What is Faith?

1Corothains 13:13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

Faith is at the core of being a Christian, but what is faith? Jesus illustrated it this way; He took a small child and sitting the child on His lap, He said. Except that you have faith as a little child, you shall by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Hold that thought for a moment.

Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law, and New Testament teaching makes it clear that no man is justified by the law. If we could be justified by the law, then Christ would have died in vain. Jesus is our righteousness, which allows us to stand in God’s presence uncondemned. So, what has the faith of a child to do with gaining entrance into God’s presence?

When a young child needs something from their parents, what work do they perform to obtain what they need? Do our children work for their food, their clothes, or their shelter? They grow up knowing these things will be provided for them. This confidence is so much a part of their nature, that when they see an orphan that does not have this status they often make fun of them. Because I understand the orphan’s plight, I understand what the children that have parents have.

Jesus says that He is the door to relationship with the Father. Jesus is the way, the truth, the life and no man comes unto the Father unless they go through that door. If you have entered that door, there is nothing you can do to earn your status in His kingdom as sons of His. You just are His children and if you try to earn privilege through works, you do just what the Jews did that tried to obtain justification by the works of the law.

You make faith about works. This is why Jesus used the example of the little child’s faith, if you try to earn your status as His son then you try to define faith as work. In the “faith” chapter (Hebrews 11) we find: “ And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” You must first understand that God is. Then you need to understand that God is a rewarder of those that seek Him.

To obtain faith you must study and learn about Jesus and all the scriptures about Him. Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Jesus delights in teaching us, ask Him to help you understand what it means for you to have faith in Him and He will give you understanding.