Faith

From: Faith: November 2006

Narrator: Chris Genthree

Duration: 1min

• 1 min. read • grade level: 8

The word “faith” means to receive the testimony of another as true. John 3:33³³He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. (John 3:33) gives the scriptural definition: “He that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.” Faith is not only receiving the testimony (what is said) as true, but, importantly, it involves receiving the one who gives the testimony. In other words, our faith in what a person says depends upon our faith in the person. We need not only to have confidence in what God says, but confidence in God himself — “God is true.”

As one would expect, this issue has much to do with Abraham’s faith, for “he believed ... God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall thy seed be” (Rom. 4:16-18¹⁶Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, ¹⁷(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. ¹⁸Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. (Romans 4:16‑18)).

When man first gave up his unquestioning trust in God Himself, he gave up his confidence in what God said. Soon he disobeyed God; he was “lost” and in need of salvation. God in grace did all that was needed to restore man’s faith in Himself, for if a man dies in unbelief, he is lost forever.

May we who have been saved by faith continue to learn to “live by faith.” May we live by the simple motto: “I believe God.”

Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.

Faith: November 2006

• Faith

• Faith and Its Footsteps: Hebrews 11

• Author and Finisher of Faith, The

• Believing a Lie

• Faith and Flesh

• Faith — What Is It?