Faith

Faith is often incorrectly spoken of as if it were a synonym for belief or wishful thinking, when in fact it is the very essence of what makes humans different from other species of physical life on this planet.

The Bible informs us that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen—or, expressed another way, faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.

The following provides us with some insight into how various translators of the Greek have attempted to shed light on the meaning of what faith might be:

• Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. (Amplified Bible)

• Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. (CSB)

• Trusting is being confident of what we hope for, convinced about things we do not see. (CJB)

• Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see. (CEV)

• Now faith is [the] substantiating of things hoped for, [the] conviction of things not seen. (DARBY)

• Faith is what makes real the things we hope for. It is proof of what we cannot see. (ERV)

• Faith means ·being sure [the assurance; or the tangible reality; or the sure foundation] of the things we hope for and ·knowing that something is real even if we do not see it [the conviction/assurance/evidence about things not seen]. (Expanded Bible)

• Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see. (GW)

• To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see. (GNT)

• Faith means being sure of the things we hope for. And faith means knowing that something is real even if we do not see it. (IUB)

• Now faith is the realization of what is hoped for, the proof of things not seen. (Lexham English Bible)

• Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. (New Living Translation)

In saying faith is a substance, this actually informs us that faith is not an idea, not an emotion, but something that is real.

The New Living Translation states that faith is the reality of what we hope for. In other words, when we have established that something exists to which we hope to attain—whether in terms of achievement (a qualitative goal) or something of a physical nature—the reality that we believe this to be possible is grounded in our faith.

The Amplified Bible speaks in terms of not only having assurance, but of something that is as assuring as a title deed is to property or an object of value—say, precious metal kept in a vault. The title deed acts like a bankbook; it is a written declaration that states what belongs to us, even though we may not actually have physical possession of it. In respect to matters concerning our internal inheritance or promises expected in this life, our hope is divinely guaranteed.

The Expanded Bible furnishes us with the assurance that faith is a tangible reality, a solid foundation that enables us to have confidence that what we are hoping to discover, encounter, and understand actually exists. We will not be disappointed, because it is not beyond our capacity to appropriate and enjoy.

Numerous commentators speak of "people of faith" and "the faith community" in a manner that gives the impression these are individuals who adhere to certain beliefs not necessarily grounded in reality—except for the fact that a community exists that shares the same notions of wishful thinking. These people of faith and the faith community are viewed as distinctly different from those who have no faith, who belong to the "no faith community," and are "people of no faith." The ignorance is astounding.

More astounding is the misconception of what faith means among the community of intelligentsia—academics or intellectuals with the ability to recall facts and figures, events and dates, and demonstrate a mastery of numerous subjects and interdisciplinary comprehension. All too frequently, they take a derogatory view of those who belong to communities that express their faith in aspiring to aims, goals, and achievements they hope to attain or live up to. Yet in their claims, these who think they shine like the sun and are brighter than the rest fail to realize that it is by faith they believe the knowledge they possess is true. Being book-read, in the majority of cases, they have no genuine evidence or means to demonstrate their beliefs about what they say exists or is happening, or that what they believe existed or happened actually did. The deception of the "no faith community" is exceedingly great.

The Amplified Bible's statement that "faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses" must apply to the bookworms, academics, intellectuals, and intelligentsia who rely upon information given to them by others to form their beliefs and opinions—in which they place their faith.

Definitions are important if we are to possess true knowledge. Even transitory knowledge requires definition, otherwise what is being talked about becomes nonsensical and cannot be said to exist.

Examples of transitory knowledge are products that were once manufactured but have been superseded to such an extent that not only are they redundant, they have been forgotten.

Anecdotal accounts of past events are transitory knowledge. For instance, on a street corner where there is now a massive high-rise complex, an accident happened one hundred years ago and a passerby, a homeless stranger, was killed. At the time it was big news locally, but it never made the papers, and apart from the locals, nobody else showed any interest. The account of the hapless event lives on in a grandchild who heard the story from her grandmother, who was saved by the stranger standing in front of her—otherwise, she may have been shot. Chicago was a wild town in those days.

The account is difficult to believe, because there are insufficient facts, but it is nonetheless plausible. It could have happened—just like a tree falling in the forest. Pull out an old newspaper and there is a detailed, fabricated account of a shooting taking place, but because it is in writing, researchers put their trust in the written account.

