How Does Faith Work?
Does your's have value?
Written: 2012

As we consider faith and it's importance in Christian life, as we consider it's importance in our own life, we might start to wonder about the mechanics of faith. "How" does faith actually work? How can we build faith? Then, how can we keep it? Perhaps most importantly, how can we know our faith is real, and, what good is it, really?

To understand and then gain or build faith is the quest faced by all persons seeking Christian maturity. Understanding faith is simple and very personal: Your faith is, don't you see, what ever YOU believe it to be. Knowing faith is just anything we choose to believe, logically brings into question its value!

If you have built faith in the truth God revealed in the Bible, it will reward you greatly. (2 Cor 5:18-19) If you have built faith in what some very religious men and women say Jesus taught, you may be very disappointed. (Matthew 7:21-23; John 8:31-32) The Bible defines healthy faith as a belief in things which can be comprehended, but not seen or touched. (Hebrews 11:1-3) The faith the Bible recommends, then, is reliance on our Creator whom we can neither see nor touch. (Exodus 33:20; John 6:46; 1 John 4:12) Even though we can't actually "see" God, it is easy to perceive his existence. (Heb 3:4; Rom 1:20-23) [The balance of Romans Chap. 1 and Chap. 2, (note verses 1 & 2 of Chap. 2) demonstrate how individuals who choose to live without faith in the Bible manifest themselves (through greed, jealousy, deceit, fighting, murder, etc.). Sincere lovers of the Bible manifest lovingkindness toward others. (John 13:34-35) Those without faith have no capacity to show real love, because all who do manifest love are able to do so only because of faith in their knowledge of God's love for us. (1 John 4:19 ; Romans 1:28-32)] Jesus said over and over it was our faith that can help us! (2 Chron 20:17) Do you truly believe Jesus's words when he said your faith is your fate? (Mat 9:22; Eph 2:8; Mark 10:52; Luke 7:50; Luke 17:19; Luke 18:42; Acts 14:9; Luke 8:40‑55; Mat 8:13; Luke 6:19; Mat 9:27‑30; Luke 8:48 of 42‑48; John 7:37‑39; John 19:34)

What YOU should [what we all should] be concerned with, wouldn't you say, is your own personal faith? (Romans 3:28) As you seek faith, you should realize, and this is very important: No one can define or justify your faith except YOU [and God and his Christ of course]! (Romans 2:15) That said, there are things about faith we should all agree on from the Bible. One point needing to be made clear, and that we should all recognize, is the need to be certain we believe in what the Bible teaches, and not what some person or group believes it teaches. (Matthew 7:23 ; Matthew 7:15-20) What the Bible teaches and what Religionists say it teaches are usually very different, and, what some [even well intentioned] men and women say the Bible teaches presents as a grave danger to Bible students.

Following are some things the Bible clearly teaches about faith. You, of course, must confirm that for yourself [by personally comparing our assertions with the Bible]. (Acts 17:11) [This website exists to make that comparison between Bible truth and religious fairy tales an "easy thing." (Proverbs 14:6) This is the preaching work of and by all who support JustBibleTruth.com. (Rom 10:9-10)]

So, I believe:

The Bible indicates a direct correlation between our faith and the activity of God's spirit in our lives. (Matthew 8:13) It is our faith which allows and can even cause God's spirit to act upon us. (Matthew 10:20)
[Not that God ~~has need of~~ "has chosen to use" our faith to grant his spirit to help or correct us. We certainly do need, then, faith if we are to be able to make use of his spirit on our own; to accomplish our works. God has made it that way because He ~~doesn't~~ "won't ever" force our love and obedience.]
That is not to imagine our faith is like a spell that comes over us. It is not that יהוה God takes control of the actions of the faithful to impel us toward some action.
[God does choose to control the actions of certain individuals from time to time, but that is not dependant on their faith. An example is the prophecy about God influencing the kings of the earth (governments) to destroy false religion. (Revelation 17:17) As the nations destroy the churches, it won't mean those governments have faith in God. He will none the less cause them to do his will. יהוה can do what ever he wishes with anyone, and he has done so for brief periods.]
He doesn't need or want, however, His servants and friends (John 15:11-16) to act like puppets on a wire. If He needs something done, it is probably easier for him to do it himself than to "drive" us to do it. Our faith, then, becomes our choice as to who we are. It is not something God forces; it is a gift he offers. We have the opportunity to become free sons and daughters of God, people who have chosen to worship him because it is right and good - because "He" is right and good. That choice is based on faith, and it gives us the opportunity to be personal friends of the Creator of all. (Isa 41:8; John 15:14-15 of 11-16)

