Faith: 7 definitions

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In Christianity
1. General definition
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Introduction:

Faith means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Christianity. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. On this page you will also find search and cross-referencing tools.

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In Christianity

General definition (in Christianity)

Source: archive.org: Easton's Bible Dictionary

Faith definition and references: Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true (Philemon 1:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:13). Its primary idea is trust. A thing is true, and therefore worthy of trust. It admits of many degrees up to full assurance of faith, in accordance with the evidence on which it rests.

Faith is the result of teaching (Romans 10:14-17). Knowledge is an essential element in all faith, and is sometimes spoken of as an equivalent to faith (John 10:38; 1 John 2:3). Yet the two are distinguished in this respect, that faith includes in it assent, which is an act of the will in addition to the act of the understanding. Assent to the truth is of the essence of faith, and the ultimate ground on which our assent to any revealed truth rests is the veracity of God.

Historical faith is the apprehension of and assent to certain statements which are regarded as mere facts of history.

Temporary faith is that state of mind which is awakened in men (e.g., Felix) by the exhibition of the truth and by the influence of religious sympathy, or by what is sometimes styled the common operation of the Holy Spirit.

Saving faith is so called because it has eternal life inseparably connected with it. It cannot be better defined than in the words of the Assembly’s Shorter Catechism: “Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.”

The object of saving faith is the whole revealed Word of God. Faith accepts and believes it as the very truth most sure. But the special act of faith which unites to Christ has as its object the person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 7:38; Acts 16:31). This is the specific act of faith by which a sinner is justified before God (Romans 3:22, 25; Galatians 2:16; Philemon 3:9; John 3:16-36; Acts 10:43; 16:31). In this act of faith the believer appropriates and rests on Christ alone as Mediator in all his offices.

This assent to or belief in the truth received upon the divine testimony has always associated with it a deep sense of sin, a distinct view of Christ, a consenting will, and a loving heart, together with a reliance on, a trusting in, or resting in Christ. It is that state of mind in which a poor sinner, conscious of his sin, flees from his guilty self to Christ his Saviour, and rolls over the burden of all his sins on him. It consists chiefly, not in the assent given to the testimony of God in his Word, but in embracing with fiducial reliance and trust the one and only Saviour whom God reveals. This trust and reliance is of the essence of faith. By faith the believer directly and immediately appropriates Christ as his own. Faith in its direct act makes Christ ours. It is not a work which God graciously accepts instead of perfect obedience, but is only the hand by which we take hold of the person and work of our Redeemer as the only ground of our salvation.

Saving faith is a moral act, as it proceeds from a renewed will, and a renewed will is necessary to believing assent to the truth of God (1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 4:4). Faith, therefore, has its seat in the moral part of our nature fully as much as in the intellectual. The mind must first be enlightened by divine teaching (John 6:44; Acts 13:48; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 1:17, 18) before it can discern the things of the Spirit.

Faith is necessary to our salvation (Mark 16:16), not because there is any merit in it, but simply because it is the sinner’s taking the place assigned him by God, his falling in with what God is doing.

The warrant or ground of faith is the divine testimony, not the reasonableness of what God says, but the simple fact that he says it. Faith rests immediately on, “Thus saith the Lord.” But in order to this faith the veracity, sincerity, and truth of God must be owned and appreciated, together with his unchangeableness. God’s word encourages and emboldens the sinner personally to transact with Christ as God’s gift, to close with him, embrace him, give himself to Christ, and take Christ as his. That word comes with power, for it is the word of God who has revealed himself in his works, and especially in the cross. God is to be believed for his word’s sake, but also for his name’s sake.

Faith in Christ secures for the believer freedom from condemnation, or justification before God; a participation in the life that is in Christ, the divine life (John 14:19; Romans 6:4-10; Ephesians 4:15, 16, etc.); “peace with God” (Romans 5:1); and sanctification (Acts 26:18; Galatians 5:6; Acts 15:9).

All who thus believe in Christ will certainly be saved (John 6:37, 40; 10:27, 28; Romans 8:1).

The faith=the gospel (Acts 6:7; Romans 1:5; Galatians 1:23; 1 Timothy 3:9; Jude 1:3).

