True FaithWhat Is It?

Posted on May 16, 2013by ideacreamanuela

Without faith it is impossible to please him well, for he that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.Hebrews 11:6. WHAT is faith? Some explain faith as a religious belief in God without solid proof of his existence. It is vital to have a clear understanding of what faith is because, as quoted above, without faith it is impossible to please God. The Bible says: Faith is being sure of the things we hope for. (Hebrews 11:1, The New Testament in the Language of Today) Therefore, faith is founded on accurate knowledge, facts on which right decisions can be based. It requires not only belief but a reason for believing. Faith or Credulity? Much of what passes for faith today is in reality credulitya readiness to believe without a valid basis or reason. Credulity is often built on the shifting sands of emotion and superstition. This is not wellfounded faith because it has no reliable basis for belief. Credulity could cause one to jump to conclusions that may be out of harmony with Bible truth. Accordingly, the Bible warns against unfounded faith: Anyone inexperienced puts faith in every word, but the shrewd one considers his steps. (Proverbs 14:15) The apostle Paul wrote:Make sure of all things; hold fast to what is fine. (1Thessalonians 5:21) The Bible does not promote credulity. It does encourage faith based on evidence. Being able to discern true faith from credulity is a serious matter. An individual can be religious and yet not have true faith. Paul noted: Faith is not a possession of all people. (2Thessalonians 3:2) True Faith Binds Man to God Faith can be likened to a chain with link of confidence and trust that bind man to God. But this kind of faith is something that is cultivated; it is not something that we are born with. How can you develop true faith? The Bible explains: Faith follows the thing heard. In turn the thing heard is through the word about Christ. Romans 10:17.

Therefore, you need to take time to get to know God and the teachings of his Son, Jesus Christ. This knowledge is not acquired without effort. (Proverbs 2:1-9) You must exert yourself to find out what the Bible says so as to be convinced of its reliability. True faith, however involves the heartthe seat of motivation. Romans 10:10 says: With the heart one exercises faith. What doest this mean? As you meditate on godly things, building up appreciation for them, you allow the Bibles message to sink deep into your heart. Faith grows and becomes stronger as you are motivated to act on Gods promises and as you see the evidence of his blessing.2 Thessalonians 1:3. We benefit by being able to face difficult conditions with confidence in God, trusting in his ability to guide our steps and in his willingness to care for our needs. Gods Son, Jesus Christ, pointed to one long-term benefit of faith: God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) Faith in Gods promise to reward his servants gives one a fresh perspective on life.Hebrews 11:6 says that true faith involves belief in Gods ability to reward those earnestly seeking him. Clearly, then, true faith is not credulity, and it is much more than just believing that God exists. Do you really and sincerely want to know God? If you do, then acquire accurate knowledge from his Word, the Bible, and your faith will be rewarded.Colossians 1:9, 10. g00 3/8 pp. 26-27 Photo Credit: Inmagine-jhn0160902 Press This Twitter1 Digg Reddit Print Pinterest Email StumbleUpon LinkedIn1 Google +1 Facebook1 Tumblr

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