What is faith?
Faith is the only thing required for salvation and the only way to experience the abundant life Christ promised (John 10:10). Subjectively, faith is the act of believing; objectively, it is the content of what is believed. In the biblical sense, faith is reliance on the inspired Word of God, where the believer trusts that because God said it, it is true.
The power of faith is not in the person or the faith itself, but in the object of faith, which is Jesus Christ. Faith unleashes the omnipotence of God, as the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Rom. 1:16a). Because faith alone pleases God, it is the only path to absolute satisfaction (Heb. 11:2, 11:6).
Faith is practical and dynamic, relating to every issue of life, including personal relationships and the ability to forgive others (Eph. 4:32). It is the foundation of Christian virtue—faith, hope, and love (1 Cor. 13:13)—and the means by which the believer overcomes the world (1 John 5:4–5). Faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ (Rom. 10:17).
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Source: The Basics The Basics -- Subject Index entry 'Faith' (printed pp. 3, 7, 8, 17, 21, 24, 25, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 57, 60, 61, 63, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 74, 75, 79, 82, 83, 123, 128, 130, 144, 145, 146, 148, 149, 150, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 161, 169, 170, 190, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 206, 220, 233, 234, 235, 237, 247, 248, 252, 253, 258, 269) · Read this lesson in the book →
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Related questions
- What is the nature of faith according to the Bible?John 10:10 · The Basics
- What is the Christian way of life?John 10:10 · The Basics
- What is the Bible's teaching on empiricism and its limitations in understanding God?Heb. 11:6 · The Basics · Lesson 1–5: The Potential—Faith
- What is the Bible's teaching on how to discover Truth?Heb. 11:6 · The Basics · Lesson 1–5: The Potential—Faith
- What is empiricism?Heb. 11:6 · The Basics · Lesson 1–5: The Potential—Faith
- What is the Biblical definition of love?1 Cor. 13:13 · The Basics
- What are the seven steps downward that lead to death and the seven steps that lead to recovery?1 John 5:4–5 · The Basics · Lesson 3–2: The Danger—Spiritual Retreat/Reversion
- What is the biblical definition of the world?1 John 5:4–5 · The Basics
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Where this is taught in the book
Lesson 4–5: Empowering—The Spirit
Lesson 2–4: The Equipment—Spiritual Gifts
Lesson 3–4: The Climb—Spiritual Growth
Lesson 4–3: Testing—Temptation
Lesson 5–1: The Enemy—Satan
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