Faith: Defined

What is faith?


These definitions came from dictionary.com.


Faith: confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another'sability.; belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact.; the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise,engagement, etc.: Failure to appear would be breaking faith.; Christian Theology . the trust in God and in His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures by which humans are justified or saved.


What does the bible say about faith?


Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. -Hebrews 11:1 
We live by faith, not by sight. -2 Corinthians 5:7
a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time -Titus 1:2
But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. -Galatians 5:5


These, of course, are just a few verses in the bible that mention faith.  There are many more than those mentioned above. 


So do the definitions from dictionary.com match what the bible says about faith? I think, for the most part, it does match what the bible would define faith as. The definition said faith was not based on proof. The bible says we live by faith and not by sight. It also says we should be certain of what we do not see. Keeping the faith is not easy. Recently, several researchers have found physical and other types of evidence providing proof that parts of the bible happened. Actually, many have said that it takes a leap of faith to not believe that Christ died for us instead of a tiny step to believe that he did. The last definition is right on with what the bible says about faith. We are justified by our faith, not by the law. Thank goodness for that! 


I wanted to also say a little something about the third definition mentioned. It says faith is an obligation of loyalty. I know we are commanded to be loyal to God. We definitely fall short of that, but that has to be part of what faith is. Maybe that is why many of us humans have a hard time with faith. We are to place no person or thing above God. I think we mistakingly do this all of the time. Thank Him for His Grace. It is through faith, not obedience or our works that we are saved because of Christ the son.


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