“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” John 4:24.

Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as the substance of things hoped for (confidently assured of) and the evidence of things not seen. Because God is a Spirit, John 1:18a declares “No man hath seen God at any time”.  The triune God in his divine essence has never been seen by mortal flesh, but all men know he is there.  His law is written upon our hearts.  The heavens declare his handiwork and testify of God’s invisible presence which we see through the eyes of faith.

The source of faith is God.  Faith is a gift from God.  Romans 12:3 says that we are to “think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith”.  Speaking concerning the distribution of gifts by the Holy Spirit, I Corinthians 12:9 says “to another individual – is given faith by the same Spirit”.  Hebrews 12:2 says “Looking unto Jesus (who is God), the author and finisher of our faith”.  

W.E. Vine’s dictionary of New Testament words defines faith as a firm persuasion or conviction based upon hearing.  “So then, faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God” Romans 10:17. If you want to have faith or to increase the faith that you already have, then study the Scriptures with a willing heart.  Developing a strong faith is a process of growth in God’s word, line upon line, precept upon precept.

Faith is vitally important.  Faith is necessary to please our Creator. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” Hebrews 11:6.  God desires to give the gift of faith to all men, but he will not give it to those who resist his Spirit.

Saving faith is faith which rests only upon Christ’s merit and work on the cross.  His once for all death, burial, and resurrection give us access to God’s gift of salvation.  Although our works do not factor into salvation, when one is saved or born again, works follow salvation.  James 2:20 says that faith without works is dead.  

II Corinthians 5:17 states “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”  After a person is saved, the things or works that characterized his/her life as an unbeliever fade away and are replaced by new things or works that are characterized by obedience to Christ and His word.  Faith that does not produce “new things” is dead.

In our everyday Christian life, there should be a proper order concerning; what our faith is based upon, our faith itself, and our feelings.  The facts of Scripture always come first.  Our faith is built upon God’s promises, therefore our faith follows the facts of Scripture.  Feelings are last and should always follow in that order.

Sometimes as Christians we do not feel saved, loved, or secure in our relationship with God.  We must always remember that our faith is built on the facts of God’s word (God cannot lie), not our feelings. If we allow feelings to take the lead, our Christian life will take on the roller coaster ride that feelings often do.  We will become unstable and inconsistent Christians.

Hebrews chapter eleven is the “Hall of Faith”. The whole chapter is devoted to hero’s of the faith. There are many familiar faithful listed and some that may be  surprising.  

There are many results of faith.  When faith is properly placed we have access to salvation (Ephesians 2:8&9), peace (Romans 5:1), rest (Hebrews 4:1-3), joy (I Peter 1:8), understanding (Hebrews 11:3) and more. Check them out.

“The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17).  Faith is a way of life.  It is not a blind leap in the dark.  Faith is founded upon the truth of God’s word.  Faith’s objective is to know Jesus Christ and the power of his resurrection.  

If you are not a believer, you should know that “as many as received him (Jesus Messiah), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them who believe on his name” (John 1:12).