WHAT IS FAITH?

Written By Juliette Ambrose        

                                                         

Do you see much faith in the world around you? We live in a secular-oriented society that is virtually devoid of faith since most people don’t read the Bible, they don’t know much about God.

Many are not even sure there is a God. Others, although they believe in Him, don’t know what kind of God He is! This situation shouldn’t surprise us. After all, it’s impossible for people to have living faith in a God they do not know.

What about you? Have you thought about it? Do you know what God can and will do for you?

The God of the Bible tells us that we can come to know and develop a relationship with Him. We can know what He has planned for us and our families, in this life and in the future. We can  rest assured He wants good things for us. His Word tells us that “godliness is profitable for all things. Having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come”(1 Timothy 4:8,) emphasis added throughout). Not only can we come to know God, to believe in God, but– much more-.We can learn to believe God.

There is a huge difference. Many people believe in God. They assume He exists, although they probably haven’t given His existence much thought, because God is not real enough to them, and this lack of reality affects what they think and do.

To believe God, on the other hand, is to have faith that God will do for us whatever He has promised to do. He expects us to act on that belief. He requires that we have living faith in His existence, power and promises.

 

Faith isn’t some magical ingredient. It does however, lead to a confident attitude toward God. Faith motivates our minds to the assurance of God’s power and will to act in our lives.  Faith becomes more than a mental conviction as it grows into a commitment, not only to trust God

to involve Himself in our lives, but to do His will. We can rest assured that God’s will does not include frivolous or unproductive behavior only “godliness that is profitable for all things.”

God’s World elaborates on living faith. It assures us that “the just shall live by faith” and we walk by faith, not by sight” when we repent of our sins and begin to live dedicated godly lives, directed by our Savior (Romans 1:17;2 Corinthians 5:7). People who live by faith are followers of Christ and members of God’s Church. (Acts 5:14; 1 Timothy 4:12).

God’s Word has a good reason for calling them believers. In the New Testament the Greek word for faith; is, in virtually every instance, the same word for belief (see “The Meaning of Faith,” Although translators choose whether “faith” or “belief” is intended; based on their understanding of the context of each passage .The meaning is usually much broader than either word alone.