What Does it Mean to Have Faith?

I have never been one much interested in debating the Bible or trying to understand those debatable questions that come up. In those debates and discussions you can have varying opinions about things that only God knows the correct answer. In fact, I would dare to say that in those discussions, no one is correct. I have to think of Job and his so called friends, that tried to explain why Job was going through the torment placed on him. When in fact, they didn’t have the correct answers for Job, no matter how hard they tried to reason it all out in their own minds. So, why debate, eternal security, pre-destination, or why God allows or causes things to happen? Pre-Tribulation? Post-Tribulation? And so many more debates that arise as differing opinions come into play. I have found more times than not, that the words that we use all come back to the same answer, just use different words to explain it. The common thread that we have is a simple 5 letter word that encompasses the answer to all of those questions, FAITH. I don’t like to debate these things because I believe that our faith needs lie in the One True God. A sovereign God who sits on the throne. A sovereign God who humbled Himself by coming to earth in the form of an infant and walked amongst man, taking on the temptations of man, enduring ridicule and shame, yet knew no sin, placed on a cross, crucified and buried, who rose again to bring Salvation to those that believe in Jesus, the Son of God. Nothing we go through in life is unique to us, because Christ took it all on Himself for us and experienced the pains of this world. I don’t have to understand or pretend to understand the entire ways of God, I just need to know God, have faith in His sovereignty, walk in His ways through His righteousness, not mine. If we understood everything about God, there would be no need to have faith. Hebrews 11: 1 – 3 explains it like this: 11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=hebrews%2011%3A1-3&version=ESV Hebrews 1 continues to speak of those from the past that had faith. The patriarchs that had faith in days of old. You can read about that as chapter 11 continues. How do we obtain this faith? Romans 5: 6 – 11 tells us 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%205%3A6-11&version=ESV Romans 10: 8 – 13 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010%20%3A%208%20-13&version=ESV Is this faith for everyone? Isaiah 45:22 English Standard Version 22 “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2045%3A22&version=ESV In the parable of the lost sheep Jesus tell us in Matthew 18:14 14 So it is not the will of my[a] Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2018%3A14&version=ESV 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2016%3A%2015%20-%2016&version=ESV With all that being said, yes, read your Bible, study His Word, ask Him for clarification. Do not be deceived by the wolf in sheep’s clothing but have faith in the Good Shepherd, our LORD and Savior, the Sovereign God who we might not always understand but whom we always trust, obey, and follow faithfully. Seeking Him with all my heart, Sheila