Faith
BELIEF AND BELIEVING
One of the most important considerations in the Christian way
of life is the subject of the believer's faith. Several questions
are always paramount in a person's thinking about faith, such
as:
What is faith?
How does a person exercise faith?
How can we have stronger faith?
You will occasionally hear a person say something like this, "I
don't believe anything that I can't see or feel." Or, "You
really can't prove that there is a God, or that Jesus was what
He claimed to be; and I'm not going to believe anything that I
don't know is true!"
When a person says that he refuses to believe anything that is
not proved, he ignores the fact that everyone believes unproved
facts every day. If people were not willing to place their confidence
in unproved facts, the whole world would grind to a halt -- no
one would be able to move.
In practice, a person employs the mental process of faith dozens
of times every day, just to carry out life's routines. Faith is
a Standard Operating Procedure of human life. The discussion in
this essay will show that God has made faith an integral part
of human existence so that anyone in the world can have salvation
and can experience Christian growth with all of its benefits and
blessings.
Because Bible study is, in part, a study of past events and of
ancient writings, the first section of this paper is a discussion
of the uses of faith in the study of history. The intention of
the whole paper is, (1) to give a Christian added confidence in
the use of faith, and (2) to provide a fairly thorough treatment
of what the Bible says about the subject. Some of the ideas herein
can be used effectively in witnessing to skeptics or to those
whose ideas are hazy about salvation by faith.
The second section shows how faith is used in learning Bible truth,
and it includes a comparison between the three systems of learning,
empiricism, rationalism, and faith.
The third section deals with what the Bible says about how Christian
faith is developed and strengthened.
The fourth section contains an etymological study from the original
Greek and Hebrew words used in the Bible which are translated
as "faith" or as some equivalent.
We shall see that as a mental activity Christian faith is no different
from everyday faith. The unbeliever can use ordinary faith, the
willingness to believe something, to accept the Gospel message
and obtain salvation. The believer can use faith to acquire knowledge
of Bible doctrine and to make application of those principles
in his daily walk with the Lord.
FAITH AND THE STUDY OF HISTORY
A person who studies the past, and who writes about it, is continually
involved with the concept of faith. First, he must decide which
of his sources are reliable enough to be believed, for only with
credible sources can the historian have any chance of reconstructing
accurately an event or social situation.
Then, the historian must express his thoughts in writing in a
manner calculated not only to inform his readers but also to encourage
their belief, their faith, in the propositions he sets forth.
A careful student of history will have faith only in historians
who meet his standards for honesty.
THE COMMON HISTORICAL BIAS
But there are many historians, and other people, of course, whose
opinions about historical facts are colored by their religious
and anti-Biblical prejudices. Many people have adopted a viewpoint
which makes it impossible to view historical data objectively,
especially data which deals with Biblical events and issues. This
false viewpoint, a set of biased presuppositions, includes the
following conclusions:
* There is no personal God.
* Therefore, there is no supernatural and miracles are not possible.
* We live in a closed system, the earth with its human race, into
which no outside force can intrude, nor over which any God has
control.
A skeptic holding these views approaches the study of the Bible
"knowing", for example, that Christ did not rise from
the dead, because these things just cannot be. These conclusions
themselves, however, amount to an exercise of strong faith, albeit
in the wrong direction. Instead of beginning his study with the
recorded historical data and an open mind, this individual precludes
a balanced approach by a sort of metaphysical speculation.
VALID HISTORICAL METHODS
All arguments and systems begin with presuppositions (even the
Christian system). This does not mean that all presuppositions
that one might adopt are equally desirable. In considering any
important idea, it is better to begin with presuppositions of
method, which will yield truth, rather than with presuppositions
of substantive content, which assume a body of truth already.
No study of the past has a right to assume a closed system of
causation. Historical events are unique, and the test of their
factual character can be the only acceptable documentary approach.
What does the historian do, then, when he experiences a surprise
which runs counter to all his expectations, counter to his convictions,
against even his culture's whole understanding of truth? Why,
he must say that it is surely possible; because, for the critical
historian, nothing is a priori impossible! It is not the objective
of the historian to construct a history from preconceived notions
and then to adjust it to his own liking, He must, rather, reproduce
history from the best evidence, and let it speak for itself.
