Faith: The Expectation of Continued Faithfulness
How Christians should understand faith
Faith
Hebrew: Emunah
Definition: To strengthen your expectation of future faithfulness based on prior evidence of faithfulness.
Bible Verse: Exodus 17:8-13, Hebrews 11:1-6, James 1:3, John 11:25-26, Mark 10:52
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not yet see.” Hebrews 11:1
Common Misunderstandings:
Having faith is not:
Blind trust
Just internal belief
A salvation prayer
Context:
Faith, as understood through its Hebrew definition of "Emunah," is not merely about believing in something unseen. Emunah is the same word used in Exodus 17:8-13 when Moses held up his arms during a battle, and the Bible tells us that Moses "emunah-ed" or strengthened his arms when they grew weary. In a similar way, our faith requires strengthening.
Faith, therefore, involves more than belief; it entails strengthening our trust in the promises of God. We accomplish this by recalling and reflecting on His faithfulness as demonstrated through testimonies and past experiences. Our faith is dependent on God’s faithfulness.
As we wait in expectation for what we have not yet seen, it doesn't mean we wait without evidence. By reminding ourselves of God's prior acts of faithfulness, we gain reassurance of His reliability and His commitment to being faithful to His promises. Our faith, the expectation of God’s faithfulness to his promises, is dependent on reminding ourselves of and thanking God for his past provisions.
Practical Application:
Genuine faith in God, the belief that He is who He claims to be and will do what He has promised, necessitates repentance and a transformation in our behavior. In other words, faith is not passive; it prompts us to turn away from our old ways and align our lives with His will so that we may be ready for Judgement Day.
His will is that we live a life that centers around:
Surrender and sacrifice to God, even unto death.
Producing the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control).
Rejecting what is wicked (lying, envy, lust, witchcraft, gossip, hatred, bitterness, etc).
Resources:
The Gospel of Christ Crucified: A Theology of Suffering Before Glory by John P. Harrigan
Rethinking the Five Solae: Why Messianic Judaism is Incompatible with the Five Foundations of Protestantism by Jacob Fronczak