What Is Faith? The Biblical Definition
Hebrews 11:1 gives us the clearest definition: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Two key words:
- Assurance (Greek: hypostasis) — substance, foundation, confidence. Faith isn’t wishful thinking — it’s a confident trust based on evidence.
- Conviction (Greek: elegchos) — proof, certainty. Faith is being convinced of reality you can’t physically see.
Biblical faith is not believing something despite the evidence. It’s trusting Someone — God — based on who He has proven Himself to be.
Key Scriptures on Faith
Romans 10:17 — How Faith Grows
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
Faith isn’t generated by willpower. It grows through exposure to God’s Word. The more you study Scripture, the more you see God’s faithfulness, and the more your faith deepens. This is why Bible study and faith are inseparable.
Ephesians 2:8-9 — Faith as Gift
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Saving faith isn’t something you manufacture. It’s a gift — grace from God. This removes all pride and self-effort from the equation. You don’t earn salvation by having enough faith; God gives you faith to receive His salvation.
James 2:17 — Faith That Works
“So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
James isn’t contradicting Paul. He’s saying that genuine faith produces visible fruit. If someone claims to trust God but their life shows no evidence of it, the faith they claim isn’t real faith. True faith transforms behavior.
Habakkuk 2:4 — The Righteous Live by Faith
“The righteous shall live by his faith.”
This Old Testament verse is so foundational that Paul quotes it three times in the New Testament (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38). Faith isn’t just for salvation — it’s the operating system of the entire Christian life.
Heroes of Faith: Lessons from Hebrews 11
Hebrews 11 is often called the “Hall of Faith.” It catalogs ordinary people who did extraordinary things because they trusted God. Here are the key lessons:
Abel — Faith Worships (v. 4)
Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain because it was offered in faith. Faith affects how we worship — are we going through motions, or approaching God with genuine trust and reverence?
Abraham — Faith Obeys Without Seeing the Destination (vv. 8-12)
Abraham left his homeland “not knowing where he was going.” He believed God’s promise of a son when it was biologically impossible. Faith sometimes means taking the next step when you can’t see the full path.
Moses — Faith Chooses Suffering Over Comfort (vv. 24-27)
Moses chose to suffer with God’s people rather than enjoy the temporary pleasures of Egypt. Faith calculates differently — it values eternal reward over immediate comfort.
Rahab — Faith Acts Despite a Messy Past (v. 31)
Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho. Her past didn’t disqualify her faith. She trusted God and acted on it — and she’s listed in the genealogy of Yeshua (Matthew 1:5). No past is too broken for faith to redeem.
The Unnamed Faithful (vv. 35-40)
Hebrews 11 ends with people who had great faith and yet didn’t receive what was promised in their lifetime — they were persecuted, tortured, killed. Faith doesn’t guarantee an easy life. It guarantees something better: “God had planned something better for us, so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (v. 40).
How to Grow Your Faith
- Study Scripture regularly. Faith grows through hearing the Word (Romans 10:17). There’s no shortcut.
- Remember God’s faithfulness. Keep a record of answered prayers and past provisions. When doubt creeps in, review the evidence.
- Step out in obedience. Faith grows by exercise. Say yes to what God is prompting you to do, even when it’s uncomfortable.
- Surround yourself with believers. Faith is contagious. Community strengthens what isolation weakens.
- Be honest about doubt. The father in Mark 9:24 cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” — and Yeshua honored that honest prayer. Doubt isn’t the opposite of faith; refusal to trust is.
- Endure trials. James 1:3 says the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Difficulties you endure aren’t destroying your faith — they’re strengthening it.
Faith vs. Feelings
One of the most important distinctions in the Christian life: faith is not a feeling. Feelings fluctuate with circumstances, health, sleep, and a hundred other variables. Faith is a settled confidence in God’s character and promises regardless of how you feel.
There will be days when you feel God’s presence powerfully and days when you feel nothing at all. Faith says, “God is good and God is faithful” on both kinds of days. As C.S. Lewis wrote, faith is “the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is doubt the opposite of faith?
No. Unbelief — the deliberate refusal to trust God — is the opposite of faith. Doubt is often a step toward deeper faith. Many heroes of faith in Scripture asked hard questions (Habakkuk, Thomas, the Psalmists). God isn’t threatened by honest questions. He’s big enough for your doubts.
How much faith do I need?
Yeshua said faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). The power isn’t in the amount of your faith — it’s in the Object of your faith. A small faith in a great God accomplishes more than great faith in yourself.
Can you lose your faith?
Faith can be tested, shaken, and even weakened through suffering or neglect. But genuine saving faith, which is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8), is sustained by God Himself. “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion” (Philippians 1:6). Guard your faith through Scripture, prayer, and community — but ultimately, it’s God who holds you.
What’s the relationship between faith and works?
We are saved by faith alone, but genuine faith is never alone — it produces works. Think of it this way: works don’t earn salvation, but they demonstrate it. An apple tree doesn’t become an apple tree by producing apples; it produces apples because that’s what apple trees do. Real faith naturally bears fruit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is doubt the opposite of faith?
No. Unbelief — the deliberate refusal to trust God — is the opposite of faith. Doubt is often a step toward deeper faith. Many heroes of faith in Scripture asked hard questions (Habakkuk, Thomas, the Psalmists). God isn’t threatened by honest questions. He’s big enough for your doubts.
How much faith do I need?
Yeshua said faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains (Matthew 17:20). The power isn’t in the amount of your faith — it’s in the Object of your faith. A small faith in a great God accomplishes more than great faith in yourself.
Can you lose your faith?
Faith can be tested, shaken, and even weakened through suffering or neglect. But genuine saving faith, which is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8), is sustained by God Himself. “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion” (Philippians 1:6). Guard your faith through Scripture, prayer, and community — but ultimately, it’s God who holds you.
What’s the relationship between faith and works?
We are saved by faith alone, but genuine faith is never alone — it produces works. Think of it this way: works don’t earn salvation, but they demonstrate it. An apple tree doesn’t become an apple tree by producing apples; it produces apples because that’s what apple trees do. Real faith naturally bears fruit.
Want to grow in faith? Founded in Truth Fellowship is a community of believers pursuing God together through Scripture, prayer, and authentic fellowship. Come grow with us.
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