What Is Faith?
Chapter Overview
Faith is one of the most important themes in the Christian life.
People often use the word faith to describe positive thinking, optimism, sincerity, religious belief, or confidence that circumstances will improve. Biblical faith is deeper and more specific.
Christian faith is trusting the true God as He has revealed Himself in Scripture. It includes believing His Word, relying upon His promises, receiving salvation through Jesus Christ, and responding to Him with obedience.
Faith is not confidence in ourselves. It is confidence in God.
Faith is not believing without any reason. God has revealed His character, acted throughout history, spoken through Scripture, sent His Son, and raised Jesus from the dead. Christian faith responds to what God has revealed and accomplished.
Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as assurance concerning what is hoped for and conviction concerning what is not seen. Faith looks beyond present appearances and rests upon the promises of God.
Ephesians 2:8–9 teaches that salvation is received by grace through faith. Salvation cannot be earned through morality, religious activity, church attendance, generosity, or human effort. It is God’s gift.
Galatians 2:20 teaches that faith is not limited to the beginning of the Christian life. Believers continue living by faith in Jesus Christ, who loved them and gave Himself for them.
Saving faith includes knowledge, agreement, and personal trust.
A person must understand the basic message of the gospel, believe that it is true, and personally rely upon Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
Faith does not mean believers never experience questions, fear, or doubt. Scripture records faithful people who struggled, prayed, waited, and asked God for help. The opposite of faith is not always the presence of questions. It is the refusal to trust and respond to God.
Genuine faith produces a changed direction. Good works do not earn salvation, but they demonstrate that faith is alive. A person who trusts Christ begins to repent, obey, love others, seek holiness, and persevere.
Faith may be weak or strong, but its strength ultimately depends upon its object. A trembling faith placed in a powerful Savior is more secure than great confidence placed in something false.
The foundation of Christian faith is not the believer’s ability to hold tightly to God. It is God’s faithfulness and Christ’s completed work.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:
- Define biblical faith.
- Explain the difference between faith and positive thinking.
- Describe the object of Christian faith.
- Explain how salvation is received by grace through faith.
- Identify why salvation cannot be earned through good works.
- Describe the relationship between faith and obedience.
- Explain what it means to live by faith in Jesus Christ.
- Distinguish saving faith from mere intellectual agreement.
- Describe how genuine faith produces spiritual fruit.
- Explain how faith responds to doubt, fear, suffering, and waiting.
- Identify practical ways to strengthen faith.
- Write a personal response of trust in Jesus Christ.
Opening Prayer
Father in heaven,
Thank You for revealing Yourself through creation, Scripture, and Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Teach me what true faith means. Protect me from placing my confidence in myself, my feelings, my circumstances, or my religious performance.
Help me understand the gospel clearly and trust Jesus completely. Strengthen me where my faith is weak, correct me where my beliefs are mistaken, and lead me into faithful obedience.
Show me any fear, doubt, pride, or self-reliance that keeps me from depending upon You.
May this study deepen my confidence in Your character, Your promises, and the saving work of Jesus Christ.
In His name, amen.
Part One: Key Verse
Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Write the Key Verse
ESV
NIV
Put the Verse in Your Own Words
What does Hebrews 11:1 teach about faith, hope, confidence, and unseen realities?
Part Two: Understanding Biblical Faith
1. Faith Has an Object
Faith is only as reliable as the person or thing being trusted.
People may place faith in:
- Themselves.
- Money.
- Relationships.
- Government.
- Religious traditions.
- Personal feelings.
- Human wisdom.
- Success.
- Health.
- Technology.
- Other people.
These things may provide temporary assistance, but none can bear the full weight of a person’s life, identity, salvation, and eternity.
Christian faith is directed toward the living God.
Believers trust:
- God’s character.
- God’s Word.
- God’s promises.
- God’s wisdom.
- God’s power.
- God’s grace.
- The person and work of Jesus Christ.
Faith is not valuable merely because it is sincere. A person can sincerely trust something false.
Biblical faith rests upon the God who is true, faithful, wise, powerful, holy, loving, and unchanging.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Workbook Questions
What do people commonly trust instead of God?
Where are you most tempted to place your security?
Why is God more dependable than that source?
2. Faith Is More Than Positive Thinking
Positive thinking focuses upon maintaining confidence that something good will happen.
Biblical faith does not guarantee that every circumstance will develop according to personal desire.
A Christian may trust God and still experience:
- Sickness.
- Loss.
- Rejection.
- Disappointment.
- Persecution.
- Financial difficulty.
- Grief.
- Death.
Faith does not deny these realities.
Faith trusts that God remains good, present, wise, and faithful within them.
Positive thinking may say:
“Everything will happen the way I want.”
