Bear in mind that Belief, Trust, and, Faith are interactive, and, are synonymous to a relationship with the *GODHEAD*! We are beginning with human definitions, as derived from historically sound Doctrine, and, lifestyles, and, will go deeper until a FULL understanding of FAITH is established, that it is easier to HAVE total FAITH! Did you know that, depending on the source, FAITH is mentioned up to 600 times in the BIBLE, though, each BIBLE is different, due to interpretation, and, semantics???
This is from WIKIPEDIA , as a starting point:
Faith in Christianity is based in and on the work and teaching of Jesus Christ.[12] In this way Christianity declares not to be distinguished by its faith, but by the object of its faith. Faith is an act of trust or reliance. Rather than being passive, faith leads to an active life of obedience to the one being trusted. It sees the mystery of God and his grace and seeks to know and become obedient to God. To Christians faith is not static but causes one to learn more of God and grow; it has its origin in God.[13] In Christianity faith causes change as it seeks a greater understanding of God. Faith is not fideism or simple obedience to a set of rules or statements.[14] Before the Christian has faith, he must understand in whom and in what he has faith. Without understanding, there cannot be true faith and that understanding is built on the foundation of the community of believers, the scriptures and traditions and on the personal experiences of the believer.[15] In English translations of the New Testament, the word faith generally corresponds to the Greek noun πίστις (pistis) or the Greek verb πιστεύω (pisteuo), meaning "to trust, to have confidence, faithfulness, to be reliable, to assure".[16] Heb 11:1 (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen...
I find this very interesting in correlation to many arguments about FAITH, and, works, as some claim that FAITH in CHRIST is enough, and, while there is Scripture which states this as fact, it is only PART of the whole! In the above illustration of FAITH, we can SEE, clearly, that works MUST accompany FAITH, as it states: Rather than being passive, faith leads to an active life of obedience to the one being trusted. It sees the mystery of God and his grace and seeks to know and become obedient to God. To Christians faith is not static but causes one to learn more of God and grow; it has its origin in God...
Now, from Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Definition of FAITH1/a : allegiance to duty or a person : loyalty b (1) : fidelity to one's promises (2) : sincerity of intentions
2/a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust
3: something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs faith>...
Again, we can see that FAITH requires works by the first definition: allegiance, loyalty, and, fidelity to one's promises! We PROMISED our allegiance, and, fidelity to *GOD* when we were baptized into CHRIST!!!
FAITH begins as an allegiance, then, after time, and, practice, and, understanding, it becomes a way of life! It becomes such a way of life, that the FAITHFUL does NOT have to worry, be anxious, or, wonder, ever in their life, as they, INTRINSICALLY, KNOW that *GOD* PROVIDES all of their needs! In fact, IF one is baptized, to live away from, or, outside of this concept is to live in err, as FAITH IS the connection between the *GODHEAD*, *GOD*/CHRIST/HOLY SPIRIT, and, the SAVED!!!
FAITH to the Christian is different than that of the Abrahamic religions ONLY in that we believe CHRIST is our SAVIOUR! Other than that, FAITH is basic, in that WE ALL believe in *GOD*, and, in *GOD* we TRUST, out of LOVE for HIM, and, regard for HIS existence as preeminent over all! MANY Doctrines believe in CHRIST, but, NOT as the SAVIOUR, instead, as the MESSENGER, or, PROPHET! So, FAITH is NOT divided by beliefs, it is UNIFIED by belief in *GOD*, then, division comes into FAITH via teaching, Doctrines, semantics, perception, and, so forth, however, primarily, FAITH remains undivided through belief in *GOD*!!!
Now, some Christian Doctrines are divided in what comprises FAITH, as some believe FAITH came by the HOLY SPIRIT, which is true when called SAVING FAITH, in the name of CHRIST JESUS, whereas, others believe FAITH existed previously! I KNOW it existed previously, otherwise, there would have been no connection at ALL between *GOD*, and, mankind, PLUS, the Patriarch's were ALL FAITHFUL Men, whom *GOD* superbly empowered BECAUSE of their FAITH! However, a NEW sort of FAITH was borne with CHRIST, that separated the believers, which was due to many factors, mainly, to DIVINE order, but, human factors contributed to, also, such as, when CHRIST was resurrected, those reporting to Pontius Pilate: After the soldiers see three men and a cross miraculously walking out of the tomb they report to Pilate who reiterates his innocence: "I am pure from the blood of the Son of God". He then commands the soldiers not to tell anyone what they have seen so that they would not "fall into the hands of the people of the Jews and be stoned. According to Christian belief, a cover-up, or, lie, has separated humanity from accepting their SAVIOUR, our LORD, JESUS CHRIST, but, not lack of belief in HIM, nor, lack of FAITH in *GOD*!!!
Protestant religions vary in their descriptions of FAITH, as the paedobaptists, and, the baptists, disagree on the extent of knowledge which should accompany FAITH: with paedobaptists asserting that faith means placing one's trust in JESUS CHRIST, according to the measure of understanding granted, and baptists asserting faith means placing one's trust in Jesus Christ with a certain minimal core of understanding being necessary. Thus, there comes human dissension based on FAITH, and, therefore, a breakdown of the POWER of this most empowering component of belief!!!
FAITH is found everywhere! We believe in people, places, things, stories, and, so much more, but, so many have difficulty placing ALL their FAITH in the *GODHEAD*, even though they KNOW that there is, in actuality, NOTHING ELSE prevalent in existence! This is the breeding ground for sin, or, deception, which breeds in the egocentric mind, and, feeds off of the weaknesses of that mind, leaving people to question what IS!!!
IF a person questions *GOD*, then, surely, they are NOT living in FAITH, and, they cannot have it both ways! They can falter, then, IF they repent, and, seek to improve, and, perfect their belief, they will be forgiven, but, they cannot be off, and, on, again, believers! When you come to *GOD*, and, receive CHRIST as your SAVIOUR, FAITH MUST BE BURNISHED as is gold, and, so strong that it can withstand the heat of the fire, which IS the testing of the FAITHFUL, BY *GOD*, that come the end times, the FAITHFUL ARE NOT LOST to the principalities, powers, and, elements of the deceiver who rules the world, and, WILL battle to take any soul he can, that less, and, less, are saved by *GOD*! So, you see, FAITH is not only that we might have a relationship with *GOD*, it is as a FORTRESS surrounding you, that in the end times, you are protected during the MIGHTY war ensuing between *GOD*, and, the wickedness of this world! Something to think about!!!
More to come...
REV. LWINSOR © 2011
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*except for BIBLICAL, and/or, other references*
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