Chapter 2. What is faith?
We use the word “Faith” in a few different contexts; the nuances of the definition depend on how the word is used. For example, we speak of “The faith,” as a reference to the set of Christian beliefs. Sometimes, we use the word to denote denominations within the scope of Christianity. Faithful can be used as a synonym for marital fidelity. And sometimes, faith is used to define an emotion of confidence – as in, “I have faith that his check will be good.” This last meaning – confidence – at least comes close to how the word is used most often in the Bible.
This book is not about those other definitions. It is about that often unexplainable confidence that something specific will happen in spite of observable circumstances. The faith that I am writing about is not dependent on a specific denomination, or even on a Christian belief system. But more on that later.
Faith is, of course, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It says so right here in Hebrews 11:1. But I have often wondered, what is faith? Is it a liquid, solid, or a gas? Is Faith measured by the quart, by the pound, or by the cubic centimeter?
Not knowing how it is measured does not make it un-measurable. The first reference to faith in the New Testament includes the modifier “little” (Mat. 6:30). The very next use of the word is a reference to “great” faith (Mat. 8:10). Clearly, if faith can be little or great, then faith can be quantified.
More is better.
In so many areas of life, we automatically assume that more is better. Faith is one of those areas where it really is true.
Look at some of the words of Jesus as he dealt with quantities of faith:
Mat 8:26 - And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?
Mat 8:10 - When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Mat 14:31- And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Notice the tone. When Jesus speaks of little faith, there is a hint of disappointment in his voice. When He speaks of great faith, his tone is approving.
In fact, there are even a few verses that command faith:
Mark 11:22 - And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
From these and other verses, it occurs to me that we ought to have faith in God, and that the more faith we have, the more God is pleased.
Perhaps I am guilty of stating the obvious, because churches have long exhorted us to have faith. Most of us already know that faith is a good thing, and that we need more of it. Knowing that we need more faith is like knowing that we need to eat healthy, or that we need more exercise. Knowing that we need more faith is a start, but knowing does not get it done.
Where does faith come from?
In the first place, we are given a little bit of faith to get us started. Paul writes in Romans 12:3 that “…God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Ironically, God wants it back. Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please Him. Part of our stewardship, therefore, is that we are in charge of taking care of a quantity of this substance for Him.
God has given this measure of faith to every human. Most people manage to retain some quantity of faith, but Paul notes that there are some who have no faith. In 2 Thess. 3:2, Paul requests prayer “… that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men for all men have not faith.” If not all men have faith, some of them must have lost that measure that God gave them in the first place.
So not only does faith come from God initially, it is clear that there are some things that people can do to reduce the quantity of faith that they possess. Since the Bible notes that some people have great faith and some have little faith, there must be a way to gain more of it after receiving that initial measure that is dealt out equally – one measure to everyone.
We use the word “Faith” in a few different contexts; the nuances of the definition depend on how the word is used. For example, we speak of “The faith,” as a reference to the set of Christian beliefs. Sometimes, we use the word to denote denominations within the scope of Christianity. Faithful can be used as a synonym for marital fidelity. And sometimes, faith is used to define an emotion of confidence – as in, “I have faith that his check will be good.” This last meaning – confidence – at least comes close to how the word is used most often in the Bible.
This book is not about those other definitions. It is about that often unexplainable confidence that something specific will happen in spite of observable circumstances. The faith that I am writing about is not dependent on a specific denomination, or even on a Christian belief system. But more on that later.
Faith is, of course, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It says so right here in Hebrews 11:1. But I have often wondered, what is faith? Is it a liquid, solid, or a gas? Is Faith measured by the quart, by the pound, or by the cubic centimeter?
Not knowing how it is measured does not make it un-measurable. The first reference to faith in the New Testament includes the modifier “little” (Mat. 6:30). The very next use of the word is a reference to “great” faith (Mat. 8:10). Clearly, if faith can be little or great, then faith can be quantified.
More is better.
In so many areas of life, we automatically assume that more is better. Faith is one of those areas where it really is true.
Look at some of the words of Jesus as he dealt with quantities of faith:
Mat 8:26 - And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?
Mat 8:10 - When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Mat 14:31- And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Notice the tone. When Jesus speaks of little faith, there is a hint of disappointment in his voice. When He speaks of great faith, his tone is approving.
In fact, there are even a few verses that command faith:
Mark 11:22 - And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
From these and other verses, it occurs to me that we ought to have faith in God, and that the more faith we have, the more God is pleased.
Perhaps I am guilty of stating the obvious, because churches have long exhorted us to have faith. Most of us already know that faith is a good thing, and that we need more of it. Knowing that we need more faith is like knowing that we need to eat healthy, or that we need more exercise. Knowing that we need more faith is a start, but knowing does not get it done.
Where does faith come from?
In the first place, we are given a little bit of faith to get us started. Paul writes in Romans 12:3 that “…God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Ironically, God wants it back. Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please Him. Part of our stewardship, therefore, is that we are in charge of taking care of a quantity of this substance for Him.
God has given this measure of faith to every human. Most people manage to retain some quantity of faith, but Paul notes that there are some who have no faith. In 2 Thess. 3:2, Paul requests prayer “… that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men for all men have not faith.” If not all men have faith, some of them must have lost that measure that God gave them in the first place.
So not only does faith come from God initially, it is clear that there are some things that people can do to reduce the quantity of faith that they possess. Since the Bible notes that some people have great faith and some have little faith, there must be a way to gain more of it after receiving that initial measure that is dealt out equally – one measure to everyone.
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