Faith

What is faith?

To answer this question, it's important to understand that the Bible has been translated from other languages. So when verses such as, “the just shall live by faith”, are read, and someone asks, “what does that mean?” they are really asking what the untranslated words mean (Hebrews 10:38).Hebrews 10:38XWaiting for response This is the same with the word faith. When we ask the question “what is faith?”, we are really asking “what does the untranslated word for faith mean?”.

The answer begins forming in the study of this verse:

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.

Hebrews 11:6Hebrews 11:6XWaiting for response KJV

The transliterated word for faith in this verse is pistis. The transliterated word for believe in this verse is pisteo - the verb for pistis. There is no English verb for faith, so the translators use an equivalent word: believe. What is the noun for believe? Belief. Therefore, the word faith means something very similar to the word belief. Reading the verse again, it suddenly makes a lot more sense.

Without faith [belief] 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.

Hebrews 11:6Hebrews 11:6XWaiting for response KJV

So we see that faith (or pistis) is similar to the word belief and we begin to understand what it means.

Looking at another verse, we see the picture more perfectly.

Now faith [pistis] is the substance [foundation] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1Hebrews 11:1XWaiting for response KJV

You cannot hope for something if you don’t believe it is possible. Hope is built on believing that something is possible. But it's more than that - it's based on evidence. People today think that faith is belief when there is no evidence for something, but this verse shows it is the exact opposite! Faith is the foundation of things hoped for, it is the evidence of things not seen.

When the books of the New Testament were written perhaps the writers had seen Jesus Christ doing miracles but still had to believe what he was saying: that he is the Son of God (Matthew 16:15-16,Matthew 16:15-16XWaiting for response John 6:69,John 6:69XWaiting for response John 11:25-27).John 11:25-27XWaiting for response We, however, have not seen him but still have to believe him. We have to believe in Christ because of the evidence. On top of this, we can have hope.

Continuing reading the same chapter as quoted above, Hebrews 11, we see the complete picture of what faith is. In this chapter, we see many examples of people with faith. In every one, they did action by their faith. For example:

By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to enjoy sin's fleeting pleasure. He regarded abuse suffered for Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on the reward.

Hebrews 11:24-26Hebrews 11:24-26XWaiting for response NET

Collecting all this together, we see that faith / pistis is the action one takes because of their belief in the evidence.

I believe that; Christ walked the earth; did everything that the Bible says that he did; and everything in the Bible about him is true because of the many infallible proofs in the Bible and everywhere. On top of this, I do action because of this belief. Therefore, I have faith.

The task is still the same today as it has always been since creation. It has been the same for Abraham and the fathers of Israel, the same for Moses and the people of Israel when they entered the land, the same for Jesus as he walked the earth, and the same for Jesus' apostles and disciples. We have to believe God and take action because of that belief. The people who do this will be saved by God, through Jesus.

The importance of faith

Faith is vital for salvation, just as Jesus said:

Whosoever believeth [pisteo] in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth [pisteo] in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:15-16John 3:15-16XWaiting for response KJV

Faith is built on the knowledge of the Bible, the word of God.

From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith [pistis] which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:152 Timothy 3:15XWaiting for response KJV

Therefore it is vital to understand the holy scriptures, the Holy Bible.

Hebrews 11 has many examples of faith, but I encourage you to start a few verses before at Hebrews 10:38Hebrews 10:38XWaiting for response as the chapter break takes away from the flow.

Now the just shall live by faith [pistis]: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe [pistis] to the saving of the soul.

Hebrews 10:38-39Hebrews 10:38-39XWaiting for response KJV

From all of this, we can understand the most important element of faith - that without it, one cannot please God. Considering that we are here for the good pleasure of God’s will, if we cannot please God, then there is no purpose for our existence (Ephesians 1:5,Ephesians 1:5XWaiting for response Hebrews 11:6,Hebrews 11:6XWaiting for response Habakkuk 2:4).Habakkuk 2:4XWaiting for response

So, we see the importance of faith.

Further reading

A man is healed according to his faith

And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe [pisteo] ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith [pistis] be it unto you. And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

Matthew 9:27-30Matthew 9:27-30XWaiting for response KJV

The opposite of faith

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless [the opposite to pistis - apistos], but believing [pisteo].

John 20:27John 20:27XWaiting for response KJV

Only when faith includes works, is it true faith

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

James 2:20-26James 2:20-26XWaiting for response KJV

With true faith, one is saved

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth [pisteo] on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. [30] I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

John 5:24,30John 5:24,30XWaiting for response KJV

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth [pisteo] on me shall never thirst. [40] And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth [pisteo] on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:35,40John 6:35,40XWaiting for response KJV

Believing Jesus' words is believing God's words

Jesus cried and said, He that believeth [pisteo] on me, believeth [pisteo] not on me, but on him that sent me. And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth [pisteo] on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe [pisteo] not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

John 12:44-50John 12:44-50XWaiting for response KJV

Our entire objective is to have faith

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe [pisteo] on him whom he hath sent.

John 6:29John 6:29XWaiting for response KJV

Jesus is recorded wondering if there will be faith found when he returns

When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith [pistis] on the earth?

Luke 18:8Luke 18:8XWaiting for response KJV