Discover the Multi-Faceted Definition of Faith скачать в хорошем качестве

Discover the Multi-Faceted Definition of Faith

What is faith? If you ask multiple people, you will probably receive multiple definitions because "faith" is so multi-faceted. We read in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Here, we learn that faith is the foundation for everything in which we have full confidence in receiving. And it is believing that what we do not see, does exist, is reliable and is true. But this is just a tip of the iceberg...just one small facet. When we look into the Hebrew and Greek words for faith, we discover that it goes much deeper. The Greek word used most frequently for faith in the New Testament is "pistis". It is used in the active sense signifying an ACTIVE, living faith. The Hebrew word used for faith in the Old Testament is "emunah" which means ACTIVE trust, faithfulness, firmness, steadiness, loyalty. Both of these original language words indicate that faith is primarily active. It is not simply a passive belief. First, faith is an active trust. This means that we act in response to our trust in God. It is responding or moving forward without fear or trepidation because we trust Him. It is a desire to do what he asks of us because we place our trust in Him. It is letting go of our old self and letting go of our past. It is letting go of our worries, fears, guilt, and stress because we trust God. For example, Abraham left his country to go where God instructed. Noah built the ark as God instructed. Jeremiah prophesied as God instructed. In spite of facing uncertainty or difficulty, they moved forward because they actively trusted God. The next facet of faith is that it is an active relationship with God. Emunah denotes faithfulness which is BEING loyal, firm and unwavering. Pistis signifies an ACTIVE reliance, loyalty and commitment. It is faith demonstrated through a committed relationship with God. It is seeking to KNOW Him and developing a relationship with Him through reading His Holy Word, spending time with Him in prayer, and taking Him along with us in everything we do. It is honoring Him in all that we do and say as we read in Colossians 3:17. Faith is more than just believing in God...faith is to be active, living, and demonstrated. Faith and action work together as we read in James 2:14-22, [14] What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? [15] Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. [16] If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? [17] In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. ...[20] ...do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? [21] Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. As we discover that faith without action is dead, we may wonder if we are "doing" enough to demonstrate our faith. Faith is not supposed to possess a sense of pressure to perform. Instead, it is a natural reaction as long as we seek to abide in Christ as he teaches in John 15:4-5 where he says, [4] Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If we remain in Christ, we will naturally bear the fruit that comes from faith. We will love God, we will love our neighbors, we will have an active trust, we will demonstrate loyalty, we will hold firm to our relationship to God and we will possess an active, living faith in all of its multi-facetedness. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The mission of Daily God Gems is to share God's word and be a source of encouragement, peace, love and unity in Messiah. Visit us at www.facebook.com/dailygodgems and www.dailygodgems.com