What exactly is faith?

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John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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#61
Even the demons believe, but this is t saving faith obviously James 2:19. Saving faith is a gift Ephesians 2:8
What does the verse say demons believe? That there is one God. Believing that there is one God will not save anyone.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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#62
Actually it doesn't say that. james 2:19-223 says :

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

the point made yes the lord God is ONE, devil knows this, but faith and belief is not just knowing and accepting it is real or God is one God,

it is as Abraham did, He obeyed God because HE believed HE is God and offered his son in obedience to God That is faith in action which is Biblical belief.
The devils don’t believe on Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins. That’s the belief that saves. No works are necessary. All they believe is that there is one God.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
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#63
Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
the English word "Believed" there in the Greek contextually is speaking of Abraham trust in God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something not that he was accepting there was a God Abraham's understanding of God was far more than agreeing there is one. Abraham Knew God.

Believed = to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ):—believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with. requires action.
 

CS1

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May 23, 2012
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#64
The devils don’t believe on Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. That’s the belief that saves. No works are necessary. All they believe is that there is one God.
No one has said that. The Devil Knows God. We know he does by what satan said to Jesus in the wilderness. Jesus too said He saw satan fall. We know in Job He came before the presence of God and spoke to God. The devil does far more than his willingness to agree there is a God.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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#65
the English word "Believed" there in the Greek contextually is speaking of Abraham trust in God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something not that he was accepting there was a God Abraham's understanding of God was far more than agreeing there is one. Abraham Knew God.

Believed = to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ):—believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with. requires action.
The bible defines it for us, no Greek needed.

Romans 4
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
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#66
The bible defines it for us, no Greek needed.

Romans 4
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

I'm sorry you know better than the original translation it was written from. I will not engage in a battle with you over semantics.
You seem to have an issue with the understanding of the relationship with God that Abraham had in such a way, he, was called the "friend of God" as James 2:23 states.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
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#67
Whats the difference between the Faith ' of' Jesus and Faith ' in Jesus ?
 

IlovelivingforJesus

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Dec 29, 2019
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#68
I think faith is believing and trusting in whatever God says . It's A state of mind as well as actions. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
 

oldhermit

Senior Member
Jul 28, 2012
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#69
What is the difference between faith and believing?

Hebrews tells us...

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

By faith the elders obtained a dood report.

We also know in Romans 10...

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith begins with the hearing of God’s word.

Thoughts?
Faith and belief are both from the word πίστις which means 'to be persuaded'. We learn from scripture that biblical faith reflects two interlocking dynamics. The first is the mental acceptance of a set of facts which we regard as doctrine, the second is the action that responds to those convictions. Belief is the fundamental structure for salvation, but belief is never presented in scripture as simply an intellectual exorcise. Biblical faith is more than just a simple acknowledgement of a set of revealed truths or doctrines. Faith is always presented as behavior that actively responds to the word of God. James makes the point that faith apart from obedience to the will of God is worthless. Faith is legitimized only when it is linked to action. We see this in a number of examples given by the Hebrew writer. In Hebrews 11 belief/faith is inseparably linked to active response that legitimizes what the mind has accepted as true. Without obedience to the will of God, there is no acknowledgement of faith. By faith, those offered as examples, did what God commanded; and because they did, God regarded them as faithful. Belief is an exercise of the mind and obedience is the pragmatic response. Faith cannot exist one without the other. One simply cannot function without the other. Although “faith” and “belief” in the New Testament are translated from the same Greek word and are very often used interchangeably, there are times when one is clearly differentiated from the other. If there is a difference between faith and belief it would seem to be the difference between the cognitive response (which is the abstract intellectual exorcise of accepting something as truth), and the active response which is more concrete. This is the point James makes about faith. Faith itself is an abstract because faith is not something that can be seen. In order for faith to be legitimized, it must be demonstrated in observable behavior. You cannot see faith but, you can see the results of faith. It was incumbent upon Israel to do more than simply acknowledge the words of the Lord intellectually. They were to “observe all the words of this law to do them.”
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
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#70
Whats the difference between the Faith ' of' Jesus and Faith ' in Jesus ?
Ask someone who is King James Version-only, and they may tell you that "the faith of Jesus" is the faith that Jesus exercised. I believe that they are the same thing, and that "the faith of Jesus" is simply an older way of saying, "faith in Jesus".
 
