What Does Faith Mean in the Bible?

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Learn about spiritual faith and how to build it in your life
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You’ve probably heard the word “faith” at church or in everyday conversation. But what does it mean exactly? In Christianity, faith describes an unwavering trust in the Lord. This means you believe in God’s power without actually seeing it in action. Keep reading to learn more about spiritual faith, where you might see it in the Bible, and how to cultivate it.

Things You Should Know

  • Faith is the act of trusting the Lord no matter what.
  • In the Bible, faith is described as “the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).
  • To be a more faithful Christian, follow the 10 commandments, be kind, and pray to the Lord.
Section 1 of 3:

What is faith?

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  1. Faith is the act of having great trust or confidence in someone or something. [1] Religiously, this refers to a belief and unwavering trust in the Lord. For instance, when someone has faith, they believe and trust God’s word and love for them. [2]

    They don’t need proof of God’s power—they believe it’s there no matter what. As Hebrews 11:1 states, “Now faith is the confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” [3] Think of spiritual or biblical faith as swinging on a rope and jumping into a body of water. Faith is letting go of the rope and trusting that you’ll land in the water, whether that’s by God or another divine power’s hand.The term “faith” appears in the Bible around 460 times and is often used to describe instances when God Himself can’t be seen:
    • “For we live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). [4]
    • “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17). [5]
    • “Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:20-21). [6]
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Section 2 of 3:

How Can You Be Faithful

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  1. Faithfulness in religion is an unwavering loyalty to the Lord and His rulings. To be faithful as a Christian is to trust and love Him no matter the circumstances, just as He trusts and loves you. [7] So, how do you do that? Follow these tips to be a more faithful person of God:
    • Follow the 10 commandments, even when it’s difficult.
    • Love your neighbors and express kindness always.
    • Think well of others instead of assuming the worst.
    • Resist temptations . [8]
    • Strengthen your relationship with God by praying and obeying His commands. [9]
Section 3 of 3:

Faith vs. Hope vs. Belief

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  1. When you have faith, you have trust in the present moment; when you have hope, you trust what’s to come. Faith and hope work together to preserve trust in the Lord; as Hebrews 11:1 explains, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” [10]
  2. While faith and belief can go hand in hand, they’re not the same thing. Faith is having steadfast and unconditional trust in someone or something without knowing if it’s real or not. Meanwhile, belief is the knowledge that someone or something is real. [11]
    • In Christianity, a strong belief doesn’t necessarily constitute faith; as James 2:19 says, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” [12] You can believe in God, but if you don’t trust and follow His word unconditionally, you likely don’t have faith.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How can I have faith if I haven't seen Jesus?
    Cameron Diamond
    Theology Expert
    Cameron Diamond is a Christian Theology Expert based in Jonesville, Florida. With 16 years of experience in the Christian ministry, Cameron has held various ministry positions and is currently a Pastor and Worship Leader at Jonesville Baptist Church. He has served as a Pastor for students for 10 years. He hosts a Christian faith podcast called Innerlight Discipleship. He is an Outpost Director for Stand to Reason, an apologetics ministry that encourages discipleship and relational evangelism through Socratic reason. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida. He has an MA in Christian Studies and a BA in Music from the Baptist College of Florida. Currently, he is pursuing his Doctorate of Ministry in Theologies and Apologetics from Liberty University.
    Cameron Diamond
    Theology Expert
    Expert Answer
    So for Christians today, faith is not blind belief but stems from substantial testimony, historical evidence, and philosophical reasoning. Although we may not have seen Jesus as Peter, James, and John did, we have enough evidence to conclude that the Bible's claims are credible. This just means that the Bible's assertions can be both verified and falsified, but we can examine historical records, use reason and logic, and scrutinize the evidence. My faith stems from my personal relationship with God and the ability to investigate and confirm biblical truths. Through historical examination and personal experience, I find confidence in my beliefs. Faith is not just a feeling but a reasoned trust based on evidence and a personal relationship with God.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/faith
      2. ↑ https://www.lwf.org/fruit-of-the-spirit/what-does-it-mean-to-be-faithful
      3. ↑ https://www.gcu.edu/blog/spiritual-life/weekly-devotional-fruit-spirit-faithfulness
      4. ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+5%3A7&version=NIV
      5. ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+10%3A17&version=NIV
      6. ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans+4%3A20-21&version=NIV
      7. ↑ https://www.lwf.org/fruit-of-the-spirit/what-does-it-mean-to-be-faithful
      8. ↑ https://www.worldchallenge.org/how-be-faithful-god
      9. ↑ https://www.gcu.edu/blog/spiritual-life/weekly-devotional-fruit-spirit-faithfulness
      1. ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=hebrews+11%3A1&version=NIV
      2. ↑ https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/belief
      3. ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A19&version=NIV

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