Faith to most people is a nebulous, religious term, but if we replace the word faith with synonyms like trust, belief and confidence we can have a better idea of how the term applies when used in relation to God. At its core, the term faith means to believe in and be fully persuaded by something or someone. When we put it in those terms faith is something we have control over. It’s a choice. We have the choice to believe or not believe. If this weren’t so then why did Jesus often chide the disciples for their lack of faith?
When we talk about faith or believing in God there are three major aspects that sometimes get blurred. These three aspects are:
- Believing (being fully persuaded) God exists (and Jesus is our Saviour).
- Believing (being fully persuaded) His way of life is best so we choose to obey Him.
- Believing (being fully persuaded) God will do what He says He will do.
I. Believing (being fully persuaded) God exists (and Jesus is our Saviour)
Although we live in a post-modern world with modern atheism constantly pushing the theory (not fact) of evolution and vigorously trying to deny God’s existence, there are many resources which answer the arguments by modern day atheists, helping us recognize the proof of God’s existence and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Please request our free study guides “Does God Exist?” and “Is the Bible True?” Additionally, I can recommend two books (also available as DVD’s) by Lee Strobel entitled: “The Case for a Creator” and “The Case for Christ.” Lee Strobel is an investigative journalist who set out to prove to his wife God didn’t exist. He eventually became so overwhelmed by the evidence in support of both the existence of a Creator and the resurrection that he, too, accepted Christianity.
Much of Christianity mistakenly believes an academic acceptance that Jesus died for our sins as our Saviour is all that is needed to be saved, citing verses like Acts 2:21: “…everyone who shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” and John 3:36: “He who believes on the Son has everlasting life.” Acts 2:38, however, tells us: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” This means more than an academic acceptance. Our belief must be proven by our actions.
II. Believing (being fully persuaded) God’s way of life is the best way so we choose to obey Him.
Most of us don’t reject and disobey all of God’s laws. We tend to pick and choose what laws of God we obey, and reject and disobey those laws we don’t like, being convinced our way is better. James 2:10 makes it clear we cannot pick and choose when it comes to God’s law: “For whoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” See also verse 17 which tells us “faith without works is dead.”
What do our choices say about what we really believe? If we believe God and are fully persuaded His laws are best, we will prove it by doing our best to obey His laws with the help and power of God. In moments of temptation we should be fully persuaded God’s way is better than the short term pleasures of sin and pray God will strengthen our conviction (Heb. 11:25).
III. Believing (being fully persuaded) God will do what He says He will do.
The third aspect of faith comes into play when we are praying. God is love (1 John 4:16) and has our best interests at heart, yet we can struggle with doubts about His love and concern for us when He delays or doesn’t answer our prayers. There are many reasons why God doesn’t answer prayers the way we want them to be answered and we have to pray according to His will (1 John 5:14) rather than treating God like a genie in a bottle doing our bidding. God is building His character in us and this is often the reason why answers to our prayers can be delayed or answered differently to the way we would prefer.
In Matthew 6:30-33 we read: “If God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, With what shall we be clothed?….For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”
