Transforming Faith
By James W. Goll

Unless otherwise stated, all scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible.

Faith Defined

1. Faith is a constant, abiding trust in something. Biblically, faith means trust in God (or, as our primary study passage, Hebrews 6:1, puts it, “faith toward God”), not faith in other people or things, in feelings, or in circumstances.W
   
   Faith in God gives us the ability to believe His Word and to appropriate it in our lives. Faith, which comes only after we repent of our self-sufficient trust, does not depend upon the acquisition of information or on prior experience, because it originates in our hearts or spirits rather than in our minds. By faith, we stay connected to the Source of life.
   
   That is why the Word tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). God is our Father, and He dearly desires to share His life with us. Without faith, we cannot respond to His invitation, which is another way of saying that is that without faith, we cannot please Him. Without faith, we lack the means to respond to Him.
   We can believe in and have faith in God because of who He is. His Word is true and He Himself is completely incapable of telling a lie. He is trustworthy in the truest sense of the word. Anyone who puts his or her whole trust in Him will not be disappointed.
   
   
   1. Hebrews 11:1, New King James Version (NKJV): “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
      
      
   2. Hebrews 11:1, Amplified Version (AMP): "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]."
      
      
   3. Hebrews 11:1, New American Standard Bible(NASB): “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
      
      
   4. Hebrews 11:1, New International Version (NIV): “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
      
      
2. Two Greek words are translated “faith” in the New Testament:
   
   
   1. Pistis (noun)
      1. That which causes trust and faith; faithfulness and reliability, solemn promise or oath; proof or pledge
      2. Trust, confidence, and faith (in the active sense)
      3. That which is believed (a body of faith or belief, a doctrine)
         
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