" I Believe God"

FAITH (πίστις, pistis). Reliance upon and trust in God; a central emphasis of Christianity.

Introduction

# 1. Christianity Is Rooted In Faith

Christianity is largely characterized by its emphasis on faith and beliefs. Christians are

commonly called “believers,” and a commitment to Christianity typically involves a

confession of faith. The centrality of faith in Christianity reflects the biblical significance of

faith. For example, the author of Hebrews notes that one of the basic teachings of early

Christianity involves “faith towards God” (Heb 6:1 NRSV). Paul’s doctrine of justification by

faith also demonstrates the Bible’s emphasis on faith. Based on Paul’s teaching about faith

in Romans and Galatians, Martin Luther argued that Christians must understand their

salvation as sola fide—“by faith alone.”

At times, this emphasis on faith has degenerated into a checklist of beliefs that disregard a

person’s life and practices. However, the biblical concept of faith is not meant to boil

Christianity down to a set of religious ideas. The letter of James emphatically critiques such a distortion.

The Three Dimensions of Faith There appear to be three distinct concepts of faith in Scripture:

Many dimesiosions Of Faith

# 2. covenant faith;

epistemological faith; and eschatological faith. These concepts regularly

overlap, and multiple dimensions of faith can be found in the same passage. Covenantal

Faith: Faith as Covenantal Commitment The biblical language of faith concerns a

relationship of faithfulness and cooperation (Leclerc, “Faith in Action,” 184–95). The

concept of the covenant, which is especially explicit in the Old Testament, informs the

biblical writers’ use of the language of faith. To have faith in God or Jesus is to be faithful

to a covenantal bond, which is ***initiated by God ***and bound according to appropriate

promises and **expectations on both sides. The command for Christians to have faith is not

merely a cerebral exercise or eager wish, but a command with the expectation of fidelity

and trust. This definition of faith is apparent in Josh 24:14: When the Israelites renew their

covenant to the Lord after taking possession of Canaan, Joshua demands, “Now therefore

revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that

your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord” (NRSV).

#3. “blind faith.” (2 Cor 5:7 NRSV). With Since you are expecting a miracle why walk by what we see, we have the advantage to walk by the Spirit, The Spirit search all things .

Paul describes the Spirit as being in constant search mode, searching even the depths of God. The Spirit bridges the communication gap between ourselves and God. He searches and understands what is spiritual and makes it possible for us to perceive it. Of course, the Spirit is God, just as Jesus the Son is God.

promote a concept of faith that is opposed to the common phrase “blind faith.” For

example, Paul affirms that Christians live “by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7 NRSV). With

this phrase, he refers to Christians’ capacity for a kind of spiritual perception that allows

them to interpret the world in a godly way. God’s people are able to see and perceive His

work in the world, while the rest of the world ignores or rejects it (Hays, “Salvation by

Trust,” 218–223). Eschatological Faith: Faith as the Living Eschatological Expression of

Christian Hope While faith in the present involves seeing as God sees, eschatological faith

is necessary because sin has corrupted human understanding (Rom 1:18–32). To see

properly is a dimension of present faith, but God promises that all that is hidden will be

revealed when Christ returns (at the Parousia; 1 Cor 4:5). On the day of judgment, the

righteous will be honored and rewarded, and the reprobate and corrupt will be exposed

and punished. Part of Christian faith, according to Scripture, is living in light and

anticipation of that “day of illumination.”

Epistemological Faith: Faith as Spiritual Perception New Testament authors like Paul

promote a concept of faith that is opposed to the common phrase “blind faith.” For

example, Paul affirms that Christians live “by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7 NRSV).

With this phrase, he refers to Christians’ capacity for a kind of spiritual perception that

allows them to interpret the world in a godly way. God’s people are able to see and

perceive His work in the world, while the rest of the world ignores or rejects it (Hays,

“Salvation by Trust,” 218–223). Eschatological Faith: Faith as the Living Eschatological

Expression of Christian Hope While faith in the present involves seeing as God sees,

eschatological faith is necessary because sin has corrupted human understanding

(Rom 1:18–32). To see properly is a dimension of present faith, but God promises that

all that is hidden will be revealed when Christ returns (at the Parousia; 1 Cor 4:5). On

the day of judgment, the righteous will be honored and rewarded, and the reprobate

and corrupt will be exposed and punished. Part of Christian faith, according to

Scripture, is living in light and anticipation of that “day of illumination.”