Here’s What Many People Get WRONG About Faith

Wow!!! Many Christians and ministers don't understand this, so simple yet true. Faith is simply taking God at His word and for who He reveals Himself to be. Despite what your circumstances may look like.

Faith is the things hoped for not yet seen

Amen!

Biblical faith is NEVER contrary to evidence. Neither is there any distinction between saving faith and faith in a general sense. This preacher doesn't have a biblical understanding of the Greek verb πιστεύω (pisteuó), the noun πίστις (pistis), or the adjective πιστός (πιστός). These all concern trusting faithulness , not just little more than cognitive belief and faith. Thus, it was Abraham's trusting faithulness that was credited to him as righteousness (Romans 4:3), not his mere belief. The preacher is correct though when he says has nothing to do with wishing hard.

Wherever a translation has 'believe' or the like, try inserting the idea of trusting faithulness or faithul trust there. If it works, that's probably what the writer meant.

For a full treatment of πιστεύω (pisteuó), πίστις (pistis) and πιστός (πιστός)  in their first century context, see Roman Faith and Christian Faith: Pistis and Fides in the Early Roman Empire and Early Churches (Morgan, 2015).

Amen!

I have struggled with salvation on and off throughout my life (I believe based on my feelings/behaviors; like, how can I be saved and still sin like this), but now even more so now that Calvinism has been introduced to me. I believe what the bible says and I believe God is able to save me, but if I'm not chosen by Him, then my belief doesn't amount to anything. I'm still trying to understand Calvinism and a WHOLE bunch of stuff (it's a real struggle) because I was never taught any of this stuff at the church I was going to and when I asked questions, no one would help with answers, like it was all a big secret or something. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Amen.

Saving faith comes from hearing the Word. It's a gift from God.

All of life for all of Christ!

Went to a presentation by Shane Rosenthal of the Humble Skeptic podcast about What is Faith? He has a book coming out. The historical use of faith is our action after seeing, reading and/or hearing sufficient evidence. In the 1920’s it flipped to a blind leap of faith thanks to the skeptic “intellectuals.” The old Oxford Dictionary defines it as a reaction to evidence. Even many Christians today think it’s a blind trust or a gut feeling. They don’t know the original meaning. It’s worth studying.

So, when God reveals Himself as Jehovah Rapha (the Lord who heals), doesn't that mean we can have confidence that He will heal? That would, by definition, be taking God at His word. And yes, that is the best aspect of biblical faith.

Hebrews 11 explains it quite differently, tho he is right in some areas.

There is but 1 faith Ephesian 4:5

I wouldn't say "despite evidence to the contrary." I would say "despite an appearance to the contrary."