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Please open a Bible to Hebrews 11:1 where it is written: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." I would like for us to consider the nature of faith: the "substance." It is important for those of us who would please God to understand faith, for "without faith it is impossible to please Him." (Hebrews 11:6). I intend to define faith, express its nature and how it is obtained, and exhort us both to increase in it. Before we get started I would like to share my motivation to explore this subject. I think very few people
have faith. I think faith in Christ is a very
rare thing among people who claim to know Christ as personal Savior. I fear most people who go to church on Sundays will spend eternity in the lake of fire because they do not have faith in Jesus Christ. I think that many people are vaguely aware of this and do not care enough to do anything about it. I state all of these thoughts entirely without proof, of course; they are merely opinions. Perhaps, before we are through here, you will share my concern.
What is faith? Webster defines faith as, "unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence; complete trust, confidence, or reliance." I will show that this definition is equivalent to what the Bible
says about faith: faith is neither more nor less than what the dictionary has defined it to be. Our definition implies that faith has an object, either a person or an idea or a truth that is trusted, confided in,
or relied upon. One may have faith—complete trust—in one person or idea, and not in another. I will refrain from the terms "biblical faith" and "true faith" since these are redundancies. All faith is biblical faith: there is only
one kind of faith and the Bible describes it well. I also accept the following as evident: one is either doubting the object in question, or one is not; there is no gray area here. I seek to show that if one is
doubting an object then one has NO faith in that object, not "weak faith." Doubt and faith are not warm bedfellows. If doubt is in bed, faith is dead. Contrary to the definition of faith, it is commonly understood
that faith and doubt are on a continuum of trust and that at any place along the continuum we have a mixture of faith and doubt: the less doubt the stronger the faith, the more doubt, the weaker the faith. In the context of eternal
life, where faith has its most critical affect, this teaching tries to comfort the doubting heart instead of alarming it to the danger of unbelief. I will prove that this is devastating error: if a man for the most part expects to
be safe from hell, when in fact he is careening straight for it, he is in compounded danger. Faith is, by definition, "complete." This is perhaps the most important aspect of faith. Faith is "complete" trust,
"complete" confidence, "complete" reliance. Faith is, by definition, the "complete" absence of doubt. Since one cannot have less doubt than no doubt, faith can only grow or become weak with respect to the number of truths believed,
not in response to a single truth. Faith is always "nothing wavering." (James 1:6) "
The completeness of faith can be explicitly derived from the text of Romans 14:23: "But he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." God says that if one is in
doubt about whether it is acceptable to God to eat a particular item, and eats it anyway with this measure of doubt, then he is not eating in faith and stands condemned before God with respect to that activity. The statement only
holds if the presence of doubt completely excludes faith; if one can be doubting and have faith at the same time about the same thing then the passage cannot be true as it stands. Simplified, the implication is: "That which is done
with doubt is done without faith." God states that if someone is doing something in doubt then they are not doing it in faith. Essentially, the statement implies that faith and doubt are mutually exclusive of each other. We must
reject the truth of the text or accept the "oppositeness" of faith and doubt. God does not delineate the "amount" of doubt, or the strength of the doubt, which must be present in order to exclude faith. This implies
that any doubt at all is classified as unbelief. The presence of any minute trace of doubt with respect to some object of trust or belief or activity directly implies the absence of faith with respect to that object. Faith in a
specific object (the idea or truth) cannot therefore be treated as a value on a continuum, such as "big" or "little." Instead, faith must be treated as a discrete value: "on" or "off," "yes" or "no:" faith and belief being one
state and doubt and unbelief the other. Another biblical evidence of the nature of faith is found in the conditions for answered prayer. James 1:6-8 states, "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he
that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." This text plainly declares that a
condition for an assurance of answered prayer is that there be absolutely no wavering when the prayer is made: "nothing wavering." This "nothing wavering" is stated as an equivalence to faith. If there is any wavering at all, there
is to be no certain expectation that prayer will be answered. If there is no wavering, then the request is made in faith and a positive response is assured. A companion text is found in Matthew 21:21-22: "Jesus
answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the
sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." If anything is asked believing it is certainly received; if there is any doubting the request may not be granted. Believing
therefore implies the complete absence of doubting. The phrase, "If ye have faith, and doubt not..." implies that faith and "not doubting" are equivalent. Faith and belief and "nothing wavering" are one and the same condition for an
assurance of answered prayer, doubting and unbelief are also disqualification for the same. As clearly as one cannot be believing and disbelieving the same truth simultaneously, so one cannot have faith mixed with doubt with
respect to the same truth or idea at the same time. No doubt (pun intended:), if you are accustomed to thinking critically, you are considering scriptures such as, "O ye of little faith …increase our faith," and
"faith as a grain of mustard seed." Such Scriptures appear to relate a concept of weakness in faith or growing in faith, showing that faith need not be complete as I have stated. However, faith may grow with respect
to the number and complexity of truths believed, rather than in the quality of the faith itself. It is not necessary to conclude that "growing in faith" implies a convenient mixture of faith and doubt with respect to the same
object of trust. If faith is the absence of doubt about something then strong faith is the absence of doubt about many things. It is in this light that we properly relate texts that describe "little faith" and "growing faith." One
of these passages, Matthew 17:14-20, tells of the disciples' failure in Christian service due to unbelief. Listen carefully to the words of the Lord Jesus in light of our definition. "And when they were come to
the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to
thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he
departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye
have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." Note the contrast between unbelief and faith.
The disciples were acting in unbelief and experienced failure and frustration in their work. Jesus complained that they were "faithless"
with respect to their task. Had they been acting in faith there would have been healing. Note also here, that "faith as a grain of mustard seed" is not "weak faith" — it moves mountains. When we
consider the completeness of a grain of mustard seed, not half a grain but a whole seed, we see the pattern of a tree that needs only to be fed and watered. So it is with faith. It is complete in essence. Faith may seem a weak
instrument to a world built around the strength of the flesh, trust in armaments, and the power of prestige, politics and money. Faith may be comparable to a mustard seed in the eyes of the world, as it appears to be a very weak
means. But being complete, faith taps the strength and might of the almighty and eternal God. What makes faith strong is its object. This same event, the healing of the demon possessed child, is found again in Mark
9:14-29 with additional truth. The father of the troubled child has already suffered through the faithless-ness of the disciples and professes open unbelief in the desire and/or power of Jesus to help him by saying, "If thou
canst do anything, have mercy on us and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe;
help thou mine unbelief." (Mark 9:22-23) One might say that the man was both believing and disbelieving at the same time. Certainly he was. Was it the same object? It need not be. If so, we have a contradiction
of the definition of faith and a counterexample to my thesis. We must then ask, "What does "I believe" and "my unbelief" mean?" If words are to have meaning, we must accept their use in context according to their definition when we
can. When we cannot, we must consider our definition to be incomplete. Is that so here? It is reasonable to conclude that this man doubted something, and that there was something he did not doubt, and that the
objects of belief and doubt were different: we maintain our definition and do no violence to the text. We are not told what these respective things were, only that Christ healed the boy when He "saw that the people came running
together."(vs. 25) We are never told that the healing was dependent on the belief of the father; or that it was being prevented by his unbelief. Jesus was in a position to do as He pleased in spite of any unbelief in the father. It
is quite possible that the healing was in response to the reaction of the crowd as they ran toward the scene in anticipation of a miracle. Whatever the case, we certainly have no conclusive evidence that a man can be believing and
doubting the same thing at the same time. Perhaps the father believed that Jesus had power to do some type of miracle but doubted whether Jesus was strong enough to meet his particular needs. Perhaps he doubted Christ's
willingness to help him, rather than Christ's ability. As an aside, do you feel this way at times... that He is unwilling? I, personally, never doubt that He is able
... but I often struggle with assurance of His will. Thanks be to God, He is not limited by our lack of faith. There are many texts which we could consider at this point which relate to weak or little faith.