You can't have strong faith, unless you first build faith. That takes time with some knowledge of God's word. We might have faith to draw on God's spirit to accomplish great things, but if our faith is not tried and tested, it could fail us when under stress. That happened to Peter... (Matthew 14:28-31) For our faith to absolutely dependable, it must be unwavering. It equates with out putting on the mind of Christ. Our faith in God should be as real as is our faith in gravity. Again, building such faith takes time. (James 1:2-4 ; Romans 5:1-5) As our faith develops, it influences our mind and reconstructs who we are. (Hebrews 4:12-13) One Bible translation uses the phrase: we "become new in the force actuating our mind." (Ephesians 4:20-24) We actually become new people: people of faith. (Romans 12:2) We make the choice to make our mind over by means of our faith. We choose to put on the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:14-16 ; Luke 10:21-22 ; John 6:44-47) It is God's word [and it is only the Bible] which has the power (John 6:63) to enable us to do that. (Hebrews 4:12) Jesus is the tool יהוה has given us (John 6:41-58) and the Bible is that Word preserved. We are on this day, what our Faith is on this day. The actions we take today will be based on and driven by that faith. We will do what we believe [have faith] is in our best interest; based on where we truly believe our happiness lies... "That" is our faith. "That" is who we are! God is listening to our assertions of faith. (Mal 3:16-4:3) We will tomorrow be what our faith is tomorrow. We need to be reading Christ's words every day! If we believe being upright is the most valuable and rewarding way of life, we will do our best to be upright. We will always manifest in our being what our true faith is. There are no rules we can learn to evoke faith. There is no plan to manifest it. We can't learn little tricks to make use of it. Faith must be there, in our mind and heart, when we need it. (Philippians 4:6-7) Our faith is who we are! Every single person is in that exact same circumstance. We are being faithful to our Creator, or we are not! We are all making that same choice. It is up to us alone to decide whether we are (and will be) persons of faith!

If a person is not faithful, they can choose to become so, right up until the instant they become wicked.
[A person becomes wicked {is defined to be wicked} only when judged so by our God. יהוה will not render such judgment, however, until wicked individuals have demonstrated they absolutely will not be helped. (Deuteronomy 32:5 ; Psalm 36:1-4 ; 2 Peter 3:9 ; Matthew 12:31) Satan is an example of one who will never allow himself to be corrected. (John 8:44)]
If you have even a smoldering flicker of light in you [which represents an aspiration to righteousness through your love and appreciation for our Creator], (Matthew 12:20) there is likely hope. (Matthew 12:20-21)
[That decision to build faith does, of course, rest with you; and then, your judgment rests with God (Isaiah 33:22 ; 1 Cor 15:24-28) - that action of your judgment being handed over to Christ. (Acts 17:31 ; John 5:22 ; 2 Tim 4:1)]

