Faith is one of the most beautiful words, but also one of the most abstract and difficult to explain in Christianity. How would you define faith? If you’ve ever asked yourself this question, or drawn a blank when you read it, you’re going to love this article on faith in the Bible.
Definition of faith according to the bible
Faith is a very frequent concept in our Christian lives and we have internalized that faith is one of the fundamental pillars of Christianity.
At Your Online Bible we have wondered if we really know the meaning of this beautiful word, and especially the feeling it refers to. We will look for the answers in the Bible to go to the main sources, although we will also complement the article with the explanation that the Church has been giving us throughout the years.
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Meaning of the word faith
The word faith comes from the Latin “fides” which means fidelity or trust. The Romans represented these values with a goddess of the same name: Fides. Thus, faith has been considered a fundamental value in societies for many years.
Today, two meanings are associated with the nickname. The first is to believe in something and the second, that which we believe in. According to the dictionary, faith is the set of beliefs of a religion; among other meanings. This is why it has a very important weight in Christianity and in all other religions.
But what is faith according to the Bible?
Bible verse about faith
Throughout the pages of the Bible, we find thousands of references to faith. One of the best known and most important is in Hebrews 11:1.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
In this precious verse we find what is surely the best definition of faith in history. Faith is not a belief, it is a certainty. Christians know that God will save us and that thanks to Him we will live happily ever after. Moreover, we do not doubt that Jesus existed and died bearing our sins, as well as all his miracles.
We do not need to see God to know that He exists or to have been born two thousand years before to be certain that Jesus Christ passed through this world as the Holy Scriptures show us. And this is for having faith.
We know that it is often difficult to keep our faith, especially in difficult times. The Bible tells us that faith is strengthened in the Lord and that is why it is important to read the Bible and pray, even if we don’t feel like it. We see this in verses Mark 9:24 and Luke 17:5.
“And immediately the boy’s father cried out and said, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)
“The apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.” (Luke 17:5)
In the same chapter of Hebrews 11, we find another reference to faith in which it is explained to us that God rewards those who have faith and that we should not want to approach God without pure faith. It is easy to fall into the error of thinking that God is a being who is there to grant our wishes and that we don’t have to do anything. Faith makes the difference between people who love God and those who use him.
“But without faith it is impossible to please God; for he that cometh to God must believe that there is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
In Ephesians 2:8-9 Paul of Tarsus tells us how faith is a gift from God and is not something that originates in humans. This imposes differences between divine faith and the faith we may have in other people. Faith in God is something much more special and profound.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
And now that we have seen the different meanings and conclusions we can draw from reading the Bible, we can also ask ourselves, what does it mean to have faith?
As we have said, faith is a gift that God gives us and it is one of his greatest acts of love towards us. He combined that gift with that of giving us his son Jesus so that we might follow him and attain eternal life.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
The power of faith according to the King James Version of the Bible
For the Church, faith is one of the most important he three theological virtues are: faith, hope and charity. These three are virtues that God gives to humanity so that each one of us has them innately, as a seal that the Lord leaves us, thus demonstrating that we are his creation.
The highest institution tells us that Christians should not be characterized by faith but by the objective of faith. Faith should not be our banner, but making a better world around us with love. Faith is an impulse to lead a life in accordance with this and to follow the path that God shows us.
For Christians, faith is more certain than any other human knowledge, since it is based on the word of God and He is the Truth.
Likewise, having faith in God is a voluntary act by the very nature of the word. Although God attributes this gift to us, each human being is free to live according to it or not. Jesus lived inviting people he met to convert to Christianity, but he never forced anyone to do so.
So, this is faith and this is why it is so important in our lives. We should reflect on whether our faith is strong and always pray for it to be so. With faith we can achieve things that our minds cannot imagine, and we must keep this in mind on a daily basis.
We should not be afraid to show our faith to the rest of the world; indeed, our mission as knowers of God’s love is to share it with our fellow citizens so that they may enjoy a full life.
Here ends this Your Online Bible article on the meaning of faith according to the Bible. We invite you to think about everything we have discussed and share it with your loved ones for deeper group reflection. For now we say goodbye until the next article!