Biblical faith says:
“God will remain faithful, even when His plan differs from mine.”
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Personal Reflection
What outcome are you strongly hoping for?
Can you trust God if His answer is different?
What truth about His character helps you surrender the outcome?
3. Faith Is Not Believing Without Evidence
Christian faith is sometimes described as belief without evidence. That is not the biblical picture.
God has revealed Himself through:
- Creation.
- His actions in history.
- The written Scriptures.
- The prophets.
- Jesus Christ.
- The death and resurrection of Jesus.
- The testimony of eyewitnesses.
- The work of the Holy Spirit.
- The transforming power of the gospel.
Faith goes beyond what can be physically seen, but it is not disconnected from truth or evidence.
Believers do not see God directly with physical eyes, yet they trust what He has revealed and promised.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Workbook Questions
What evidence for Christian faith stands out most strongly to you?
Why is the resurrection of Jesus especially important?
What questions about Christianity would you like to study more deeply?
4. Faith Includes Knowledge
A person cannot trust Jesus without knowing something about who He is and what He has done.
Saving faith includes knowledge of the gospel:
- God is holy and Creator.
- Humanity has sinned.
- Sin separates people from God.
- Jesus is the eternal Son of God.
- Jesus became truly human.
- Jesus lived without sin.
- Jesus died for sinners.
- Jesus rose from the dead.
- Jesus is Lord.
- Salvation is received through repentance and faith.
Faith is not built upon ignorance.
However, knowledge alone is not saving faith. A person can understand Christian teaching without personally trusting Christ.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Gospel Knowledge Exercise
Who is God?
What is sin?
Who is Jesus Christ?
Why did Jesus die?
What happened after His death?
How is salvation received?
5. Faith Includes Agreement
Saving faith includes believing that the gospel message is true.
A person must agree that:
- God’s judgment about sin is right.
- Humanity cannot save itself.
- Jesus is who Scripture says He is.
- Christ’s death is sufficient for salvation.
- Jesus truly rose from the dead.
- God’s promise of salvation can be trusted.
However, agreement alone is still not the fullness of saving faith.
James teaches that even demons possess correct information about God. They know that God exists, but they do not love, trust, or obey Him.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Personal Reflection
Do you believe the central claims of the gospel are true?
Is there a truth you find difficult to accept?
What would help you examine that question faithfully?
6. Faith Includes Personal Trust
A person may know facts about Jesus and agree that they are true without personally relying upon Him.
Personal trust means placing the weight of your life and salvation upon Christ.
It means trusting:
- His death instead of your goodness.
- His righteousness instead of your performance.
- His grace instead of your merit.
- His authority instead of your independence.
- His promises instead of your feelings.
- His wisdom instead of your limited understanding.
A common illustration is the difference between believing that a chair can support you and actually sitting in it.
Saving faith personally rests upon Jesus.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Trust Exercise
What are you presently trusting to make you acceptable to God?
Your morality?
Your church involvement?
Your religious knowledge?
Your generosity?
Jesus Christ alone?
Why is Christ sufficient?
Part Three: Hebrews 11 — Faith and the Unseen
1. Faith Provides Assurance
Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as assurance or confidence concerning what believers hope for.
Christian hope includes:
- Forgiveness.
- God’s presence.
- Eternal life.
- Resurrection.
- Christ’s return.
- Final justice.
- The new creation.
- Everlasting fellowship with God.
Believers do not yet see the fullness of these promises, but they trust the God who gave them.
Faith does not make God’s promises true. They are true because God cannot lie.
Faith receives and rests upon them.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Workbook Questions
Which promise of God gives you the greatest assurance?
Which promise is most difficult for you to trust?
Why can God’s promises be trusted?
2. Faith Trusts What Is Not Yet Seen
Believers do not currently see:
- God face-to-face.
- The risen Christ with physical eyes.
- The final resurrection.
- The new heavens and new earth.
- The full defeat of evil.
- The complete answer to every prayer.
- The full purpose of every trial.
Faith does not require seeing every answer in advance.
It trusts God while walking through uncertainty.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Personal Reflection
What can you not presently see or understand?
What has God clearly revealed?
How can you obey based upon what He has revealed?
3. Faith Believes That God Exists
Hebrews 11:6 teaches that anyone who draws near to God must believe that He exists.
Biblical faith begins with the reality of God.
God is not an idea created to provide comfort. He is the eternal Creator who exists independently of the universe.
He is personal, holy, loving, just, wise, and sovereign.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Workbook Questions
How would you describe the God you believe in?
Is your understanding shaped more by Scripture, culture, experience, or assumption?
What biblical truth about God do you need to study further?