Source: archive.org: Nave's Topical Bible

Faith definition and references: –General scriptures concerning 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalms 2:12; 5:11; 7:1; 9:9,10; 18:30; 32:10; 33:18,19; 34:1-8,22; 36:7; 40:4; 64:10; 78:5-7; 84:5,12; 112:5,7,8; 118:8,9; 125:1; 147:11; Proverbs 3:5; 14:26; 22:19; 28:25; 29:25; 30:5; Isaiah 10:20; 14:32; 26:3; 30:15; 57:13; Jeremiah 17:7,8; 39:18; Nahum 1:7; Matthew 9:22; 21:21,22; Mark 9:23,24; 11:23,24; Luke 7:50; 8:48-50; 17:5; 18:8; John 11:25-27; Acts 3:16; 13:48; 26:18; Romans 1:16,17; 4:1-25; 5:1; 9:31-33; 10:6-10; 11:20,23; 15:13; 1 Corinthians 1:21; 2:5; 12:8,9; 2 Corinthians 1:24; Galatians 3:1-29; 5:22; Ephesians 2:8; 6:16; Colossians 1:23; 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 5:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Timothy 1:5,19; 2:15; 4:10; 6:11,12,17; 2imothy 4:7,8; Hebrews 4:1-11; 6:1,7,12,18; 10:35,38,39; 11:1-39; 13:5,6; James 1:6; 2:1-26; 1 Peter 1:5,7,9,21; 3:5; 1 John 3:21; 5:4; Revelation 22:7
–See Faith In Christ
–Enjoined Exodus 14:13; Numbers 21:34; Deuteronomy 1:21-31; 3:2,22; 7:17-21; 20:1; 31:6-8,23; Joshua 1:5-9; 10:25; Judges 6:14-16; 2 Kings 19:6,7; 2 Chronicles 15:7; 16:9; 20:15,17,20; 32:7,8; Nehemiah 4:14; Job 35:14; Psalms 4:5; 27:14; 31:19,24; 37:3,5,7,39,40; 55:22; 62:8; 115:9,11; 130:7; Proverbs 3:5,6,24-26; 16:3; Isaiah 26:4,20; 35:3,4; 37:6; 41:10,13,14; 43:1,2,5,10; 44:2,8; 50:10; Jeremiah 42:11; 49:11; Joel 2:21; 3:16; Habakkuk 2:3,4; Zephaniah 3:16,17; Zechariah 8:9; 9:12; Matthew 6:25-34; 17:18-20; Mark 1:15; 11:22-24; Luke 12:22-32; 17:6
–Instances Of: see after the following subtopic
–Exemplified Genesis 6:22; 16:13; 24:7,40; 48:21; 50:20,24; Exodus 15:1-19; 18:11; Numbers 10:29; 14:8,9; Joshua 14:12; 1 Samuel 14:6; 17:36,37,45-47; 2 Samuel 7:28; 22:2-5; 23:5; 2 Kings 18:5; 1 Chronicles 28:20; 2 Chronicles 13:10,11; 14:11; 20:12; 32:7,8; Ezra 8:22; Nehemiah 1:8-10; 2:20; Job 4:7-21; 5:8,9; 10:12; 13:15; 14:15; 16:19; 19:25-27; 23:6; 42:2; Psalms 3:3,5,6; 4:3,8; 6:8,9; 7:1,10; 9:3,4; 11:1; 13:5; 16:1,2,5,8,11; 17:6; 18:1-3,18,28,29; 20:5-7; 21:7; 22:4,5; 23:1-6; 25:1,2,5,15,20; 26:1,12; 27:1,5,6,10; 28:7; 31:1,3-6,14,15; 32:7; 33:20-22; 35:10; 38:9; 39:7; 40:3,4,17; 41:12; 42:5,6,8; 43:5; 44:5,8; 46:1-3,5,7; 47:3,4; 48:8,14; 52:8; 54:4; 55:16,17,23; 56:3,4,8,9,11; 57:1-3; 59:9,10,17; 60:9,10,12; 61:2,4,6,7; 62:1,5-7; 63:6,7; 66:9; 67:6; 69:19,35,36; 70:5; 71:1,3,5-7,14,16,20,21; 73:23,24,26,28; 74:12; 77:10-12; 86:2,7; 89:18,26; 90:1; 91:1,2,9,10; 92:10,15; 94:14,15,17,18,22; 102:13; 108:10-13; 115:12-14; 116:7; 118:6,7,10,14,17; 119:42,43,57,74,81,114,151,166; 121:2; 124:8; 130:5,6; 138:7,8; 140:6,7,12; 141:8; 142:3,5; 143:8,9; 144:2,10; Ecclesiastes 11:1; Isaiah 8:10,17; 12:2; 25:9; 26:1,8; 33:2,22; 38:16; 50:7-9; 63:16; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:23; 14:9,22; 16:19; 17:12,17; 20:11; Lamentations 3:24-32; Daniel 3:16,17; 6:16; Jonah 2:2-9; Micah 7:7-9,20; Habakkuk 1:12; 3:17-19; Zephaniah 3:12; Luke 1:38; 7:50; John 3:33; Acts 16:34; 24:14,15; 27:25; Romans 8:18,28,38,39; 15:29; 1 Corinthians 9:26; 2 Corinthians 1:10; 4:8,9,13,16-18; 5:7; Galatians 5:5; Philippians 1:19-21; Timothy 4:10; 2imothy 1:12; 2:11-13; Hebrews 10:34; 11:4,5,7-11,13,14,16-39; 13:14; 2 Peter 3:13; 1 John 4:16
–Instances Of
–Noah, in building the ark Genesis 6:14-22; Hebrews 11:7
–Abraham, in forsaking the land of his nativity at the command of God Genesis 12:1-4
–Believing the promise of many descendants Genesis 12:7; 15:4-8
–In the offering up of Isaac Genesis 22:1-10; Romans 4:18-21; Hebrews 11:8-19
–Jacob, in blessing Joseph’s sons Hebrews 11:21
–Joseph, concerning God’s providence in his being sold into Egypt, and the final deliverance of Israel Genesis 50:20; Hebrews 11:22
–Jochebed, in caring for Moses Exodus 2:2; Hebrews 11:23
–Pharaoh’s servants, who obeyed the Lord Exodus 9:20
–Moses

