Introduction
Faith, a very powerful word from scripture. By examining biblical accounts, historical interpretations, and contemporary insights, we will seek to better understanding of faith and the impact it has on our lives as followers or Christ.
Faith Defined
| 4102. pistis |
| Lexical Summary pistis: Faith, belief, trust, confidence, fidelity Original Word: πίστις Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: pistis Pronunciation: PIS-tis Phonetic Spelling: (pis’-tis) KJV: assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity NASB: faith, faithfulness, pledge, proof Word Origin: [from G3982 (πείθω – persuaded)] 1. persuasion, i.e. credence 2. (morally) conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher) 3. (especially) reliance upon Christ for salvation 4. (abstractly) constancy in such profession 5. (by extension) the system of religious (Gospel) truth itselfStrong’s Exhaustive Concordanceassurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.From peitho; persuasion, i.e. Credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself — assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.see GREEK peithoHELPS Word-studies 4102 pístis (from 3982/peithô, “persuade, be persuaded”) – properly, persuasion (be persuaded, come to trust); faith.Faith (4102/pistis) is always a gift from God, and never something that can be produced by people. In short, 4102/pistis (“faith”) for the believer is “God’s divine persuasion” – and therefore distinct from human belief (confidence), yet involving it. The Lord continuously births faith in the yielded believer so they can know what He prefers, i.e. the persuasion of His will (1 Jn 5:4).[4102 (pistis) in secular antiquity referred to a guarantee (warranty). In Scripture, faith is God’s warranty, certifying that the revelation He inbirthed will come to pass (His way).Faith (4102/pistis) is also used collectively – of all the times God has revealed (given the persuasion of) His will, which includes the full revelation of Scripture (Jude 3). Indeed, God the Lord guarantees that all of this revelation will come to pass! Compare Mt 5:18 with 2 Tim 3:16.]1. The root of 4102/pistis (“faith”) is 3982/peithô (“to persuade, be persuaded”) which supplies the core-meaning of faith (“divine persuasion“). It is God’s warranty that guarantees the fulfillment of the revelation He births within the receptive believer (cf. 1 Jn 5:4 with Heb 11:1).Faith (4102/pistis) is always received from God, and never generated by us.Ro 12:3: “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith (4102/pistis)” (NASU).Eph 2:8,9: ” For by grace you have been saved through faith (4102/pistis); and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (NASU).Gal 5:22,23: “22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,patience, kindness, goodness, faith (4102/pistis), 23gentleness,self-control; against such things there is no law.”2 Thes 1:11: “To this end (glorification) – indeed each time we pray about (peri) you for the purpose (hin) of our God counting you worthy of the call – even that He may fulfill (His) every good-pleasure that comes from (His) goodness and work of faith, in (His) ability.”Reflection: Faith is only (exclusively) given to the redeemed. It is not a virtue that can be worked up by human effort.2. Faith (4102/pistis) enables the believer to know God’s preferred-will (cf. J. Calvin; see 2307/thelçma). Accordingly, faith (4102/pistis) and “God’s preferred-will (2307/thelçma)” are directly connected in Scripture.2 Ro 12:2,3: ” And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will (2307/thelçma) of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. 3For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith (4102/pistis)” (NASU).5 2 Cor 8:5,7: ” And this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will (2307/thelçma) ofGod” (NASU).7″ But just as you abound in everything, in faith (4102/pistis)and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also”(NASU).Heb 10:36,38: “36For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will (2307/thelçma) of God, you may receive what was promised” (NASU).” BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH(4102/pistis); AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM” (NASU).1 Jn 5:4: “For whatever is born of God conquers the world;and this is the conquest that has conquered the world – our faith(4102/pistis).”3. In sum, faith (4102/pistis) is a persuasion from God that we receive as He grants impulse (“divine spark”; cf. the Heb hiphil form of believe, *mn, in a later discussion). Faith is always the work of God and involves hearing His voice – whereby the believer lays hold of His preferred-will (cf. J. Calvin).1 Hab 2:1: ” I will stand on my guard post And station myself on the rampart;And I will keep watch to see what He will speak in (Heb b ) me” (NASU).Hab 2:4: “Behold, as for the proud one,His soul is not right within him;But the righteous will live in his faith” (= 4102/pistis, “faith from the Lord”). More on what faith is . . . and isn’t In Scripture, faith and belief are not exactly the same. Faith always comes from God and involves His revelation therefore faith is beyond belief! Faith is God’s work; faith is never the work of people. We cannot produce faith ourselves, nor can we “drum it up at will.” Rather, faith comes as Christ speaks His rhçma-word within (see Ro 10:17, Gk text). In all of Scripture, only the term faith is