What is faith? Even among unbelievers, faith is often discussed when life’s trials come. Biblically speaking, it is simply believing God and taking Him at His Word. However, if you ask this question to different people, you will receive many different answers. Someone’s definition of faith usually reveals what that person believes about God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and salvation. In religious circles, for example, you may hear a story like this: “At a church meeting a very wealthy man rose to tell the rest of those present about his Christian faith.
“ ‘I’m a millionaire,’ he said, ‘and I attribute it all to the rich blessings of God in my life. I remember that turning point in my faith. I had just earned my first dollar and I went to a church meeting that night. The speaker was a missionary who told about his work. I knew that I only had a dollar bill and had to either give it all to God’s work or nothing at all. So at that moment I decided to give my whole dollar to God. I believe that God blessed that decision, and that is why I am a rich man today.’
He finished and there was an awed silence at his testimony as he moved toward his seat. As he sat down a little old lady sitting in the same pew leaned over and said to him: ‘I dare you to do it again.’ ”1
The World’s Definition of Faith
Sad to say, that’s how many think faith works—give something to God, and He’ll pay you back. This idea comes from God’s “if-then” relationship with the nation of Israel under the law of Moses (Lev. 26; Deut. 28).
Still others have misplaced faith. For example, faith in evolution, believing it to be true, or faith in humanity, believing mankind will solve all problems without God.
However, those are fragile and false hopes that collapse under scrutiny when examined in light of the Word of God. Sometimes when hard times or tragedy come about, you’ll hear well-meaning people say, “Everything will work out for good.” They simply have “faith” that everything will work out for the best. The problem with that statement? It’s undefined and vague, not rooted in anything of substance. In news programs, sometimes you’ll hear the anchor say, “He’s a man of faith,” or “She’s a woman of faith.” Again, another undefined and vague statement, meaning that individual is religious but not necessarily a believer.
On a less serious note, I may say, “I have faith that the Chicago Cubs will win the World Series this year!” Does that mean they WILL win the World Series? Of course not. In fact, most years they won’t! I can believe it all I want, but my “faith” is obviously misplaced. All these examples show the problem with the world’s definition of faith. Not only is it undefined and vague, but faith is treated as a feeling, a blind leap, a positive attitude, a generic spirituality, or a wish that things be true. Worldly faith is belief without a promise, and that’s foolishness according to the Word of God. The Apostle Paul wrote to the saints in Corinth, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1 Cor. 3:19a).
Faith in the Bible
In God’s Word, faith is written of in three primary ways. First, Paul writes about “the faith” or body of doctrine for the dispensation of grace (Eph. 3:1-12 cf. Rom. 16:25-26). He told Timothy to hold “the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience” (1 Tim. 3:9). Paul had done this throughout his ministry and by the end of his life he could say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7).
Second, Paul also wrote about “the faith of God” or His faithfulness. Romans 3:3 says, “For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?” Also, 1 Corinthians 1:9 begins by simply saying, “God is faithful.” These two passages, as well as many others in Scripture, speak of the faithfulness of God and of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (see also Deut. 7:9; Psa. 36:5; 89:8; Lam. 3:22-23; Rom. 3:22; Gal. 2:16; 1 Thes. 5:24; 2 Thes. 3:3). It is abundantly clear throughout the Bible that God is faithful. He can be believed; He can be trusted!
Third, the Bible also speaks of “our faith” (1 John 5:4) or “faith in” Christ (Gal. 3:26). In the Gospels, the Lord Jesus Christ said to His apostles, after Peter reminded Him of the fig tree He cursed, “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). The Lord also told a blind man, “Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee” (Luke 18:42). It’s clear that faith was required, but always remember, under the prophetic program, faith had to be expressed, such as confessing Jesus as the Messiah, believing in the name of the Son of God, doing the works of the law, and being water baptized (Matt. 16:16; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38).
Paul, in his letters, also wrote about “faith in” Christ. He explained to the church at Rome that God set forth the Lord Jesus Christ as a full payment for our sins and we’re saved “through faith in His blood… To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Rom. 3:25-26). He told the saints in Ephesus, “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus” (Eph. 1:15), and the believers in Galatia, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:26). The believer today must have “faith in” Christ to be saved, but it’s only possible because of His faithfulness to us!
Faith in the Prophetic Program
Abraham is considered to be one of the greatest examples of faith in the Scriptures. The reason is that he is used by both Paul and James as an example. After Paul wrote, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Rom. 3:28), he went on to explain how Abraham was justified by faith only, apart from works (4:2-3,17-18). James, however, paints a different picture. In his epistle to the twelve scattered tribes (James 1:1), we read,
“Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
“Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
“And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (James 2:21-24).
Why the difference? Under the prophetic program, faith was expressed by doing what God said to do—in other words, taking Him at His Word. For example, water baptism was a required expression of faith as seen in Acts 2:38. Water baptism itself didn’t save anyone, as was demonstrated by the thief on the cross (Luke 23:39- 43). However, it was a required cleansing under the law of Moses and was to be administered when possible.