Faith is also tied to our love. (1 Corinthians 16:13 ; Galatians 5:5-6; Ephesians 3:14-19) All who come to God must be drawn to him by love. (Hebrews 11:6) Our first impetus to seek God is the manifestation of basic faith. That love which first draws us is also our recognition of God's love for us. (1 John 4:19) As we start learning who God is from Creation and those around us, and then continue to build love for him based in Bible knowledge. Our love for יהוה then manifests itself in obedience to his teachings. (1 John 5:3) Once we learn He loves and is trying to protect us, how could we not be obedient? Those who have true faith, then, are obedient to God's word. (John 14:10-12) Those with unwavering faith are absolutely obedient! (Hebrews 5:8) It is not that the faithful are controlled by God in some way, or forced to be obedient. They are obedient because they love him; and becasue they know his way of doing things is perfect. (Deuteronomy 32:4) They are obedient because they don't want to cause harm. The faithful understand going against God in any way will cause harm. (Romans 5:12; Isaiah 48:17; Romans 8:21-22; Romans 1:27) That is not to imply those who love God will always do exactly what He would do in dealing with a particular situation, but their choice will be in harmony with God's will. An example we might consider is Gabriel the angel. Gabriel was sent to deliver a message to Mary, (the then future mother of Jesus,) and to Zechariah, (the future father of John the Baptist). Zechariah showed a lack of faith and Gabriel struck him dumb (unable to speak) until John was born. (Luke 1:8-12) It is unlikely יהוה made that decision for Gabriel. If correcting Zechariah himself, יהוה might have used some slightly different approach, but Gabriel's action was in harmony with יהוה's will and was acceptable. That was so because Gabriel acted in faith based on an intimate knowledge of God. As another example consider be the army officer who came to Jesus to get help for his servant. Jesus told the army officer he would heal the servant when he got to the officer's home. The army officer told Jesus he didn't need to come to his home, that he could just say the word and his servant would be healed. Jesus then altered what he was about to do, and rather did what the army officer "had faith" to have done. (Matthew 8:5-13) Faith is a powerful gift from our Father. Do not imagine the faithful are unthinking or unhappy drones. They are thrilled with life and have a desire to live forever. They simply know God's ways are perfect. They realize perfect standards can never be improved upon. For there to be true peace and happiness among mankind, all must willingly live according to God's perfect standards. Anything else is bad!

Faith enables us to magnify our God. (Luke 1:46-49) By building an unwavering faith, we can become extensions of יהוה, extensions of good. Once we have shown ourselves righteous, He doesn't have to watch over and control us. Faith in what the Bible teaches enables us to act in line with God's will and purposes - thus demonstrating we have chosen God as our Father. (John 8:42-47; Romans 1:20-2:11) If we build true faith, we will do our best to act as emissaries of our God in everything we do. What an unbelievably wonderful and sobering thought. What better gift could there be? For it to be so, the faith we have built must be based in God's word the Bible. Serving by faith as emissaries is what unites all true Christians, being made part of the group who are יהוה's friends (1 Cor 12:12-26) through our individual faith in Christ, but all under God. (1 Corinthians 15:20-28) That unity is not brought by some group gathered and judged righteous by other humans. Once you think about it and realize; isn't it silly that some men and women imagine it is their judgment over others [by their providing an approved membership in their sect] that is important, or even has meaning of value.

When Satan created the rebellion in the Garden, [the rebellion that caused all the pain and suffering which is {or can be} so overwhelming from our human perspective] God immediately said He would raise up a seed who would destroy satan. (Genesis 3:15; 1 John 3:8) When satan said all men would prove unfaithful if put to the test, (Job 1:9-12) God said the seed he had chosen would never prove unfaithful. (Matthew 12:18-21; Isaiah 42:1-8) In the six thousand years since sin entered the world, that promised seed was born and proven: Tested to the point of sacrificing his very life in the most painful and humiliating way. (Hebrews 10:9) He proved faithful just as יהוה God promised (prophesied) he would. How could God know the son whom he had chosen (to become that seed of promise) would have success and prove faithful under so great a test; when even Jesus himself seemed concerned? (Matthew 26:38-39) God knew Jesus would prove faithful because the pre-human Jesus (John 8:57-58) had unwavering faith. יהוה had come to know his firstborn son so well, He knew he would always be faithful. (Colossians 1:15; Proverbs 8:22-31) When Satan asserted God is a liar, (Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:2-4) Jesus was anxious and volunteered to clear that reproach from his Father's name. (Psalms 40:7-8 ; John 12:27-28)