History, then, is knowledge of the past based on testimony. And
the plausibility, the believability, of history depends on the
trustworthiness of the witnesses, not upon the erudition of the
historian.
HISTORY AND BIBLE STUDY
Studying the Bible in the 20th Century involves a great deal of
intense historical scholarship. One begins by placing some confidence,
or faith, in early Christian witnesses and authorities. This confidence
may very well be tentative at first; and one may test each hypothesis
thoroughly before going deeper into study, certainly before going
out on a limb by making dogmatic statements. At each decision
point in study, faith must be exercised.
One does not have to prove beyond a shadow of doubt that Jesus
Christ was Deity. What one does is weigh the evidence, evaluate
the pros and cons. The results of careful study show that Christ
must be who and what He claims to be. In fact, many people
have begun studying the claims of Christ, intending to refute
the Bible statements, only to end up confirming what they had
originally set out to disprove!
A criterion of absolute truth would wipe out all knowledge, because
a person could never find a place to stand to begin his study.
The Christian begins by accepting the proposition that the Bible
is the Word of God. Then, as he learns each new doctrine, he makes
decisions. First, he decides whether to believe the doctrine as
he understands it. Then, he decides whether to apply the doctrine
in his life through believing the teaching, by claiming the promise,
or by obeying the commands given. As each new idea is tested and
put into practice, it becomes part of the foundation for further
learning and spiritual growth.
HOW THE BELIEVER USES FAITH
FAITH COMPARED WITH EMPIRICISM AND RATIONALISM
The Biblical concept of faith is that it amounts to complete confidence
in something for which there is no empirical or rational proof
available. "Faith is the substance of things in which one
has confidence, the evidence of things not seen." HEB.11:6
A person is said to have faith in something if he has believed
it without having had a physical demonstration of it or a logical
explanation of the truth behind it. Saying this another way, a
person who has believed something without having it proved to
him has exercised faith. Faith is, therefore, distinguished from
the two other methods of learning, empiricism and rationalism.
Empiricism is a technical word which refers to the using of scientific
methods to learn something or to prove something. The scientific
method relies on the five senses for the proof of propositions.
And each experiment produces either verification or refutation
of the idea or point of view. A child who does not take his mother's
word for the fact that the stove is hot may attempt empirical
proof by touching the stove himself. He receives immediate experimental
verification of the truth of his mother's statement.
The term rationalism is used to describe the method of arriving
at proof through the logical method. This is proof by logical
process of reason. In rationalism, logic produces documentation
or refutation of a point of view. Both empiricism and rationalism
are very useful in learning; but neither is equivalent to faith.
FAITH USED IN LEARNING
Faith can also be described as a method of perception, or learning,
which accepts an established criterion as the basis of reality.
It is very convenient, and necessary, to use faith in this way.
If we were to demand rational or experimental proof of everything
stated to us, we would never get anything done.
Suppose you were using a mathematics textbook which made the statement
"The sum of the angles of a plane triangle is 180 degrees."
Using faith, you could accept that statement as a true fact, and
you could build your study of triangles using this fact, even
though you had not seen a formal proof of its validity.
To insist upon proof of this statement, however, would mean that
you would have to take a course in Geometry where the formal,
logical proof of this statement is developed. But if you were
a total skeptic (in the subject of triangles), you wouldn't even
be able to begin the geometry course, because you would not be
able to accept the statement, by faith, that "the shortest
distance between two points on a plane is a straight line",
one of the foundational axioms of plane geometry. You can see
that faith is very useful, even indispensable, in every learning
situation.
To this point in the study of faith, then, we have developed a
partial understanding of what faith is and how it is used. Faith
is:
* Complete confidence in something which is not subject to logical
or experimental proof
* Acceptance of an established criterion as the basis of reality
THE CHRISTIAN'S FAITH IN THE BIBLE
The "established criterion" which the Christian accepts
by faith is that the Bible is the Word of God. The Christian accepts
the Bible as being what it claims to be, the "mind of Christ".
By adopting this presupposition, the believer has a basis from
which to delve into the whole Bible with its hundreds of concepts
vital to all aspects of human life.
The faith system of learning Bible truth is the only fair way
for man to know and approach God. No one can claim personal credit
for having believed the Bible, because even a person of very low
intellectual ability can believe and understand Bible truth. Therefore,
the faith system for acquiring doctrinal knowledge is perfectly
fair and compatible with Grace. It is the only method of learning
which is commonly available to all members of the human race.
