Understanding Faith: The Foundation of Christian Belief and Trust in God

Faith is an inner conviction or certainty, perceiving as reality what is not yet revealed to our five senses; it is not required for what is real or visible, for if faith depended on visible evidence, it wouldn't be faith.

The Nature of Faith

This belief, assurance, assumption, expectation or trust is based on character and past performance. We use faith in ordinary life, whether depositing money in the bank or boarding a plane, confident it will take us to another destination. Faith is only as good as the object where it is applied.

Fear is reality minus God, while Faith is reality plus God. This profound truth reminds us that faith transforms our perspective on every circumstance, inviting divine presence into every situation we face.

Reality Plus God

Genuine faith begins with a revelation from God and must be anchored to verifiable promises, followed by obedience as the Holy Spirit directs us (Act 27:23-25). It doesn't try to manipulate God, resort to presumption, speculation, superstition, or positive thinking. As faith originates with God, it is grounded in Christ and the Word of God, not human mental gymnastics.

Faith in the Christian Context

Saving faith. "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved…" (Acts 16:30-31). We are justified through faith, a gift of God (Rom 5:1; Eph 2:8-9). No one receives salvation except through faith in Jesus Christ. Christianity is based on a relationship with Christ and confident belief that He has paid the debt for our sin. Other religions rely on works-based salvation, hoping to merit God's favor. The Bible's challenge is, "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith" (2 Cor 13:5). Salvation must be based on accepting Christ's sacrifice, not religious tradition or self-effort.

A life-saving faith goes beyond mental assent to a heart conviction of trust in Christ with a vital, life-transforming relationship. When lived according to truth, it inherits the Kingdom and blessings He has purchased for us.

Doctrinal faith. 'The Christian faith' encompasses the total body of fundamental doctrinal beliefs and truths of Christianity. It is grounded in a Person (Christ) not a philosophy, and is based on the facts regarding the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. It is "…the faith that once for all was entrusted to the saints" (Jud 1:3). Paul encouraged believers to stand firm in their faith (1 Cor 16:13; Col 2:6-7).

Practical daily faith. This is relying on the power of God and the truthfulness of His Word in our everyday living, rather than what we physically see, as we "Live by faith, not by sight...being fully persuaded God has the power to do as He promised" (Rom 1:17, 4:21; 2 Cor 5:7). As a shield, faith provides defence against spiritual enemies and temptation, enabling Christians to resist the devil and overcome 'the world' (Eph 6:16; 1 Pet 5:9; 1 Jn 5:4-5). Paul stated, because Christ lives in me, the life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God (Gal 2:20).

Attributes of Faith

Faith, along with hope and love, is a key ingredient in the Christian life (1 Cor 13:13). "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him…Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Heb 11:1,6). Faith is based on God's character – He is who He says He is, and is continually with us (Ps 46:1; Mt 28:20; 1 Jn 4:8,16).

Without faith it is impossible to truly please Him

Real faith is based on the absolute conviction that God is always willing to fulfill His promises (1 Kgs 8:56; Ps 145:13). He requires we act upon our faith first, then He steps in to fulfill His promise, "You have great faith! Your request is granted" (Mt 15:28). With God nothing is impossible, yet we often restrict Him from working because of our lack of faith (Mt 13:58; Lk 1:37).

The distinctive attribute of faith is action; faith is confessed by acting on it, and it will be tested to be proved genuine (1 Pet 1:6-7). Faith is the means by which we take God's promises and apply them to our situation, even praising God for the answer yet to come (Mt 9:28-30; Lk 1:38). He is totally trustworthy (Num 23:19).

Faith is demonstrated by allowing His teachings to dominate our lives and holding on to His promises despite everything to the contrary (Lk 7:2-10; Heb 11:1; Jas 2:14-26; 1 Jn 3:23). He promises to be with us always, so we must continue to believe He is still there when nothing makes sense (Heb 13:5).

Faith is a 'fruit' of the Spirit at work in our lives, a testimony that God is at work in us (Mt 7:20-21; Gal 5:22). By faith, supported with patience, we will inherit what has been promised (Heb 6:11-12).

