Faith Toward God

A tenet of the Elementary Teachings about Christ

Gather Information

Concordance terms:
faith           by faith       in faith     their faith
through faith   thy faith      your faith   faithful
faithfully      faithfulness   faithless
Synonyms:
assent        assurance      belief       confidence
conviction    credence       credit       creed
doctrine      fidelity       opinion      persuasion
reliance      tenets         trust
From Funk & Wagnalls Standard Handbook of Synonyms, Antonyms & Prepositions:

Faith is a union of belief and trust; it is a belief that is so strong that it becomes a part of one’s nature. Belief in a person is often used with no appreciable difference from faith. In religion it is common to distinguish between intellectual belief of religious truth, as any other truth might be believed, and belief of heart, or faith.

Belief, as an intellectual process, is the acceptance of something as true on other grounds than personal observation and experience. We give credence to a report, assent to a proposition or to a proposal. Belief is stronger than credence, which is a more formal word than belief, and seems to imply mere intellectual acceptance or assent; we speak of giving credence to a report, but not of giving belief.

Credit always includes trust; goods are sold on credit; we give one credit for good intentions. Conviction is a belief established by argument or evidence; assurance is belief beyond the reach of argument as it includes confidence; as, assurance of the honor of a friend. An opinion is a general conclusion held as probable, though without full certainty; a persuasion is a more confident opinion, involving the heart as well as the intellect. In religion, a doctrine is a statement of belief regarding a single point; a creed is a summary statement of doctrine.

Confidence is a firm dependence upon a statement as true, or upon a person as worthy. Reliance is confidence on which we act or are ready to act unquestioningly; we have a calm reliance upon the uniformity of nature. Trust is a practical and tranquil resting of the mind upon the integrity, kindness, friendship, or promises of a person; we have trust in parents and in God.

Evaluate, Study, & Organize Findings

Faith is the life style of the “just”
Habakkuk 2:4

“the just shall live by faith”

Romans 1:5

we have received grace … to bring about the obedience of faith

Romans 1:17

For in [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed…, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Hebrews 10:32‑39

"…​ after you were enlightened, you endured…​ do not throw away your confidence…​"

2 Cor. 5:7

walk by faith not by sight

Gal. 2:20

live by faith (an example)

Measure (quantity) of faith

Great Faith
Matt. 8:5‑13; Luke 7:9,10

Jesus & the Centurion (“…​such great faith…​)

Matt. 15:28

“…​O woman, great is your faith…​”

Little Faith
Matt. 6:30

if God clothes grass…​ will He not…​ clothe you, O you of little faith

Luke 12:22‑27, 28, 29-34

anxiousness (a characteristic of little faith) the “do not worry” story

Matt. 8:26

wind & wave obey Jesus…​ “O you of little faith”

Matt. 14:31

Jesus to Peter walking on the water - “O you of little faith, why…​ doubt?”

No Faith
Mark 4:40

[Jesus] said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”

Faith as a mustard seed
Matt. 17:20

you could move mountains

Luke 17:6

or uproot mulberry tree

Faith questioned
Luke 8:25

“where is your faith?” (Jesus controls wind & waves)

Luke 18:8

Jesus wonders if He will find faith when He returns

Rom. 12:3

God has dealt to each one a measure of faith

Rom. 12:6

use gift “in proportion to our faith…​”

Miraculous Faith
Matt. 9:22

Jesus to woman - “…​your faith has made you well”

Acts 3:16

faith through His name made lame whole

Rom. 12:6

use gift “in proportion to our faith…​”

James 5:15

“…​the prayer of faith will save the sick…​”

Faith commanded
Mark 11:22

“…​ have faith in God”

Acts 14:22

continue in faith

Acts 20:21

Paul taught “…​ faith toward God…​”

Titus 1:13

rebuke them…​ to be sound in faith

2 Cor. 13:5

examine yourself in the faith

How is faith obtained?
Rom. 10:17

by hearing the word of God

Gal. 3:2

Did you receive the Spirit by law or by the hearing of faith?

From whom does faith come?
Heb. 12:2

Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith?

Faith and love
Gal. 5:6

…​(does not avail)…​ but faith working through love

1 Cor. 13:2

“…​ and though I have all faith…​ but have not love, I am nothing.”

Faith and salvation
Eph. 2:8

Grace and faith = salvation

Col. 2:12

raised with Jesus through faith

2 Tim. 3:15

salvation through faith

Justified by faith
Rom. 3:27-31

apart from works

Rom. 4

discussion of justification by faith

Justified by works
James 2:24

“…​ a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.”

Faith and works
James 2:14-26

a discussion on faith and works

James 2:14

“…​if one says he has faith but …​ not…​ works…​ can [such] faith save him?

Faith is a work
1 Thess. 1:3

“…​ work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love…​” (NIV)
“…​ your work of faith, and labor of love…​” KJV, ASV
“…​ of you the work of faith and the labor of love…​” Greek Interlinear

2 Thess. 1:11

“…​ we continually pray…​ that our God…​ may fulfill…​ every act prompted by your faith.” NIV
“…​ we pray always…​ that our God would…​ fulfill…​ the work of faith with power” KJV
“…​ we pray always…​ in order that…​ the God of us…​ may fulfill every…​ work of faith in power.” Greek Interlinear

Without Faith, without doubting
Heb 11:6

w/o faith you cannot please God

Rom. 14:23

…​ whatever is not from faith is sin

Heb. 4:2

the word/message is of no value w/o faith

James 1:6

Ask (pray) in faith…​ without doubting

Matt. 21:21; Mark 11:23

if you have faith & don’t doubt…​ you could move mountains

Matt. 21:22; Mark 11:24

all things whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive

Faith vs unbelief
Rom. 11:20

due to unbelief they fell, by faith you stand

Rom. 3:3,4

will unbelief nullify God? vs 4 “No!”

Faith and the law
Matt. 23:23

faith is a weightier matter of the law

Benefits of faith
Heb. 10:22

gives assurance

Eph. 3:17

boldness, confidence through faith that Christ may dwell in your heart

Gal. 3:26

sons of God through faith

Acts 15:9

hearts purified by faith

Rom. 5:1,2

receive God’s grace through faith

Rom. 3:30

Justified through faith

Rom. 3:25

Salvation through faith

2 Tim. 3:15

able to make one wise through faith in Christ Jesus

Philippians 3:9

Righteousness by faith

One faith, unity, sameness
Eph. 4:4‑6,13

one faith, unity

2 Cor. 4:13

“…​ we have…​ same spirit of faith…​”