Accurate scriptural knowledge is important for us as individuals because God has promised everlasting life to faithful humans. (John 3:16; Matthew 19:29) For that everlasting life to exist in conditions of peace and harmony, (Isaiah 11:8-10; Psalms 37:10-11; Psalm 37:29) it defines that those who would harm others must not receive that gift of life. (1 Corinthians 6:9) It is our faith, then, don't you see, which identifies (marks) us to receive life. (Ezekiel 9:4) Apparently, it is also our faith which actually grants us that life. (Hebrews 10:38-39; Galatians 3:11) As we learn from the Bible what the promises of God are, and then manifest faith in those promises, it will happen for us just as we, in our faith, imagine it to happen. (Matthew 9:29; Matthew 15:28) Your faith defines your reality! If you let this world define what you believe, you are doomed. If you let the Bible define your hope and faith, your faith will then provide a wonderful future for you. (2 Chron 20:17) Do you believe Jesus's words when he said your faith will determine your fate? (Mat 9:22; Eph 2:8; Mark 10:52; Luke 7:50; Luke 17:19; Luke 18:42; Acts 14:9; Luke 8:40‑55; Mat 8:13; Luke 6:19; Mat 9:27‑30; Luke 8:48 of 42‑48; John 7:37‑39; John 19:34)

Our love for God must become the most important thing in our life! (Matthew 22:34-40) Good must be important because you recognize there is no hope apart from a God who is good... (Hebrews 11:6) It is important to know and understand: You can't have faith for the preservation of your life; if it is "that life" which is the most important thing to you. (Matthew 10:37-39; Mark 8:35; Luke 17:33; John 12:25) That's what Satan said about Job, [and by him about us all] that if he was tested as far as his life, Job would prove unfaithful. (Job 2:2-5) Comparatively speaking, you must hate even your own soul (life). (Luke 14:26-27; Luke 9:23; Galatians 6:14) That is the only thing that sets you free of Satan's control over you... (Heb 2:14-15) We must build faith which is based in love of our Father; not love for ourselves. We must be determined to be obedient to God's Bible teachings, even if it costs our very life. (Acts 21:13; John 4:34) That selfless obedience is what determines we are worthy of life. It is our imitation of the self sacrificing spirit we see manifest by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 20:25-28) That is what determines if we are truly followers of Christ. It is such obedient people who are being used to create the paradise conditions where all who are faithful can live in peace and harmony forever. (Isaiah 11:6-9; Rev 21:1-4)

Isn't faith a simple thing to understand? Isn't it beautiful? Possessing unwavering faith, however, a faith which empowers us to have God's spirit for the preservation of life, requires more than just understanding what faith is. (Hebrews 10:35-39) You must build a faith that is based in your personal knowledge of the Bible - in your personal knowledge of what Jesus taught. (John 17:15-19; John 17:3; 1 John 5:20-21) Every single person who will gain life must read [learn from] their Bible. (John 17:3) Start today! Read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Read those four small Bible books many times. Read them until you can grasp them in mind, beginning to end. Of course, fully understanding what is contained in those four accounts of Jesus life and teachings might take some time and several reads, maybe forever! Your faith will continue to increase in concert with your effort to follow Jesus's example. Once you develop a rational understanding of what Jesus taught in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, you will easily understand everything else you read in the Bible. (Proverbs 14:6) Everything before those Gospels taught about the coming Messiah or Christ. Everything after them provides the example of those who, like us, tried to follow Jesus's teachings. (There is also some prophecy mixed in both the Old and New Testaments.)

