What Is Faith?

When we study the Bible, we do it to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of the mind of God. Sometimes, as we study a scriptural passage or a particular topic, we begin to think we have gotten the understanding we sought. But when we put our Bibles down, it’s almost like our newly gained insight vanished with the closing of the cover. There are many Biblical terms and concepts that are hard to understand - and harder to explain. A full understanding of these spiritual topics requires the Spirit of God. The apostle Paul wrote:

1 Corinthians 2:11-12
…no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² Now we have received… the Spirit … that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

Paul indicates that we can understand those topics and passages with the help of God’s Spirit. The Spirit is given to Christians to help us know and understand the things that God gives to us.

Faith, a foundational Christian principle, is one of those words that we may feel like we see through a glass darkly. The apostle Paul actually gives a definition of faith In the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

You may have read or heard that verse numerous times and think you know what faith is. You may also have read that verse, said it over and over to yourself, and still wondered, “What in the world is faith?” And you may have asked yourself, “What is this substance stuff – and evidence, too?” As humans, we need words to help us understand, but sometimes words trip us up and get in the way of understanding. To come to a fuller understanding of what faith really is, it will help to dig deeper into the meanings of three key words in Hebrews 11:1 - faith, substance, and evidence.

Faith

First, look at the word “faith.” The word appears almost exclusively in the New Testament and is used mainly by the apostle Paul. The word “faith” does not appear in the gospel of John at all. “Faith” is an English translation of the Greek word “pistis”. Strong’s definition is as follows.

NT:4102 ‎ ‎pistis; from NT:3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: KJV - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. (Strong’s Concordance)

We see from this definition that faith is a persuasion, a moral conviction, of the truth. When we have faith, we are persuaded and convicted that something is true. Faith is a strong belief that God is truthful and that what He says is true. Faith requires that we be constant – not doubting or wavering - in those convictions.

Vines Expository Dictionary adds to our understanding.

pistis … primarily, "firm persuasion," a conviction based upon hearing (akin to peitho, "to persuade"), is used in the NT always of "faith in God or Christ, or things spiritual." The word is used of (a) trust,… (b) trust-worthiness,… "the faithfulness of God"; Galatians 5:22 (RV, "faithfulness");… The main elements in "faith" in its relation to the invisible God,… are (1) a firm conviction, producing a full acknowledgement of God's revelation or truth,… ; (2) a personal surrender to Him,… [and] (3) a conduct inspired by such surrender…(Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words)

From this definition, we see that faith requires: hearing spiritual truth, having a firm conviction that it is true, trusting God and surrendering to Him, and putting that truth to action in your own life.

Substance

Next, consider the word “substance”. This word used in the NKJV comes form the Greek “hupostasis”. It is also translated as “assurance” in other versions of the Bible. Strong’s list the following:

NT:5287 ‎ ‎hupostasis… a setting under (support.)… KJV - confidence, confident, person, substance. (Strong’s Concordance)

“Substance” is support. It is what gives a person real confidence in what he/she believes.

Vines again expands on the meaning and helps us develop a better understanding of what is being said when the word “hupostasis” is used.

hupostasis (‎NT:5287), lit., "a standing under, support" … an "assurance," is so rendered in Hebrews 11:1, RV, for KJV, "substance." It here may signify a title-deed, as giving a guarantee, or reality…"that which stands, or is set, under, a foundation, beginning"; hence, the quality of confidence which leads one to stand under, endure, or undertake anything,... (Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words)

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon gives additional explanation.

NT:5287 1. a setting or placing under; thing put under, substructure, foundation: …2. that which has foundation, is firm; hence, a. that which has actual existence; a substance, real being: ‎… confidence, firm trust, assurance… (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

From these reference sources, we see that the word “substance” in Hebrews 11:1 indicates that faith has support; it has foundation; it is based on something that is real and actually exists. This “substance” is a like a guarantee. Having firm confidence and assurance that the guarantee is real leads a person to endure and to stand up under any pressure or test or opposition. This “substance” is rock solid. Individuals possessing this assurance remain constant in their belief and practices – regardless of what comes.

Evidence

Finally, examine what Thayer’s Greek Lexicon has to say about the word “evidence”.

NT:1650 ‎elegchos 1. a proof, that by which a thing is proved or tested … that by which invisible things are proved (and we are convinced of their reality), Hebrews 11: … (others take the word here [to indicate] … the inward result of proving viz. a conviction; …). (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

In Hebrews 11:1, “evidence” is our proof of what is not seen. This word indicates that a person who has faith has studied the evidence – the proof – and has been convinced that the evidence is real and true. Further, that proving has produced an inward change in the individual.

Scriptural Proof

We have looked at what reference works say about the meanings of the key words that Paul uses to define faith. Are there any scriptures that corroborate what we have learned?

To understand the meaning of faith, we have to realize that faith is a spiritual gift from God. Paul wrote in Romans 12:3 that “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” That faith requires hearing the truth of God.

Romans 10: 14, 17
¹⁴ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹

¹⁷ So then faith comes by hearing [RSV: “faith comes from what is heard…”], and hearing by the word of God…

Once we hear the truth, we must be convicted and persuaded that it is real. To reach that level of conviction, we must put the truth to the test. We must prove whether these things are so, just like the Bereans did as mentioned in the book of Acts. Once we have proved the truth has actual foundation and support, our belief must remain firm and constant. In the process, we come to know that the One in whom we believe - the One who gives us the proof and the assurance - is absolutely trustworthy. We come to know that He will do what He says. When we reach that firm of a conviction, an inner change is produced that leads to action.

The apostle James wrote about action being an integral part of faith.

James 2:14-17, 26
¹⁴ What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead… ²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

If there are no works, there is no faith. Faith does not exist where there is no action.

Example of Faith

Hebrews 11 gives an example of this understanding of the word “faith” in the life of the father of the faithful, Abraham.

Hebrews 11:8-10
⁸ By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; ¹⁰ for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Abraham first heard – he was called by God. Based on what he heard, he was convicted that there was rock solid evidence that he needed to make a change and do things differently. That firm conviction of the truth of God led him to obey what God told him to do. He had faith that God was trustworthy and that God would do what He said. Abraham believed the message that he would receive an inheritance, so he left his country not knowing where he was going. His way of life was based on that faith – he dwelled in the land of promise. And he waited. Faith involves believing, trusting, and enduring. Hebrews 11:13 says, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises.” Real faith does not require that you receive the promise or the request, in this lifetime.

Real spiritual faith is based on the truth of God. To have faith, we must 1) hear that truth, 2) prove that it is real, 3) be so strongly convicted of what we have learned that we trust God enough to surrender to Him, and 4) then put that truth to action in our lives. Real faith grows when we constantly immerse ourselves in the word of God, when we see that His inspired word is true, and when we develop a strong relationship with Him.

We can understand the spiritual things of God when we dig deep and seek that understanding. With this deeper insight into the meaning of the Biblical principle of faith, let’s live our lives based on real faith!