FoundationsSample

Faith

This word gets used a lot: faith. But what is it? Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) describes it as "...the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see." Faith is our ability to trust in the things we cannot see right in front of us.

You can look at the device on which you're reading this and believe it's there. That's easy because it's in front of you - but faith is more than a belief; it is a readiness to press into something and to trust it. Faith goes beyond what we can see. For example, you cannot see your heart beating - but you can note the evidence of it - your pulse - and therefore believe it is beating. Faith is required in Christianity because God is similar to our heartbeat in that we cannot see Him - but His evidence is all around us.

God cannot be known fully. After all, if we knew everything about Him, He wouldn't be God! He has revealed some things to us, but some are a mystery, and that's ok. Through faith, we can believe in the work of God - and we know we can put our trust in Him because He is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9).

Reading the Bible can build our faith in God's existence and works. Romans 10:17 (ESV) says: "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." The more we get to know God through the Bible, the greater our faith in Him can grow - as we build Him as our foundation!

We need to have faith in God and who He is to be saved - if we deny His existence and His work through Jesus, how can we accept His salvation? But faith itself is not what saves us, but rather it is the grace of God - through our faith that grants us His unmerited grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) reads: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God".

God's grace is his gift to us. He gave us Jesus to be a sacrifice for our sins so that we may know God and live life completely fulfilled in him (John 3:16). Although we cannot see God in front of us, by faith, we can believe He exists and is at work in our lives - and through our faith in Jesus, we can accept His life-giving grace and salvation. "Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" Romans 10:9 (ESV).

Exercise

Is there anything about God you find hard to have faith in? If so, identify it and explore what the Bible says about it!