Definition of FAITH in the NT

[TDidymas]

Hello Didy! aka @TDidymas

If you're the same "Didy" from the past, it's great to see you again! I haven't seen @Mel85 in a long time. It was always fun chatting with you both!

Hebrews 11:1

King James Version

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is different from Trust....both involve believing but Faith is believing because you KNOW the final outcome or end result; whereas, Trust is believing when you DON'T KNOW the outcome or end result but, you KNOW God well enough to KNOW the end will be VERY GOOD - everything will be alright.

Faith is divine knowledge that is given to each of us ONLY by God (Word and Holy Spirit) and it is absolutely undeniable - no wishful thinking or hoping it is true, we absolutely KNOW it is TRUE.

Doubt is rejecting the undeniable knowledge given to us by God even though we KNOW it is true, we reject it because we don't want it to be true and/or we let our human reasoning dismiss it as not true even though, we KNOW it is TRUE.

If we already have received the Promise of eternal life physically, then there is NOTHING to hope for or any evidence needed; therefore Faith involves future promises and things that have not yet manifested in the physical realm but, we KNOW they will come to pass by God's Word and Holy Spirit revealing them to us.

I don't see the distinction between faith and trust. The Bible uses both words in the same vein. Example: 2 Cor. 1:9 "indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead." This is the same usage as faith in God. When we believe in Christ (1 John 5:1), we are trusting Him to save us from sin, trusting His work as completed our redemption, and trusting Him for the promise of resurrection and eternal life. It seems to me that Biblical faith is heart-felt (so to speak), which is the same as trust. It's why I call it "heart-faith," to distinguish it from mere mental assent or reasoning. Can you give some Biblical evidence as to how you think that there is a distinction between faith and trust?

 

[soberxp]

Faith is life. Life comes from God's love, that is, God loved us first, but mankind does not love itself. The people attack the people and the country attack the country. Loving our neighbors is just the beginning of faith. This neighbor may be someone or Maybe a country. Because God loves us first, we should be as perfect as our God.It's like a running race, trying to get to the finish line with your best.
Faith should be like this. When you see a sinner, you can't curse him to hell because he is a sinner, but pray for the sinner, because no matter how you don't like this, but this is the word of the Bible,and the word of God.

Proverb
25:21 if your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
25:22 For you have done this by heaping coals and fire on his head; And the Lord will reward you.

 

[TDidymas]

FAITH / BELIEF
By Glen Rogers
Faith and belief are both from the word πίστις which means 'to be persuaded'. 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 not faith. 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.”

Concerning your statement: "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. "

Can you please give examples in scripture of those times they are differentiated?

 

[TDidymas]

Here is the verse in a few different English translations:

ESV: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

HCSB: Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

KJV: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

MOUNCE: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

NASB: Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.

NET: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.

NIV: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

NKJV: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

NRSV: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

I agree: "proof", "conviction", "assurance", and "evidence" are not the same concepts in general usage, and I would consider "assurance" (as it is generally used) the weakest of all. However, general usage of terms is often misleading, and when trying to understand terms used in Scripture, we should look consider a concurrent dictionary definition... that is, where the term is not already defined in Scripture. Consider though, that "evidence" may carry the implication of "sufficient" which puts it in the same semantic family as "conviction" and "proof".

My point in saying it is "clearly and plainly defined" is not that the terms used are clear and plain (even though they are to me) but rather that the verse is clearly and plainly a definition. Therefore, regardless of the clarity of the definition, it is still a definition and as such is the only definition provided in Scripture for "faith". Further, the usage of "faith" in Scripture is completely consistent with this definition.

Ok, I agree with you here. Initially, it sounded like you were disagreeing with my OP, and that your response on Heb. 11:1 was your point of disagreement. I was wanting you to clarify, because my OP is trying to define faith as it is used in the whole NT (or whole scripture), simply because I think that Heb. 11:1 is not clear, based on both my own experience, and my observation of others.

I do agree that Heb. 11:1 is the only statement in scripture that attempts a definition of the word, however muddy that definition is. And since the usage of the term is controversial, I wrote the OP (essentially) to find out if other Christians are seeing the same definition from the Biblical context.

 

[TDidymas]

Proverbs 18:21

New International Version

21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.

I say --------------Faith works in the Positive and Negative -----words are faith filled and will produce what we speak -----
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. I don't interpret Prov. 18:21 the same as you do (maybe). Jesus said "out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." Therefore, people speak what is in their heart to say, not the other way. For example, if a person is high-minded, that is, full of themselves, they will tend to downgrade others, and as a result, others will downgrade them. That's how a person eats the fruit of their tongue in a negative way. But if a person from humility of heart speaks highly of others, others will speak highly of them, and so they eat the fruit of their tongue in a positive way. Is this kind of application of that verse what you mean?