In espousing the cause of his people Hebrews 11:24-28

At the death of Korah Numbers 16:28,29
–The Israelites

When Aaron declared the mission of himself and Moses Exodus 4:31

In the battle with the Canaanites 1 Chronicles 5:20

And other conquests 2 Chronicles 13:8-18
–See Miracles Of Moses
–Caleb, in advising to take the land of promise Numbers 13:30; 14:6-9
–Rahab, in hospitality to the spies Joshua 2:9,11; Hebrews 11:31
–The spies, sent to reconnoiter Jericho Joshua 2:24
–Conquest of Jericho Joshua 6
–Manoah’s wife Judges 13:23
–Hannah 1 Samuel 1
–Jonathan, in stricking down the Philistines 1 Samuel 14:6
–David, in striking down Goliath 1 Samuel 17:37,46,47
–In choosing to fall into the hands of the Almighty for his punishment for counting the people of Israel 2 Samuel 24:14
–In believing God’s promise, that his kingdom would be a perpetual kingdom Acts 2:30
–Elijah, in his controversy with the priest of Baal 1 Kings 18:32-38
–Widow of Zarephath in feeding Elijah 1 Kings 17:13-15
–Amaziah, in dismissing the Ephraimites in obedience to the command of God, and going alone to battle against the Edomites 2 Chronicles 25:7-10
–Hezekiah 2 Kings 18:5; 19; 20:1-11
–Daniel, in the lions’ den Daniel 6
–The three Hebrews, who refused to worship Nebuchadnezzars idol Daniel 3:13-27
–Ninevites, in obeying Jonah Jonah 3:5
–Ezra, in making the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem without a military escort Ezra 8:22
–Joseph, in obeying the vision about Mary and to flee into Egypt Matthew 1:18-24; 2:13,14
–Abel Hebrews 11:4
–Eliphaz, in the overruling providence of God, that afflictions are for the good of the righteous Job 5:6-27
–Mordecai, in the deliverance of the Jews Esther 4:14
–Simeon, when he saw Jesus in the temple courtyard Luke 2:25-35
–Conquests by Hebrews 11:32-34
–See Faith, Trial Of, below
–See Faith In Christ, Instances Of, below
–In Christ Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 7:24,25; 8:2,13; 9:22,29; 11:6,28-30; 14:27; 15:28; 17:7; Mark 5:36; 9:23; 16:16; Luke 6:46-49; 7:9,50; 8:50; 17:6; 18:42; John 1:12; 3:14-16,18,36; 5:24; 6:20,29,35,45,47; 7:38; 9:35; 11:25,26,40; 12:36,44,46; 13:7,20; 14:1,11,12; 16:27,33; 18:37; 20:27,29,31; Acts 3:16; 10:43; 15:9,11; 16:31; 20:21; 26:18; Romans 3:22-28; 9:33; 10:4,9; Galatians 2:16; 3:1-29; 5:6; Ephesians 1:12-14; 3:12,17; 4:13; Philippians 3:9; Colossians 2:7; Timothy 1:16; 2imothy 1:13; 2:1; 3:15; Hebrews 4:16; 6:19; 10:22; 12:2; 13:7; 1 Peter 1:8; 2:6,7; 2 Peter 1:1; 1 John 3:23; 5:4,5,10,13,14; Jude 1:21; Revelation 1:17; 3:18,20
–In Christ, Exemplified Matthew 8:2,5-10; 9:18,21,28; 14:33; 15:26-28; 16:16; Mark 5:28; 7:27-30; 9:24; Luke 5:5; 7:3-9; 23:42; John 4:29,42; 6:14,68,69; 7:31; 9:38; 10:41,42; 11:21,22,27,32; 16:30; 20:28; Acts 8:37; 11:17; Romans 7:24,25; 8:35,37; 2 Corinthians 12:9,10; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 4:13; Timothy 1:14; 2imothy 1:12; 4:18
–Instances Of Faith In Christ
–The wise men from the east Matthew 2:1,2,11
–Peter Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:4,5; John 6:68,69
–Andrew Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; John 1:41