The Bible teaches God is selecting a group of people as a new earth society. They are the people who will make up the new world order: The people who will live forever on earth. (John 11:26) They survive the great tribulation; being saved by Armageddon... They survive the wearing out (Isaiah 51:6) of this old wicked system of things. Each member of this group is chosen for eternal life in paradise (Isaiah 11:6-9) based on their individual response to the teachings of Christ Jesus. (John 12:47-48) It is not that they have been made perfect. They don't need to be; because God's arrangement to help them become acceptable to him is perfect. (Romans 3:28) By that arrangement, they are able to behave worthily to become citizens of the new earth, based on their faith in the perfect principles our Father is teaching us through the words of his Messiah. This Christian arrangement is very different from the old law code given the Jewish nation. The Law Code identified sin, (Romans 7:7; Galatians 3:24) while the principled law of Christianity [law of love] overcomes sin. (James 2:8) It is not that the faithful are without sin, but they are able to act with loving kindness toward others, while they also grow to physical perfection [during the new system (paradise) being ushered in (being brought back, actually) by God]. Much of this happens [is happening] unseen by those without faith: It happens while Jesus is subduing in the midst of his enemies. (Psalms 110:1-2) The faith of righteously inclined individuals will preserve them alive, while this old system and those who love it continue to die all around them. (Psalms 91:7) Those with faith will join Christ, living under his thousand year reign,* growing to perfection and youth before the final judgment at the end of that thousand years. (Revelation 20:4 ; Revelation 20:7-9) To be members of this new society, we must become new in the force actuating our mind - we must build faith. (Ephesians 4:23) Those alive when Christ established his kingdom, (that is apparently our day) and who build faith for the preservation of life, (Hebrews 10:38) will never die at all. (John 11:26) Is that your faith?

Not to be overlooked in seeking to build faith: It is appropriate to pray to gain faith. (Mark 9:20-24) Little children are brought up being told fairy tales with "happily ever after" endings. Well meaning parents likely teach such things to keep their little ones from noticing how very bad this world is; and that we are all born dying. Don't confuse Jesus with a fairy tale! It is true we are born with only a few (70 or 80 at best) years, and from birth headed to the grave. Everyone who builds faith in the truth of the Bible has something much better than fairy tales to teach their children. The truth is better to those who build faith than any story ever conceived by men. There will, of course, be skeptics! To some, your faith in the words of Christ will be foolishness. (1 Corinthians 1:18) Others will assert that even if it is true, it is for some far off time. (2 Peter 3:3-4) That seems a dangerous attitude. (Matthew 24:36-39) It is possible the last group is right. While I believe I see it happening right now, salvation might be for a future day. Even if we have to die and receive a resurrection, (John 11:25) however, living in hope of the day of salvation is the best way of life. (Romans 8:24-25) Follow this link to consider more about what faith can do for you, just as you put forth effort to build your own personal faith!

*Addendum: These ideas are not presented as scriptural fact. Some of it is just my thoughts about the thousand year reign of Christ... Without details of what and when it is, the idea of the thousand year reign by Christ is not new. () Hitler apparently had some twisted and misguided view of the scriptures supporting that millennial hope when he asserted his kingdom would rule for a thousand years. He even tried to build (breed) his own new earth society. (He wanted to choose who would breed with who.) His rule lasted about 12 years. The new world order the Bible speaks of is not established by men, but by God. It will be exactly what God promises in his word! You must build faith in those promises.

Many recognize some form of a millennium hope from the Bible. A quote from Wikipedia Encyclopedia:
"Millennialism (from millennium, Latin for "thousand years"), or chiliasm in Greek, is a belief held by some Christian denominations that there will be a Golden Age or Paradise on Earth in which "Christ will reign" for 1000 years prior to the final judgment and future eternal state (the "World to Come" of the New Heavens and New Earth). This belief is derived primarily from the Book of Revelation 20:1–6. Millennialism as such is a specific form of Millenarianism. Among Christians who hold this belief, this is not the "end of the world", but rather the penultimate age, the age just prior to the end of Satan's worldwide system in anticipation of a New Heavens and a New Earth under Jehovah (יהוה) (i.e., God's) kingdom reign (Rev. 21:1). Some believe that between the millennium proper and the end of the world there will be a brief period in which a final battle with Satan will take place. After this follows the Last Judgment."

I don't personally worry much about defining the prophetic details of what is to happen in our future. It will be what God wills it to be. Worry, rather, about building faith to survive what ever it proves to be; and then have part in what ever details God works out for our salvation. Your own faith, don't you see, that is the thing YOU have complete control over! (2 Chron 20:17)

Use browser "Back Arrow" or Alt+Left_Arrow keys to previous page. | Home Page