Do you know how easy it is to be saved? How easy it is to ask for, be given and accept God’s FREE gift of Salvation? Here’s what happens” “SAVED by GRACE through FAITH!” Sounds easy, right? Well guess what, it is! Here’s how Webster’s Dictionary defines FAITH:
The Full Definition of FAITH:
1 a : allegiance to duty or a person : loyalty b (1) : fidelity to one’s promises (2) : sincerity of intentions
2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust
3: something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs <the Protestant faith>
The Biblical Definition of FAITH:
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1, KJV). Hebrews 11:1 is probably the most concise definition of faith found in the Bible. It is considered the classical definition of faith. Faith is both the substance of things hoped for and the evidence that things exist that are not yet perceived with the senses. 1. Faith Is Substance The New Testament was written in Koine [common] Greek. The Greek word translated “substance in Hebrews 11:1 is hupostasis, literally, “that which stands under.” The derived meaning is “that which has real existence, the basic essence, the actual reality, the substance of something” [Hobart E. Freeman, ThD, Faith (Claypool, IN: Faith Publications, n.d.), p. 3].
Ephesians 6:16 – The Whole Armor: Faith
This is post #4 of 4 in the series “Ephesians 6: The Whole Armor” https://madmimi.com/p/f52d03?fe=1&pact=27913466070
Daily Devotional Bible Verse:
“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; (Ephesians 6:16 ESV) Righteousness is our breastplate, and guards our spiritual body and core, a most important protection to be sure. But a shield, like that of our faith, is useful and necessary for defense in every direction. We of the faith are attacked from all angles, and in all walks of life. We literally find ourselves amidst 360 degrees of battle-front. The Apostle Paul lamented this fact when he said that whenever he wants “to do right, evil lies close at hand” . (Romans 7:21)
So as temptation lurks, and is launched upon us unexpectedly, a deep rooted faith, connecting our head and our heart is crucial for holy living. One writer said of faith that it is the “assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1); essentially, it means our intellectual assent to God’s truth, and moral consent to live in light of that truth. Faith is our ever ready shield because it takes into account the entire scope of life in all its complexities. Every facet of our life is touched, influenced, and affected by our belief in Jesus as the Word of God. There is no direction we can travel in which Scripture has not spoken to, it is a complete and comprehensive view on human life and experience. And it is our belief and trust in both the written and revealed Word of God that equates to our faith. Paul called them “flaming darts” because they are poisonous, and inflame when they take root, and take hold in our lives. But the faith that comes by hearing the Word of Christ (Romans 10:17) can extinguish those flaming darts, and provide a way of escape from temptation.
What daily activities can you engage in that will bolster your faith, and better connect your heart’s belief to your mind’s understanding?