–James and John Matthew 4:21,22; Mark 1:19,20
–The woman with the issue of blood Matthew 9:21,22
–Jairus, for the healing of his daughter Matthew 9:18,23-25
–Two blind men Matthew 9:29,30
–Blind Bartimaeus and a fellow blind man Matthew 20:30-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-42
–The Samaritan leper Luke 17:11-19
–The sick people of Gennesaret Matthew 14:36; Mark 3:10; 6:54-56
–Those who brought the paralyzed man to Jesus Luke 5:18-20
–The Syrophoenician woman Matthew 15:22-28; Mark 7:25-30
–The woman who anointed Jesus’ feet Luke 7:36-50
–Those who brought those who were sick with palsy Matthew 9:2
–Philip John 1:45,46
–Nathanael John 1:49
–The Samaritans, who believed

Through the preaching of Jesus John 4:39-42

Through the preaching of Philip Acts 8:9-12
–The nobleman whose child was sick John 4:46-53
–Abraham John 8:56
–The blind man whom Jesus healed on the Sabbath John 9:13-38
–Mary, the sister of Martha Luke 10:38-42; John 11:32
–John the disciple John 20:8
–The disciples, through the miracle at Cana of Galilee John 2:11
–Jews at Jerusalem John 2:23; 8:30; 11:45; 12:11
–About three-thousand people on the day of Pentecost Acts 2:41
–About five-thousand people Acts 4:4
–Multitudes Acts 5:14
–The crippled man at Lystra Acts 14:9
–Stephen Acts 6:8
–The Ethiopian eunuch Acts 8:37
–The people of Lydda and S h) aron Acts 9:35
–The people of Joppa Acts 9:42
–The people of Antioch Acts 11:21-24
–Barnabas Acts 11:24
–Eunice, Lois, and Timothy 2imothy 1:5; Acts 16:1
–Lydia Acts 16:14
–The Philippian jailor Acts 16:31-34
–Crispus Acts 18:8
–The Corinthians Acts 18:8; 1 Corinthians 15:11
–Jews at Rome Acts 28:24
–Ephesians Ephesians 1:13,15
–Colossians Colossians 1:2,4
–Thessalonians 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 3:6-8; 2 Thessalonians 1:3,4
–Philemon Philemon 1:5
–The congregation at Thyatira Revelation 2:19
–Trial Of 1 Chronicles 29:17; Psalms 26:2; 81:7; Matthew 13:19-22; 24:21-25; Luke 8:13,14; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-5; Hebrews 6:13-15; James 1:3,12; 1 Peter 1:7
–See Temptation
–Instances Of Trial Of
–Noah Genesis 6:14-22; Hebrews 11:7
–Abraham, when commanded to leave his native land and to go where he did not know Genesis 12:1-4; Hebrews 11:8
–Abraham, when commanded to offer Isaac Genesis 22:1-19; Hebrews 11:17-19
–Moses, when sent to Pharaoh Exodus 3:11,12; 4:10-17; Hebrews 11:25-29
–Moses, at the Red Sea, by the complaints of the people Exodus 14; 15
–Joshua and the people of Israel, in the method of taking Jericho Joshua 6; Hebrews 11:30
–Gideon, when commanded to deliver Israel Judges 6:36-40; 7; Hebrews 11:32
–Job, by affliction and adversity Job 1; 2
–Ezra, in leaving Babylon without a military escort Ezra 8:22
–Daniel, when forbidden to pray to Jehovah Daniel 6:4-23; Hebrews 11:32,33
–The three Hebrews, when commanded to worship the image Daniel 3:8-30; Hebrews 11:32-34
–The Syrophoenician woman Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30
–The two blind men who appealed to Jesus for sight Matthew 9:28
–The disciples, when Jesus came walking upon the Sea of Galilee Matthew 14:25-33
–The disciples

