The Bible speaks about faith as a confident trust and assurance in God and His promises, even without seeing. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Faith begins with God as a gift, and it involves believing that God exists, is trustworthy, and rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). It is through faith that people receive God's grace and salvation through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Bible also highlights that faith is more than just belief; it is active and demonstrated through deeds (James 2:18). Faith requires perseverance and leads to spiritual maturity (James 1:2-4). Jesus teaches to have faith in God, promising that such faith can lead to great outcomes, like moving mountains (Mark 11:22-23). Moreover, living by faith entails trusting God's faithfulness and holding onto the hope He provides (Hebrews 10:22-23, 39).
In summary, biblical faith is:
- Confidence and assurance in God's promises and presence
- A gift from God, involving trust and obedience
- Essential for salvation and receiving God's grace
- Evidenced by actions and endurance during trials
- Capable of powerful outcomes when fully trusted in God
This portrays faith as a foundational element in the Christian life, uniting belief, trust, perseverance, and action.