But if perchance you mean it like it is taught in the Word of Faith movement, that is, a "name it and claim it" idea, and such as "the words you speak are prophecies that come true," then I would disagree with that. I don't believe that spoken words create realities like WoF teachers claim.

2. Your statement "So Faith and belief are connected but there is a difference ----just believing is not receiving ---Faith receives what you believe ------" I just don't get it. The terms "faith" and "belief" are used the same way in the NT. Can you show from scripture how it uses those terms differently?

 

[Lafftur]

Hello my beautiful sister!! Been awhile indeed! I’ve only just come back few days ago to visit the forums lol hope all is well and love the encouragement!!

So glad to hear from you… I too just stop by every now and then. God bless you and your beautiful land of Samoa!

 

[Lafftur]

I don't see the distinction between faith and trust. The Bible uses both words in the same vein. Example: 2 Cor. 1:9 "indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead." This is the same usage as faith in God. When we believe in Christ (1 John 5:1), we are trusting Him to save us from sin, trusting His work as completed our redemption, and trusting Him for the promise of resurrection and eternal life. It seems to me that Biblical faith is heart-felt (so to speak), which is the same as trust. It's why I call it "heart-faith," to distinguish it from mere mental assent or reasoning. Can you give some Biblical evidence as to how you think that there is a distinction between faith and trust?

Well, you did not confer that you are “Didy” but, neither did you deny it so, I shall call you Didy! Welcome back!

(So sorry, I wrote A LOT)

You call faith “heart-faith” because it bypasses human intellect, I agree.

Our soul is our mind, will and emotions. I believe our will combined with our emotions is our heart….so, our mind and heart is our soul…..but our innermost being is our spirit and our outer is our physical body.

Our mind communicates to our will and emotions, and body; also, our spirit communicates to our will and emotions, and body. Notice, the mind can bypass the spirit and the spirit can bypass the mind.

It’s our heart that is so important- our emotions and our will together make all our decisions.

We want to make logical decisions but even wanting to be logical is an emotional decision…ALL our decisions are emotional. This is why together our will and emotions (NOT our mind) makes ALL our decisions.

Going back to Faith vs Trust…

I too used to think Faith and Trust were the same…but, learned they are not.

What makes us assume they are is because BOTH REQUIRE US TO BELIEVE what God has said; however, Faith is when God tells us what will happen and we believe Him; Trust is when God tells us to trust Him but withholds what will happen from us.

Look at Proverbs 3 vs John 3:16

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs 3:5-6&version=NKJV

Notice in Proverbs God doesn’t give us the destination or outcome of our path, yet we BELIEVE everything will be okay.

Now, look at John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John 3:16&version=NKJV

This is Faith, God tells us - speaking to our spirit and heart, bypassing our mind. God tells us that what will happen if we believe in Jesus Christ, we shall be saved and not perish.

Another example…

Abraham was trusting God, when God told him to sacrifice Isaac - Abraham did not know the outcome. Yet, by Faith Abraham knew God had said he would have many descendants so, Isaac could not die….yet God told Abraham to kill Isaac…here you find both faith and trust… both involve believing yet, one knows what will happen, the other does not know the outcome.

 

[pottersclay]

Faith is not only believeing in God but also acting upon his word.
Some will disagree but we are placed as mediators between man and christ. For this is the work of discipleship.
Christ is the mediator between man and God.
We are asked to pray, to give, to preach and teach. There should be nothing idle in your faith.
As the light of Christ is to shine through us drawing all men to the truth our actions are to reflect those of Christ.
We are to be set apart, a peculiar people a holy people. Preparing ourselves daily with fasting and prayer to be used by God. These are the duties of the priest. Laying down our lives and picking up our cross and to follow him that has called us and enabled us to do his work.

We are not called to be spectators but a active part in the kingdom of God.
but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Not only to enter in to the kingdom but to act as his ambassadors .

 

[studentoftheword]

o, faith is beyond feelings, but not beyond belief, because faith and belief are the same thing.

