What is the Biblical Definition of Faith?

The shield of faith described by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesian Christians is of paramount importance because it is the grace “with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Ephesians 6:16). This is not an uncertain promise. Rather, it is divine assurance that faith equips us to escape the very extremities of evil. But what is faith?

First, the Bible defines faith as “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Thus, biblical faith is a channel of living trust—an assurance—that stretches from man to God. As such, it is the object of faith that renders faith faithful.

Furthermore, faith is the assurance that God’s promises will never fail, even if sometimes we do not experience their fulfillment during our mortal existence. Hebrews 11 underscores the fact that we trust God to fulfill His promises for the future (the unseen) based on what He has already fulfilled in the past. Thus, our faith is not blind, but based squarely on God’s revelation and proven faithfulness.

Finally, faith is not to be confused with mere knowledge. Genuine faith is a way of life. It is not static but energetic. By God’s mercy, we are energized “to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). For “as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26).

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
James 2:14–17 nkjv
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[Troy-Moses]

1:35 <--"And thus, our faith is not blind, but based squarely on God's revelation and proven faithfulness." Amen.

[johnathanlewis]

Substance of things hoped for
Evidence of things not seen
I can’t see God but I still believe

[arinzeegbuna]

Thank you for sharing. I have a question with regards to faith for healing. If one has an illness and has faith in God for healing. Will going to see a doctor be the work for his/her faith or will seeing a doctor imply that faith in God is weak?

[a.k.]

Man is not justified before God because his faith produced works, rather he is justified before God when he has _the kind of faith_ that produces works. As men, we must refer to works as evidence of faith, but God has no such limitation. He sees the heart, which is why Jesus can tell the "good thief" that he will be in paradise with Him despite the fact that the "good thief" had a "dead faith" that had produced no works.

[t-bonet-bone]

To CRI: Did Jesus have faith? Being God and man.

[dude_]

First off, accept you are a sinner and ask Him to free you from that sin. Ask Him to be your personal savior and trust that He will help combat your sinful nature. Repent (ask for forgiveness) but also strive to stop the sinful behavior. Read the Bible as it will help you understand and receive God’s word. After that, pray and talk to God. All of these are things all must do to become saved.