4. Faith Seeks God
Hebrews 11:6 also teaches that God rewards those who seek Him.
Seeking God includes:
- Prayer.
- Scripture.
- Worship.
- Repentance.
- Obedience.
- Fellowship.
- Dependence.
- Desire to know Him.
The greatest reward of seeking God is God Himself.
Believers may seek God’s help, provision, healing, or guidance, but faith should desire more than His gifts.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Personal Reflection
Do you seek God mainly for His presence or for His gifts?
What currently competes for your attention and affection?
What practice could help you seek Him more consistently?
5. Faith Acts upon God’s Word
Hebrews 11 gives examples of people who acted because they trusted God.
By faith:
- Noah built the ark.
- Abraham left his homeland.
- Sarah trusted God’s promise.
- Moses chose faithfulness over earthly status.
- Israel crossed the Red Sea.
- God’s people endured suffering.
Faith moved them toward action.
Biblical faith is not passive agreement. It responds to God’s Word.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Obedience Exercise
What has God commanded?
What response have you delayed?
What fear stands in the way?
What act of faith is required?
When will you act?
6. Faith Perseveres without Receiving Every Promise Immediately
Hebrews 11 describes faithful people who died without seeing every promise fulfilled during their earthly lives.
They trusted God beyond their immediate circumstances.
Faith does not demand that every promise be completed according to our preferred schedule.
Some answers come:
- Immediately.
- Gradually.
- After a long period of waiting.
- In a different form.
- Beyond this earthly life.
- In the resurrection and new creation.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Waiting Reflection
What are you waiting for?
How long have you been waiting?
How has waiting affected your faith?
What does faithfulness look like during the wait?
Part Four: Ephesians 2 — Saved by Grace Through Faith
1. Humanity Is Spiritually Dead in Sin
Ephesians 2 begins by describing humanity’s condition apart from Christ.
People are not merely spiritually sick or uninformed. They are spiritually dead in trespasses and sins.
This means people cannot rescue themselves through:
- Better behavior.
- Religious effort.
- Education.
- Self-improvement.
- Moral comparison.
- Good intentions.
Sin affects the mind, desires, will, conduct, and relationship with God.
Read Ephesians 2:1–3
How is humanity’s condition described?
What influences shape life apart from Christ?
Why can people not save themselves?
Personal Reflection
How does this description challenge the idea that people are saved by being good?
What does it reveal about the need for grace?
2. God Is Rich in Mercy
The message changes with the words:
“But God.”
Humanity is sinful, but God is rich in mercy.
God’s saving action flows from:
- His mercy.
- His great love.
- His grace.
- His kindness.
- His sovereign purpose.
Salvation begins with God, not humanity.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Gratitude Exercise
Write four truths about God from Ephesians 2:4–7.
Which truth is most meaningful to you?
Why?
3. Salvation Is by Grace
Grace is God’s undeserved favor toward sinners.
Grace means salvation is not a reward given to people who have earned it.
Human beings deserve judgment because of sin, yet God offers forgiveness and eternal life through Christ.
Grace cannot be:
- Purchased.
- Earned.
- Repaid.
- Achieved.
- Deserved.
It must be received.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Workbook Questions
Why can grace not be earned?
What happens when people attempt to earn what God gives as a gift?
How should grace produce humility?
4. Salvation Is Received Through Faith
Faith is the means through which the gift of salvation is received.
Faith does not earn salvation.
Faith is not a good work that places God in our debt.
An empty hand does not earn the gift placed within it. It simply receives.
Saving faith rests upon:
- Christ’s identity.
- Christ’s death.
- Christ’s resurrection.
- Christ’s righteousness.
- Christ’s promise.
Read Ephesians 2:8
What is the source of salvation?
Through what is salvation received?
Whose gift is it?
Personal Response
What does it mean to receive salvation rather than earn it?
Have you personally trusted Christ?
What is the basis of your answer?
5. Salvation Is Not from Ourselves
Ephesians 2:8 emphasizes that salvation is not from ourselves.
This excludes confidence in:
- Religious heritage.
- Church membership.
- Baptism without personal faith.
- Knowledge.
- Family background.
- Ministry service.
- Moral achievement.
- Personal sincerity.
- Emotional experiences.
These things may have value in their proper place, but none can replace Jesus Christ.
Self-Reliance Examination
Which achievement are you most tempted to trust?
Why is it insufficient?
What has Jesus accomplished that you could never accomplish?
6. Salvation Is Not a Result of Works
Good works cannot remove guilt, satisfy God’s justice, or produce spiritual life.
Even our best works are performed by imperfect people with mixed motives.
If salvation depended upon works, no one could possess confidence.