By the question of Jesus, as to who he was Matthew 16:15-20; Luke 9:20,21

By their inability to cast out the evil spirit from the epileptic boy Matthew 17:14-21; Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-42

In the tempest at sea Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:36-41; Luke 8:22-26
–Of Philip, when questioned by Jesus as to how the multitude would be fed John 6:5,6
–Of Peter, when asked whether he loved Jesus John 21:16,17
–See Affliction, Design Of
–Strengthened By Miracles
–See Miracles, Design Of
–Sum Total Of Religious Belief And Life Romans 1:8; Jude 1:3
–Weak
–See Doubting

Source: archive.org: Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Faith refers to:—Hebrews 11:1, "the substance of things hoped for (i.e., it substantiates God's promises, the fulfillment of which we hope, it makes them present realities), the evidence (elengchos , the 'convincing proof' or 'demonstration') of things not seen." Faith accepts the truths revealed on the testimony of God (not merely on their intrinsic reasonableness), that testimony being to us given in Holy Scripture. Where sight is, there faith ceases (John 20:29; 1 Peter 1:8). We are justified (i.e. counted just before God) judicially by God (Romans 8:33), meritoriously by Christ (Isaiah 53:11; Romans 5:19), mediately or instrumentally by faith (Romans 5:1), evidentially by works. Loving trust. James 2:14-26, "though a man say he hath faith, and have not works, can (such a) faith save him?" the emphasis is on "say," it will be a mere saying, and can no more save the soul than saying to a "naked and destitute brother, be warmed and filled" would warm and fill him.

"Yea, a man (holding right views) may say, Thou hast faith and I have works, show (exhibit to) me (if thou canst, but it is impossible) thy (alleged) faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works." Abraham believed, and was justified before God on the ground of believing (Genesis 15:6). Forty years afterward, when God did" tempt," i.e. put him to the test, his justification was demonstrated before the world by his offering Isaac (Genesis 22). "As the body apart from (chooris ) the spirit is dead, so faith without the works (which ought to evidence it) is dead also." We might have expected faith to answer to the spirit, works to the body. As James reverses this, he must mean by "faith" here the FORM of faith, by "works" the working reality. Living faith does not derive its life from works, as the body does from its animating spirit.

But faith, apart from the spirit of faith, which is LOVE (whose evidence is works), is dead, as the body is dead without the spirit; thus James exactly agrees with Paul, 1 Corinthians 13:2, "though I have all faith ... and have not charity (love), I am nothing." In its barest primary form, faith is simply crediting or accepting God's testimony (1 John 5:9-13). Not to credit it is to make God a "liar"! a consequence which unbelievers may well start back from. The necessary consequence of crediting God's testimony (pisteuoo Τheoo ) is believing in (pisteuoo eis ton huion , i.e. "trusting in") the Son of God; for He, and salvation in Him alone, form the grand subject of God's testimony.

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Prologue

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