What is faith?

Answer 1

People seem to get insulted when someone suggest that their faith might be lacking. From being insulted they have developed a new theology of “It might not be God’s will to heal.” What they have done here is to take the blame off of themselves, and place it on God.

The problem, I believe, is twofold. First, people just don’t understand what faith is, and Second, is a misinterpretation of Luke 17:6

And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

What people do is that they work the phrase “the size of” into this verse. The verse does not say faith the size of a grain of mustard seed. It says faith AS a grain of mustard seed. Do you see the difference. If we interpret it the one way it looks like we only need a little bit of faith, but if we interpret it correctly we find that we need the kind of faith that will grow a matter the size of mustard seed to the size of a great tree. That is not just a little bit of faith. What that takes is a mature faith.

“As” in Luke 17:6 is the Greek word “hos.” It is an adverb
meaning “like” or “this kind.” It has nothing to do with size.

When we understand this we realize that faith isn’t as easy as organized religion tries to make it out to be. We therefore need not be insulted when told that we lack in faith, because we now know that strong faith takes hard work.

What faith is, is explained in two sections of *****ure:

The parable of the unjust judge is followed by Jesus’ question in Luke 18:8, “Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” What he is saying here is that this parable gives us a definition of faith.

James chapter 2 shows us also that faith is accompanied by corresponding action.

Real faith will continue to stand on the Word of God regardless of the circumstances. If the doctor says I am sick, but the Bible says I am healed, faith defies the doctor and says I am healed. When the pain says I am sick, but the Bible says I am healed, faith defies the pain, and gets up and goes to work. When the doctor says that I will never walk again, faith says watch and learn and then gets up and walks. If I don’t walk the first time, I try again. If I don’t walk the 100th time, I try again, and I keep trying until I do walk regardless of my failures because God says by whose stripes I am healed (I Pet 2:24) and God does not lie, so I know that it is the failure, the doctor, the pain that is lying to me and not God. That is what faith is.

If you ever give up, you lack in faith.

Answer 2

Nice Question! There is a definition of the word written right in the Bible! The KJV says this: (Hebrews 11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Another source, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures puts it like so: (Hebrews 11:1) 1Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.
Consider this: we connot see the air, but if you blow a feather from your hand it WILL move. So, the next time we pick up a feather, we can have faith that if we blow it from our hand, it too will move. Couple the scriptures above with this well know scripture: NWT (John 3:16) “For 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.
Like air, our faith is not based on mans eyesight, but our determination to MOVE like the feather, in essence exercising. See, the feather is under the law of the wind; we are under the law of God. What he asks us is to put FAITH in the ransom. If we do, we will... well, I'll let the Bible answer again... NWT (Isaiah 48:18) . . .O if only you would actually pay attention to my commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

Answer 3

Faith is believing in something you HOPE is true and going so far as to actually act upon it and change your life in accordance to that faith. This hope may come from the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart, or the intrinsic goodness you see in the gospel, or from what other witnesses tell you.

The Bible teaches that "signs SHALL follow them that believe". Once a person reaches out in faith to such a degree as to "get God's attention" they experience miracles. Some miracles may be small, some big... but absolutely they are miracles... not just coincidences or wishful thinking.

After you have experienced miracles you are no longer a believer but a knower. This does not make it any easier to be a Christian, it only makes the Christian more accountable.

I am a knower. I know of many other sound minded individuals who are also knowers.

Answer 4

Faith is believing in something for which we have limited evidence. Since there are very few things in life for which we have absolute certainty, faith is a common experience for humans.

The important thing is to make sure there is some reasonable evidence for the claims in which you have faith. For example, there is no good evidence for intelligent life on other planets. We have trained radiotelescopes on space for decades, and not a peep. On the other hand, there is excellent reason to believe that Americans landed on the moon in 1969. We have videotape.

Sometimes there is strong historical evidence for a claim that would otherwise be unlikely, e.g., that Jesus rose from the dead. We have the testimony of hundreds of eyewitnesses who can attest to his death and to his resurrection. In addition, certain facts, e.g., that his resurrection was first discovered by women, would not have been made in support of a fiction, since women were considered less credible witnesses in the ancient world. This suggests that the resurrection actually occurred, and that a woman, Mary Magdalene, was actually first to meet the risen Christ.

Cheers,
Bruce

Answer 5

Faith is a thought of heart that the mind does not logically comprehend. Faith is a "knowing" within oneself that "rings" true but dose not make sense. FAITH is "knowing" that one was created in the image of the DIVINE. Faith is putting your trust into some thing that you can not touch in the physical sense ,yet at the same time you are living proof

Answer 6

faith is a belief in something that you strongly believe in,something you know is true. In the bible , Hebrews 11:1 says Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see.I hope this helps you,but just to remark on jack who answered this question also,faith may be true or not,not always false,like you have faith 2 times 2 is 4,than your faith is correct,while my view on jesus christ is he is the true lord,but that is only my faith,hopefully it is yours.

Answer 7

Faith is confidence. You use faith when you get up in the morning and fully expect to walk. Faith is knowing that the rain will ruin your fresh car wash. Faith is you watching for your garden to sprout. It's a 'knowing', even before anything shows.

Answer 8

Amazing whatthe others answers are. So different btwn the atheists and those who have religions.

I am a muslim, faith for me is strongly believe after having the experience(s).
I can't say that you have faith if it's only according to what we are brainwashed and/but have no evidence; you can only have true faith if you have something real to proof. Otherwise it's just called as believe that : ........... (whatever we HAVE to).
Faith is much stronger than believe that : "quote verses"

Answer 9

The bible says 'faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen'. In other words, the things you cannot see or understand or figure out, can be believed for. Like poor people believing for children. Step by step God will provide all the needs if you continue to ask Him and obey His directions. One aspect of faith is endurance. Some people will remain in faith for years, trusting God to provide a promise He made to them by His Spirit. Read Hebrews chapter 11 and it will show you some examples of faith filled heroes.

Answer 10

Your faith coincides with your beliefs. No matter what form of religion, if any, you practice that is your faith. Always being true to your beliefs will keep you focused and take away a lot of the confusion with making certain decisions.