Defining Faith

W.E. Vine tells us that faith (pistis) is "firm persuasion, conviction based upon hearing." I suppose one could consult various other Bible dictionaries and word studies and come to similar definitions of the word. Faith, however, should not be limited to definitions, for it is better defined through actions rather than words.

Looking at Hebrews 11, the "halls of faith," we see men and women who acted upon their "assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). It is easy to understand that "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (Heb. 11:6). This chapter gives an explanation of faith without limiting it to a few general statements. Furthermore, it goes beyond defining faith: it defines the lives of those who had faith.

It was by faith that Abel offered and still speaks today (vs.4); through faith Enoch was pleasing to God and was taken up (vs. 5); by faith Noah prepared the ark and became an heir of righteousness (vs. 7); by faith Abraham obeyed, went, lived, and looked (vss. 8-10); and by faith even Sarah was made able to conceive (vs.11). "All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on earth" (vs 13). The faith of these people defined their lives...lives of humility and submission to God's will. This was not a dormant faith, it was an active, living, obedient faith that was demonstrated by works.

By faith Abraham offered his only son Isaac (vs 17); by faith Isaac blessed his sons (vs. 20); by faith Jacob blessed Joseph's sons and worshipped (vs 21); by faith Joseph mentioned the exodus and gave orders concerning his bones (vs 22). By faith Moses was hidden by his parents from the king (vs. 23); by faith Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter and chose instead to endure ill-treatment with Israel, for by faith he was looking to the reward (vss. 24-26; by faith he left Egypt and kept the Passover; and by faith Israel passed through the Red Sea unharmed, while the Egyptians perished for their lack of faith (vss 27-29). It was by faith that the walls of Jericho fell, but not until that faith had been demonstrated by encircling the city for seven days (vs. 30); and it was by faith that Rahab the harlot was spared, but not until after she had proven her faith by welcoming the spies of Israel in peace (vs. 31). All these, through faith, acted. It was their faith in God that motivated them to perform righteous works. It was their faith that defined them, guided them, and ultimately saved them.

Verses 32-40 tell of more men "of whom the world was not worthy" because of their great faith. And they all died, "having gained approval through their faith," without receiving the promise in their lifetimes.

Chapter twelve continues the thought by encouraging its readers with the following words:

Faith involves being faithful. Consider this: is a television that only comes on half the time faithful? is an employee who is only at work 3 days a week instead of 5 faithful? is the employer who only pays his employees half of what he owes them faithful? is the spouse who is involved with another person faithful? is the Christian who only attends assemblies of the congregation occassionally really faithful? is a person who fails to make a sacrifice in his giving truly faithful? is the man who refuses to help someone in need really displaying faith? does a woman who doesn't pray really have faith? is the family that does not study the Bible full of faithfulness?

On the other hand, a man of faith lives by his faith (Romans 1:17). That doesn't mean he is still alive because of what he believes. It means that he lives according to what his faith demands, and that is obedience and loyalty. One man may have faith in money, and therefore he lives for the dollar and is ever loyal to it; it demands his time and he gives it; it requests his pocket and he opens it; it controls and directs his life. Another man may live by faith in the bottle (alcohol), and he is a slave to it, for it consumes his time, money, life, and takes away thoughts of doing anything else; he is ever loyal to it. A man can also choose to live by faith in God; but when he makes such a choice, he must understand that true faith in God demands that he stop living in sin and starting walking in the footsteps of Jesus; he must be free from love of the world and become a slave of righteousness; his faith must be the guiding light of his life, defining him and making him what he is. Of course that faith must be based on hearing and understanding the Word of God, for blind faith will make you fall in the pit.

There are those who say that salvation is by faith apart from any works or acts of obedience, and even without baptism. Paul answers that idea in Romans 6, where he tells us that it is in baptism that we get into Christ, are buried into his death, and are raised up to newness of life. Baptism is an act by which the penitent believer appropriates (receives, obtains, applies) the atoning blood of Christ to his soul. He may have faith all his life in God, but without baptism, he has never received the benefit of that faith. It is the acting upon his faith by submitting to baptism that a man can be newly defined as a child of God and heir to eternal life. And thus we see that it is faith that defines a man, if he lives and acts according to that faith.

We cannot properly study faith and obedience without giving time to the words of James. He tells us in James 1:21-25 that we must receive the word in ourselves because it will save our souls. That word, however, does little good if the receiver is not a believer. There are plenty of educated men in the world that are familiar with the Scriptures...men who write books and essays and deliver grand speeches to audiences of thousands...men who inspire others with their long lists of accomplishments and fancy words. Yet these men, without a proper understanding and application of the Word, will perish along with the rest of the world. For James says that we must be DOERS of the word, not just hearers living in the delusion of righteousness without obedience (aka faith without works). In chapter two of his letter, James illustrates faith and works. "What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?" (vs. 14) Let us consider then his proposition: "If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,' and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?" Yes, I must know from those who believe in faith without works, what use IS that? We must reach the same conclusion as James, that "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself."

Perhaps that illustration was not fair. Let us give the erring believer another chance, as James did: "Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." Can it be done? Can a person demonstrate or prove the presence of his faith without actually doing anything? Can his testimony be trusted without evidence to support it? On the other hand, the man who lives by faith can show it in all that he does, and the fact that he is able to demonstrate his faith does not disqualify him from the inheritance, rather, it DEFINES him as an heir! "You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone."

Though we can appreciate the scholarly work of men like W.E. Vine and those who write Bible dictionaries and various studies of the word, I believe that a man should not define faith as much as faith should define a man! How does your faith define you?

Written by David F. Sims, doing my part to "turn the world upside down" (Acts 17:6)

All quotes taken from the New American Standard Bible, unless otherwise stated.

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