Hello, and welcome. Have you ever asked, what is faith in the Bible? If so, you are asking a very important question. It is a question in the heart of every believer. Our world wants proof for everything. Because of this, faith can seem strange or confusing. But for those who walk with Christ, faith is the foundation of our life with God. It is more than a feeling or a simple wish. It is the spiritual air we breathe.
This article is not a hard study from a scholar. It is a simple talk from one believer to another. We will look at the Bible together. We want to find the beautiful and strong truth about what faith is. We will read the words of the apostles. We will look at the lives of people who lived by faith. This will help us build a definition of faith that comes from God.
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What is Faith According to the Bible’s Most Famous Definition?
When we want to know what the Bible says, we should go to the Bible itself. The Holy Spirit gave us a clear and strong definition of faith. It is in the book of Hebrews. This verse is the key for our whole talk.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)
This one sentence holds so much deep truth. For a long time, believers have thought about these words. They help us understand our trust in God. Let’s look at it closely to see what it means.
Unpacking Hebrews 11:1: The Substance of Things Hoped For
First, the verse says faith is the “substance” of things we hope for. The original Greek word is hypostasis. Long ago, this word was used on legal papers. It was like a title deed to a property. The deed is not the house itself. But it is the legal proof that you own it. It guarantees the house is yours.
So, faith is not just a fuzzy hope or a dream. It is the title deed to God’s promises. Our hope is in things we cannot see yet. We hope for eternal life, the forgiveness of sins, and a new relationship with God. Faith is the proof that these future promises are ours right now. It is as real as holding a deed in your hand.
What Does “The Evidence of Things Not Seen” Truly Mean?
Next, the verse calls faith “the evidence of things not seen.” The Greek word for “evidence” is elenchos. It means a proof that makes you sure of something. It was used when a witness was questioned to find the truth.
This idea is very different from what the world thinks. The world says, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” But God’s Word tells us that believing helps us see. Faith is a spiritual sense. It lets us know that the unseen spiritual world is real. We cannot see God the Father. We cannot see Jesus in heaven. We cannot see the Holy Spirit in our hearts. We cannot see our sins being washed away. But faith is the evidence God gives us. It makes us sure that these spiritual things are more real than the world we see around us.
When Asking What Is Faith in the Bible, Is It Just Believing Something is True?
This is a key question. Many people today think faith is just agreeing that something is true. They might say, “I believe God is real,” or “I believe Jesus was a real person.” But the Bible shows us that this is not enough to be saved.
The Difference Between Believing That God Exists and Believing In God
The book of James makes this very clear.
“You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” – James 2:19 (NKJV)
This verse is very powerful. The demons know the facts about God. They know He is real and powerful. But do they have saving faith? No. Their belief makes them scared, not trusting. They believe that God is real. But they do not believe in God. They do not trust Him, love Him, or follow His will.
This shows us that real faith is more than just knowing facts. It is about a relationship. It means trusting our whole lives to our loving God.
So, What is faith in the Bible if Not Just Mental Assent?
If faith is not just agreeing with facts, what is it? Think about a chair. You can look at a chair and believe it is strong enough to hold you. That is just agreeing with a fact. But you only show faith in the chair when you actually sit in it. You trust it to hold you up.
Biblical faith is like sitting down in God’s promises. It is resting all your weight on what Jesus did on the cross. It is moving from “I believe Jesus can save me” to “I trust only Jesus to be my Savior.” It is a deep, personal trust in Him.
In Understanding What Is Faith in the Bible, Where Does It Come From?
If faith is so important, where do we get it? Do we create it ourselves? Is it from our own smarts or goodness? The Bible is very clear about this, and the truth is a great comfort.
Can We Manufacture Faith on Our Own?
The simple answer is no. We cannot make ourselves have saving faith. By nature, our hearts are not seeking God. The Bible teaches that faith is a gift from God. It comes from His grace.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)
This is a beautiful truth. Even the faith we need to be saved is a gift from our loving Father! He does not wait for us to find enough faith to reach Him. He is merciful and gives us the faith we need. This means we cannot brag about being saved. Our salvation is God’s work from start to finish. He gets all the praise.
How Does Hearing God’s Word Help Us Understand What Is Faith in the Bible?
Faith is a gift. But God uses a special way to give it and make it stronger. That way is His Word.
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” – Romans 10:17 (NKJV)
The Holy Spirit uses God’s Word to give life to our hearts. He builds faith inside us. When we hear the good news about Jesus, it has God’s power. It is not just information. It is a message that creates life. When we read the Bible, we put ourselves in the place where God grows faith. This is why going to church and reading the Bible are so important. They are like a garden where God helps our faith grow.
What is the Object of Our Faith? Who Do We Trust?
Faith itself does not have power. You can have a lot of faith. But if you put your faith in the wrong thing, it is worthless. Think of a weak, broken bridge. You can have great faith that it will hold you. But your faith will not stop the bridge from breaking. The power is not in your faith. The power is in what you put your faith in.
Why Must Faith Have a Specific Object?
This is why Christian faith is not just “faith in faith.” Our faith has a clear and wonderful focus. That focus is the Lord Jesus Christ. How much faith we have is not as important as Who we put it in. Jesus said that faith as small as a mustard seed can do great things (Matthew 17:20). That is because even small faith is powerful when it is placed in our great Savior.
When we ask what is faith in the Bible, we are talking about trust in a person. It is trust in Jesus’s perfect life. It is trust in His death for our sins. And it is trust in His rising from the dead.
Jesus Christ: The Author and Perfecter of Our Faith
The book of Hebrews shows us many heroes of faith in chapter 11. Then, it points us to the final focus of our trust.
