Faith - What Bible Says

Faith

To understand better for my previous post, the following is a thorough understanding of 'faith'.

Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true (Phillipians 1:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:13). Its primary idea is trust. A thing is true, and therefore worthy of trust. It admits of many degrees up to full assurance of faith, in accordance with the evidence on which it rests.

Faith is the result of teaching (Romans 10:14-17). Knowledge is an essential element in all faith, and is sometimes spoken of as an equivalent to faith (John 10:38; 1 John 2:3). Yet the two are distinguished in this respect, that faith includes in it assent, which is an act of the will, in addition to the act of the understanding. Assent to the truth is of the essence of faith, and the ultimate ground on which our assent to any revealed truth rests is the veracity of God.

Historical faith is the apprehension of, and assent to, certain statements which are regarded as mere facts of history.

Temporary faith is that state of mind which is awakened in men (e.g., Felix) by the exhibition of the truth and by the influence of religious sympathy, or by what is sometimes styled the common operation of the Holy Spirit.

Saving faith is so called because it has eternal life inseparably connected with it. It cannot be better defined than in the words of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism:

“Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.”

The object of saving faith is the whole revealed Word of God. Faith accepts and believes it as the very truth most sure. But the special act of faith which unites to Christ has as its object the person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 7:38; Acts 16:31). This is the specific act of faith by which a sinner is justified before God (Rom. 3:22, 25; Gal. 2:16; Phil. 3:9; John 3:16-36; Acts 10:43; 16:31). In this act of faith the believer appropriates and rests on Christ alone as mediator in all his offices.

Faith is necessary to our salvation (Mark 16:16), not because there is any merit in it, but simply because it is the sinner's taking the place assigned him by God, his falling in with what God is doing.

Further Reading:

John 14:19; Romans 6:4-10; Ephesians 4:15-16.

“peace with God” Romans 5:1

Sanctification Acts 26:18; Galatians. 5:6; Acts 15:9.

All who thus believe in Christ will certainly be saved John 6:37, 40; 10:27, 28; Rom. 8:1.

The faith=the gospel Acts 6:7; Romans 1:5; Galatians 1:23; 1 Timothy 3:9; Jude 1:3.

Extracted from http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/faith.html?zoom_highlight=faith