Faith: More Than Just Vague Optimism
The word faith is used in so many ways today. People talk about “having faith” in themselves, in humanity, or in a brighter future. Then others treat faith like a vague optimism hoping things will just work out somehow. Faith means something far deeper and more powerful than just hoping things work out. Faith isn’t wishful thinking and it’s not blind optimism. It isn’t closing your eyes to reality and hoping for the best outcome.
Faith: What Is It Really?
There are between 240 and 250 scriptures in the Bible that talk about faith and what it is. Over 200 are found in the New Testament alone. Faith isn’t just mentioned in the Bible. It’s one of the main themes of the entire Bible. It’s not something we just believe faith is something we live. The Old Testament shows us what faith looks like in real life and the new testament shows us how we can come to God, live for God and trust Him with our everyday life.
Hearing
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 KJV
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. What does that mean? Men are saved by hearing God’s word. The scripture says, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17) You can’t believe and have faith without hearing the word.
In Acts 10-11 we read about Cornelius who, although he was faithful had not been saved. He had to hear the gospel to be saved. Cornelius was saved and his entire house hold was saved when they heard Peter preach.
” Who shall tell the Words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.” Acts 11:14
Everyone has a natural human faith. It doesn’t matter if they are saved or unsaved. In Hebrews 11:1 God is talking about a scriptural faith, a Bible faith that believes with your heart. Bible faith is laying hold of the unseen realm of hope and bringing it into reality. Bible faith grows from the word of God.
” Faith is the assurance (the conformation, the title deed) of the things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality ( faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses.). Hebrews 11:1 AMPC Amplified Bible Classic Edition
Now that is an exciting verse to memorize! Faith is the warranty deed to the things we hope for. Check this out. You hope for finances to meet all your obligations, and then have money to save and plan for things you want to do. Faith gives you the assurance that you’ll have the money when you need it because faith is the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) If you want to meet your needs you go to the word and find scriptures to back up what you are believing for. You need finances, ok find a scripture to hold on to. Put scripture to work for what you are believing for.
” Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, Says the Lord. See that if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” Malachi 3: 10 NIV
When we are obedient to give we are opening up God’s blessing on our life and finances. He promises to meet our needs and to bless us beyond our needs.
Faith says about it’s self everything that the word says, for faith in God is faith in his word. You may say you know God’s word is good, but you wont really know until you act upon his word and reaped the results. Faith is proving God’s word by acting on it. Faith is giving substance to the things hoped for.
Old Testament
Abraham is called the father of faith. In Genesis 15:6 Abram believed the Lord. Abram had faith in God and trusted him even thou he had no idea where he was headed. God cut covenant with Abram even changed his name. God promised Abraham a family that would be so numerous that it couldn’t be counted. They became the Israelites and in modern day they are they Jewish people. Abraham’s faith shows us that faith means trusting God’s promises even when things look impossible.
New Testament
Jesus taught about faith in the Gospels and Paul taught salvation by faith in Ephesians. In the New Testament it teaches us salvation comes through hearing the word and believing in faith that Jesus saves us and not our works.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV
Romans 10:9 teaches us that faith is trusting Jesus as our Savior and that God raised Him from the dead and he sits on the right hand of the father.
“If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 NIV
Faith isn’t just about knowing about Jesus, it’s about trusting him with your life. Our faith is a daily relationship we walk with Jesus.
” I have been crucified with Christ and no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Galations 2:20 NIV
“For we live by faith not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
Faith is a lifestyle of trust in Jesus to take care of us no matter what we see in the natural. We develop our faith by daily walking with Jesus and trusting him. We grow our faith by reading and understanding scripture. Real faith changes how we live, we live in obedience, love and patience and our faith allows us to approach Jesus with confidence knowing he will hear us and supply all our needs.