“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)
Jesus is the “author and finisher” of our faith. This is a wonderful title. He is the one who starts faith in us. And He is the one who will make it complete. Our journey of faith starts and ends with Him. We do not put our faith in a system or a set of rules. We put our faith in a living Savior who loves us.
How Does Understanding What Is Faith in the Bible Lead to Action?
Some people get confused about this topic. But the Bible is very clear. A real, living faith will always lead to good actions. These actions are not what save us. But they show that we are saved.
Does James Contradict Paul on Faith and Works?
The Apostle Paul says we are saved by faith, not by our actions (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Apostle James says that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). Do they disagree? No, not at all. They are looking at the same truth in different ways.
Think of a tree. Paul is talking about the roots. The roots are underground, so you cannot see them. The root of our salvation is faith in Jesus alone. It connects us to God. James is talking about the fruit on the tree. The fruit (good actions) does not make the tree alive. It is the proof that the tree is alive. If a tree has no fruit, it means the roots are dead.
Paul argues against the idea that we can earn salvation by our actions. James argues against the idea that we can believe and not change how we live. True faith, the kind we seek when asking what is faith in the Bible, will always change a person’s life.
What Do “Dead Faith” and “Living Faith” Look Like?
Hebrews chapter 11 shows us many examples of living faith.
- By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice.
- By faith Noah, being divinely warned… prepared an ark.
- By faith Abraham obeyed and left his home to go to a new land.
In each story, their trust in God made them act. Their actions came from what they believed in their hearts. Learning what is faith in the Bible shows us that it is an active trust. A faith that does not lead to a changed life is a “dead” faith. It is just agreeing with facts, like the demons do. It has no life in it.
How Does Faith Affect a Christian’s Daily Life?
Faith is not just for the moment we are saved. It is how we should live our whole Christian life. It touches every part of our day.
How Do We Live by Faith, Not by Sight?
The Apostle Paul tells us how to live as Christians:
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” – 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)
Living by sight means you only trust what you can see and feel. You make choices based on your own plans. You trust in your money or your health. Living by faith means you make choices based on God’s promises. You do this even when your problems seem very big.
It means trusting God is working for your good (Romans 8:28) even when you are in pain. It means obeying God even when it seems strange to the world. It means choosing to forgive when you feel hurt. It is a choice we make every day to trust God’s view over our own. Understanding this is key to Christian living. For more study, Dallas Theological Seminary has good resources on its website.
What Is the Role of Faith in Prayer When We Consider What Is Faith in the Bible?
Faith is the power behind our prayers. We can come to God with confidence.
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)
This boldness does not come from us. It comes from faith in Jesus, our great High Priest. Faith in prayer is not about trying to make God give you things. It is about trusting that He is good. It is knowing He hears you and has a perfect plan. It lets us share our hearts with Him. We can trust Him to answer in the best way for us and for His glory.
What Are Some Common Misconceptions About Biblical Faith?
Faith is very important. So, it is not a surprise that people have wrong ideas about it. Knowing the truth can help us avoid mistakes.
If I Have Doubts, Does That Mean I Don’t Have Faith?
Many good Christians worry about this. We all have times of doubt. We might wonder if our faith is real. But having doubts does not mean you have no faith.
Look at the people in the Bible. John the Baptist had doubts while he was in prison (Matthew 11:3). The disciples often had weak faith. One of the most honest prayers in the Bible came from a father who needed help. He said to Jesus:
“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” – Mark 9:24 (NKJV)
This is the prayer of a real, struggling faith. Faith does not mean you have no questions or doubts. Faith is about where you go with your questions. Do you turn away from God, or do you turn to Him for help? A faith that struggles is a faith that is alive. This is a key part of understanding what is faith in the Bible; it is not a perfect, doubt-free state.
What Is Faith in the Bible for A Final, Heartfelt Thought
My dear friend, understanding what is faith in the Bible is about knowing a Person. It is a sure trust in who Jesus is, what He promised, and what He did for us.
It is a gift from God. It is awakened by His Word. It helps us see the unseen world. It helps us hold on to what lasts forever. It is a living trust that changes us from the inside out. It leads to a life of loving and obeying God.
If you do not have this faith, please ask God for it today. Cry out to Him, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” He is a loving Father. He loves to give good gifts to His children. If you have this faith, I pray you will help it grow. Read His Word. Meet with other believers. And look to Jesus every day. He is the one who starts and finishes your faith. In Him, our faith is safe and has a purpose forever.
FAQ – What Is Faith in the Bible
Where does biblical faith originate from, and can we create it ourselves?
Biblical faith is a gift from God and cannot be manufactured by ourselves. It is given by His grace, and even the faith needed for salvation is a gift that God provides, not something we earn or develop on our own.
Is biblical faith just believing that God exists, or is there more to it?
Biblical faith goes beyond recognizing that God exists; it involves trusting and trusting in Him personally, placing your life in His hands, and believing in His promises, which leads to a relationship and action based on that trust.
How does faith serve as ‘evidence’ of unseen spiritual realities?
Faith acts as evidence because it provides certainty and reassurance of spiritual truths that are not visible, such as God’s existence, Jesus’ salvation, and our sins being washed away, making spiritual realities more real to us than the physical world.
What is the most famous biblical definition of faith according to Hebrews?
The most famous biblical definition of faith according to Hebrews 11:1 is that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen, meaning it is the proof and assurance of spiritual promises that are yet to be visible.
What does Hebrews 11:1 mean when it says faith is the ‘substance’ of things hoped for?
Hebrews 11:1 explains that faith is the ‘substance,’ or the legal proof, of what we hope for, similar to a deed that guarantees ownership. It signifies that faith is the confident assurance that God’s promises are ours, even if we do not see them physically yet.