Faith advances the cause of Christ as we submit to His leading (Mt 16:19; Act 4:29-31, 6:8, 12:3-11). Our prayers should be faith-filled requests and confident declarations, not weak 'I hope…' statements (Ps 50:23; Mk 11:12-14,20-24; Phil 1:27).

The 'walk of faith' involves receiving the promise, having our faith tested, being strengthened as we persevere, and finally being rewarded (Lk 1:45). Persevering faith requires determination, focuses on the goal and deals with distractions.

When things don't materialize as we prayed and believed they would, don't let this shatter your confidence in God. His plans are greater than we can comprehend, and in time we will recognize His ways are perfect (Deut 32:4).

Faith is vitally linked to salvation, yet it is not something we 'do' to receive new life. We cannot work or buy our salvation (Rom 1:17, 3:28; Eph 2:8-9). It is God's grace, not our faith that saves us, yet He gives us faith to believe and grow more like Jesus. Actions don't make us a Christian, they just show we are (Prov 20:11; Jas 2:14-18). Faith + actions = results, while faith without actions is useless. Faith believes He can do more with my life than I can, so I surrender to His Lordship.

Faith and Works

Faith does not free us from obedience and hard work or exempt us from problems, but gives incentive to walk in His ways, knowing He gives patience to endure and uses life's situations for our good (Act 14:22; Rom 8:28; 2 Thes 1:4-5; 2 Tim 1:12; 1 Pet 1:6-9).

Jesus said "According to your faith be it unto you…Everything is possible to those who believe…Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours…Ask, and it will be yours" (Mt 9:29; Mk 9:23, 11:24; Jn 16:24). These promises are not an open invitation to ask for what is motivated by self-gratification, but as His children we can ask for what is beneficial to serve Christ and advance His Kingdom (Jas 4:2-3).

Faith and Prayer

Jesus also said that before we pray we need to set things right with others, not holding grudges but forgiving as He has forgiven us (Mk 11:25). Faith acts in humility and submits to His will above our own – like Jesus, who prayed, "Everything is possible for you…but I want your will to be done not mine" (Mk 14:36). Faith is not a brash 'name it and claim it' undertaking but involves reaching out in prayer to get God's mind on a matter, if it is an area that doesn't have any promises in the Bible related to it.

Faith and rewards. Christian faith is based upon God's character and His ultimate purposes, not what we can get from Him. Faith in God doesn't ensure continual prosperity, as shown in the life of Job. He experienced major challenges yet maintained his commitment, saying "even if He kill me, yet will I hope in Him" (Job 1:21-22, 2:10, 13:15). He was not following God for what he got back. Is my motive to love Him because of salvation and to trust Him no matter what?

Real Biblical faith is expressing confidence in God even in the storms of life, when we don't understand why bad things happen to good people. Our faith will be tested to see if we truly believe what God has said. Abraham, though he and Sarah were beyond the age to have children, did not waver in his faith regarding God's promise. His faith was strengthened by being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised (Rom 4:19-21). Neither circumstances nor emotions dictated his belief, even though he waited 25 years to see things happen (Gen 15:4-6). Authentic faith is future-oriented, confidently hopes and is certain of the answer, without evidence except God's Word.

Testing of Faith

When our faith starts to falter, we need to turn our attention away from the situation to Jesus, believing He will fulfill His promises even though we don't always see them coming to pass (Mt 14:30; Heb 11:1). Hebrews 11 gives examples of those who exercised faith, some receiving what they desired, others not receiving in this world but being rewarded in heaven (Heb 11:2,39).

Enduring faith. Taking 'a step of faith' or 'walking in faith' is believing when I don't see it, obeying when I don't understand it, persisting when I feel like giving up, thanking before I receive it and trusting even if I don't get it. It is taking Jesus at His Word, cooperating with His agenda, looking to see His power at work, and being sustained through life's challenges (Jn 4:50). It is essential to walk in close relationship with Him, listening to His voice and not arrogantly blundering along in presumption. The Bible warns that if anyone causes another person to lose their faith, they will receive severe punishment (Mt 18:6).