I have found all of them to be consistently understood in accordance with the definition I have presented. It is more consistent in each of these passages to measure the strength of the faith by the types and quantity of truths
received, not in the essential nature of faith itself. One further example is the faith of Abraham, mentioned throughout the New Testament. Abraham experienced salvation when he became fully
(not partly or mostly) persuaded in God's ability and willingness to do as He said: "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness" (Gen 15:6). When God recounts this for us in the New
Testament He says: "And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness." (Rom 4:21-2) When Abraham saw the coming of Christ through
God's promise, he believed, he was fully persuaded, and so he rejoiced in it... as Christ Himself said, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad." (John 8:56) Abraham's faith is used
as an example of an exceptionally strong faith in that he, believing that God would raise Isaac from the dead (Hebrews 11:17-19), prepared to offer Isaac up as a burnt sacrifice. While it is one thing to pray for the resurrection
of a child who has just died of cancer or pneumonia, it is quite another to look into the mists of smoldering ash, matted and scattered upon a pile of blood spattered rocks and dirt... and expect a resurrection: this is remarkable
indeed! Though Abraham's faith was spectacular, it is not rare among the saints. Those who are "of the faith of Abraham," are all the saved (Romans 4:16); he is the "father of us all." To reject the definition of
faith as it stands in our dictionary, and to accept the common notion of faith as a continuum, is to generate profound difficulty with these examples from God's Word, as well as with concepts in Romans 14:23 and James 1:6, with
texts which relate conditions for salvation and answered prayer, and with other like passages which picture faith and doubt as mutually exclusive. Faith and doubt are not two sides of the same coin, mirroring the same state. Faith,
by definition, is complete: it is the absence of doubt—it is believing. Given the definition of faith, what are some benefits or results that faith produces in one's life?
Perhaps the most happy state that results from faith is salvation itself. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."(Rom 5:1) "Abraham believed
God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."(Romans 4:3) "To him . . . that believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith
is counted for righteousness."(Romans 4:5) "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith
in his blood."(Romans 3:25) Faith in the person and atoning work of Christ is the sole condition for salvation, and it must be complete: "If thou believest with all
thine heart." (Acts 8:27) This is consistent with our definition and thesis, and shows faith to be of utmost importance. Any condition needful for salvation, such as repentance, sincerity or knowledge, is either
contained in faith or necessarily precedes belief in Christ as God brings justification to the soul. "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not
is condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God." (John 3:18) Clearly, the presence of faith or belief in Christ implies salvation; if faith has never been present in the soul then condemnation is implied.
If faith is the one and only link to salvation, then a lack of correct understanding concerning the definition and nature of faith is most obviously perilous. What better way for Satan to deceive a soul into the
bowels of hell than to falsely convince it of heaven? Is not this the way the devil works? Many think that they are going to heaven because they have repented of sin and have determined to follow Christ—this is the lie of works.
Many others think they are bound for heaven because they have repented of their sins and have sincerely asked Christ to come in to their hearts and save them... regardless of their actual faith in Christ at the time they asked or
at present. This is the great evangelical lie: a redefinition of unbelief as faith and a redefinition of praying as receiving. Many who fancy themselves Christians are simply tripping at
hell's door without faith unto salvation, and are being told, "Ignore your feelings, just claim salvation... even though you are always doubting your eternal safety." This is what the lazy, irrational soul wants to hear. Yet, in
this state, with only the mechanical acts of invitation and dedication to cling to, when the vastness of the loss of eternal salvation is even momentarily considered by any rational soul, this kind of thinking will be shunned and
complete assurance will be sought until it is found. Feelings of anxiety, fear and uncertainty about eternal life are a proof of the absence of faith, not an indication of "weak faith.". Ignoring these feelings is eternally
perilous. Even so, it seems very few people have considered this fact. Most "Christians" have grown accustomed to doubts about salvation as a natural part of their "Christianity" and are content in this state. This is absurd. How does one deal with doubt around them and within them when they are confronted with it? While we are commanded to give the gospel to others and to remind ourselves of it often, do not ever make the mistake of
reassuring anyone of salvation while they are continuing in doubt, not even yourself. If one does not have assurance of salvation they doubt their salvation, they stand in unbelief before God and need for God to restore their
faith, or to give it to them initially if they have never known and experienced faith. The appropriate response in doubt is not consolation, but an earnest prayer for faith and a focusing on the Person and atoning work of Christ.
