Aspects of faith
(Luke 18:8) Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
When we use the word “faith” we usually think of it as “believing, trusting” and this would accurate as far as it goes. But there are three aspects of faith as the word is used in Scripture.
One meaning for faith is just that – belief or trust. The second aspect as used in Scripture means “the body of truth as taught in Scripture”. The third aspect is in relation to an obedient moral lifer, the way we live. All three are present in a true experience of saving grace. Today we will address the first aspect of faith, that regarding belief or trust.
Belief or trust is an important part of our salvation experience, but we must not stop with just a belief. There are many, unfortunately, who have bought into the false salvation of simply saying they believe that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for the sin of the world and He is God and etc. Faith is not empty, the writer of Hebrews tells us – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” It has substance, it is not just empty words or thoughts. James tries to rectify this problem in his letter saying – “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.” James says that faith without substance (works) is not able to save us – “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James tells his readers that they might say they are saved simply because they say they believe there is one God, but the demons also believe that – “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” What we believe is very important because the word says that “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.”
Faith is also trust in God’s ability to do what He says He will do. When we come confessing our sin, we must have confidence that He is able and willing to saved us and forgive our sin. We must believe that He is able to do beyond our ability. When a leper came to Jesus he expressed that trust in Jesus’ ability and willingness to heal him – “And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”
When God told Abraham that he would have a son when he was old and beyond the physical ability to have children he trusted that God would empower him – “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: {20} He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;”
Another part of trusting is trusting what God says about our life, our everyday life, the events that happen to us and the changing circumstances – “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. {9} By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles” The only piece of ground Abraham actually owned in his life was a small burial place; he lived his entire life in tents believing and trusting that God would give him and his posterity the land God had promised.
Our life should be one of that same belief and trust as we go through this life. It does not mean we do not buy and own property, but we must realize our true home is heaven and one day we will also have part in the ownership of this earth when Jesus reigns on the throne of David.