What is Faith Really?
What is faith really? Faith is discussed many times in the context of religion and what the bible says about it. The truth is that I have never seen, read, or heard faith taught from the aspect of its essence. The book of Hebrews illustrates faith as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence for things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). The two main elements that are key to the understanding of faith is; substance and evidence. These concepts are important because substance is defined as; what is placed under something (thing put under, substructure, or foundation). It is also that which has actual existence as a substance being real. Evidence is proof or that thing by which something is proved or tested. It also means a conviction.
So if the substance is real or tangible, and the foundation that actually exists, then that is what you put your hope in. Hope then is not faith. If evidence is the proof (to the thing) of the object of hope, then Faith is not the evidence but what the evidence is proof of. This is important because that means that faith is something that has yet to truly be defined. I look to Galatians 5:6 for help in direction to this concept. [Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love] The scripture says that faith works by love. Now that we have this interesting Bit of information, I will add that love is only defined by what you do and not what you say.
Love is the essence of the motivation that demonstrate the activities associated with love's expression. In a similar way, faith works that same. It too is the motivation behind the activities that demonstrate the belief in something. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 1:6). James 2:18 says show me your faith without works and I will show you my faith by my works. James 2:20 states that Faith without works is dead. James 2:26 stated that “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” These text shows that faith is based on some action (works) and that without it, faith can’t exist just like a body can’t exist without a spirit.
Faith is important in the lives of the believers today. How faith is applied is the challenge that we all are dealing with every day. The main point of this blog is to break down what faith is not and why we miss it so many times. We equate faith with belief or trust and not action, but what we believe should support what directs our behavior. It never has to be visible or physical in nature, but we should treat it as such. The evidence of our faith should come out though our consistent actions. In this way, faith can be seen through our actions which should be the indicator of our faith.
