Jesus Is the Bridge Ministries

Key Verses: Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.... 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

2 Corinthians 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith... 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

This question is so basic, but so profound, that a simple answer is not even possible. The problem in addressing it in a space as small as this one is that it's too easy to mislead or misinform. First, it's important to look at what faith is not.

Faith is not mere intellectual assent to something without any proof or basis. Simply because we can't see something doesn't mean it doesn't exist, but having faith in, say, aliens, just because someone else says so isn't faith, but gullibility. That's there are no grandchildren in the Kingdom of God; we can't go to heaven based on our parents' faith. Each of us must make our own choices, and establish our own relationship with God.

Faith isn't just belief, either, even when we are convinced that something is true; the demons believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and tremble, James wrote (James 2:19). Some people will agree that planes can fly, but they still refuse to travel in one, for fear that their faith may be misplaced.

When it comes to talking about what faith is, there are several distinct, but related, answers. It's similar to the definition of "love", for which we have one word in English, but for which the Greeks had at least three, perhaps four. The first "type" of faith, if we can call it that, is saving faith. When we agree to, and accept, the idea that we are dead in sin, and that only Christ can give us life and freedom, faith goes on to the next step of asking forgiveness, and accepting the gift of eternal life. Faith always involves trust, and action based on that trust. That's why it just isn't belief; as James also said, faith without works is dead (James 2:26). Real faith is always alive. What about proof? The proof of saving faith is the witness of others who believe, the witness of the Word of God, and, especially, the witness of the Spirit that salvation is real, and Jesus is the only way to attain to it. It's like when we fly in a plane, as a passenger; we have absolutely no do with why planes work, or with getting them where they're supposed to go. We accept the fact (for the most part) that when we climb into a jet, we will come out again at our destination. Unlike planes, though, there is absolutely no chance that we will "crash" on our way to eternity..

The next type of "faith" is the ongoing relationship with God that gets us through the course of each day, faith which is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please God; just as we can't be saved by doing good works, neither can be hope to gain God's favor as believers because of what we can "do". We can't be righteous on our own, but, like Abraham, our faith is accounted to us for righteousness (Romans 4:22). Rather than being a point of discouragement, this should be a cause of rejoicing. We don't always have to worry about whether or not a vengeful God will whack us over the head when we step out of line. We don't have to do great things to earn his love; his love is based on our relationship, not with what we do. Nonetheless, faith means we trust God to the extent of being obedient, then relying on his power and strength to accomplish what we could never do on our own. If the Lord calls us, for example, to teach Sunday School, and we've never taught before, and have no training in that direction, faith says that we will succeed as a teacher because God will give us the knowledge and abilities we need. As the old saying goes, God doesn't want our ability, but our availability.

Finally, for purposes of this discussion, faith includes the willingness to accept, or believe, what our senses cannot confirm, because God says it is so. The proof exists in our own minds and hearts, in the internal consistency of God's Word, and indirectly in the pattern and design of the world around us. Further, faith is real because the results of what we see, and do, are always consistent with what faith says they will be. God created the universe because it functions according to his plan and design; so-called science constantly has to revise its "laws" and theories because new information constantly shows they are flawed. They are "ever learning but never coming to a knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7). Both saving faith and the faith of a daily walk are based ultimately in our belief that God is who he says is true, and that he "is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him". Our very faith, the fact that we have it, Hebrews says, is itself evidence that what we believe is true. Although believing in Christ as Savior involves our choice, the very faith to believe, and act, is itself is a gift of God. Not only can we not have righteousness without faith, we can't faith the God who gives it.

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