Crisis of faith. This is when a person feels they can no longer serve God and is tempted to turn away from following Christ. Often this is the result of a tragedy or devastating loss and in the bewilderment our vulnerable emotions question 'does God really care' about what we are experiencing. Another reason is when a person slips back and fails in an area that they were gaining victory in and the devil suggests 'why not just give up now'. This is because what we believed or thought should happen did not eventuate. We determined what should happen but God had other plans and we feel let down by Him when things did not materialize as we thought. It is looking at the circumstances and its negative impact on us more than trusting in the Lord. However, when we turned to Christ for salvation, we submitted ourselves to His Lordship, our desires are to be subservient to His plans who works everything out according to His purposes, including for my life (Prov 16:4; Rom 8:28; Eph 1:11). We must understand life does not revolve around us. Job's submissive righteous attitude was, "Even if He [God] kill me, I will trust Him" (Job 13:15). The three Jewish youth when faced with being thrown into the furnace had a similar solid faith when they said, God is able to deliver us, but if not we will still be loyal to Him (Dan 3:17-18). They were living in intimate fellowship with the Lord.

This testing of our faith calls for a choice, to either walk away from God in self-pity, disappointment and disillusion because we were not ministered to, or enter into a new chapter in our lives where our childish illusions of God being there to cater to our wants is replaced by the realization He is the potter, we are merely the clay (Isa 64:8; Jer 18:4). Our relationship with God matures when it becomes established on the true foundation that He is the master, not us. To be victorious in a crisis of faith, we must lay our lives bare before the Lord, with humility and brokenness of heart repent of sin and our perceived rights about what we should experience, surrendering afresh to His will for our lives and ask for His divine fruit to further developed in us (Gal 2:20, 5:22-23).

Choices and Consequences

A faith-promise is a commitment to give a certain sum of money that is not readily on hand.

A defective faith is seriously flawed in some way. This requires urgent attention so the foundation is secure or else whatever is relying on it may collapse with disastrous consequences (Mt 7:24-27).

The Culmination of Faith: Eternity in Heaven

The ultimate destination of our faith is eternity in heaven with God. This present life, with all its trials and opportunities for spiritual growth, is preparation for the eternal glory that awaits those who trust in Christ. Heaven is where faith will give way to sight, where we will see God face to face and know Him fully (1 Cor 13:12; 1 Jn 3:2).

Throughout our earthly journey, we "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor 5:7). The day is coming when our faith will be transformed into glorious reality. Paul could confidently declare, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness" (2 Tim 4:7-8).

This eternal perspective transforms how we view present circumstances. Trials are "light and momentary troubles" achieving "an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Cor 4:17). When we fix our eyes on the eternal reward, life's challenges lose power to shake our confidence in God (Heb 12:2).

In heaven, faith will no longer be necessary as we dwell in God's immediate presence. Partial knowledge through faith will be replaced by complete understanding. John writes, "When Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (1 Jn 3:2). This glorious transformation sustains us through every season.

From Faith to Sight

The culmination of faith is entrance into the fullness of life God has prepared for those who love Him. Jesus promised, "I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me" (Jn 14:2-3). This assured hope anchors our souls.

Until that day, we live as pilgrims with our citizenship in heaven (Phil 3:20; 1 Pet 2:11). Every act of faith and obedience stores up treasure in heaven. Paul reminds us, "Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Cor 15:58).

The faith we exercise now will be vindicated and celebrated in eternity. Those who endure by faith will receive the crown of life God has promised (Jas 1:12). Struggles will be revealed as part of a greater purpose, and God's faithfulness will be displayed in all its glory. We press on, "forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead" (Phil 3:13-14).

Eternal Reward

Reflection and Application:

Examine areas where trust in God might be wavering due to circumstances.
Identify practical ways to demonstrate faith through obedient action.
Consider how personal faith is being tested and strengthened.
Seek opportunities to integrate faith into daily decisions and relationships.