A Study on Biblical Faith

by | Jun 26, 2019 | Issues For Believers | 0 comments

Definitions of Faith

  • Easton’s 1897 Bible Dictionary, excerpts;

Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true (Phil. 1:27; 2 Thes. 2:13). Its primary idea is trust. A thing is true, and therefore worthy of trust. It admits of many degrees up to full assurance of faith, in accordance with the evidence on which it rests.

Faith is the result of teaching (Romans 10:14-17). Knowledge is an essential element in all faith, and is sometimes spoken of as an equivalent to faith (John 10:38; 1 John 2:3). Yet the two are distinguished in this respect, that faith includes in it assent, which is an act of the will in addition to the act of the understanding. Assent to the truth is of the essence of faith, and the ultimate ground on which our assent to any revealed truth rests is the veracity (truthfulness or accuracy) of God.

Faith in Christ secures for the believer freedom from condemnation, or justification before God; a participation in the life that is in Christ, the divine life (John 14:19; Romans 6:4-10; Ephes. 4:15-16, etc.); "peace with God" (Romans 5:1); and sanctification (Acts 26:18; Galatians 5:6; Acts 15:9).

  • Davis Dictionary of the Bible, excerpts;

As far as a difference exists between belief and faith, belief is assent to testimony, and faith is assent to testimony, united with trust. Faith is an active principle; it is an act both of the understanding and the will. The distinction between belief and faith is that between "believe me" and "believe on me." In the Bible faith of belief is confidence in the absolute truthfulness of every statement which comes from God (Mark 11:22 & Rom, 4:3-5).

  • Unger’s Bible Dictionary, excerpts;

Viewed more particularly with reference to its intellectual aspect, faith is properly defined as the conviction of the reality of the truths and facts which God has revealed, such conviction resting solely upon the testimony of God.

There is an element that is intellectual; also an element, of even deeper importance, that is moral. Faith is not simply the assent of the intellect to revealed truth; it is the practical submission of the entire man to the guidance and control of such truth, "The devils believe and tremble". Thus in its beginning and completion faith is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22).

FAITH From Torrey’s Topical Textbook

  • Faith…
  1. Is the substance of things hoped for. Hebrews 11:1
     
  2. Is the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
     
  3. Commanded. Matthew 11:22; 1 John 3:23
  • In Christ Faith Is…
  1. The gift of God. Romans 12:3; Ephes. 2:8; Ephes. 6:23; Phil. 1:29
     
  2. The work of God. Acts 11:21; 1 Cor. 2:5
     
  3. Precious. 2 Peter 1:1
     
  4. Most holy. Jude 1:20
     
  5. Fruitful. 1 Thes. 1:3
     
  6. Accompanied by repentance. Mark 1:15; Luke 24:47
     
  7. Followed by conversion. Acts 11:21
  • Through Faith Is…
  1. Salvation. Mark 16:16; Acts 16:31; Ephes. 2:8
     
  2. Remission of sins. Acts 10:43; Romans 3:25
     
  3. Justification. Acts 13:39; Romans 3:21-22, 28, 30; Romans 5:1; Galatians 2:16
     
  4. Sanctification. Acts 15:9; Acts 26:18
     
  5. Spiritual light. John 12:36, 46
     
  6. Spiritual life. John 20:31; Galatians 2:20
     
  7. Eternal life. John 3:15-16; John 6:40, 47
     
  8. Rest in heaven. Hebrews 4:3
     
  9. Edification. 1 Tim. 1:4; Jude 1:20
     
  10. Preservation. 1 Peter 1:5
     
  11. Adoption. John 1:12; Galatians 3:26
     
  12. Access to God. Romans 5:2; Ephes. 3:12
     
  13. Inheritance of the promises. Galatians 3:22; Hebrews 6:12
     
  14. The gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 11:15-17; Galatians 3:14; Ephes. 1:13
     
  15. Hope. Romans 5:2
     
  16. Joy. Acts 16:34; 1 Peter 1:8
     
  17. Peace. Romans 15:13
     
  18. Confidence. Isaiah 28:16; 1 Peter 2:6
     
  19. Boldness in preaching. Psalm 116:10; 2 Cor. 4:13
  • By Faith Saints…
  1. Live. Galatians 2:20
     
  2. Stand. Romans 11:20; 2 Cor. 1:24
     
  3. Walk. Romans 4:12; 2 Cor. 5:7
     
  4. Obtain a good report. Hebrews 11:2
     
  5. Overcome the world. 1 John 5:4-5
     
  6. Resist the devil. 1 Peter 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
     
  7. Overcome the devil. Ephes. 6:16
     
  8. Are supported. Psalm 27:13; 1 Tim. 4:10
  • Saints Should…
  1. Be sincere in faith. 1 Tim. 1:5; 2 Tim. 1:5
     
  2. Abound in faith. 2 Cor. 8:7
     
  3. Continue in faith. Acts 14:22; Col. 1:23
     
  4. Be strong in faith. Romans 4:20-24 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
     
  5. Stand fast in faith. 1 Cor. 16:13
     
  6. Be grounded and settled in faith. Col. 1:23
     
  7. Hold, with a good conscience faith. 1 Tim. 1:19
     
  8. Pray for the increase of faith. Luke 17:5
     
  9. Have full assurance of faith. Hebrews 10:22; 2 Tim. 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
  •  Implications Of Faith.
  1. Impossible to please God without. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
     