If one has never really believed and therefore doubts as a manner of life, salvation is what is needed, most certainly not consolation. Why is consolation with respect to salvation in times of doubt a very dangerous
thing? It is because the very worst thing that you can ever
do to another human being in this life is to seek to assure them of a salvation that they do not have. You can stoop no lower than this. You lull them to sleep when their hearts cry out in alarm, anxious of their eternal state. If you had any inkling of the fiery fate of the unbeliever, you would tremble with them, not laugh it off. "
Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men." (2 Cor 5:11) Do not ignore doubt; it is the indication of an absence of faith and must be dealt with soberly. As assurance is the natural fruit of
faith, uncertainty and anxiety is the natural consequence of unbelief and doubt. Doubt must be destroyed in us, not ignored and swept under the rug: it is our greatest enemy. Faith must be sought as the gift of God until the soul
is comforted with utter and complete assurance from Him. Without God's help we can do nothing about it... but, we need not be without God's help. At this point it is natural to explore another aspect of faith. In
addition to the fact that the presence faith implies the absence of doubt, and that faith in Christ implies salvation, we also know this: faith in God and in His Word must be supernaturally induced. "Faith... is the gift of God
." (Eph 2:8) Faith is not something we can conjure up in our minds or talk ourselves into. Faith is remarkable; it brings a profound and unshakable confidence in the face of danger and deception. It is so full and vibrant that,
in and of itself, it becomes an evidence of the truth and veracity of what is believed. The absolute certainty, the relentless confidence, the calm boldness in the absence of tangible evidence and physical
proofs... certainty in the face of persecution, suffering and death... unshakable assurance and confidence that does not need evidence... this is the work of God. A saint comes to rest perfectly and utterly and completely in
Someone he has never seen, and to accept promises of things beyond his temporal experience. He loves a God he has never physically met, that is never perceived with the senses. This is not something a human being can create or
fabricate, it is a miracle of God, the "substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." It is inescapable proof of divine working. We are totally unable to produce a
complete absence of doubt about the truth in our own hearts and minds. Perhaps we can be fully convinced of a lie because we are liars by nature, but faith in the things of God must be the work of God in us: "Jesus the author
and finisher
of our faith." Faith in God is the fruit of the Spirit, as listed in Galatians 5:23; it is not listed as a work of the flesh. It is ever a product of His grace as the nature and life of Christ increases within us, "And the
grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." (1 Tim 1:14) If you have faith in God and in His Word, it is supernatural and it is the gift of God: "for by grace are ye saved though
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8). If you are presently doubting your salvation in any manner whatsoever, you do not have faith and you must with all diligence get it from
God. There is no hope for you to develop it yourself. We have direction, whether we have ever had faith before or whether we have never had faith, to seek faith from God: "the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith
."(Luke 17:5) The fact that faith is supernatural seems also to imply that it is a rare thing. In the parable of the unjust judge Jesus suggested that faith in God will be very uncommon when His returns. He asked
rhetorically, "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8) It is plain that few are saved, "because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few
there be that find it." (Matt 7:14) Few are saved because few have faith. Finding faith is finding the gate. This makes faith precious in two respects: it is both rare and exceedingly valuable. This is why Peter writes, "to
them that have obtained like precious faith with us, through the righteousness of God." (2 Pet 1:1) A common misunderstanding is that faith comes from reading the Bible and that we can get it on our own without
God's help. The Bible never says this. The text often quoted in this respect is Romans 10:17: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." The text does not say that faith comes by hearing the word of
God, which is the way folks generally take it. It actually says that hearing comes by the word of God. Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the Word. One may understand it this way: God
decrees who will hear and those who hear grow in faith as the truth comes to them. God decrees that an individual will believe - His Word goes forth in this decree and is certain. This is His election, and this text in Romans is