Though written directly to the nation of Israel, Hebrews 11 gives an excellent definition of faith.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).
There are two key phrases in this verse: 1. “Substance of things hoped for.” The substance of faith is the confidence and assurance of God’s future promises. In this context, it has to do with God’s promise of eternal life, with the Lord returning to establish His Kingdom on the earth (Heb. 10:36-39 cf. Hab. 2:3-4). 2. “Evidence of things not seen.” Faith believes God’s Word, even when the promise cannot be seen. Using the example of Abraham again, we read,
“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
“By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
“For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:8-10).
As a board member of Things To Come Mission, when we send out missionaries, we assign them to a field, and they then know to what country they’re going. Abraham, however, did not know where he was going when he left the land of the Chaldeans (Acts 7:2-4). Nevertheless, he still believed God and looked for a city “whose builder and maker is God.”
The life of Abraham could be summed up with the following statement—Abraham lived as a pilgrim because he was fully convinced that God’s promise of a future inheritance was true. Where did Abraham’s faith come from? It came from the Word of God! He believed God and took Him at His Word, though the kingdom was still not seen. The same could be said for all the saints in the “Faith Hall of Fame” of Hebrews 11. They simply believed God and expressed that faith in whatever way God required.
Faith in the Mystery Program
Today, faith still responds to God. As it’s always been, faith is simply believing God and taking Him at His Word. We do this by taking Him at His Word about the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ and adding nothing to it for eternal salvation. Sadly, many add works to try to have a relationship with Him. People add water baptism, sacraments, the law of Moses, or other religious rituals. None of those things can bridge the gap between sinful man and a holy God. Only Christ can bridge that gap, and today, biblical faith responds to God by believing the gospel of the grace of God revealed in this dispensation.
Carl Lewis was a famous track and field star from the 1980s. In the long jump, he could jump around 27-28 feet, and his record was a little bit over 29 feet. Suppose the “gap” between God and man was 30 feet, and anyone who jumped and missed fell into hell? Carl Lewis would come closer than most people, but he would still fall short. This example illustrates that no matter how many good works someone does, that person still falls short of God’s perfect standard and cannot earn eternal life.
So, how does faith (believing God) lead to eternal salvation? It begins with understanding one’s sinful condition and need for a Savior. Lost sinners can choose to believe the gospel, but first they must hear it. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Therefore, lost sinners must hear the gospel before they can believe it. This means that YOU, as an ambassador for Christ, need to bring the message of reconciliation to them (2 Cor. 5:18-20).
The Bible does contain some bad news for mankind, but it’s necessary to proclaim it and it must be understood by the unsaved. The bad news is that all have sinned, and all of us fall short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23).
No one can meet God’s righteous standard (vv. 10-12). Thankfully, God provided a remedy for this problem.
Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” That’s wonderful news! By simply believing the good news of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4—that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again—anyone can have eternal life in Christ and a home in heaven (Phil. 3:20). Faith adds no works (Eph. 2:8-9) to this wonderful gift of salvation. Once you’ve trusted Christ, you can believe God when He says:
“And ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power:“In Whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
“Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, Who hath raised Him from the dead.
“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;
“And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Col. 2:10-15).
Believers should walk by faith. Do we respond in faith to the commands God’s Word gives us? Colossians 2:6 tells believers, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.” Since believers received the Lord by faith, we are also commanded to walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7). So what does this look like? Here are a few examples.
Are we thankful? Paul wrote to the saints in Thessalonica, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thes. 5:18). This is a command from the Spirit of God, through the written Word. Even in the trials and tribulations of life, are we thankful for all He has provided, not only in material things, but more importantly, for all the spiritual blessings we already possess in Christ (Eph. 1:3)?
Do we rejoice in the Lord daily? Paul commanded the saints in Philippi, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice” (Phil. 4:4). Do we believe it and always rejoice in the Lord, even in tough times? Or do we grumble and complain? Paul wrote in that same letter, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings” (Phil. 2:14). We should always ask ourselves, “Am I doing things without complaining and arguing?” If you can answer “yes” to that question, then you’re walking in the Spirit, just as we’re commanded to do in Galatians 5:25, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Without faith it’s impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). It’s important to know how to define faith, not only for eternal salvation but also for the believer’s walk in Christ. Following the definition of faith from Hebrews 11:1, we could say—today, members of the Body of Christ believe the gospel of God’s grace (“substance”) because they are fully convinced by the Word of God (“evidence”) that their salvation, blessings, hope, and inheritance in Christ are true.
The question for each of us is simple: Will we believe God and take Him at His Word?
1. The Millionaire, accessed August 26, 2026, http://jokes.christiansunite.com/Hypocrites/The_Millionaire.shtml.