian can acquire faith. Note the emphasis placed on study in the following scriptures:
2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to show thyself approved unto God...."
2 Peter 3:18, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
Acts 17:11, "Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the scriptures daily, whether these things were so."
Therefore, faith is not an emotional feeling we get or a miraculous gift out of the blue, but it is the state of mind of assurance and conviction we have in God, Christ, the inspired Word of God, heaven, and that we will eventually be at home with God! All this is based on the evidence God presents to us by His revelation, the Word of Christ. We must continually study this Word, the Bible, in order to have the faith that saves.
This state of mind called faith will prompt action when it is combined with instruction. For example, when we become assured and convinced that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" for mankind's salvation, and that "whosoever believeth on Him shall have eternal life," we will then obey any instruction given to us by God. When we read in Luke 13:3, "I tell you; nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish," we will repent; that is, change our attitude and action toward sin; turn away from it and toward God. Also, as we study Romans 10:10, "....and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation," we will confess that we believe Jesus is the Son of God, This was confessed in Acts 8:37; therefore, it is what we confess, because of our faith. Finally, when we realize that Jesus said in Mark 16:16: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned," we then are baptized for the remission of our sins as did those in Acts 2:37-42. All of this is done because of our faith; that state of mind; the assurance and conviction that only by obedience to God's will may we be saved.
We obey not because we think it best or because any work of man's design saves us. We obey because we believe Christ is the author of eternal salvation only to those who do obey. (Hebrews 5:9)
We are justified by faith (Romans 5:1), but not by faith only. (James 2:24) We are saved by faith that shows itself in works. (Gal. 5:6) "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:10) The works we do are governed by God's Word. (2 Timothy 3:16,17)
Upon what does your faith rest? Is it in the creeds of denominationalism; in the proclamation of men; in your feelings; just where? In order to be pleasing to Jehovah, our faith must be based on His will alone. Thus we admonish you toy step back and take a look at what "your church" teaches and practices. Is it based on the Word of God or men? We admonish you as Paul did the Ephesians, "Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." (Eph. 5:17)
Box 2042, Asheville, N. C., 28802