And you are entitled to believe what you like -------we just see things differently is all ----

So continue to see faith and belief as the same ------it makes no difference to me -------I see Faith as beyond belief in the way that belief is just that you believe ---that God can save you but your belief comes through Faith -----and Faith brings your belief into reality ------

God created this world and humans by speaking out his faith -----God said then God saw what He said ----we are created in His image ----

Noah was told by God that a flood was coming ---and he would save him and his family ---he told him to build and Ark -----Noah believe God -------so Noah could have just left it at that and said ---God will provide the Ark for me --so I will believe He will have Ark ready for me and my family and done nothing except believe God would provide the saving Ark for him-----but Noah believed and put His faith into action by obeying God's command to build the Ark -----Faith requires action ------always -----

Belief is the acceptance of what God says ---------- Faith is the action of that acceptance which brings the belief into reality ------

I think your so hung up on the name it and claim it Religion that you are blinded to see the real truth of Faith when it comes to bringing God's Promises into this seen world -----


Isaiah 55 AMP
The Free Offer of Mercy
10
“For as the rain and snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth,
Making it bear and sprout,
And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11
So will My word be which goes out of My mouth;
It will not return to Me void (useless, without result),
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

I say -----We are made in God's image ------God created by Speaking ------belief does not create -----Faith does ----

We believe in Hope ------our Hope is in the future ------Faith brings our Hope into reality ----Faith manifests our hope -----


Hebrews 11

Amplified Bible



The Triumphs of Faith
11 Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. 2 For by this [kind of] faith the [a]men of old gained [divine] approval.

Belief can't create -----A man who believed God would provide him water as he ran his miles this one day --- as he ran he became very thirsty and came upon a well and sat beside the well saying I believe God will provide me with water so he waited beside the well and became very dehydrated in his belief of God providing the water he needed ----eventually he keels over in his dehydrated state -----

Why because he truly believed God would get him the water he needed and he didn't have to do anything to acquire the-water -----when God did provide him with the water he needed by sending him to the well ----but his belief was not enough to quench his thirst ------

He needed to act on what was provided to him ----the well was there ---the bucket was there to lower and get the water he needed ---but he chose to just believe and not receive by putting his Faith into the right positive action to bring the water to him

Belief supplies ----Faith receives -----

 

[studentoftheword]

Found this ----explaining difference in believing and receiving ----you believe in salvation -----but then you have to receive it or accept it as it is offered ------Faith receives or accepts the thing ------

believe | receive |

As verbs the difference between believe and receive
is that believe is (label) to accept as true, particularly without absolute certainty (ie, as opposed to knowing)
while receive is to take, as something that is offered, given, committed, sent, paid, etc; to accept; to be given something.​

 

[studentoftheword]

Greek and Hebrew word for receive -----I say ------you believe but then you need to receive ------Faith is the substance that receives -----

Greek/Hebrew Definitions​

​

​

Strong's #2983: lambano (pronounced lam-ban'-o)​

1) to take

1a) to take with the hand, lay hold of, any person or thing in order to use it

1a1) to take up a thing to be carried

1a2) to take upon one' s self

1b) to take in order to carry away

1c) to take what is one' s own, to take to one' s self, to make one' s own

1c1) to claim, procure, for one' s self

d2) to receive what is offered

1d4) to receive a person, give him access to one' s self

1e) to take, to choose, select

2) to receive (what is given), to gain, get, obtain, to get back

 

[TDidymas]

Well, you did not confer that you are “Didy” but, neither did you deny it so, I shall call you Didy! Welcome back!

(So sorry, I wrote A LOT)

You call faith “heart-faith” because it bypasses human intellect, I agree.

Our soul is our mind, will and emotions. I believe our will combined with our emotions is our heart….so, our mind and heart is our soul…..but our innermost being is our spirit and our outer is our physical body.

Our mind communicates to our will and emotions, and body; also, our spirit communicates to our will and emotions, and body. Notice, the mind can bypass the spirit and the spirit can bypass the mind.

It’s our heart that is so important- our emotions and our will together make all our decisions.

We want to make logical decisions but even wanting to be logical is an emotional decision…ALL our decisions are emotional. This is why together our will and emotions (NOT our mind) makes ALL our decisions.

Going back to Faith vs Trust…

I too used to think Faith and Trust were the same…but, learned they are not.

What makes us assume they are is because BOTH REQUIRE US TO BELIEVE what God has said; however, Faith is when God tells us what will happen and we believe Him; Trust is when God tells us to trust Him but withholds what will happen from us.

Look at Proverbs 3 vs John 3:16

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs 3:5-6&version=NKJV

Notice in Proverbs God doesn’t give us the destination or outcome of our path, yet we BELIEVE everything will be okay.

Now, look at John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John 3:16&version=NKJV

This is Faith, God tells us - speaking to our spirit and heart, bypassing our mind. God tells us that what will happen if we believe in Jesus Christ, we shall be saved and not perish.

