Two primary biblical definitions of faith

Hebrews 11:1,6 (NIV)

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. 

These two verses ought to be memorized by every Christian believer.  Verse 1 defines faith and verse 6 describes the consequences of a lack of faith.

The definition of faith is not hard to understand.  Faith is being sure (assurance) and certain (conviction).  But, what is harder to understand is the real meaning of assurance and conviction.  The word used for “assurance” or “being sure” literally means “confidence that something is real”.  The word used for “conviction” or “certain” means “something that is proved”.  So this verse can be amplified by stating that “faith is confident trust that our hope is real and there is proof that whatever I cannot see is true”.  In fact the Amplified Bible says: “Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, 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]”. 

The best way to live out your faith is to live your life daily with the solid assumption that God’s Word is absolutely true.  Whatever God says in the Bible, it is true and it will happen.  Simply believing that whatever God’s word says, that in itself is sufficient evidence that it is true and no further proof is necessary.

Yet, honestly, it is very difficult for intelligent humans to agree to believe like this.  I know that I cringe sometimes when I see or hear people who dismiss the thinking process and say things like “whatever the Bible says, I believe it and that’s that.”  Indeed that should be the ultimate belief of every believer, but it is also the responsibility of every believer to come to this conclusion on his/her own searching and studying the Scriptures and not take the easy way out.  God does not want blind faith from you.  He wants you to dig deep into His word, think it through rationally and carefully, and come to your own conclusion that what He says in His Word is absolutely true. 

Someone has said that Christianity is reasonable and rational, logically consistent that fits the evidence and relevant for every person.  It is not blind faith, it is faith based on an intelligent pursuit of what is truth.  Jesus said in John 10:37-38, “If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me, but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and understand………”  I like His emphasis on the pursuit of knowledge and understanding, the cornerstone of faith. 

Hebrews 11:6 clearly states that confident trust in God is necessary if you wish to please Him.  Such trust will produce rewards (what might those be?), but note the emphasis not only on faith, but also on seeking God.  Seeking God requires action, requires diligent effort (see Proverbs 2:1-5) to be in fellowship with Him, to spend quality time with Him, to give Him first priority in your life, and to learn from His Word how you can practice your faith daily. 

Think about ways that you can pursue deepening your faith.  Figure out how you can spend perhaps at least an hour a day in quality time with God.  This may seem like too much time to spare, but the rewards of a faith full of assurance and conviction will be worth far more than any other way you choose to spend your time.