Biblical Faith

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.~Hebrews 11:1

Biblical faith is defined as that trust in the God of the Bible and in Jesus Christ whom He has sent. Its essence consists in receiving what God has revealed, receiving Jesus as Savior and Lord, and obeying Him with loving and grateful heart (John 1:12). Thus real faith produces good works as its proof (James 2:17-18, 26).

The particular uses of faith give rise to its secondary definitions: (1) For salvation, faith is personal trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, as delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification (John 3:16; Rom. 10:9-10). It's so important to bear in our hearts and minds that in the sight of God we are justified by faith alone apart from any meritorious works (Rom. 4:5, 23-25; Eph. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:5; Isa. 64:6). (2) As used in prayer, faith is the confidence that we have in God, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us (1 John 5:14-15). (3) As used in reference to unseen things of which the Bible speaks, faith "gives substance" to them, so that we can act upon the conviction of their reality (Heb. 11:1-3). (4) As a working principle in life, the uses of faith are illustrated in the lives of the people spoken in Hebrews 11. While it is a biblical fact that man is justified by faith alone in the sight of God (Rom. 4:5), a saved man must work out his own salvation for him to be justified in the sight of men (Phil. 2:12). We are not commanded by God to work for our own salvation because God has already worked for it; but, we are commanded to work out (show forth) our own salvation so that others may see God's righteousness in us (Matt. 5:16).

Let me finish this article by quoting Titus 3:5-8, and see more closely all of its words, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are GOOD and PROFITABLE unto MEN."

For more insight on faith and works, kindly visit this link: http://biblebelievingchristians.blogspot.com/2011/04/faith-and-works_05.html