The gospel directs confidence away from human performance and toward Christ’s perfect righteousness and sacrifice.
Read Ephesians 2:9
Why is salvation not based upon works?
What human response does this prevent?
Why can no one boast?
Personal Reflection
Are you tempted to compare your morality with someone else’s?
What does the cross reveal about both of you?
How should grace affect the way you treat others?
7. Good Works Follow Salvation
Ephesians 2:10 explains that believers are created in Christ Jesus for good works.
The order is essential:
- Good works do not produce salvation.
- Salvation produces good works.
God saves believers and begins transforming them so that their lives display:
- Love.
- Holiness.
- Mercy.
- Integrity.
- Service.
- Generosity.
- Forgiveness.
- Justice.
- Gospel witness.
- Obedience.
Read Ephesians 2:10
Whose workmanship are believers?
For what have they been created?
Who prepared these works?
Good-Works Exercise
What good work has God placed before you?
Who may benefit?
What ability or resource can you use?
What first step should you take?
Part Five: Galatians 2 — Living by Faith in Christ
1. The Believer Is United with Christ
Paul writes:
“I have been crucified with Christ.”
This does not mean Paul was physically crucified alongside Jesus.
It means that through faith, he was spiritually united with Christ’s death.
Christ’s death counted as the death of Paul’s old life under sin’s condemnation and authority.
Union with Christ means believers share in the benefits of:
- His death.
- His resurrection.
- His righteousness.
- His Spirit.
- His eternal life.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Workbook Questions
What does it mean to be crucified with Christ?
What part of the old life no longer has rightful authority?
2. The Old Self Is No Longer Lord
Paul says:
“It is no longer I who live.”
Paul did not lose his personality or human identity.
He meant that the self-centered life of independence from God was no longer the ruling principle of his existence.
Jesus had become Lord.
The Christian life is not:
- Self-improvement with religious help.
- Jesus added to an unchanged life.
- Occasional obedience when convenient.
- Personal independence with Christian language.
It is a new life under Christ’s authority.
Personal Reflection
Who or what presently controls your decisions?
What area remains resistant to Christ’s authority?
What would surrender look like?
3. Christ Lives in the Believer
Paul continues:
“Christ who lives in me.”
The risen Christ lives within believers through the Holy Spirit.
This does not mean believers become divine. It means Christ’s presence, life, power, and character are at work within them.
Christ living within believers produces:
- New desires.
- New identity.
- New power for obedience.
- New love for God.
- New concern for others.
- New hope.
- New purpose.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Workbook Question
What evidence of Christ’s transforming presence appears in your life?
Where do you most need His power?
4. The Christian Life Continues by Faith
Faith is not merely the doorway into Christianity.
Paul says:
“The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God.”
Believers begin by faith and continue by faith.
Living by faith includes:
- Trusting God’s promises.
- Depending upon Christ.
- Obeying Scripture.
- Praying.
- Repenting.
- Rejecting self-reliance.
- Waiting upon God.
- Serving without seeing every result.
- Persevering through trials.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Daily Faith Evaluation
Where do you need faith today?
At home:
At work or school:
In your finances:
In your health:
In your relationships:
In your spiritual growth:
5. Faith Is Personal
Paul writes of faith “in the Son of God.”
Christian faith is not merely trust in general religious ideas.
It is personal trust in Jesus.
Believers know Him as:
- Savior.
- Lord.
- Shepherd.
- Teacher.
- Mediator.
- King.
- Friend.
- High Priest.
- Son of God.
Personal Reflection
How would you presently describe your relationship with Jesus?
Which title of Jesus is most meaningful to you?
Why?
6. Faith Rests upon Christ’s Love
Paul describes Jesus as the One:
“who loved me.”
Christian faith is not trust in a distant or unwilling Savior.
Jesus willingly loved sinners.
His love is demonstrated through:
- His incarnation.
- His compassion.
- His service.
- His patience.
- His teaching.
- His sacrifice.
- His intercession.
- His continuing presence.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Love Reflection
What demonstrates Christ’s love most clearly?
Do you find it difficult to believe that Christ personally loves you?
Why?
What does the cross declare?
7. Faith Rests upon Christ’s Sacrifice
Paul says Jesus:
“gave himself for me.”
Christ’s death was voluntary, personal, and sacrificial.
Jesus did not merely provide an example of courage. He gave Himself as a substitute for sinners.
He bore:
- Sin.
- Guilt.
- Judgment.
- Shame.
- The curse of the law.
Believers receive:
- Forgiveness.
- Righteousness.
- Peace with God.
- Adoption.
- Eternal life.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Personal Response
What did Christ bear for you?
What does He offer you?
How should His sacrifice shape your life?
