Faith

What is the Biblical concept of  Faith?  Do we really understand it?  To assist in our understanding of this concept I will reference the writing of  Dr. Hugh Ross in his appendix A of his book "The Genesis Question"[1].  Quoting from Dr. Ross's work: "The Hebrew word for faith, 'emûna, means a strongly held conviction that something or someone is certainly existing, firmly established, constant, and dependable.[2]  The Greek word for faith, pistis, means a strong and welcome conviction of the truth of anything or anyone to the degree that one places complete trust and confidence in that thing or person.[3]  In the Bible every instance of Faith connotes the acting upon some established truth.  Dr. Ross points out in his works that modern science has the tools necessary to confirm these Biblical truths.  Science is today providing evidence that the Bible is the basis for all our scientific advances.  Science and the Bible are in agreement.  More scientists are becoming Christians than ever before.

Notice the importance of the words strong and complete in the Hebrew and Greek meanings of Faith as they describe the type of conviction or trust one must have.  Do you have Biblical Faith?  Have you placed your trust in the person who is the theme of the Christian Bible?  Jesus is found on every page.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee tells us how faith is the foundation of eternal life. Following is one of Dr. McGee's descriptions of the gospel.  "How that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures [according to the Old Testament]; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."  "The gospel is not God asking you to do something; it is God telling you that He has done something for you.  The gospel is not your giving something to God; the gospel is God's giving something to you.  The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.  How do you get it?  By faith.  That is the only way you can receive a gift."[4]

Music: Trust and Obey
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[1] Hugh Ross, The Genesis Question (Colorado Springs, Col.: NavPress, 1998), p190-191.
See also; Reasons to Believe.

[2] R. Harris, Gleason L. Archer, and Bruce K. Waltke, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, vol. 1 (Chicago: Moody, 1989), pages 51-52.

[3] Joseph H. Thayer, Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker, 1977), pages 512-513.

[4] "Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee"; Thru The Bible Radio, Pasadena, California; Vol. 5, pages 690-691.