What is 'Faith'?

Question

if you're going to go to 'Websters', add some of your own thoughts as well.

reading some of these, I guess I should have required a dictionary's definition -
'1. Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
2. Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. See Synonyms at belief, trust.'

jonjon - is the Tertullian quote before or after his conversion?

Answer 1

By "faith" I mean the following:

Faith commences with the conviction of the mind based on adequate evidence; faith continues in the confidence of the heart or emotions based on conviction, and faith is crowned in the consent of the will, by means of which the conviction and confidence are expressed in conduct.

Key points:
Conviction of the Mind
Confidence of the Heart
Consent of the Will
Conduct of the Body

As you can see from the above, faith affects the whole of a person's nature. Even the demons *believe*. Belief is not enough. Many may claim to be Christians, but we know from the scriptures that many are called, but few are chosen:

Mat 7:16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Mat 7:17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
Mat 7:18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'
Mat 7:23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' (ESV Translation)

Faith without works is dead, just as the fig tree cursed by Christ when it did not bear fruit (Mt. 21:19). By a Christian's fruit you will know their true nature.

Non-believers cannot adequately reason the revelations of God in the world around them, nor in the written revelations of God, the bible. Their eyes have been closed to the truth because they are unwilling to still their minds and hear the call of the Holy Spirit to God's grace.

2Co 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing.
2Co 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Instead, they are given over to their own devices, seeking the “truth” within themselves where no real truth can be found:

2Ti 3:2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
2Ti 3:4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
2Ti 3:5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

God's foreknowledge of the choices we will make in this life is the reason for these conditions. An omnipotent God cannot make a morally free person who is incapable of consciously choosing to sin. Thus there will be those that with full knowledge of God's revelation who will choose to reject His divine mercy. This is the unforgivable sin.

We know from the scriptures that few will be called to righteousness. The John 3:16 of the bible is not for everyone, but only for those God has called to be His elect whom were chosen before the creation of the universe.

Answer 2

Faith is blind belief. You think an invisible inaudible deity exists, that's fine. But it's ridiculous to think such a thing exists. You might want to check on tachyons and quarks. At least the existence of those have been proven.

Answer 3

Hebrews 11:1 - Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Answer 4

Confidence that something that was told me is true based on indirect evidence. I have faith that my father and mother are my parents. I do not remember when I was conceived, nor when I was born, but I am sure that my mom and dad are my parents. Both claimed me, even when I was rotten. I look something like each of them, and I look a lot like one of the people that my mom and dad said was also their child (my brother). My parents' names are both on my birth certificate. However, I have never requested any type of paternity or maternity test. Therefore, I cannot "prove" that my parents are my parents. I accept it on faith and based on all the circumstantial evidence.

Same for God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

May God bless and keep you.

Answer 5

Faith is believing that God is who he says he is and will do what he says he will do. It is believing that what God says is true--is true, no matter what anyone else says.

Of course, you can have faith in things other than God and believe that something or someone else will be faithful to the end, but your faith is only as good as what you place it in. For example, I have faith in my husband, that he will make wise decisions and do the right thing. Most of the time he lives up to that faith, but occasionally he fails.

The difference with God is that he always speaks the truth, always acts in wisdom, always acts for our good, is always faithful.

Answer 6

Faith is a belief in something so strong that you act from it and stake your existence on the outcome. It's a way of knowing and trusting that to doubt it would make absolutely no sense.

Answer 7

HI
faith is believing in something that you can not see. Faith is the things hoped for in the Bible but have not yet seen yet. FAITH comes with accurate knowledge and a heart felt appreciation of things we have learned from the Bible. It is with the heart that one exercises faith. Faith follows things that are heard, faith comes from reading about god and his dealings with his servants.
Lammy
Lammy

Answer 8

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Answer 9

Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld."

Answer 10

I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there" and it will move.
Matthew 17:20