Part Six: Faith and Repentance
1. Faith Turns toward Christ
Saving faith does not merely acknowledge that Jesus can save.
It turns toward Him for salvation.
Faith says:
- I cannot save myself.
- Jesus is sufficient.
- I trust His sacrifice.
- I receive His forgiveness.
- I submit to His lordship.
- I depend upon His grace.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
2. Repentance Turns away from Sin
Repentance is a change of mind and direction that turns from sin toward God.
It includes:
- Recognizing sin.
- Agreeing with God.
- Confessing.
- Rejecting excuses.
- Turning from the sinful pattern.
- Pursuing obedience.
- Depending upon grace.
Faith and repentance belong together.
Faith turns toward Christ.
Repentance turns away from sin.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Repentance Exercise
What sin is God bringing to your attention?
How have you excused it?
What does confession require?
What practical change should follow?
3. Repentance Does Not Earn Forgiveness
Repentance is necessary, but it does not purchase grace.
People are not forgiven because they feel sufficiently guilty, cry enough, or punish themselves.
Forgiveness is based upon Christ’s sacrifice.
Repentance receives grace by bringing sin honestly into the light and turning toward God.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Personal Reflection
Are you trying to punish yourself for something Christ is willing to forgive?
What does 1 John 1:9 promise?
What would receiving grace look like?
Part Seven: Faith and Good Works
1. Good Works Cannot Save
No amount of good work can remove the guilt of sin.
A person cannot balance evil deeds with enough good deeds to make themselves righteous before God.
God’s standard is not comparison with other people. His standard is perfect holiness.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Workbook Question
Why is comparing yourself with other people spiritually misleading?
What standard does God use?
2. Living Faith Produces Works
James teaches that faith without works is dead.
He is not contradicting Paul.
Paul teaches that works cannot earn salvation.
James teaches that genuine saving faith does not remain alone.
Living faith produces visible fruit.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Faith-Fruit Evaluation
What evidence of faith appears in your:
Speech?
Relationships?
Use of money?
Response to sin?
Treatment of others?
Service?
3. Abraham’s Faith Produced Obedience
Abraham believed God, and his faith was counted as righteousness.
Later, his willingness to obey demonstrated the reality of his trust.
His actions did not create his faith. They revealed it.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Personal Reflection
What action would demonstrate your trust in God?
What fear makes obedience difficult?
What promise supports obedience?
4. Faith Works through Love
Galatians teaches that what matters is faith working through love.
Faith that truly receives God’s love begins expressing love toward others.
This includes:
- Compassion.
- Forgiveness.
- Service.
- Generosity.
- Patience.
- Truthfulness.
- Mercy.
- Sacrifice.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Love Exercise
Who needs love from you?
What practical need exists?
What action can you take?
What may it cost?
Part Eight: Faith, Doubt, and Questions
1. Faithful People May Experience Doubt
Scripture includes people who struggled with questions:
- Abraham questioned how God’s promise would be fulfilled.
- Moses felt inadequate.
- Elijah became discouraged.
- The Psalms contain honest questions.
- John the Baptist asked for reassurance.
- Thomas struggled to believe the resurrection testimony.
- A father asked Jesus to help his unbelief.
God did not always reject these people for having questions.
He called them toward deeper trust.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Doubt Reflection
What question troubles you?
Is it intellectual, emotional, moral, or connected with suffering?
Have you brought it honestly before God?
Who could help you study it?
2. Doubt Should Lead toward Truth
Doubt can become either a doorway toward deeper understanding or an excuse for avoiding God.
Healthy responses include:
- Prayer.
- Careful Scripture study.
- Asking honest questions.
- Examining evidence.
- Seeking wise counsel.
- Remaining connected to Christian community.
- Obeying what is already clear.
- Distinguishing unanswered questions from disproven truth.
Question-Study Plan
Question:
Relevant Scriptures:
Faithful resource or teacher:
Person to discuss it with:
Truth already known:
3. Faith Can Coexist with Weakness
The father in Mark 9 cried:
“I believe; help my unbelief!”
This prayer demonstrates both real faith and recognized weakness.
Weak faith does not require pretending to be strong.
It comes honestly to a strong Savior.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Personal Prayer
Jesus, I believe that
I struggle to trust You concerning
Help my unbelief by
4. Feelings Are Not the Final Measure of Faith
Feelings are real and important, but they change.
A believer may feel:
- Close to God.
- Distant from God.
- Confident.
- Afraid.
- Joyful.
- Discouraged.
- Certain.
- Confused.
Faith does not deny emotion, but it does not make emotion the final authority.
God’s Word remains true when feelings change.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Feeling-and-Truth Exercise
Present feeling:
Message the feeling is communicating:
What is true according to Scripture?
