Everyone lives on the basis of what they believe. We have a whole system of convictions and beliefs where the object of faith plays a key role. What is the biblical faith and how do we walk by faith?
3 components of faith
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
- Faith as a sight/seeing, spiritual vision, and perception. The first component refers to the invisible, spiritual reality (God is a Spirit) and our ability to connect with it. That is, to look and perceive with our spiritual eyes and to be confident in what is not visible. „Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (the evidence of things not seen).”(Hebrews 11:1). This is also the basis of creating a system of basic convictions and beliefs that shape the skeleton of our faith so to speak.
- Faith as the foundation and framework of a secure and lasting relationship. The second component is related to the way we come to the living God and enter into and maintain a relationship with Him. In Hebrews 11: 6 we read, “Without faith, it is not possible to please God, for whoever comes to God must believe that there is God and that He rewards those who seek Him.” Here faith has the characteristics of trust and complete confidence in God and His love.
- Faith as the main motivation and driving force in life. This is the result of the correct establishment and development of the above two components of faith. We will look at this topic in a separate post.
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Why walk by faith and not by sight?
Faith is a vision and a sensory system directly connected to the invisible, real, spiritual reality. God is a Spirit and no one has ever seen God with his carnal, fleshy eyes. The Bible says that the visible was not made of visible things. And that we humans, created in God’s image and likeness, are spiritual beings with soul and body. The spiritual is eternal, and the material and the bodily – temporary and perishable.
Imagine that you are in a dark forest where you can orient yourself only to what you feel, smell and hear, and what you can see in the darkness. Now imagine how you put on a special suit and glasses and suddenly the darkness becomes a day. Now you can see every detail around you and the way forward clearly. Through the eyes of faith, we look at the true reality, the way and the direction from the point of view of eternity. Our normal sensory vision is limited and very often gives us a false idea of us and of life. That is why every day we faced the choice of which vision to follow.
Faith has a carrying system or a skeleton, and that is the correct theology. That is, our conscious and unconscious convictions and beliefs about ourselves, about God, about others, about life, etc. When this skeleton is distorted, then the faith will be paralyzed and non-functional.
Some basic truths as pillars of faith
- The invisible (eternal) is real and defines the visible and corruptible.
- We have a heavenly homeland and a city. We are aliens and strangers on earth.
- He Who has promised is faithful.
- God can resurrect from the dead, He is the Resurrection and the Life. “I am the First, and the Last and the Living … and I have the keys of death and hell.” (Revelation 1:17-18)
- God rewards the faith of those who seek Him.
- Every creature is like grass, but God’s word is eternal. “The grass is dying, the color is fading, but the word of our God will last forever.” (Isaiah 40: 6-8)
The establishing and maintaining a healthy skeleton of faith is through renewing the mind in the light and truth of God’s Word.
However, this is not sufficient in itself. The skeleton of our thinking and beliefs can be properly formed and grow only in an environment of relationship and abiding in God and in His grace. We do so by giving place and space of the Holy Spirit and His workings into our hearts. Only when we look to God with trust and confidence, our faith is alive, growing and being perfected.
How can we walk by faith?
In Hebrews 10, there are two basic prerequisites that open the way of life through faith. These are freedom, manifested in free access to God and boldness (assurance):
- Free access to the sanctuary and to God is given to us once and for all through the death and resurrection of Christ. „Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence (complete freedom) to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way He has opened for us through the veil, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance (confidence) that faith brings...” (Hebrews 10:19-21)
- Boldness, audacity, courage, confidence. „So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” (Hebrews 10:35)
Therefore the righteous before God will live by faith. Let us not be of those who step back, but of those who believe and their souls are saved.
Your turn
In which areas of your life is the most difficult for you to walk by faith? Why? You are welcome to share and comment!
Hadassah