What is Faith?

QUESTION: What is Faith?

ANSWER:

What is faith? The writer of Hebrews gives us the biblical definition of faith by stating in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Also, faith is a preresiquite for hope and love, “Now these three remain-faith, hope, and love… (1 Corinthians 13:13). So in a sense, faith is belief in something and a requirement to possess other things.

So, what must one believe in order to have biblical faith. The second half of Luke 6:45 says, “…For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Thus, when Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Thus, being saved is synonymous with having faith.

Faith is hard and does not come easily. Just like the muscles of the body, faith must be exercised to grow. You may go one inch the first day, two inches the second day, three inches the third, etc. Just like with any other activity into which you are growing, faith must be exercised every day.

As Jesus said in Matt 17:20 “…if you faith as small as mustard seed…” you can accomplish amazing things for God. The mustard seed needs to watered each day for it to grow. Seemingly, nothing happens for a very long time, but one day the seed bursts into the biggest tree in the garden.