There are so many believers today who do not realize the importance of faith. Some think that by the term faith we merely mean, 'a belief in God' or referring to a particular religion. However when the Scriptures talk about faith it is not just referring to a mere belief in God or religion but faith is the main ingredient that allows the believer to walk in partnership with God. So let us have a quick understanding of what faith is.
Faith is the key that unlocks salvation and other God's promises in the believer's lives
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:8
You could not access or appropriate the grace of salvation without faith. It is faith that makes what is freely available through the Cross of Calvary (grace) to be living realities in our lives. You are born again today because of faith. You are on your way to heaven today because of faith. You are healed today because of faith and all of God's promises become realities in your life through faith.
Faith is the lifestyle of the believer
Faith is not something which we only use in times of emergencies. The believer is to live by faith. It is God's prescribed way for the believer to live. It is the chosen lifestyle of the believer. Before you are born again you lived a chosen lifestyle but once you are born again, you have to live the chosen lifestyle that God has said in his Word that we must. If you want to live in victory then you have to let faith be your lifestyle.
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Galatians 3:11
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Hebrews 10:38
Faith is the only thing that pleases God
You can only please God when you live and walk by faith. We know that Jesus had this testimony from the mouth of the Father when he was baptized by John in the River Jordan, 'And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' (Matthew 3:17)This simply tht Jesus walked and operated by faith when he was on the earth.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:6
Faith is looking at life through the lens of the Word of God
The simple way to define faith is to look at life and circumstances through the lens of God's Word. The choice is very clear - You either look at life through your own eyes and be victimized or look at life through the eyes of the Word and be victorious.
For we walk by faith, not by sight
2 Corinthians 5:7
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1
When you look at life through the spectacles of the Word then you are in faith and operating in faith to obtain the God kind of results. This is when you drive out fear and unbelief which are thieves of the blessings of God in your life.
Faith is believing and acting on God's Word in the midst of adverse circumstances
Faith is not passive but always and action. Faith is acting swiftly upon the Word of God as you would swiftly act upon the word of a doctor or a lawyer. Since there is no basis for faith outside the Word of God therefore our actions must correspond with what the Word has already said and declared.
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:26
Anyone who doesn't breathe is dead, and faith that doesn't do anything is just as dead!
Contemporary English Version
A body that doesn't breathe is dead. In the same way faith that does nothing is dead.
GOD'S WORD® Translation