Faith is Central to Christianity
Faith is central to Christianity. Without faith, we are not saved, and without faith, it is impossible to please God. For unbelievers, faith in an unseen God is impossible to understand. Before I gave my life to Christ, I remember wondering, “How is it possible to be so sure of something I can’t see?” Faith didn’t make sense to me. I thought that only the truly desperate would put all they are into a God they couldn’t see. As I began my journey toward the truth, my perception began to change. The more convinced I became that the Bible was true, the more I desired to possess the same faith I had once looked down on. But to be honest, deep inside, I doubted that I could ever truly have the faith I now so desired.
Everyday Faith vs. Biblical Faith
We all practice faith in one way or another every day. We turn on the tap and drink, knowing that the tap water won’t make us sick; we board an airplane and travel, believing that it won’t crash; and we pile into elevators and ride, knowing the doors will open and let us off. We don’t question these things. We know from experience that the water is regulated, the pilot has been properly trained, and the elevator must meet certain codes to operate. We can see and verify all these things. This is an easily explainable type of faith; one that everyone can relate to.
Faith Trusts the Unseen God
Yet biblical faith is different from everyday trust. It is not natural; it is supernatural. Unlike everyday faith, biblical faith requires us to trust in the unseen.
“No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” John 1:18
The writer of Hebrews describes the biblical kind of faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.” Hebrews 11:1
Intellectual Knowledge vs. Heart Belief
Trusting the unseen is not something we, as humans, naturally do. This is where many people struggle. If we cannot perceive something with our senses and then verify it through experience, we question if it is real. Although God is revealed through the Bible, His Word, we still can’t see Him. We can intellectually know the Bible to be true, but until our hearts are convinced of its truth, this knowledge is just knowledge; it does not change us. That’s where I was: intellectually convinced that the Bible was true, but still not truly believing in my heart that it was. I felt just like the father in Mark 9:24 who said, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Thankfully, God did not leave me in unbelief. He does not leave anyone there who seeks Him with all of their heart.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13
Faith is a Gift from God
So where does this kind of faith come from? Faith itself is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). No one comes to faith apart from God’s initiative and grace. God calls us to respond to the Gospel.
I heard the Gospel as a child and as a teenager and for many reasons chose not to respond. But God didn’t give up. He did not leave me there. No matter how far I ran, He was there. 2nd Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” Thank God for this truth. Thank God that I started seeking His Truth.
In my own life, this process looked like this. As I discussed in https://makinghimknown.tv/the-pursuit-of-truth/ my intellect kept me from responding to the truth. For me, it was important to find logical arguments that supported the truth of the Bible. These arguments began penetrating the wall of my intellect. At some point in seeking God and the truth, my intellect stepped aside, and I stepped out in faith. I cannot tell you the exact moment that the faith God gave me became real to me, and I believed — I just know it was, and I did. Jesus describes the new birth in John 3:8 as something mysterious and supernatural, like the wind. It is supernatural. It is a gift of God. There is no easy explanation.
Stepping Out in Faith
The truth is this: Faith is a gift from God, and salvation is offered freely through Christ. God calls all people to repentance and faith. Each person must respond to the Gospel. Sometimes all it takes is to step out in faith and say, “I believe God, help me overcome my unbelief!”
Choosing Faith Today
BarlowGirl sings a song titled “Never Alone.” This song is about choosing faith. Choose faith today.
“And though I cannot see You
And I can’t explain why
Such a deep, deep reassurance
You’ve placed in my life
And I can’t explain why
Such a deep, deep reassurance
You’ve placed in my life
We cannot separate
‘Cause You’re part of me
And though You’re invisible
‘Cause You’re part of me
And though You’re invisible
I’ll trust the unseen
If there are obstacles in your path that are keeping you from choosing faith, pray this prayer:
Lord, I ask you to move my heart towards you today and to remove any obstacles from my path that are keeping me from choosing faith and choosing You. I choose to believe You today and tomorrow and for the rest of my life. Amen
Faith Is More Than Intellectual Belief #shorts
Making Him Known 3 hours ago