  2. Justification is by, to be of grace. Romans 4:16
     
  3. Christ dwells in the heart by. Ephes. 3:17
     
  4. Essential to the profitable reception of the gospel. Hebrews 4:2
     
  5. Christ is the Author and Finisher of. Hebrews 12:2
     
  6. Is a gift of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 12:9
     
  7. The Scriptures designed to produce. John 20:31; 2 Tim. 3:15
     
  8. Preaching designed to produce. John 17:20; Acts 8:12; Romans 10:14-15; Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
     
  9. Necessary in prayer. Matthew 21:22; James 1:6
     
  10. Necessary in the Christian warfare. 1 Tim. 1:18-19; 1 Tim. 6:12
     
  11. Excludes self-justification. Romans 10:3-4
     
  12. Excludes boasting. Romans 3:27
     
  13. Works by love. Galatians 5:6; 1 Tim. 1:5; Philemon 1:5
     
  14. Christ is precious to those having. 1 Peter 2:7
     
  15. The gospel effectual in those who have. 1 Thes. 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
     
  16. An evidence of the new birth. 1 John 5:1
     
  17. Saints die in. Hebrews 11:13
     
  18. True, evidenced by its fruits. James 2:21-25
     
  19. Without fruits, is dead. James 2:17, 20, 26
     
  20. Examine whether you be in. 2 Cor. 13:5
     
  21. All difficulties overcome by. Matthew 17:20; Matthew 21:21; Mark 9:23
     
  22. All things should be done in. Romans 14:22
     
  23. Whatever is not of, is sin. Romans 14:23
     
  24. Often tried by affliction. 1 Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
     
  25. Trial of, works patience. James 1:3
     
  26. The wicked often profess. Acts 8:13-21
     
  27. The wicked destitute of. John 10:25; John 12:37; Acts 19:9; 2 Thes. 3:2
     
  28. Protection of, illustrated; A shield. Ephes. 6:16; A breastplate. 1 Thes. 5:8
  • Faith Exemplified.
  1. Caleb. Numbers 13:30
     
  2. Job. Job 19:25
     
  3. Shadrach. Daniel 3:17
     
  4. Daniel. Daniel 6:10, 23
     
  5. Peter. Matthew 16:16
     
  6. Woman who was a sinner. Luke 7:50
     
  7. Nathanael. John 1:49
     
  8. Samaritans. John 4:39
     
  9. Martha. John 11:27
     
  10. The Disciples. John 16:30
     
  11. Thomas. John 20:28
     
  12. Stephen. Acts 6:5
     
  13. Priests. Acts 6:7
     
  14. Ethiopian. Acts 8:37
     
  15. Barnabas. Acts 11:24
     
  16. Sergius Paulus. Acts 13:12
     
  17. Philippian jailor. Acts 16:31, 34
     
  18. Romans. Romans 1:8
     
  19. Colossians. Col. 1:4
     
  20. Thessalonians. 1 Thes. 1:3
     
  21. Lois. 2 Tim. 1:5
     
  22. Paul. 2 Tim. 4:7
     
  23. Abel. Hebrews 11:4
     
  24. Enoch. Hebrews 11:5
     
  25. Noah. Hebrews 11:7
     
  26. Abraham. Hebrews 11:8, 17
     
  27. Isaac. Hebrews 11:20
     
  28. Jacob. Hebrews 11:21
     
  29. Joseph. Hebrews 11:22
     
  30. Moses. Hebrews 11:24, 27
     
  31. Rahab. Hebrews 11:31
     
  32. Gideon. Hebrews 11:32-33, 39

FAITH From Matthew Henry’s Commentary (Concise)

Romans 4:13-22 (Abraham received the promise through the righteousness of faith)

The promise was made to Abraham long before the law.  It points at Christ, and it refers to the promise, Genesis 12:3.  In Thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.  The law worketh wrath, by showing that every transgressor is exposed to the Divine displeasure.  As God intended to give men a title to the promised blessings, so he appointed it to be by faith, that it might be wholly of grace, to make it sure to all who were of the like precious faith with Abraham, whether Jews or Gentiles, in all ages.  The justification and salvation of sinners, the taking to himself the Gentiles who had not been a people, were a gracious calling of things which are not, as though they were; and this giving a being to things that were not, proves the almighty power of God.   The nature and power of Abraham’s faith are shown.  He believed God’s testimony, and looked for the performance of his promise, firmly hoping when the case seemed hopeless.  It is weakness of faith, that makes a man lie poring on the difficulties in the way of a promise.  Abraham took it not for a point that would admit of argument or debate.  Unbelief is at the bottom of all our staggerings at God’s promises.  The strength of faith appeared in its victory over fears.   God honours faith; and great faith honours God.  It was imputed to him for righteousness.  Faith is a grace that of all others gives glory to God.   Faith clearly is the instrument by which we receive the righteousness of God, the redemption which is by Christ; and that which is the instrument whereby we take or receive it, cannot be the thing itself, nor can it be the gift thereby taken and received.   Abraham’s faith did not justify him by its own merit or value, but as giving him a part in Christ.

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