How should you respond?
Part Nine: Faith in Trials
1. Trials Test Faith
Trials reveal what believers trust.
Difficulty may expose:
- Fear.
- Self-reliance.
- Hidden idols.
- Weak understanding.
- Impatience.
- Anger.
- Genuine endurance.
- Dependence upon God.
God does not test believers because He lacks knowledge. Trials reveal and refine faith.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Trial Reflection
What trial are you facing?
What has it revealed about your heart?
What needs repentance?
What evidence of faith has appeared?
2. Faith Does Not Require Understanding Everything
Believers often want explanations before they trust.
Scripture teaches that God’s understanding is complete while ours is limited.
Faith does not reject careful thought. It recognizes human limitations.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Personal Reflection
What situation do you not understand?
What are you demanding to know before trusting?
What has God clearly revealed about Himself?
3. Faith Waits upon God
Waiting is an active form of trust.
Faithful waiting includes:
- Prayer.
- Obedience.
- Preparation.
- Patience.
- Service.
- Hope.
- Refusal to manipulate outcomes.
- Continued confidence in God.
Waiting is not inactivity. It is refusing to run ahead of God through sinful shortcuts.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Waiting Plan
What are you waiting for?
What faithful action can you take now?
What shortcut should you avoid?
What promise will you remember?
4. Faith Remembers God’s Past Faithfulness
Remembering strengthens faith.
Throughout Scripture, God’s people were instructed to remember:
- Creation.
- Deliverance.
- God’s provision.
- God’s covenant.
- Answered prayer.
- God’s discipline.
- Christ’s death and resurrection.
Past faithfulness does not guarantee that future circumstances will unfold identically. It reminds believers that God’s character remains dependable.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Faithfulness Record
A past prayer God answered:
A time God provided:
A trial God brought you through:
A truth God taught you:
How does remembering strengthen present faith?
Part Ten: Faith and Assurance
1. Assurance Rests upon Christ
Assurance of salvation should not rest primarily upon:
- Emotional intensity.
- Perfect memory of a conversion moment.
- Sinless performance.
- Constant spiritual excitement.
- Comparison with others.
Assurance rests first upon:
- Christ’s completed work.
- God’s promise.
- The gospel.
- The Holy Spirit’s witness.
- The growing fruit of faith.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Assurance Questions
What did Jesus accomplish?
What has God promised to those who believe?
What evidence of spiritual life do you see?
Where do you still struggle with assurance?
2. Assurance Does Not Mean Presumption
Biblical assurance does not say:
“I can live however I want because I once claimed to believe.”
Genuine faith produces a changed direction.
A believer may stumble seriously, but the Holy Spirit leads toward:
- Conviction.
- Confession.
- Repentance.
- Renewed obedience.
- Perseverance.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Personal Examination
Are you using grace as an excuse for sin?
Is there evidence of repentance?
Is obedience growing?
What area needs immediate attention?
3. Assurance Grows through God’s Word
Believers should not build assurance upon imagination.
God has given written promises.
Faith grows stronger as believers learn what God has actually said.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Promise Exercise
Promise:
Scripture reference:
What it means:
How it applies:
Part Eleven: Strengthening Faith
1. Faith Grows through Scripture
Romans teaches that faith comes through hearing the message of Christ.
Scripture reveals God’s character, promises, commands, and saving work.
Faith grows when believers:
- Read consistently.
- Study carefully.
- Memorize.
- Meditate.
- Hear faithful teaching.
- Apply what they learn.
- Discuss Scripture with others.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
My Scripture Plan
Book or passage:
Time:
Days each week:
Study method:
Verse to memorize:
2. Faith Grows through Prayer
Prayer expresses dependence upon God.
Believers can pray for:
- Stronger faith.
- Wisdom.
- Courage.
- Help in temptation.
- Assurance.
- Patience.
- Guidance.
- Understanding.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
My Prayer Plan
Time:
Present request:
Fear to surrender:
Person to pray with:
3. Faith Grows through Obedience
Obedience strengthens faith because believers experience the faithfulness of God while following Him.
Repeated disobedience weakens spiritual confidence and hardens the heart.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Obedience Plan
Command I understand:
Action required:
Obstacle:
Person for accountability:
Date to act:
4. Faith Grows through Christian Fellowship
God uses other believers to:
- Encourage.
- Correct.
- Teach.
- Pray.
- Carry burdens.
- Share testimony.
- Model perseverance.
- Remind us of truth.
Isolation often gives fear and doubt more room to grow.
Supporting Scriptures
Read:
Fellowship Plan
Person who strengthens your faith:
Person you can encourage:
Church or group to participate in:
Struggle to share honestly:
5. Faith Grows through Remembering
Believers strengthen faith by remembering God’s work in Scripture and in their lives.