When it comes to the Bible, though, those of a scientific bent who claim they only believe evidence—or who belong to the intelligentsia and only believe facts and figures and accounts written in reputable magazines or encyclopedias—are renowned for dismissing it as a book of fables and myths. The fact that the Bible has been used by archaeologists to find ancient landmarks and uncover artifacts that verify its historical accuracy is dismissed.

What we find is that faith is essential for human beings to be able to express confidence in anything and even to build trustworthy relationships with other individuals in order to foster a peaceful community.

In the book of Hebrews (6:1), we are told that a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith toward God belongs to the elementary doctrines of Christ. The foundation consists of two matters, but faith toward God without repentance does not form a foundation upon which to build a relationship with the Holy One. Moreover, a lack of repentance will bring about a double mind, and according to the book of James (1:7–8), a double-minded person will receive nothing from the Lord.

When a person begins to express faith toward God and attempts to act on it, unrepented sin will undermine the faithfulness required to receive what is being hoped for. Instead of being full of faith, doubt will arise. Even though God is faithful in His promises, faithlessness will bring about shame and unbelief.

When talking about qualities that people possess, we could be referring to attributes that we have observed from watching people (on TV, in the street, at a restaurant, etc.) or individuals we have personally encountered and interacted with a number of times (next-door neighbors, local shop attendants, various acquaintances, friends, relatives, etc.). How much faith we place in these people depends on the knowledge we have of them individually and what expectations we may have of each one.

Faith is about relationships, and there are degrees of confidence we have in people that differ from person to person. The degree of faith we have in each relationship we develop will depend upon the substance of each person and how reliable and trustworthy each one proves himself or herself to be. The more solid the relationship, the greater the trust we have in the other person, and the more faith we have in our friendship.

However, there are times when we have to exercise faith in people's judgment rather than our own. For instance, we believe that if we hire a tradesman to do a job, we expect him to be competent and capable of meeting our expectations based on our knowledge of what skills are required to do the job properly. The painter would be expected to know what paints to use on different surfaces. An electrician would be expected to locate what is short-circuiting the lights and appliances and replace any necessary wiring and fuses—without electrocuting himself. A roofer would be expected to find where a leak is coming through the roof—without falling through the ceiling or off the roof. A plumber/gasfitter would be expected to fix problems with taps, drains, pipes, cisterns, gas leaks, and blockages—without flooding the property or causing an explosion. All tradesmen would be expected to have the appropriate tools for their trade, conduct themselves professionally, and not overcharge. In respect to tradesmen, we have to exercise faith in their abilities rather than our own—otherwise, we would do the job ourselves.

Now the book of James says, "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:26). This does not necessarily mean that a person has to perform physical acts to prove that he or she has faith. What this means, using the example of the tradesman, is that if there is no actual evidence of workmanship to confirm that he is solid and can be relied upon, we have to accept his bona fides as real and place our faith in him. This is what faith is all about. If the tradesman does a brilliant job and we are truly impressed, our faith may increase to the point of using him again without question—and even recommending him to others.

In similar fashion to what has been described regarding the tradesman, our experience with God will determine the level of faith we possess toward Him. Claiming to have faith in God without actions to support it in truth makes us out to be false witnesses. Some say the proof is in the pudding—or in the eating of the pudding—and if our relationship does not seem real, then we are obviously not in a relationship with our Heavenly Father, having secured this through His Son, Lord Jesus Christ.

Interestingly, the Lexham English Bible says, "Faith is the realization of things hoped for." Now if we have received the Word of Life within our innermost parts, even though we are in union with Christ by virtue of this fact, it could be that we have not repented of our sin with sufficient understanding of what we have done that is unacceptable to God. Our hatred of evil may not be as heartfelt as it needs to be. We might still let the desires for doing what is anathema to God linger in our heart and mind.

For example, political commentator Roger Stone, a known bisexual and swinger, is on record saying that if an opportunity to have sexual relations with someone presents itself, don't decline the offer, for if it is not taken, it doesn't present again—the moment is lost. Roger Stone claims he is now a Christian, having been led to the Lord by Sean Hannity. If Roger finds himself in a situation where a missed opportunity could occur if he declines the offer for sexual relations, he will be tested as to whether he really desires to do what God requires or not. If he declines and then finds his heart and mind still lingering on the possibilities of what could have happened, the issue of repentance comes into question.

I myself have missed out on opportunities to please God because my own heart and mind were lingering in places of what might have been, rather than being focused on doing the will of God. My faith in God was called into question. I know I have missed out on numerous occasions in obtaining what would have been wonderful blessings and testimony to the glory of God. All this because, instead of expressing my faith in God and being faithful in doing so, I have just stepped off to the side of the true and narrow path and found myself in a quagmire rather than staying clean and pristine. Having to front up to another Christian and confess my sin so I can be prayed for is not only embarrassing but also humiliating. I am not talking about going to a confessor who is hidden behind a curtain in a cubicle, who then instructs what penance needs to be performed and how often it needs to be done to pay for the sin. I am talking about face-to-face confession and having another pray for my forgiveness, just as it is written in the Bible, by the half-brother in the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much. (James 5:16)

Doing what James exhorts us to do is an expression of faith towards God. It is by faith that we make our confession to another. It is by faith that we believe the one to whom the confession is made will not cause any ill will for us, irrespective of how evil what we have confessed is perceived to be by others. It is by faith that we believe the prayer of the confessor will be answered. It is by faith the confessor engages in the process of hearing the confession and offering the prayer of healing from sin. The cleansing feeling that accompanies such occasions, to which I myself and numerous others have testified, supports the truth of what is written in the Bible.

There was a time when I found continuing to be obedient to what God had told me to do and attend a certain church too difficult to take. The amount of infighting that was taking place within the congregation over who could make use of the unused church facilities and the lack of compassion towards my wife was hard for me to bear. Eventually, I decided to leave. When the pastor of the congregation demonstrated to me what was nothing but pure hypocrisy of the worst kind, I turned to God and told Him, "From now on I am going to do things my way." Of course, I overlooked my own self-righteous attitude.

Two years later, I was standing before another congregation, having been asked by the pastor of the congregation to share a testimony. When I began to testify, I sensed I needed to confess my sin. I felt like I was being strangled and had difficulty speaking. Tears were flowing freely down my cheeks. The pastor approached me, put his arm around me, and attempted to get me to sit down. I resisted because I knew that if I didn't testify to my sin, I would still be bound. By faith, I made the effort to speak. When I had told the congregation that I had sinned against the Lord, my wife, my family, and the people of God, light came all around me. I felt as if I had a tight straitjacket removed, and I had been set free.

Instead of testifying as the pastor wanted me to testify, I knew I had to own up to my sin. I was going to do good works my own way and not walk in the path God wanted me to walk. Humility is difficult to learn. Yet if we, by faith, accept what God is saying to us, we learn to walk humbly with Him. This is part of the discipline that helps us grow in faith. We need to learn obedience of faith (Romans 1:5; 16:26), if we are going to bring glory to God and have His stamp of approval on our lives.

The issue of faith and healing is largely misunderstood because people don't understand that sin is a violation of relationship. This can be between humans, or humans and God.

Contrary to what people believe, most illnesses are caused by sin. Anger, frustration, hatred, fear, and anxiety cause illness. This is difficult for people to believe because they want to believe that a germ is the cause of their illness. The reality is viruses have never been isolated, They have not been proven to exist or be contagious. 

Bacteria break down decomposing debris, such as food in the digestive tract or tissue that is not receiving sufficient nutrients or oxygen. If bacteria are consumed, our bodies immediately initiate detoxification by vomiting or producing diarrhea until the harmful agents are expelled from the body.

Toxins—such as heavy metals or poisons—are either ingested through fluids or food substances, or they are introduced via a needle, an animal or insect bite (e.g., from a snake, jellyfish, spider, or dragon), or by contact with poisonous substances that penetrate the skin, particularly through a cut or wound. Polluted air containing toxic gases can also be inhaled. However, viruses are not inhaled. All tests performed to verify contagion have returned negative. There are no infectious diseases—unless, of course, you mean fear!

If you read the gospels, you will notice that faith is the criteria for healing. 

1. Matthew 8:13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; be it done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.
2. Matthew 8:2-3 and behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”  And he stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
3. And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” (Matthew 9:2)
4.  Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. (Matthew 9:22)
5. Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” (Matthew 9:29)
6.  Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. (Matthew 15:28)
7.  And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. (Matthew 21:22)
8. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” (Mark 5:34)
9. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5)
10. And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10:52)
11. And when he saw their faith he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” (Luke 5:20)
12. And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:50)
13. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” (Luke 8:48)
14. And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:19)
15. And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 18:42)

People do not get healed because of a lack of faith, which is tied to sin—sin that many people claim they do not have. Yet they may be “covetous” in some way, harbor “doubts,” struggle with “self-righteousness,” or secretly “despise” or “hate” someone—just to mention a few seemingly small things that are sufficient to prevent healing.

Love is not envious, arrogant, jealous, boastful, irritable, resentful, impatient, intolerant, rude, or self-insistent—just a few of the attitudes that prevent faith from being expressed. When we reflect on these attitudes and dispositions of the heart in relation to expressing faith, we can begin to perceive why people remain ill and do not receive healing through prayer.

When reading what Jesus said, we learn that He healed according to a person's faith, or stated that because of their faith, they were made well and their sins were forgiven. What needs to be understood is that sin is the source of separation from God and the cause of illness.

Not every sin is the same, and not every illness corresponds to a specific sin. What surprises many is how upright, religious people—who are considered stalwarts of the church—suffer from illness and remain unhealed despite seeking prayer, while carefree, unreliable individuals who hardly attend church seem to receive healing when they do seek it. Self-righteousness and unforgiveness are often the reason for this discrepancy.

When a person confesses that they have sinned, this requires honesty. When another prays for the one confessing, this requires goodwill.

The account of Abimelek taking Sarah (Abraham’s wife and half-sister) as his wife—and God intervening by warning him that if he touches her, he and his household will die—raises a number of questions about relationships. However, what is evident is that faith plays an important role in the relationships between:

1. Abimelek and Abraham, 
2. Abimelek and Sarah, 
3. Abimelek and God
4. Abraham and Sarah,
5. Abraham and God.

Abraham had little faith that Abimelek would be a friend and refrain from taking Sarah as his wife. Evidently, Sarah was a beautiful woman at 60 years of age (Genesis 12:11–12), when Pharaoh saw her and took her as his wife. From what we can surmise, Sarah was still beautiful nearly 30 years later when Abimelek saw her. I know a 70-year-old woman who retains her beauty without any cosmetic surgery—one would think she was 40. Then there is Annette Larkins, who, at 81 years of age, looks 40.

1. Abimelek by faith accepts Abraham and Sarah's admission that they are not man and wife, but brother and sister. Abraham and Sarah shared the same father but not the same mother (Genesis 20:12). 

2. Sarah became the wife of Abimelek, as an act of faith, probably expecting God to intervene as he did when Pharaoh took her as wife.

3. Abimelek evidently had faith in the Lord God of Creation, for he had an ear to hear the voice of God and, when he heard, he obeyed His instructions.

4. Abraham and Sarah had faith in each other.

5. Abraham had faith that God would deliver him from adversity and keep His promise to him.

Although, when reading the account of Abimelek, Abraham, and Sarah, it is easy to think that this was an overnight event, in fact, it appears to have taken place over a year or more—as no women were getting pregnant or bearing children, which suggests miscarriages may have been occurring. For we read:

"Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelek, and also healed his wife and female slaves so that they bore children. For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelek because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife."

While it is true that Satan has the world in his grip, it is also true that God can intervene at any time He desires. The difference is that Satan, being the Devil, comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), whereas God intervenes according to His righteousness.

In the case of Abimelek, God intervened and warned him that if he touched Sarah, he would be killed along with his household. Abimelek heeded the unexpected dream and made amends with Abraham immediately. The reason God intervened was that Abraham had been chosen by Him as part of the plan to destroy the works of the Devil (1 John 3:8). Not long after this episode, Sarah fell pregnant with Isaac, just as promised.

The Devil does whatever he can to thwart the plan and purpose of God. The cosmic war is very real. Today, the Devil does his best to cause people to doubt that God loves them—in every way possible. As Jesus said to the apostles, if you have faith, you can ask whatever you will, and it will be given to you according to your faith.

Possessing sufficient faith results in faithfulness. Once faith is full and at bursting point, there is no room for doubt. Temptations will come, but they are of no effect because there is no desire for them. Jesus demonstrated that He could not be tempted in the wilderness. He had no desire to promote Himself, even though He was the Son of God, through whom all things exist (Colossians 1:15–17). He had no need for empires—He created the universe. He had not eaten for 40 days and knew that true food, unlike earthly food, endures unto eternal life (1 John 2:15–17). Besides, we are told that temptations mostly come from within (James 1:12–15).

We learn that Abraham grew in faith as he gave glory to God (Romans 4:20). Not all translations make this so clear. Unless highlighted by the Holy Spirit, one may not see what is meant when reading, "Abraham was strong in faith, giving glory to God."

"No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God." (Romans 4:20 - Amplified Bible Classic Edition)

What needs to be understood is that the process of salvation is not a matter of learning skills in the sense of becoming a champion, as one might do to become a tennis player or prizefighter. Skills are to be acquired, but more important is the growth of the Word of Life planted within the individual. The Word is actually a seed of faith—the ability to believe that God loves you and wants the best for you. Faith is closely related to love. In fact, faith derives from love (righteous desire). This is why faith has everything to do with relationships.

As is evident in the above-quoted amplified version of the Bible, what is expressed in Romans 4:20 indicates that much more is being said in this verse than what is found in a number of other versions. Abraham grew strong in faith—how? By giving praise and glory to God. What is not explicitly stated, but must be understood, is that Abraham was giving praise and glory to God for what He had done, not merely because Abraham thought it was a good idea.

God spoke to Abraham and told him to travel to another land. Many people might be excited if they heard from God as Abraham did. Abimelek heard from God and had a conversation with Him too. However, there was a difference between what God spoke to Abraham about and what Abimelek was told. Abraham received the call of God. Abimelek received a warning from God. One was a promise of "pie in the sky," so to speak; the other was a warning of impending judgment and disastrous consequences.

Abraham had to learn to trust God, and his faith needed to grow sufficiently for him to receive the promise and understand that it entailed something greater than anything found on Earth. Jesus said that Abraham saw His day and was glad (John 8:56). The writer of Hebrews explains it this way:

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go.  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:8-10)

There is much more to the story of Abraham than we truly know. What we do know is that Abraham's obedience of faith carried the day. Nevertheless, when we read about Abraham in the book of Genesis, it becomes evident that some time transpired between when God first spoke to him and when he was declared righteous.

The Bible is very clear that the only way we can be righteous before God is through faith. Here are some Scriptures that clearly affirm this truth:

Behold, he whose soul is not upright in him shall fail, but the righteous shall live by his faith. (Habakkuk 2:4)

Now it is evident that no man is justified before God by the law; for “He who through faith is righteous shall live”; (Galatians 3:11)

But my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. (Hebrews 10:38)

For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.”  (Romans 4:3)

And to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness. (Romans 4:5)

For Abraham to believe God without doubt, his faith had to be strengthened. He had to be made strong in faith. This occurred as Abraham gave God the glory for what He had done on his behalf between the time he first heard His voice (Genesis 12:1–3) and when he was declared righteous (Genesis 15:6). We might be able to read those four chapters in a matter of minutes, but they cover a period of years. When Abraham's faith in God had grown to the point that he was absolutely confident God would do as He promised, he was declared righteous.

People may think of faith as merely belief, but without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Abraham pleased God. We learn that Abraham obeyed God's voice, and kept His charge, commandments, statutes, and laws (Genesis 26:3). However, before anyone can express faith toward God, one must first acknowledge that He exists. Interestingly, Abraham saw God as the Judge of all the Earth (Genesis 18:25). Everyone is accountable to God, and from what we have seen, God holds Himself accountable to His Creation. Unlike humans, in order to demonstrate that He is righteous, God must set the standard and keep it; otherwise, He would be unworthy of worship. No one asks to be born. No one asks to die. No one asks to suffer. Therefore, our Creator must provide us with answers as to why we were created, why we suffer, and how He intends to make amends.

So far, we have looked at what God has done for us by dealing with the "depravity" problem—by making available the "imputation" of His righteousness to us as an act of "grace," and appeasing the Devil's demands through the "propitiation" of the body of Jesus of Nazareth, whose death also made "atonement" for the violations of faith that have taken place in our relationship with God—so that "reconciliation" could occur between our Heavenly Father and us. Our response to God's "calling" brings us into "union with Christ," but conscious and meaningful "repentance" is required if we are to express genuine and purposeful "faith" toward God on our road to securing salvation.

Justification

Scripture quotations taken from::

World English Bible (WEB) by Public Domain. The name "World English Bible" is trademarked.

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

RSV (Revised Standard Version of the Bible) copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 Used by permission.

Young's Literal Translation (YLT) by Public Domain

KJV (King James Version)

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