Another example…

Abraham was trusting God, when God told him to sacrifice Isaac - Abraham did not know the outcome. Yet, by Faith Abraham knew God had said he would have many descendants so, Isaac could not die….yet God told Abraham to kill Isaac…here you find both faith and trust… both involve believing yet, one knows what will happen, the other does not know the outcome.

I don't agree with you that there is a difference between faith and trust, nor that there is any difference between the term "believe" in John 3:16 and "trust" in Prov. 3:5. Faith and trust both are part of the mental faculties, but Biblical faith is not generated there. This is why I call it "heart-faith." Paul wrote "with the heart man believes unto righteousness..."

He is talking about a part of the mind (or soul, if you will) that is deep, and originates in the spirit, and not in the natural reasoning. However, the natural reasoning is usually involved in the understanding of the faith and what it is all about. This is why the gospel must be preached, so that people can hear, and their mind be involved in the faith that originates in the spirit (by means of the Spirit of God). This is why I call it "heart-faith," because it is a trust in God (that is, in Christ) which arises into the mind from the deeper spirit of man.

In regard to your comment on Abraham, both Paul and James called it faith, so your comment that Abraham was trusting God just proves my point, that there isn't a difference.

 

[TDidymas]

Found this ----explaining difference in believing and receiving ----you believe in salvation -----but then you have to receive it or accept it as it is offered ------Faith receives or accepts the thing ------

believe | receive |

As verbs the difference between believe and receive
is that believe is (label) to accept as true, particularly without absolute certainty (ie, as opposed to knowing)
while receive is to take, as something that is offered, given, committed, sent, paid, etc; to accept; to be given something.​

What is this? Bait and switch? You said there is a difference between faith and belief, which is what I asked about. Now you're trying to answer by telling me the difference between believing and receiving? Well, whatever...

 

[Lafftur]

I don't agree with you that there is a difference between faith and trust, nor that there is any difference between the term "believe" in John 3:16 and "trust" in Prov. 3:5. Faith and trust both are part of the mental faculties, but Biblical faith is not generated there. This is why I call it "heart-faith." Paul wrote "with the heart man believes unto righteousness..."

He is talking about a part of the mind (or soul, if you will) that is deep, and originates in the spirit, and not in the natural reasoning. However, the natural reasoning is usually involved in the understanding of the faith and what it is all about. This is why the gospel must be preached, so that people can hear, and their mind be involved in the faith that originates in the spirit (by means of the Spirit of God). This is why I call it "heart-faith," because it is a trust in God (that is, in Christ) which arises into the mind from the deeper spirit of man.

In regard to your comment on Abraham, both Paul and James called it faith, so your comment that Abraham was trusting God just proves my point, that there isn't a difference.

We have faith right away when we receive salvation in Jesus Christ but, trust comes later as we get to know God, more and more revelations of who He is from His Word and His Holy Spirit and trials and tribulations where He proves Himself faithful and worthy of our trust.

We can’t trust someone we do not know. Faith is instant, Trust is not….they are different types of believing in God.

 

[TDidymas]

We have faith right away when we receive salvation in Jesus Christ but, trust comes later as we get to know God, more and more revelations of who He is from His Word and His Holy Spirit and trials and tribulations where He proves Himself faithful and worthy of our trust.

We can’t trust someone we do not know. Faith is instant, Trust is not….they are different types of believing in God.

You cannot have faith in someone you don't know, either. But usually, trust is given automatically to some extent. Why else can people generally be deceived and betrayed? Because they trusted someone untrustworthy.

However, to have faith in Christ, you have to know something about Him, and trust in God enough that His promise is made with integrity. It's an inherent revelation of God to the individual hearing the gospel. Many people hear the gospel with their physical ears, but they don't trust God enough to believe that the words spoken are true.

Therefore, to have faith in Christ the way the NT describes requires trusting Him enough that the hope presented is real. So, the so-called faith that many claim to have can't be Biblical faith without trusting God in some way. You cannot have one without the other, and expect to be justified in the sight of God. So the terms "faith" and "trust" are so related that it essentially means the same thing. Faith in God grows as we get to know Him better. Trust in God grows as we get to know Him better.

The lexicon def. of faith (pistis): conviction of the truth of anything. And trust (peitho): to be persuaded. So what's the difference in having a conviction and being persuaded? Nothing. It's the same condition of mind. To claim a distinction between the 2 words is splitting hairs, and in my opinion is straining at a gnat.

 

[Cabrillo]

You cannot have faith in someone you don't know, either. But usually, trust is given automatically to some extent. Why else can people generally be deceived and betrayed? Because they trusted someone untrustworthy.