The value of faith does not lie in the strength or intensity with
which a belief is held. (Every confidence man depends upon his
victim's believing very strongly in lies.) The merit of faith
lies, rather, in the idea or object which is believed. Faith is
valid only when it has a valid object.
Saving Faith has as its object the Lord Jesus Christ and His substitutionary
work on the Cross for man's salvation, JOHN 3:36; ACTS 16:31.
A belief in any other "plan" of salvation, however strongly
and emotionally held, will prove to have been faith in an invalid
and useless object, ACTS 4:12.
Living Faith has as its objects the facts, promises, and commands
of the Bible, MATT.4:4. Faith in Bible principles is the only
method which will unlock spiritual truth, ICOR.1:18 TO 2:16. The
believer who is growing spiritually receives continuous verification
that the divine principles upon which he bases his life are perfectly
valid, EPH.4:11-16.
HOW TO HAVE STRONG FAITH
The strongest, best established faith is that which is the result
of Christian edification, that process by which a believer is
rooted and built up in his spiritual life, COL.2:6,7. One of the
most important results of Christian growth is the progressive
increase in the believer's ability to use faith. Several important
factors in the development of Christian faith are listed here
along with some representative Bible passages.
* Faith requires the continuous intake of truth from the Word
of God. "...faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word
of God...", ROM.10:17.
* Faith is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit and requires the
control of the Spirit for its function. "...the fruit of
the Spirit is...faith...", GAL.5:22,23; EPH.5:18.
* Faith must be exercised daily by (1) using Faith-Rest principles
in day to day living, "...we who have believed do enter into
rest...", HEB.4:1-3; and (2) by using Faith Patience in all
situations, "...the testing of your faith worketh patience",
JAMES1:3.
* Applied knowledge overflowing from the human spirit, which refers
to all witnessing, requires the exercise of faith. "...that
Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith...", EPH.3:17-20.
* Moving towards maturity includes the development of great faith.
"...this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith...",
1JOHN5:4,5; HEB.11:6.
* Daily occupation with the Lord Jesus Christ "completes"
faith. "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our
faith...", HEB.12:2.
* Undeserved suffering both tests and strengthens faith. "...the
trial of your faith...", 1PETER1:7,8.
THE WORD "FAITH" IN THE BIBLE
In the Greek language of the New Testament there are five words
which are rendered "faith" in the King James Version.
They are:
pistis, noun, meaning "faith; faithful; reliable;
that which is believed", and, with the definite article,
"doctrine"
pistos, adjective, meaning "dependable; inspiring
of trust; believing"
pisteuo, verb, meaning "to believe; to be convinced"
peitho, verb, meaning "to obey (in the present tense);
to be persuaded (in the aorist); to have confidence (in the perfect);
faith (all tenses)"
pistoo, verb, meaning "to show oneself faithful; to
feel confidence"
In the Hebrew of the Old Testament there are ten words which are
rendered in the King James Version as "faith" or as
some equivalent idea of belief or trust. They are:
AHMAN, verb, "to believe without merit"
EIMOON, noun, "belief; faithfulness"
EIMOONAH, noun, "truth; steadiness; doctrine; faith"
AHMEIN, noun, "truth; doctrine"
OHMEIN, noun, "faithfulness"
EMETH, noun, one of the strongest words for truth
BAHTAK, verb, the Faith Rest verb which was originally a word
used by wrestlers for giving someone a body slam. See PSALM 37:3;
91:2. It means "to slam your troubles on the Lord",
and it means "faith" in the sense of the function of
the Faith-Rest principles. This verb is used extensively in the
Old Testament.
KAHSAH, verb, PSALM57:1, used of a rabbit fleeing from a desert
fox and finding refuge in the cleft of the rock where the fox
can't reach him. Means "to believe" in the sense of
finding refuge in the Word or taking shelter in the Lord.
YAHKAL, verb, "to trust" in circumstances of pressure
or suffering. JOB13:15; LAM.3:21,24.
KAHWAH, used in the sense of binding or twisting strands of fiber
together to make a rope. Threads which are weak in themselves
are woven together into strength. The meaning is that we are weak
and can be broken, but woven into the Lord and His Word, we cannot
be broken. ISA.40:31; LAM.3:25.