ever used in the following way: Ro 14:23: Whatever is not of faith (4102/pistis) is sin.” Heb 11:6: “And without faith (4102/pistis) 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” (NASU).Reflection: Nothing quite like this two-fold witness appears elsewhere in the Bible. These sweeping statements sober the heart and inspire the soul! The Lord offers to inbirth faith in each scene of life – so that each matters equally in eternity . . . no matter how insignificant they seem (Lk 16:10 with Lk 17:6 and 2 Pet 1:2).Key quotes“Faith always pre-supposes revelation” (W. H. Griffith Thomas, Genesis, 55). “Faith is always a response to a divine revelation” (W. H. Griffith Thomas, Hebrews, 143). “Faith . . . both in its initiation and every step of the way, is Spirit given . . . faith is God given” (W. Hendriksen, Galatians, 197). “Faith precedes works, and is not something merely deduced byreason of existing” (D. Edmond Hiebert, Thessalonians, 2 Thes 1:11). “Faith is always a gift of God” (L. Morris, John, p 520). “The basis of faith is God’s revelation of Himself . . . Christianity cameto be seen as a faith event” (O. Michel, Dictionary of New Testament Theology).”Faith is the divine response, wrought in man, by God” (from Berkof’s Systematic Theology, representing the views of Barth and Brunner).”Faith always has the element of assurance, certainty and confidence . . . and evidential value substantiating the thing we hope for . . . with faith, there is no strain or tension; rather, it has the element of assurance and confidence in it . . . if there is strain or tension . . . trying to persuade yourself to keep from doubting, you can be quite sure that it is not faith . . . faith is not the law of mathematical probability, . . . faith is not natural . . .faith is spiritual, the gift of God . . . you cannot command faith at will, faith is always something that is given-inwrought by God; . . . therefore, if you want to be a man of faith, it will always be the result of becoming a certain type of person” (M. Lloyd Jones, Romans, Ro 4:18-25).”Faith is the divinely given conviction of things unseen” (Homer Kent Jr., Hebrews, 217, quoting Theological Dictionary of the NT vol 2, 476).”Faith is the organ which enables people to see the invisible order” (F.F. Bruce, Hebrews, 279).”Faith is knowing what is His will toward us; therefore, we hold faith to be the knowledge of God’s will toward us” (John Calvin, as quoted by R. McAfee Brown in Is Faith Obsolete?).”Right faith is a thing wrought in us by the Holy Spirit” (Wm. Tyndale).”We have made faith a condition of mind, when it is a divinely imparted grace of the heart . . . we can receive faith only as he gives it . . . you cannot manufacture faith, you can not work it up . . . you can believe a promise, and at the same time not have the faith to appropriate it . . . genuine, Scriptural faith is not our ability to ‘count it done,’ but is the deep consciousness divinely imparted to the heart of man that it is done, . . . it is the faith that only God can give . . . do not struggle in the power of the will . . . what a mistake to take our belief in God and call of faith . . . Christ, the living word, is our sufficiency . . . (Charles Price, The Real Faith, Logos/publications).Note: On the distinction between believing (belief), and faith in the Scriptures see Js 2:19; Jn 10:38; Ac 8:13, 26:27,28; Ro 14:2; 2 Thes 2:11; 1 Jn 4:1; also Jn 2:23, 7:31, 12:42 and 4102/pisteuô (“believe”).As in the Gospels, a person’s believing (belief) is vital (cf. Heb 11:6). But a personal encounter with Christ (a true connection with Him and His Word) is always necessary for believing (“man’s responsibility”) to be transformed into faith (which is always and only God’s word). See also Mt 8:10,13, 9:22,28,29, 15:28; Ac 20:21; Ro 9:32; Gal 3:9,22. Summary Belief and faith are not exactly equivalent terms. When Jesus told people, “Your faith has made you well,” faith was still His gift (Eph 2:8,9). Any gift however, once received, becomes the “possession” of the recipient. Faith however is always from God and is purely His work (2 Thes 1:11).Note: The Greek definite article is uniformly used in the expressions “your faith,” “their faith” (which occur over 30 times in the Greek NT). This genitive construction with the article refers to “the principle of faith (operating in) you” – not “your faith” in the sense that faith is ever generated by the recipient.[The meaning of the definite article in this construction is “the principle of faith at work in you,” “the operating-principle of faith in them,” etc. For examples see: Mt 9:2,22,29; Lk 17:19; Phil 2:17; 2 Pet 1:5, etc.]Faith (4102/pistis) involves belief but it goes beyond human believing because it involves the personal revelation (inworking) of God. Faith is always God’s work. Our believing has eternal meaning when it becomes “faith-believing” by the transforming grace of God.Reflection: Demons believe (and shudder) . . . but they do not have (experience) faith!Js 2:19: “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder” (NASU). |
Scripture References
Faith In Christ and Faith Of Christ
The concepts of “having faith in Christ” and “having the faith of Christ” are both significant in Christian theology, but they reflect different dimensions of a believer’s relationship with Jesus. This explanation explores the biblical foundation and theological nuances that distinguish these two expressions of faith.