However, to have faith in Christ, you have to know something about Him, and trust in God enough that His promise is made with integrity. It's an inherent revelation of God to the individual hearing the gospel. Many people hear the gospel with their physical ears, but they don't trust God enough to believe that the words spoken are true.

Therefore, to have faith in Christ the way the NT describes requires trusting Him enough that the hope presented is real. So, the so-called faith that many claim to have can't be Biblical faith without trusting God in some way. You cannot have one without the other, and expect to be justified in the sight of God. So the terms "faith" and "trust" are so related that it essentially means the same thing. Faith in God grows as we get to know Him better. Trust in God grows as we get to know Him better.

The lexicon def. of faith (pistis): conviction of the truth of anything. And trust (peitho): to be persuaded. So what's the difference in having a conviction and being persuaded? Nothing. It's the same condition of mind. To claim a distinction between the 2 words is splitting hairs, and in my opinion is straining at a gnat.

The trouble with science is that as a general rule science only believes what can be duplicated. We cannot duplicate what God has done, so the tendency for science is to deny God. Even Einstein believed in God.

 

[TDidymas]

The trouble with science is that as a general rule science only believes what can be duplicated. We cannot duplicate what God has done, so the tendency for science is to deny God. Even Einstein believed in God.

The trouble with "science" is that the conclusions people come to are based on ideology, not on what is observed. Observations are facts, but how one judges them is based on ideology or world-view. So, the atheist who fancies himself a scientist trusts only in his own opinion, which makes his limited reasoning an idol (which is his replacement for the one higher than him). Many people need God to show up in their life to make their knees tremble.

 

[BillG]

Christ said that what he came to tell us, what the gospel is, is "repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt 3:2 and 4:17). When we repent of sin Christ will forgive our sin and we can then live with God forever.

Sorry but I just need some more clarification on your quote above.

You quote 2 Bible verses then follow that with when we repent of sin.

Neither of these verses mention to repent of sin.

Matthew 3:2
2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Matthew 4:17
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Let's look at the verse where Jesus said what sin we should repent off.

John 16:5-9

The Work of the Holy Spirit
5 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’
6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;

Look at verse 9 what is the sin to repent off?

Unbelief in him.

Now when we do that as Paul says

Romans 10:8-13
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Then we have the definition of faith that saves.

Nothing more or nothing less.
Jesus said that.

Now that does not mean that actions after such confession will not follow.
Once a genuine confession has been made then one will want to be like Jesus.

It is the outworking of biblical faith.

 

[Inquisitor]

It seems to me that faith is trusting in something. We trust that the Bible is the word of God, that God was able and willing to communicate to us through writings of the prophets and apostles (and other prominent Christians of the day) - so faith is an assumption about what the Bible is, and what it teaches.

So, when Paul wrote "with the heart man believes unto righteousness," he is talking about assuming that Christ has delivered us from the nature of sin (that is, the principle thereof), which is the same as using our imagination to reach out to God for making us righteous. If we are in Christ, then we are reaching to God with heart-faith for righteousness. And since deliverance from the sin principle is ongoing in this life, we continue living this heart-faith.

"With the heart man believes..." - meaning that we actively imagine God helping us live at all times. So God is with us at all times, and not someone "out there, demanding we do things by our own strength and willpower". So the ethical commands aren't "do this or be condemned," but rather "Christ has done so much for us, that we are so grateful as to love Him with all our heart, to do whatever He says.

"...unto righteousness" - so that our right standing with God is not merely a position in Christ, but is an active and vital role that God is producing right living through us. And here is James also using the idea, since he says "faith without works is dead." He is emphasizing that the right kind of faith is that kind which obeys Christ's command to love others in a practical way. Yet, when he says "faith without works," he is stooping to the level of the gnostics (or whoever is claiming to have faith in the wrong way) in his usage of the term, in order to distinguish between the claim of faith and actual faith in Christ.

And we can see the same idea taught by the writer of Hebrews (a third witness) when he wrote about those people who died in the wilderness of Numbers, saying about their unbelief "they did not mix what they heard with faith." (Heb. 4:2 - I come to this paraphrase after comparing different translations). He uses the term faith in the same manner.

So what James is writing against is the idea that someone having faith in Christ can do just anything they want (namely practice class prejudice) and still be saved. He is saying that's not real faith in Christ, and that's why it's "dead." Someone having real faith is going to love their neighbor in the same way that Christ does and commanded us to do.

This is the only kind of faith that makes "sola fide" correct in the Biblical framework. It's the only kind of faith that measures up to what the whole NT is about.

I would say that we are saved by grace and that is through the instrument of faith.