True faith is indispensable to the Christian life. It is how we are justified and reconciled to God. As Paul Tripp eloquently puts it, “Faith is a radical commitment of the heart that radically changes the way that you live your life!”
In other words, it is more than just complete trust and confidence in God and His promises. It is allowing Him to work in you and believing in the outcomes of His saving works. Your belief in Him changes your heart, and in doing so, it changes the way you live.
Faith transcends intellectual assent or adherence to religious rituals; it is a deeply personal and transformative relationship with God.
The Bible provides a concise yet profound definition of faith: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 NIV
True faith involves believing in God’s existence, His character, His Word, and His redemptive work through Jesus Christ. Faith is believing in God even though we don’t see Him, can’t touch Him, or audibly hear Him.
Why Is Faith Important?
Faith is not passive. We can see this demonstrated throughout scripture by men and women of God. One such prominent figure was Abraham, who is often referred to as the father of faith.
We see an example of Abraham’s active obedience when he leaves his homeland and journeys to a land unknown. Abraham obeyed God without hesitation. In Genesis 15:6 NIV, we read, “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”
Do not mistake faith for wishful thinking. The fact that you are here shows that you are trying to grow your faith, and knowing the source is important.
The essence of faith in God is described in Hebrews 11:6 NIV: “And without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Faith is important because it empowers believers to persevere amidst trials and tribulations. The relationship between faith and action is a recurring theme in Scripture. The fruitfulness of true faith is demonstrated by righteous living.
Faith enables us to anchor our hope in Christ’s victory over sin and death, providing strength and resilience in times of adversity. This is what it means to be convinced of the outcome.
To reiterate Paul Tripp’s message, you must believe that once you have been saved, you are God’s now and forever.
You must believe that you have been forgiven. You must believe that once you have accepted Jesus and obediently followed through with baptism, God’s spirit lives inside you. You must believe that you have been transformed by His grace. That’s what it means to have faith.
You are a recipient of God’s grace, and the way you live your life is a testament to what you believe about God.
Do You Embody The True Meaning Of Faith?
Trust God: Reflect on whether you consistently trust in God’s character, promises, and providence, even in challenging circumstances. A person of faith believes in God’s goodness, sovereignty, and faithfulness, regardless of their challenges.
Obedient to the Word: Do you strive to obey God’s commands? Evaluate whether you follow His guidance daily. Walking faithfully with God often requires sacrifices or going against cultural norms.
Hope and assurance: Despite your difficulties and setbacks, do you maintain your hope in God and your assurance in his faithfulness? Your faith is what sustains you during troubling times. Hardships are inevitable, and the absence of faith can impact your ability to cope with trials.
Perseverance in trials: Are you resilient in the face of adversity? Do you celebrate more than you complain? Do you give thanks more than you grumble? Your faith should enable you to endure because you know God will never leave you or forsake you.
Love for God and Others: Assess whether your life is characterized by love for God and love for others. True faith expresses itself through selfless love. You should strive to mirror Jesus in your relationships by carefully observing your thoughts, words, and actions.
Fruitfulness: Faith produces spiritual fruit in your life, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). These qualities are evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work within you.
Impact on Others: Reflect on whether your faith positively influences and inspires others. Your life should be a testimony to God’s grace and power, drawing others closer to Him through your words and deeds.
If you want to grow your faith, you must seek God fervently. Remember that we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), and that to align ourselves with God and his will, we must walk in obedience and trust Him.
Reference(s)
Fallon, B., & Tripp, P. (2022, April 4). What in the world is faith? Paul Tripp Ministries. https://www.paultripp.com/1peter/posts/006-what-in-the-world-is-faith?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlN6wBhCcARIsAKZvD5hRa2gGZuSL-jrDg-Bf7R2f4b5vgGzEZg0IPl2gsTkfVCruMLMZ-vgaAgXiEALw_wcB