Where Is Your Faith?
Perhaps a better question is “In whom is your faith?” This is asked in this way because faith by definition is: complete trust or confidence in someone or something: Synonyms are: trust, belief, confidence, conviction, credence, reliance, dependence, optimism, hopefulness, or expectation. We all trust in someone or something. Everyone has ‘some kind’ of belief, even though not all ‘beliefs’ line up with other’s beliefs. The fact that they don’t align should indicate that some of that faith is faulty, and some beliefs are wrong. The problem with beliefs not aligning is that not all beliefs are based on truth. Jno. 17:17 tells us God’s Word is truth. Some tend to base their beliefs on feelings, previous teaching, or on some other stimuli. This is obvious because folks’ beliefs change over time as situations change or as one gains a better understanding of things. This is why Christians are to study and meditate on God’s Word, rightly divide it (handle it aright) so a proper understanding is gained. Sadly, not all men have Bible faith. We see this in 2Thess. 1-3. Here, Paul is asking the church in Thessalonica, for prayers that the Word of God, as it was being preached and taught, not be hindered. All Christians should ask this in prayer. We should also ask for strength as Paul requested that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. Of course, that prayer is one asked ‘in faith’ as is indicated in the 3rd verse - But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. This is done through His Word.
This goes right along with Jas 1:5-6 in the child of God praying to God for wisdom. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Verse 8 enforces this as it describes one who prays without faith – ‘unstable in all his ways.’.
Because God’s Word is His direction to His children, one should consult the Bible for God’s definition of faith. Heb. 11:1 gives us the inspired meaning of Bible faith. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The entire eleventh chapter speaks of faith, and provides a lengthy listing of examples, beginning with an ‘understanding’ of the origin of our world. It’s obvious that some don’t believe this as they put forth that the world is millions of years old and came into being with a “big bang”. The chapter also has an inventory of individuals who possessed faith. This list also reports what these folks did because of their belief in God and in what He directed. We are also told in Heb. 11:6 that one cannot be pleasing to God unless we possess Bible faith. Notice the verbiage. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Perhaps it would help to identify the origin of Bible faith. We are told in Rom. 10:17 that God’s Communication to mankind (His Word) is how one is to obtain and maintain true faith. Does it not stand to reason that if one cannot please God without faith, He would provide the source of true faith? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. It is God’s Word alone that provides the information whereby we may believe. Earlier, we provided the inspired definition of faith, which includes “things hoped for”. For what do we hope? The answer is simple. It is the things in which we believe. The previous passage also tells us faith is the evidence of things not seen. This has to be something beyond this sphere and realm in which we live, as these things are indeed seen. We ‘hope’ to spend eternity in heaven with God (at least we should).
In Rom. 8:24-25, as the Spirit has Paul write, we can see that our salvation is embedded in our hope, which must be based on faith. Clearly, upon reading this passage we can see that it is our faith that carries us forward until we are to receive that eternal home. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 8 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Since we have learned that Bible faith comes from God’s Word, and also that faith is required to be pleasing to God, does it not make sense that God’s Word must be consulted to ensure that our faith is sound and leads to the desired end?
We are told in 2Pet. 1:3 that God has supplied all information, instruction, and direction needed to endure this life, as well as what is needed to prepare for eternity. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Why would anyone have faith in anyone or anything else? To blindly follow anyone or anything else is to be led astray. The next verse tells us the great things promised by God. Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Titus 1:2 tells us how sure these promises are. In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; Why would anyone trust any besides God and His Word? Where is your faith? Is what you believe what God has said, or what man has taught that God has said? Think about it! Then investigate God’s Word for yourself and obey it.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
