I’ve been thinking about this lately.
Some parts of faith feel like learning and understanding, but other parts feel more like trusting even when you don’t fully understand.
I’m not sure it’s one or the other. Maybe it’s both, just in different ways at different times.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
Basically those who are “of the truth” hear in the gospel that wich is truth. This creates a resonance of recognizing that which can be trusted. That trust is faith.
Knowing and understanding can continue after salvation. Faith is interesting in that regardless of the ability to understand one can still trust.
Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
To me it’s a mixture of both leaning more towards trust, we know God is real, we know His word, yet there is so much we don’t know, or understand, or there are situations that pop up, and unable to see the future, we trust God to see us through or to bring understanding, we trust in Him due to our faith and we have faith due to our trust.
i feel like it would be both
hebrews 11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
If one does not know what and why one believes how can one even begin to examine whether one has faith in God.
Yes we must trust God, but we are also to examine what we believe, what teacher/preachers are telling us and to use what we know to explain our faith to those who talk to us about how we live, behave and speak.
We need to feed on God’s word.
Mat_14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Mat_21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
FAITH, BELIEVE, OR TRUST
This is such an important term in the Bible (cf. Heb. 11:1,6). It is the subject of Jesus’ early preaching (cf. Mark 1:15). There are at least two new covenant requirements: repentance and faith (Mark 1:15; Acts 3:16,19; 20:21)
SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (OT)
SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (NT)
Its etymology
The term “faith” in the OT meant loyalty, fidelity, or trustworthiness and was a description of God’s nature, not ours (see SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE OT).
It came from a Hebrew term (emun, emunah, BDB 53, i.e., Hab. 2:4), which originally meant “to be sure or stable.” Saving faith is
a person to welcome (i.e., personal trust, faith, cf. E. 1. below)
believing truths about that person (i.e., Scripture, cf. E. 5. below; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FAITH [NT])
living a life like that person (i.e., Christlikeness, cf. Rom. 8:28-29; 2 Cor. 3:18; 7:1; Gal. 4:19; Eph. 1:4; 4:13; 1 Thess. 3:13; 4:3,7; 5:23; 1 Pet. 1:15)
Its OT usage
It must be emphasized that Abraham’s faith was not in a future Messiah, but in God’s promise that he would have a child and descendants (cf. Genesis 12:2; 15:2-5; 17:4-8; 18:14; Rom. 4:1-5). Abraham responded to this promise by trusting in God and His word. He still had doubts and concerns regarding this promise, which took thirteen years to be fulfilled. His imperfect faith, however, was accepted by God. God is willing to work with flawed human beings who respond to Him and His promises in faith, even if it is the size of a mustard seed (cf. Matt. 17:20) or mixed faith (cf. Mark 9:22-24).
Its NT usage
The term “believe” is from the Greek VERB pisteuō or NOUN pistis, which is translated into English as “believe,” “faith,” or “trust.” For example, the NOUN does not occur in the Gospel of John (and only once in 1 John 1:4), but the VERB is used often. In John 2:23-25 there is uncertainty as to the genuineness of the crowd’s commitment to Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah. Other examples of this superficial use of the term “believe” are in John 8:31-59 and Acts 8:13, 18-24. True biblical faith is more than an initial response. It must be followed by a process of discipleship (cf. Matt. 13:20-23,31-32; 28:19-20; see SPECIAL TOPIC: DISCIPLES [characteristics]).
Its use with PREPOSITIONS
eis means “into.” This unique construction emphasizes believers putting their trust/faith in Jesus (i.e., His person, His works, His teachings, His death and resurrection)
into His name (John 1:12; 2:23; 3:18; 1 John 5:13; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE NAME OF THE LORD [NT])
into Him (John 2:11; 3:15,18; 4:39; 6:40; 7:5,31,39,48; 8:30; 9:36; 10:42; 11:45,48; 12:37,42; Matt. 18:6; Acts 10:43; Phil. 1:29; 1 Pet. 1:8)
into Me (John 6:35; 7:38; 11:25,26; 12:44,46; 14:1,12; 16:9; 17:20)
into the Son (John 3:36; 9:35; 1 John 5:10; see SPECIAL TOPIC: SON OF GOD)
into Jesus (John 12:11; Acts 19:4; Gal. 2:16)
into Light (John 12:36)
into God (John 14:1)
ev means “in” as in John 3:15; Mark 1:15; Acts 5:14
epi means “in” or “upon,” as in Matt. 27:42; Acts 9:42; 11:17; 16:31; 22:19; Rom. 4:5,24; 9:33; 10:11; 1 Tim. 1:16; 1 Pet. 2:6
the DATIVE CASE with no PREPOSITION as in John 4:50; Gal. 3:6; Acts 18:8; 27:25; 1 John 3:23; 5:10
hoti, which means “believe that,” gives content as to what to believe
Jesus is the Holy One of God (John 6:69)
Jesus is the I Am (John 8:24)
Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Him (John 10:38)
Jesus is the Messiah (John 11:27; 20:31; see SPECIAL TOPIC: MESSIAH)
Jesus is the Son of God (John 11:27; 20:31)
Jesus was sent by the Father (John 11:42; 17:8,21)
Jesus is one with the Father (John 14:10-11)
Jesus came from the Father (John 16:27,30)
Jesus identified Himself in the covenant name of the Father, “I Am” (John 8:24; 13:19; see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D, and SPECIAL TOPIC: “THE NAME” OF YHWH)
We will live with Him (Rom. 6:8)
Jesus died and rose again (1 Thess. 4:14)
J.