Faith/belief/trust

[RichardBurger]

The dictionary gives several definitions of the word "Faith."

1. to trust in, have confidence in.
2. unquestioning belief in God, religion, etc.
3. complete trust, confidence, or reliance: as children usually have faith in their parents.
4. a religion, or system, of religious beliefs: as, the Catholic faith, Baptist faith, etc.

Using number 4, above, some say that faith is their system of religious beliefs. In other words they have faith (as a child) in their system of religion. Notice that in number 4 the word "IN" is not used. In number 4 the word "faith" is used to denote a label (name) for a religion.

The scriptures do not teach that we are to have faith in our religious systems. Nor are we to have faith in our works. The scriptures teach we are to have faith "in" God. It is easily seen that without the word "IN" after the word faith, the word means nothing but a label (name).

You cannot separate the ideas behind the words "faith," "belief" and "trust" and “confidence†as they are used in scriptural context. The "IN" word is used after the these words to denote what they are supposed to be "IN."

In reality all four words (faith/belief/trust/confidence) can be used to describe each other. In the O.T. the word "faith" can only be found in two places, one in Deuteronomy 32:20 and one in Habakkuk 2:4. The most used word in the O.T. is "trust." ---- In the N.T. the word "trust" can only be found in 18 places. The most used word in the N.T. is "faith." These two words can be used interchangeable since they have the same meaning. However, in scripture there is no context where the words are used to denote a label (name).

The word "persuaded" is defined as believing something. To be "convinced." To have "confidence."

When a child of God is asked about their faith, they will say that their faith is “IN†God‘s work on the cross. If a person‘s answer is about what they do, then their faith is in what they do, not in what God has done on the cross.

You cannot see faith, trust, or confidence since these things exist in the heart. But you can witness as to what you have these “INâ€Â.

Acts 28:24
24 And some were persuaded (some believed, substitution by me) by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved.
(NKJ)

Rom 8:38-39
38 For I am persuaded (convinced, substitution by me) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(NKJ)

Faith/belief/trust/confidence does not describe what I have faith/belief/trust/confidence """"IN."""" None of these words mean anything but a label (name) until the word "IN" follows it. An example; Prov 3:5 ""Trust in"" the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;

I don't have faith in belief, or belief in faith. I have faith/belief/trust/confidence "IN" what God has done for me/us on the cross.

I don't own faith, nor belief, nor trust. They are words that describe what I do in my heart. Since it is in my heart it is not a physical work. It is a work of the heart.

According to the scriptures “faith†is a gift of the Holy Spirit. The gift is given when a person humbles him/her self before God acknowledging that they are sinful in the flesh and cannot save themselves and need Jesus‘ work on the cross. I believe, that at that point, the Holy Spirit gives them the gift of faith in Jesus and seals them “in Christ“.

 

[Joe67]

According to the scriptures “faith†is a gift of the Holy Spirit. The gift is given when a person humbles him/her self before God acknowledging that they are sinful in the flesh and cannot save themselves and need Jesus‘ work on the cross. I believe, that at that point, the Holy Spirit gives them the gift of faith in Jesus and seals them “in Christ“.

Richard,

Truly faith is at the beginning of this work of God through the Spirit. Faith is also at the finish of the work of God through the Spirit.

When you begin to make the wine, the batch must work until it is brought to the time it can be sealed.

The baking of bread is the same. The dough is sealed as it is heated/cooked. Through leavening the flour rises into a dough. Then it is beaten very small and it rises again ( some go through this process several times ) and then it is put into the oven and sealed through the heat ( fire from the eyes ). The leavening is purged from the dough as sufficient heat is applied.

Heb 12:2
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. KJV

Joe

 

[Free]

4. a religion, or system, of religious beliefs: as, the Catholic faith, Baptist faith, etc.

Using number 4, above, some say that faith is their system of religious beliefs. In other words they have faith (as a child) in their system of religion. Notice that in number 4 the word "IN" is not used. In number 4 the word "faith" is used to denote a label (name) for a religion.

There is nothing wrong with the use of number 4. The "Christian faith" is the same as the "Christian religion". It doesn't mean that someone has faith in their system of religious beliefs, it's just a sociological definition.

 

[Sakari]

Richard, your post was most interesting also from a linguistical point of view.

My nation was among the last in Europe to be converted to Christianity  only the Latvians resisted harder. Therefore our religious tradition is a whole lot younger than that in southern or central Europe. Our language doesn't even have all the words; at times longer explanations are needed to make things clear. This "faith"/"belief" issue is a good example. The sentences

1. "I believe in God"
2. "I have faith in God"

translate precisely the same in Finnish. Of course we can explain things so that everybody understands the difference, but this is not quite the same as having two different words  which in itself can raise questions, as you showed us above.

I can only imagine the difficulties the early missionaries had when they translated the Bible into languages which didn't even have the alphabet.

¶

Please, note that I understand your starting point. It was about concepts, not words per se.

 

[Adullam]

faith has to do with anything outside our own sphere of control. We all trust car manufacturers that the wheels don't fall off as we drive.

We have faith in our friends

We have faith in our own abiblities

So faith is not a religious act per se...it is merely trusting in something or someone.

Of course our faith can be misplaced. Many have died trusting to their own judgments. Some cars do fall apart on the road. I personally know of a young man who died in this way.

Then we come to religious faith....

Muslims have faith in the Koran.
Christians have faith in the bible.


New testament faith is of another order. Our faith is built on sight...spiritual sight. Our faith begins with a divine revelation. Our faith is not based on conjecture nor is it based on an obstinate viewpoint. Man cannot produce the requisite faith that pleases God. Faith experiences the divine reality. We can believe that Moses was called of the Lord, but until we are also called of the Lord in truth....not just read that we have been....our faith is not directly in God. Too many have faith in their own faith. True faith is not obstinate..it rises from our incredulity. It comes from the Lord Himself. We are not the author of our own faith...at least not if we will be disciples. Jesus calls us individually to follow Him. We then walk by faith in Him.

 

[Joe67]

Rom 10:17
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. KJV

Joe