A BRIEF LOOK AT SOME OF THE KEY WORDS IN THE BIBLE
Bible Corner - No. 13 FAITH
Christianity is about a relationship with God characterized by the word faith – more specifically “faith in Christ”. It is as we put faith in Jesus Christ that we are brought into a personal relationship with God.
Faith is not a feeling or an irrational leap in the dark. It rests on the witness of the New Testament writers together with the individual and corporate testimony of Christians. It affirms that there is a living God who is personally committed to humanity (John 3:16); that Jesus Christ showed what God is like (John 14:9) and that by his life, death and resurrection he made fellowship with God possible (John 1: 1-4).
However acceptance of the intellectual basis for Christianity does not make a person a Christian. As James said, evil spirits are convinced of the existence and sovereignty of God, but that does not make them believers (James 2:19 and see Mark 1: 23-24) Faith involves more than mind and engages both will (through thrusting, Jesus as Saviour) and the emotions (through loving him as Lord).
Where does this saving faith come from? Is it just he same as the faith we exercise every day in all kinds of activity, or is it a gift from God? The New Testament learns of the latter view and stresses that we do not “find God” of “find faith” or “find salvation” by ourselves but only through the prior help of God himself (see Acts 18:27; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 1:29). There can be no boasting where faith is concerned!
Howard Rady
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