“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
Everyone lives by faith in something or someone. And the object of our faith determines the objective of our faith. Faith in Jesus Christ is different than faith in anything or anyone else. Maybe that’s why so many people misunderstand what biblical faith is. So what is the purpose of faith in the life of a believer?
Even though God is the “rewarder of those who seek Him,” reward should not be our objective. The problem is that we think of rewards in tangible, worldly terms. Some believe that the size of their faith determines their quality of life. They connect great faith with having a large bank account and a healthy body. That, however, was not the case with many in Scripture who God calls faithful.
There’s no better example than those listed in the latter part of the hall of faith—Hebrews 11. The same faith that enabled some to escape death by the sword enabled others to endure death by the sword (vv32-40). Some, such as Gideon, had faith as small as a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20) yet took part in miraculous events. Others suffered tremendous loss despite possessing great faith.
So, the purpose of faith is not to make life better. Nor is it to experience miraculous healing and deliverance, although God can do all of that. A core principle of Hebrews 11 is that we cannot fully trust the Lord as our rewarder until we see God Himself as our reward. In other words, the purpose of faith is to know God and to please Him in all that we do.
The question, then, is not whether you lack sufficient faith for healing or for overcoming your present difficulty. But rather, do you have enough faith to remain in those circ*mstances? The Bible doesn’t connect faith to what our lives look like outwardly but to how we live inwardly. We’re told repeatedly that faith goes hand-in-hand with righteousness (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38).
That’s why faith in Jesus is different than faith in anything or anyone else. As we follow Him, “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). And He leads us to a life beyond the ordinary; a life whose primary reward is an intimate relationship with God Himself.
FAQs
What is the Purpose of Faith? “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 Everyone lives by faith in something or someone.
What is the main purpose of faith? ›
Faith is so important because it is the means by which we have a relationship with God: “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Eph 2:8). Faith is how we receive the benefits of what Jesus has done for us.
What are the beliefs of the faith Mission? ›
We affirm our belief in the power of the Holy Spirit to convict of sin, create faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, regenerate and sanctify the soul, and indwell the Christian to empower for holiness of life and effectiveness in service.
What are the 3 aspects of faith? ›
Faith is an act of the whole man. This is where the three elements of faith need to be properly understood: the mind, the emotions, and the will, or as the Protestant Reformers referred to them, notitia, assensus, and fiducia.
How does faith works? ›
Faith is a spiritual transaction that pushes you to take definite steps in alignment with the Word to produce your desired outcome. The understanding of the force of faith will produce consistent victory and sustainable success. Faith works only when it is anchored on the Word.
What are the 7 characteristics of faith? ›
The Compendium notes seven characteristics of faith. Faith is: (1) necessary for salvation, (2) a free gift, a grace, (3) a human act, (4) it is certain, (5) it works through charity, (6) it continually grows, and (7) it is a foretaste of heaven. (We note an eighth characteristic of faith as well.)
What denomination is Faith Mission? ›
The Faith Mission is a Protestant evangelical movement founded in 1886 in Scotland by John George Govan (aka J. G. Govan). Govan was one of the seven sons and six daughters of Christian parents, William and Margaret (Arthur) Govan.
Who started Faith Mission? ›
The Faith Mission is an unincorporated Scottish charity which also has a registration in the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1886 by John George Govan as a religious organisation for the purposes of evangelism and Christian ministry in the rural areas of the Great Britain and Ireland.
What kind of religion is faith church? ›
Christian Living
With God's Word, the Spirit's power, and fervent prayer in Christ's name, we are to combat the spiritual forces of evil. In obedience to Christ's commission, we are to make disciples among all people, always bearing witness to the gospel in word and deed.
What is the full meaning of faith? ›
: belief and trust in and loyalty to God. (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion. b(1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof.
Some common synonyms of faith are belief, credence, and credit. While all these words mean "assent to the truth of something offered for acceptance," faith almost always implies certitude even where there is no evidence or proof.
What are the 5 basic qualities of faith? ›
5 Characteristics of Faith
- Total and Absolute. Call for an adherence to God.
- Trinitarian. Our adherence to the Triune God revealed through Jesus Christ 3 persons in 1 God. ...
- Loving, Maturing and Missionary. Without love, we know nothing of God is love.
- Informed and Communitarian. ...
- Inculturated.
(John 6:29) Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 7:38) Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. (Romans 10:11) As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
What makes a faith a faith? ›
Biblically, faith is considered a belief and trust in God based on evidence but without total proof. This idea is associated with “taking a leap of faith,” a common English idiom. Among all definitions, faith holds a common theme: trust. Whether you're putting faith in a person, duty or belief, trust is a necessity.
How does faith come to a person? ›
Faith is an integral part of the gift His grace bestowed on us. Scripture consistently teaches that faith is not conjured up by the human will but is a sovereignly granted gift of God.
What is an example of a faith mission statement? ›
Mission: “To love God and love people. We reach them with love, bring them with grace, teach them the truth and send them out on mission.”
What are the beliefs of the faith family church? ›
God is the Creator and Ruler of the universe. He is all powerful, all knowing, ever present, unchanging, trustworthy and Holy. He is our Heavenly Father: loving, compassionate and faithful to His people and His promises. Jesus Christ is the Son of God - fully human and fully God; born of the virgin Mary.
What does the faith family church believe in? ›
We believe that Jesus Christ is the only One who can restore us to God. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings.
What are the beliefs of the living faith? ›
There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three coeternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His self-revelation.