Mar 16, 2021
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#71
Faith put simply is belief in something that you cannot prove. Faith is not irrational but is based on evidence. Sustaining a basis for faith is the entire focus of Christian apologetics. Ultimately any belief system is based on faith. We cannot prove the existence of God any more than an athiest can prove that God does not exist. Both belief systems (and athiesm is a belief system) is based on faith but faith does not stand alone without evidence. I am persuaded to be a Christian and that Jesus is who he claims to be not just because that is how I was raised or because the Bible says it is true but because the evidence is ample and points the way to sustaining that truth. There is a really good book whose title is even better than the book. The title is 'I don't have enough faith to be an athiest'. BOTH belief system are based on faith - athiesm just makes no rational sense when you look at the evidence they use to sustain their position.
Enough said.
 

throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
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#72
Ask someone who is King James Version-only, and they may tell you that "the faith of Jesus" is the faith that Jesus exercised. I believe that they are the same thing, and that "the faith of Jesus" is simply an older way of saying, "faith in Jesus".
The Kjv mentions both usages . Not one consistent usage ,which is interesting.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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#73
The Kjv mentions both usages . Not one consistent usage ,which is interesting.
Christ‘s faith vs man’s individual faith..faith comes by hearing the word of God.

Christ’s faith justifies the believer. The evidence of His faith is His complete obedience throughout His life to the Father even unto death.

Our faith cannot justify. Our faith waivers. The result of our faith is demonstrated through our obedience to the word.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
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#74
Christ‘s faith vs man’s individual faith..faith comes by hearing the word of God.

Christ’s faith justifies the believer. The evidence of His faith is His complete obedience throughout His life to the Father even unto death.

Our faith cannot justify. Our faith waivers. The result of our faith is demonstrated through our obedience to the word.
Your comments are inconsistent with the definition of faith as given in Hebrews 11:1. Christ is God; He knew; He did not accept as true what He did not know. He did not need to hear the word of God.

OUR faith in Christ's atoning death justifies us as believers. It seems that you have confused the concepts of faith and faithfulness. They are distinct.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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#75
Your comments are inconsistent with the definition of faith as given in Hebrews 11:1. Christ is God; He knew; He did not accept as true what He did not know. He did not need to hear the word of God.

OUR faith in Christ's atoning death justifies us as believers. It seems that you have confused the concepts of faith and faithfulness. They are distinct.
Jesus was always obedient unto the Fathers will.

Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Hebrews 5:
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

John 14:31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

Shall I post more?
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
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#76
Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Hebrews 5:
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

John 14:31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

Shall I post more?
How about you check the words in the verses you posted; "faith" does not appear in any of them.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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#77
How about you check the words in the verses you posted; "faith" does not appear in any of them.
Faith come by hearing Gods word. By works faith is made perfect. Gods righteousness was made known through the faith of Christ.

Romans 3
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 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:
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,487
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#78
Faith come by hearing Gods word. By works faith is made perfect. Gods righteousness was made known through the faith of Christ.

Romans 3
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 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:
You're engaging in circular reasoning. Merely quoting the verse does nothing to explain it. The question that launched this rabbit trail is, "Whats the difference between the Faith ' of' Jesus and Faith ' in Jesus ?"
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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#79
You're engaging in circular reasoning. Merely quoting the verse does nothing to explain it. The question that launched this rabbit trail is, "Whats the difference between the Faith ' of' Jesus and Faith ' in Jesus ?"
When we place our faith in the cross of Christ, we are immediately justified by the faith of Jesus Christ because we are found in Him. Gods righteousness made known by the faith of Jesus has been imputed to us, no works needed on our behalf.

Galatians 2:16 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.

Philippians 2:9 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:
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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#80
You're engaging in circular reasoning. Merely quoting the verse does nothing to explain it. The question that launched this rabbit trail is, "Whats the difference between the Faith ' of' Jesus and Faith ' in Jesus ?"
Correct! It all circles back to Jesus Christ!😉