Actually “faith” does not always mean the same thing in Scripture. As we see in the Bible, there are different kinds of faith, and we should be aware of the differences. Also the word “faith” has several meanings.
In the King James Bible, the word “faith” occurs 247 times in 231 verses. Which means that “faith” is critical for all men. The Hebrew word אֵמֻן (emuwn) means either trusting or faithfulness, and also includes the idea of firmness, fidelity, steadfastness, and steadiness. The Greek word πίστις (pistis) generally means “a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and conjoined with it”.
So when you combine the two meanings it means that faith is simply trusting God, and as a result being “steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Cor 15:58).
The Bible itself defines faith in Hebrews 11:1 as “faith is the substance [confidence or assurance] of things hoped for, the evidence [proof or conviction] of things not seen”. This conviction can only be created by (1) the Word of God accompanied by (2) the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 4:12,13). So when the true and full Gospel (the Word of God) is preached, the Holy Spirit convinces and convicts the hearer to believe it and obey it (Romans 10) -- to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved (Acts 16:31). This is genuine saving faith since it is also accompanied by genuine repentance (Acts 20:21). And only true repentance results in the forgiveness of sins (Acts 3:19).
We further see that there is (a) great faith, (b) little faith, (c) faith compared to a tiny mustard seed which can move mountains, (d) saving faith as noted above, (e) a mere profession of faith, (f) the faith of demons or devils, (g) the spiritual gift of faith, and (h) one of the fruits of the Spirit called “faith”.
The spiritual gift of faith is not the same as saving faith generated by the preaching of the Gospel. Since God desires the salvation of all, He uses the Gospel to generate saving faith (Romans 10). If all would believe, all would be saved. But all will not believe (John 3:18-21), and we know that few will enter the narrow gate and walk on the narrow way.
And it is only some of those who have believed on Christ and been saved who will receive the spiritual gift of faith (1 Cor 12:7-9): But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every [believing] man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit... This can only mean that some Christians will have extraordinary faith, e.g. George Mueller.
But all Christians must walk by faith and not by sight, therefore faith is also one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22): But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith...
This leads to “the prayer of faith” (James 5:13-18) which must be prayed by the elders within a local church for the healing of those Christians who ask for healing according to Scripture: Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias [Elijah] was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
In the King James Bible, the word “faith” occurs 247 times in 231 verses. Which means that “faith” is critical for all men. The Hebrew word אֵמֻן (emuwn) means either trusting or faithfulness, and also includes the idea of firmness, fidelity, steadfastness, and steadiness. The Greek word πίστις (pistis) generally means “a conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervor born of faith and conjoined with it”.
So when you combine the two meanings it means that faith is simply trusting God, and as a result being “steadfast, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Cor 15:58).
The Bible itself defines faith in Hebrews 11:1 as “faith is the substance [confidence or assurance] of things hoped for, the evidence [proof or conviction] of things not seen”. This conviction can only be created by (1) the Word of God accompanied by (2) the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 4:12,13). So when the true and full Gospel (the Word of God) is preached, the Holy Spirit convinces and convicts the hearer to believe it and obey it (Romans 10) -- to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved (Acts 16:31). This is genuine saving faith since it is also accompanied by genuine repentance (Acts 20:21). And only true repentance results in the forgiveness of sins (Acts 3:19).
We further see that there is (a) great faith, (b) little faith, (c) faith compared to a tiny mustard seed which can move mountains, (d) saving faith as noted above, (e) a mere profession of faith, (f) the faith of demons or devils, (g) the spiritual gift of faith, and (h) one of the fruits of the Spirit called “faith”.
The spiritual gift of faith is not the same as saving faith generated by the preaching of the Gospel. Since God desires the salvation of all, He uses the Gospel to generate saving faith (Romans 10). If all would believe, all would be saved. But all will not believe (John 3:18-21), and we know that few will enter the narrow gate and walk on the narrow way.
And it is only some of those who have believed on Christ and been saved who will receive the spiritual gift of faith (1 Cor 12:7-9): But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every [believing] man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit... This can only mean that some Christians will have extraordinary faith, e.g. George Mueller.
But all Christians must walk by faith and not by sight, therefore faith is also one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22): But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith...
This leads to “the prayer of faith” (James 5:13-18) which must be prayed by the elders within a local church for the healing of those Christians who ask for healing according to Scripture: Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias [Elijah] was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
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