12 replies to this topic

[radar]

Was thinking about witnessing and this thought crossed my mind. I know what I think but would like input from Y'all out there: What does faith in God mean to you?

[Lori Smith]

To me it means: embracing Him fully, accepting His ways vs. the world's ways, and trusting in Him for both my physical and spiritual existence. I have walked into and live in His Kingdom which has partial fulfillment on earth; while we wait for its complete fulfillment when Jesus returns. God owns me completely-all of me. When I stumble, I repent and rely upon the cross. In addition, I live in obedience to His will, much of which involves offering His reconciliation, which is offered freely, to the entire world.

[Julie Daube]

To me, faith in God means believing He is who says He is in His Word and that He is able to do everything He has promised to do in His Word. It means believing and trusting in His absolute goodness, righteousness, justice, love, protection, provision, mercy, and kindness. It means relying fully on God and looking to Him as all sufficient to meet my every need - spiritual, emotional, physical, financial, and more. It also means trusting Him and His ways even when we don't understand them in our finite, human minds. To me, having faith in God means surrendering completely to Him and embracing all that He is - Savior, Provider, Sanctifier, Protector, Healer, Deliverer, Lord and King. I could say so much more about this topic, but I think this sums it up.

[Lori Smith]

Great question Radar! I agree with Julie's answer too, and I can't wait to see how others respond.

[Candice]

Hi Radar,

Amen, Lori and Julie; can't say it better

When I think of witnessing, and someone who might be an unbeliever asking me this in that context, I can only say "Christ in me, the (only) hope of glory". His love is it. Not me.

[Kevin Blankenship]

If I can answer the question, while ALSO thinking that it is a question that someone may pose, or that it's a fundamental subject that might be talked about......it might also be wise to realize that the person might know just a bit of Bible. Just a bit of prayer (when granny made him say his goodnite prayers or say "Grace" at the eatin table. Other than that, hopefully, they are ignorant (I don't mean this derogatorily) of Christianity and haven't been duped with lifeless religion. In other words, I had rather approach someone who doesn't know much about Christianity, or who doesn't claim to know much. In my area, that type person would be hard to find.
But back to Faith In God. The devils believe, and their belief makes THEM tremble. So theirs is a real belief, because from what I have read, they have every reason to tremble. They KNOW that God is real. The inquirer might be helped to know that mere BELIEF is more than head knowledge and seemingly a bit more than even mediocre heart knowledge!!! St Paul said:(and I paraphrase a bit): "what matters is this, faith EXPRESSING itself through love." (emphasis mine). Seems that Faith in God is synonymous with Loving God. And then it follows, that Jesus says: "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" Jesus siad that his commandments where to love God, and love fellow man.
To summarize...While it is a GREAT starting place to have the capacity to believe that there is an unseen God, Creator of all, seen and unseen, it's not the belief that causes a conversion. Or else, satan would be converted. But one says: "I have faith in God!" and IF he REALLY does.....it will show!!!! And NOT AT ALL because he says "Amen" in every other breath......or "Praise the Lord". But by his human interactions. And then, even THAT will not show the true intent of his heart for only God judges the heart of a person. (And I am not leaving out the 'gift of discernment'). I really hope this is useful.

[elizabethcog]

Faith in God is of the most importance,I forever am amazed that He loves us so much,speaking from my own walk before I found Jesus and after(as He was never lost I was) I trust Him when He tells me I am worthy because of what he did,my mind and the devil tries to always point out all my failings and seeks to defeat me with doubt and discouragement but when I call on Jesus He sustains and holds me and the evil trying to get me must leave,I know 'cause His word is true and never changes!Thank you Jesus for EVERYTHING!

[radar]

WOW! Thanks everyone for all the great answers...some of the things said I feel also, but there were also some new thoughts such as Lori's waiting on its complete fullfilment while waiting for Jesus return, Julie's trusting Him and His ways even when we don't understand them in our finite, human minds, Candice's His love is it. Not me, and Kevin's if one says: "I have faith in God!" and IF he REALLY does..it will show. Thanks for all the input. I would sum it up with one word, "everything!"

[radar]

Yes Elizabeth you also said "everything!'.....While I was typing out my reply I saw the prompt appear that a new reply had been submitted, then my daughter called, so I finished writing this and posted it without seeing your reply. As it says in Deuteronomy 19:15 where the word of two or more witnesses are, the matter is established. So without seeing your post, we agreed word to word! I love it when God does stuff like that.

[Travis Richey]

Great question, and great responses. I've been thinking of this very question, and others related to it, such as where our faith comes from and how our faith grows/is grown and strengthened. In reading the Amplified translation, I came across this definition of faith from Souters Pocket Lexicon, and I sure do like what it says.

Faith is "that leaning of the entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness"

[Charles Miles]

All these replies are great reading and they sooth my soul as I see the faith expressed by others. After thinking about this for a few days(I have had several days of down time in which to think), I came to a conclusion about what my faith is. My definition of faith in God is to know that you know that you know, that God will keep all that He has promised. Whatever God has promised his children will happen, so if we are children of God, we need to know what has been promised to us.

In Christ,

Charlie

[Lori Smith]

Doctor Charlie,

It's good to read your words; I've been missing you. I hope you're feeling good!

Blessings,
Lori

[Charles Miles]

Thank you, my friends, for your prayers and concerns over the past few weeks. Things are fine and must I say again that I am a blessed man? During my "down time", I spent some time studying the last few chapters of Job, where Job keeps asking questions of God. I asked the Holy Spirit to teach me about what happened in those few chapters, and as usual, I learned something. This may be the thread to discuss what He quietly told me. Job was asking many of the same questions that we all ask at one time or another, why? Why me? What is going on here? I don`t understand what you are doing Lord and I need to know how all this came about. Job`s buddies had suggestions but they just didn`t seem right. God then spoke to Job out of a whirlwind, called Job out(so to speak), and made him stand as God posed questions to Job. This has always been a scary section of the bible for me, so I wanted to know more about it God asked...where were you when I formed the earth, made the heavens, limited the seas, separated land and water, laid out the forms of the earth and sky? Wow! Talk about stunned! God was saying to Job....I did all this without your help and without your questions. It is all good isn`t it? If I can do all this, and more, do you TRUST me to handle your problems? If you trust me then have enough faith to know that I love you more than you can know. Have faith that I alone know what is ultimately for your good, and I am in charge even when you think maybe I am not.

I now understand much better what God wants from me at least, and that is for me to trust in His Lordship, to understand more than ever that He is Lord of my life and the one in whom I can safely put ALL my trust. He is in charge of it all and all praise and honor belong to Him. Hey guys, if He is not in charge of it all, we don`t have a chance anyway. I can now read Psalm 139 with a clearer vision of what the writer expresses and the peace this total trust brings is totally awesome and covers me completely.

So there you have my definition of faith.....for me anyway. May the peace that God brought to my life be given to all of my friends on this Deeper Life Forum.

In Christ,

Charlie