embedded in the context of election. (Rom 10:16-11:10) God grants repentance and faith to someone, and so gives them spiritual ears with which to hear. They become a spiritually hearing
person: hearing has come by the Word of God. Now, when God speaks truth to a hearing
person, whether directly in person, through a brother or sister, or through the texts of the Bible, that hearing person receives the Word of God and believes what God says: their faith is increased -- not in degree but in scope. Faith comes as truth comes. Believing the truth of God comes naturally to one who has spiritual ears, as Jesus said often, "
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." (Matt 11:15; 13:9,43; etc) What is the fruit of hearing spiritually and growing in faith? Full assurance is another state that accompanies faith, a state which sadly
eludes so many millions of careless, doubting churchgoers in our day. God exhorts us to "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith." (Heb 10:22) It is not partial assurance, or weak assurance... it is the "
full assurance" of faith. It was the appearance of this quality in the lives of the Thessalonian people that convinced Paul of their election of God. He wrote to them, "Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For
our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." (1 Thess 1:4-5) If full assurance of salvation is lacking, it is because faith is lacking; faith brings with it full
assurance and it is one genuine, unmistakable, consistent evidence of faith. Mutual comfort of the saints is also a product of mutual faith. Paul writes in Romans 1:11-12, "For I long to see you, that I may impart
unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me." Being with others who have obtained faith in God, and sharing our
joys and sorrows with them, is a comforting thing. When our faith fails or weakens, if through trial or deception our confidence in some aspect of our Lord's character or promises is lost for a time, we can be encouraged by the
faith of our companions in Christ. Knowing that other Christians are growing and being strengthened in their faith as they come to know, love, and understand our Lord better is a great comfort. Faith is the most
important part of the Christian's spiritual armor: "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."(Eph 6:16) When Satan comes to try us with doubting, speculating,
and discouragement we must have God strengthening our faith to resist him. Complete assurance laughs at the deceiver's lie, but the doubting, unshielded, unbelieving heart is pierced, wounded, and crushed. Faith is
the building block upon which the entire Christian life is built. Peter writes, "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge."(2 Pet 1:5) Without faith we have nothing valid to add
virtue to, and without virtue, knowledge puffs up and destroys the soul. How can we grow as Christ would have us to if we do not begin by strengthening our faith? Faith is the vital link to the indwelling Christ in
our hearts. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith." (Eph 3:17) Christ is our life, and "the just shall live" this life "by faith" (Heb 10:39). It is by faith that we are to walk in Him and obey Him, trusting His Word and
the guidance of His Spirit. It is "impossible to please Him" without faith (Heb 11:6) "for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." (Rom 14:23). Our every move, thought, and breath is to be a product of our utter dependence and
obedience to God, our knowledge of His will and His truth and our submission to it is a natural fruit of faith. All doubt with respect to eternal things, ideally, is to be removed from our life. It is only in
Christ that we note this, and how beautifully it is found in Him!. There is never any hint of doubt or confusion in all of His earthly existence (not even in the Garden of Gethsemane, when Faith is a key element in the Christian life. It is "the substance" of Christian life and thought. It is by faith that one becomes a Christian, and it is by faith that one stays strong in Christ. Faith in God is
not of us but supernatural in origin, and so — pure and strong — it is proof of the truth of its object: "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen". Faith is vital to our spiritual health and well being since, "without faith it is impossible to please" God. A current lack of understanding concerning the nature of faith is, in my opinion,
devastating Protestant and Evangelical churches, organizations, and movements all around the world. Fervent ignorance is bringing a reproach upon Jesus Christ in our culture. Churches are filled with tares instead of wheat,
resulting in division instead of purity and unity. Faith must be known and experienced in the Churches if the earthly bride is to bring pleasure to her heavenly Husband. We must be more diligent before our God to obtain faith from
Him and encourage others to seek faith from God.. We must say with the apostles, "Lord, increase our faith." |
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