To have faith in Christ means to trust in Jesus as the Son of God, the Savior who redeems humanity from sin. This faith involves placing one’s confidence in Christ’s identity, his sacrificial death on the cross, and his resurrection. The Bible frequently calls people to believe in Jesus for salvation, emphasizing personal trust and reliance on him.
Several New Testament verses use the phrase “faith of Christ” (for example, Galatians 2:16, Philippians 3:9 in some translations). The original Greek wording can be interpreted as either “faith in Christ” (our faith placed in Jesus) or “faith of Christ” (the faithfulness of Jesus himself). This has led to different understandings among biblical scholars and translators.
To have the “faith of Christ” means to participate in or rely upon the faithfulness and trust that Jesus himself demonstrated toward God the Father. This concept emphasizes both Jesus’ perfect trust and obedience and the believer’s relationship to that faithfulness.
- Jesus’ Example: Jesus perfectly trusted and obeyed God, even unto death (see Philippians 2:8). His faith was unwavering and serves as the model for believers.
- Believers’ Participation: Christians are invited to share in that faith—not just to believe in Jesus, but to allow his faithfulness to be the basis for their relationship with God.
- Righteousness by Faith: Paul teaches that righteousness comes not by works of the law, but through the faith of Christ (Galatians 2:16). This means salvation is rooted in Christ’s own faithfulness, which believers access by trusting in him.
Having the faith of Christ means living in a way that reflects Jesus’ trust in God the Father. It involves surrendering one’s own efforts and relying on God’s grace, as demonstrated by Jesus. Believers are called to embody the same trust, obedience, and dependence on God that Jesus did.
According to the Bible, having the faith of Christ goes beyond personal belief; it is about participating in the faithfulness of Jesus himself. It is both a gift and a calling, encouraging believers to trust and obey God as Christ did, and to find their righteousness and relationship with God through him.
Galatians 2:16
KJV: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
ESV: yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Romans 3:22
KJV: Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
ESV: the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
Galatians 2:20
KJV: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
ESV: I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 3:26
KJV: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Acts 26:15-18
And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Philippians 3:9
KJV: And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Colossians 1:4
KJV: Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
ESV: since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,
Colossians 2:5
KJV: For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
ESV: For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
James 2:1
KJV: My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
ESV: My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.
Matthew 17:20
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.
Matthew 21:21
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.
Matthew 8:26
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Matthew 9:2
And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
Matthew 15:28
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
Mark 10:52
And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Acts 6:8
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Acts 14:9-10
The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
10Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
Romans 4:19-20
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:
20He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Romans 4:13
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5
And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Colossians 2:12
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
His Mind, His Faith
1 Corinthians 2:16
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:10
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Philippians 1:27
Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Conformed To His Faith
Romans 8:29
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Justified By Faith
Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 5:1-2
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Faith Is A Gift Of The Spirit
1 Corinthians 12:8-11
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Saved By Grace Through Faith
Ephesians 2:8
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Romans 10:9-10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Acts 16:31
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Only One Faith
Ephesians 4:4-6
4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Faith Is Your Armor
Ephesians 6:11-17
11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Faith Requires A Risen Savior
1 Corinthians 15:14
And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
Seek The Faith Of God
To have the faith of Christ, one can learn and believe in His teachings, repent of sins, and commit to following His example. This involves actively seeking to understand his word through scripture, prayer, and community, and then living out that understanding by practicing repentance, obedience, and compassion.
Learn and believe in the teachings
- Hear and study the Word: Faith begins by hearing the word of God, so read the Bible, listen to sermons, and consider the testimonies of others.
- Acknowledge and accept Christ: Mentally and with your heart, believe that Christ died for your sins and that he is the source of salvation.
- Pray for understanding: Sincerely and unceasingly pray for faith and for God to help you understand.
Commit to change and follow Christ
- Repent and turn to Christ: Acknowledge your sins and turn away from them, choosing to follow Him as your guide.
- Obey God’s commandments: Faith is shown through obedience. Love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.
- Sacrifice selfishness: Give up selfishness, bad habits, and worldly ways of thinking that are contrary to His Gospel.
Strengthen your faith daily
- Pray and spend time with God: Build a relationship with God by spending time with Him in prayer and scripture reading.
- Live a life of gratitude: Practice gratitude to build a more positive outlook on your faith journey.
- Find community: Share your concerns with your community of faith and walk with other believers.
- Serve others: Show your faith by being kind and thoughtful of the needs of those around you.