A prayer journal or record of God’s faithfulness can help during future trials.
My Faithfulness Journal
Date:
Need or prayer:
How God provided or guided:
Truth learned:
6. Faith Grows through Trials
Trials do not automatically produce mature faith. They may produce bitterness if approached without trust.
However, when believers depend upon God, trials can deepen:
- Endurance.
- Prayer.
- Humility.
- Compassion.
- Wisdom.
- Eternal perspective.
- Confidence in God.
Trial Application
Present trial:
Lesson God may be teaching:
Character quality being developed:
Faithful response:
Part Twelve: Common Misunderstandings about Faith
“Faith Means Believing Whatever You Want Strongly Enough”
Biblical faith is not confidence in personal desires. It trusts what God has revealed.
“Faith Guarantees Health, Wealth, and Success”
God may provide material blessings, but faithful believers also experience suffering, loss, and persecution.
“Faith Means Never Having Questions”
Believers can bring honest questions to God while continuing to seek truth.
“Faith Has No Evidence”
Christian faith responds to God’s revelation and the historical life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
“Good People Are Saved by Their Works”
Salvation is received by grace through faith, not earned through moral effort.
“Faith Is Only Intellectual Belief”
Saving faith includes knowledge, agreement, and personal trust in Christ.
“Works Do Not Matter at All”
Works do not save, but genuine faith produces obedience and love.
“Weak Faith Cannot Save”
Salvation depends upon the strength of Jesus, not the emotional strength of the believer.
“Faith Means Ignoring Wisdom”
Biblical faith trusts God while using Scripture, counsel, preparation, and responsible action.
“Faith Requires Pretending Everything Is Fine”
Faith can lament, grieve, ask questions, and admit weakness while trusting God.
“Once I Believe, I No Longer Need Faith”
Believers begin, continue, and persevere by faith in Jesus Christ.
Personal Examination
Which misunderstanding have you believed or encountered most often?
How would you answer it from Scripture?
Part Thirteen: Word Study
Faith
Faith is trusting God as He has revealed Himself and relying personally upon Jesus Christ for salvation and life.
Write a Definition
Biblical faith is:
Grace
Grace is God’s undeserved saving favor toward sinners through Jesus Christ.
Write a Definition
Grace is:
Believe
To believe means more than accepting information. It includes relying upon and entrusting oneself to the truth believed.
Write a Definition
To believe in Jesus means:
Trust
Trust means depending upon the character, promise, wisdom, and power of another.
Write a Definition
Trusting God means:
Repentance
Repentance is turning from sin toward God in faith and obedience.
Write a Definition
Repentance is:
Assurance
Assurance is settled confidence that God’s promise of salvation in Christ is true and personally applicable to the believer.
Write a Definition
Assurance is:
Obedience
Obedience is the faithful response of doing what God commands.
Write a Definition
Christian obedience is:
Part Fourteen: Supporting Passage Study
Hebrews 11:1–6
How is faith defined?
What realities are not yet seen?
Why is faith necessary for approaching God?
What must a person believe about God?
What does it mean to seek Him?
Ephesians 2:1–10
How is humanity’s condition apart from Christ described?
What qualities of God lead Him to save?
How is salvation received?
Why can no one boast?
What place do good works have?
Galatians 2:20
What does it mean to be crucified with Christ?
Who now lives within the believer?
How is the present Christian life lived?
How did Christ demonstrate His love?
What did He give for sinners?
Part Fifteen: Reflection Questions
Take time with each question. Write honestly and prayerfully.
1. How would you define faith after completing this chapter?
2. What is the present object of your deepest trust?
3. Are you relying upon Christ or your own goodness for salvation?
4. What truth about grace is most meaningful to you?
5. What doubt or question do you need to bring honestly before God?
6. Where is God asking you to obey before you can see the outcome?
7. What trial is currently testing your faith?
8. What evidence of living faith appears in your life?
9. What area of self-reliance must be surrendered?
10. What specific step will help strengthen your faith?
Part Sixteen: Group Discussion
1. How is biblical faith different from optimism or positive thinking?
2. Why must faith have a trustworthy object?
3. What is the relationship between grace, faith, and good works?
4. How can someone possess correct information about Jesus without saving faith?
5. How should Christians respond to doubt?
6. Why can weak faith still rest securely in a strong Savior?
7. How do trials reveal and strengthen faith?
8. What does it practically mean to live by faith in the Son of God?
Part Seventeen: This Week
Seven Days of Learning to Live by Faith
Day One: The Meaning of Faith
Read Hebrews 11:1–6.
How does this passage describe faith?
