BIBLE TOPICS

The Greek word for faith is 'pistis'. This word ‘pistis’ can be defined as a conviction or belief about man's relationship to God and divine things. It generally includes the idea of trust and holy fervour which is born of faith and joined with it. In other words in biblical terms it is the conviction that God exists and is the Creator and ruler of all things. It is the conviction also that God is the provider and the one who bestows salvation in Christ, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God. Thus Paul defines faith as:

"faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for." Hebrews 11:1-2

Thus knowledge, belief, understanding and faith in God’s word, convince that the things spoken of in scripture are indeed true. Faith is vital to salvation, indeed Paul continues and warns us that:

"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." Hebrews 11:6

Hebrews chapter 11 gives a wonderful list of many of the faithful whose lives are recorded in scripture. Examples of lives that we would do well to emulate and follow. Of all the faithful Paul lists in Hebrews chapter 11 we read:

"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:13-16

Paul then lists in verses 32-40 all the things that these faithful men and women did and suffered in God’s service. All these who were faithful had one thing in common. They all heard the Word from God, they all believed, they all had faith and most importantly they all acted upon their faith. This is the great lesson that comes shining through scripture to us in our day, that faith must be something living and active in our lives. Regarding faith James writes:

"You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." James 2:20-26

So then it is easy for a person to say that they have faith, but the truth and depth of their faith is shown by what they do. Faith has to be something that is active in our lives, shaping our characters, how we think, how we behave and what we value.

We all fail in some way to obey the Word of God and do what pleases Him, but He is willing to count an active faith as righteousness. Now of Abraham's faith we read:

"What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? ... What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Romans 4:1-4

Abraham was fully committed to God and fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. Now Paul continues to say that this record of Abraham's faith is also written for our benefit:

So we can be saved through faith. But that faith must be based upon what Paul calls ‘sound doctrine’ and not be something inactive and expressed in words only, thus failing to affect our lives. Such an insipid faith based upon wrong beliefs will not save.

Jesus asked the question, "when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:8. Paul speaking of the days prior to the return of Christ warns:

 "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith". 1Timothy 4:1

‘The faith’ is that one pure gospel message that was believed and taught by the Apostles and early disciples. It is this simple faith that Jesus questioned if he would find at his return, a faith that Paul warns that many would turn away from.

The only source of the Truth is the Bible. So then, seek out for yourself from it’s pages the true gospel message and put your faith in that message. Then once you have found it as Paul writes: