Faith in God

What does the Bible teach about faith in God? Many people believe that faith is something superstitious or unfounded, a belief in something improvable. Perhaps the phrase “a blind leap of faith” comes to mind when discussing faith. The Bible teaches something altogether different about faith, for faith is never defined as a “blind leap” into the unknown.

The Hebrew writer says “Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen” Hebrews 11:1. The word ‘assurance’ as defined by Thayer’s Greek Dictionary means “that which has foundation, is firm, or that which has actual existence”. The Hebrew writer demonstrates that faith is a substance based upon “actual existence”, a substance having a firm foundation. Likewise, the word ‘conviction’ means “a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested”. Therefore, Faith is not believing in something unfounded or improvable. Faith is knowing by a firm foundation of undeniable proof that God and all His wonderful works, His redeeming Son, His precious promises, and His commands to us, are actually in existence.

Where does faith come from? Paul told the Romans “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” Romans 10:17. This firm foundation of proof comes to us when we hear the word of God. Each time we open our Bibles and study God’s word we increase our faith and make it even stronger. Paul told Timothy “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” 2 Timothy 2:15. Because “faith comes by hearing”, and we are told to “study to show ‘ourselves’ approved unto God”, we clearly see the need for proper Bible study. The person who truly knows God’s word has a firm foundation upon which to stand in times of trial or temptation. This foundation can keep us from doing the things we know are not approved by God.

Jesus shows the vital need for hearing his faith producing words and acting upon them. Jesus said, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it” Matthew 7:24, 26-27. Jesus’ words, when they are obeyed, create under us a firm rock upon which to stand. Jesus’ words, when we hear them and obey them, create the faith in God that we so vitally need. Jesus’ word, when disregarded, destroys our foundation and results in our falling away from God.

Only through study of Jesus’ word will faith be produced in our hearts, a faith both sure and steadfast grounded in the Gospel (Col. 1.23).