The Definition of Faith

Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.“

“What is the definition of faith?”…Thankfully, the Bible contains a clear definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1: …Simply put, the biblical definition of faith is "trusting in something you cannot explicitly prove."……This definition of faith contains two aspects: intellectual assent and trust. Intellectual assent is believing something to be true.

Trust is actually relying on the fact that the something is true.

A chair is often used to help illustrate this. Intellectual assent is recognizing that a chair is a chair and agreeing that it is designed to support a person who sits on it.

Trust is actually sitting in the chair.……Understanding these two aspects of faith is crucial. Many people believe certain facts about Jesus Christ.

Many people will intellectually agree with the facts that the Bible declares about Jesus. But knowing those facts to be true is not what the Bible means by "faith." The biblical definition of faith requires intellectual assent to the facts and trust in the facts.……Believing that Jesus is God incarnate who died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and was resurrected is not enough.

Even the demons believe in God and in those facts

James 2:19

19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder.

We must personally and fully rely on the death of Christ as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

We must "sit in the chair" of the salvation that Jesus Christ has provided.

This is saving faith.

The faith God requires of us for salvation is belief in what the Bible says about who Jesus is and what He accomplished and fully trusting in Jesus for that salvation

Acts 16:31

31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household."

Biblical faith is always accompanied by repentance of sin

Matthew 21:32

32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Mark 1:15

15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!"

The biblical definition of faith does not apply only to salvation.

It is equally applicable to the rest of the Christian life.

We are to believe what the Bible says, and we are to obey it.

We are to believe the promises of God, and we are to live accordingly.

We are to agree with the truth of God's Word, and we are to allow ourselves to be transformed by it…Romans 12:2…2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.…Why is this definition of faith so important?

Why must trust accompany agreeing with facts?

Because "without faith, it is impossible to please God"

Hebrews 11:6

6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Without faith, we cannot be saved

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Without faith, the Christian life cannot be what God intends it to be

John 10:10

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.…In the marvelous and amazing “faith chapter,”. Hebrews 11 faith is defined not as some intangible wishfulness, but as “substance” and “evidence.”

Let us look closely.

Faith must have a legitimate object, nothing less than the mighty Creator by whom “the worlds were framed” out of nothing but His omnipotent Word.

Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

Faith is defined, not by what it is, but by what it does!

The man of faith comes to God with“a more excellent sacrifice,” like that of Abel typifying the sacrifice of Christ.

Hebrews 11:4 It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel's offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

The man of faith lives to please God like Enoch,

Hebrews 11:5It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying-"he disappeared, because God took him."[a] For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.

The man of faith do whatever necessary out of obedience to God, like Noah prepare an Ark “to the saving of his house”

Hebrews 11: 7It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

The man of True faith will, go out as God leads, like Abraham“ without knowing where he was going” even “dwelling in tabernacles” (literally “tents”)

Hebrews 11: 8-9It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.9 And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith-for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise.

Looking for that city with sure “foundations, whose builder and maker is God”

Hebrews 11: 10Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

Such faith will even offer up to God the greatest love and joy of his life, like Abrahamknowing that God will keep His Word

Hebrews 11: 17-19It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God's promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, "Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted."(Gen 21:12). Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

The man of genuine faith will chooseto suffer afflictionLike Moses,

Hebrews 11: 25 He chose to share the oppression of God's people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.

Faith is even willing to die, for the promises of God

Hebrews 11: 37 Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated.

Hebrews 11:39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.

We are saved by grace through faith, not of works

Ephesians 2:8-9God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

We are created in Christ Jesus to do good things

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Our faith should motivate us to action.

James 2:24So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.