Doctrines and Practices of the Church
Part 4

 Faith

The Church View:
      Faith is an unquestioned trust in God you receive by going to church, accepting what you are told from the pulpit, and of course, paying your dues. Any doubts or questions are considered as a lack of faith.

The Bible View:
      Persuasion that man is more than a physical entity and is part of a much larger and higher purpose. Even a minute amount of this belief will give mere humans supernatural power, making them capable of performing feats only limited by the level of belief itself. A tiny amount of this belief can allow a person to literally move mountains and gave the miracles of the first members of the church world great power. It is obvious that that persuasion comes from exposure to evidence given to man through an opening of the mind to these proofs by God.

      The word most often translated into 'faith', (223 out of 229 times in the NT), is pistis, pronounced pis'-tis, from peitho; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction.. The word of origin is peitho Pronounced pi'-tho a primary verb; to convince (by argument, true or false); by analogy, to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); reflexively or passively, to assent (to evidence or authority), to rely (by inward certainty):

      This means that faith is belief based on evidence that persuades one to believe.  Paul verifies this in his letter to the Hebrew church:

Faith is Substance and Evidence
♦  Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
      The word evidence is translated from elegchos, pronounced el'-eng-khos; proof, conviction.  This is consistent with the charge that we are to prove, and literally put to the test, to approve all things before we accept them.

Prove all things.
♦  1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
♦  Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
      In both the verses the word translated is dokimazo, pronounced dok-im-ad'-zo; to test (literally or figuratively); by implication, to approve. 
♦  2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Faith is a Gift
♦  Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Proof is freely given, if one simply looks for it.
♦  Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

      How is it that a mere mortal can have the incredible power Jesus describes just by believing they have it?  How powerful is a human being?  Yhovah was very clear about the nature of man:
♦  Psalms 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

      And when Yhovah became the human, Jesus, he repeated it, by quoting himself:
♦  John 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

      Even though the Bible does say humans were made lower than the angels, does that mean this will be their permanent station?
♦  1Corinthians 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

      From what the Bible presents, there is but one logical conclusion.  Faith is the belief that humans are gods, created to be gods, by the creator God, Yhovah.  If this is true, is it any wonder that Jesus said humans have the power to move mountains with just an infinitesimal amount of belief in such an awesome reality?
      A complete review of all the verses that record the word faith will show that the above verses are not contradicted.  Nowhere is it stated that one should not question or test the evidence.  Nowhere is it stated that faith is not the way the persons possessing it are persuaded.  And, it is shown that the increase in faith of the members of the first church gave them undeniable super-human power.

Faith is Belief in God's Power
♦  Matthew 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
♦  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.
♦  Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
♦  Romans 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
♦  Romans 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
♦  Romans 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
♦  1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
♦  1 Corinthians 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
♦  1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
♦  Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
♦  Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
♦  Ephesians 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
♦  2 Thessalonians 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
♦  Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
♦  Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
♦  Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
♦  Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
♦  Hebrews 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

Faith Comes From Learning
♦  Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
♦  Galatians 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
♦  Galatians 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Faith Can Give Unlimited Power
♦  Matthew 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
♦  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.  22  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
♦  Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
♦  Luke 8:25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
♦  Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.  6  And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
♦  Acts 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
♦  Romans 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

Faith Heals
♦  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 9:22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
♦  Matthew 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
♦  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 5:34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
♦  Luke 18:42 And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
♦  Acts 13:9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
♦  James 5:15 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.

Faith and the Law
♦  Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
♦  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. 14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
♦  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.
♦  Galatians 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
♦  Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
♦  Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
♦  Philippians 3:9 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:

Faith and Love
♦  Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
♦  Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
♦  Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
♦  Ephesians 6:23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
♦  Colossians 1:4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
♦  1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Children Of God And Abraham
♦  Galatians 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
♦  Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.