What unseen promise will you trust?
Day Two: Abraham Believed God
Read Genesis 15:1–6 and Romans 4:1–5.
What did Abraham believe?
How was righteousness credited to him?
Day Three: Saved by Grace
Read Ephesians 2:1–10.
What has God done for sinners?
Why can no one boast?
Day Four: Living by Faith
Read Galatians 2:15–21.
What does it mean to be crucified with Christ?
Where must you depend upon Christ today?
Day Five: Faith and Doubt
Read Mark 9:14–24.
What did the father ask Jesus to do?
What area of unbelief will you bring to Christ?
Day Six: Faith and Works
Read James 2:14–26.
How does living faith become visible?
What act of obedience should follow your faith?
Day Seven: Walking by Faith
Read 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 and 5:7.
What present circumstance is difficult to understand?
What eternal truth will shape your response?
Weekly Application
Complete the sentence:
Because God is faithful and Jesus has given Himself for me, this week I will trust Him by .
Part Eighteen: Memory Exercise
Write Hebrews 11:1 from Memory
Additional Memory Passage
Choose one:
Selected passage:
Write the passage in your preferred translation:
What truth about faith do you want to remember?
Part Nineteen: My Faith Response
I Believe
Write the central truths you believe about Jesus Christ.
I Trust
What are you personally trusting Jesus to do for you?
I Repent
What sin, pride, unbelief, or self-reliance must be confessed?
I Receive
What gift of grace are you receiving through Christ?
I Will Obey
What command or act of obedience will demonstrate your faith?
When will you act?
Who can encourage you?
I Will Wait
What outcome must be placed in God’s hands?
What will faithfulness look like while waiting?
I Will Remember
Write three examples of God’s faithfulness.
Part Twenty: Personal Statement of Faith
Complete the following statements in your own words.
I Believe God Is
I Believe Jesus Christ Is
I Believe Jesus Died Because
I Believe Jesus Rose from the Dead, Which Means
I Believe Salvation Is
I Am Trusting Christ Rather Than
I Desire to Follow Jesus by
Part Twenty-One: Faith Growth Plan
My Scripture Goal
My Prayer Goal
My Obedience Goal
My Fellowship Goal
My Doubt or Question to Study
My Area of Trust
My Accountability Person
Part Twenty-Two: Faith Journal
Date:
Present situation:
Fear or doubt:
What God’s Word says:
Promise to trust:
Act of obedience:
Prayer:
What I learned:
Part Twenty-Three: Notes
Use this space for sermon notes, cross-references, questions, prayers, or truths about faith that you want to remember.
Notes
My Prayer
Write a personal prayer responding to what you have learned about faith.
Chapter Summary
Biblical faith is personal trust in the living God based upon what He has revealed and accomplished.
Faith is not confidence in ourselves, positive thinking, wishful thinking, or belief without reason.
Christian faith rests upon God’s character, God’s Word, God’s promises, and the saving work of Jesus Christ.
Saving faith includes knowledge of the gospel, agreement that the gospel is true, and personal reliance upon Jesus.
Hebrews 11 teaches that faith gives assurance concerning what believers hope for and conviction concerning realities they do not yet see.
Faith believes that God exists, seeks Him, acts upon His Word, and perseveres while waiting for His promises.
Ephesians 2 teaches that humanity is spiritually dead in sin and unable to save itself.
God saves because He is rich in mercy, great in love, and abundant in grace.
Salvation is received by grace through faith. It is not the result of works, religious achievement, personal goodness, or human effort.
Because salvation is God’s gift, no one can boast.
Good works do not produce salvation. They follow salvation as the fruit of God’s transforming grace.
Galatians 2 teaches that believers are united with Christ. The old life of self-rule has been judged with Christ, and the risen Christ now lives within believers through the Holy Spirit.
The Christian life is lived by continuing faith in the Son of God, who loved sinners and gave Himself for them.
Faith and repentance belong together. Faith turns toward Christ, while repentance turns away from sin.
Genuine faith produces obedience, love, perseverance, holiness, service, and spiritual fruit.
Questions and periods of doubt can be brought honestly before God. Believers strengthen faith through Scripture, prayer, Christian fellowship, careful study, and obedience.
Faith does not require pretending that feelings, suffering, or questions are unreal. It allows God’s truth to interpret them.
Trials reveal and refine faith. Believers may not understand every circumstance, but they can trust God’s wisdom and character.
Assurance rests upon Christ’s completed work and God’s promise rather than the believer’s emotional strength or flawless performance.
Weak faith placed in a strong Savior is secure because salvation depends upon Jesus Christ.
Faith begins the Christian life, sustains the Christian life, and continues until believers see Christ face-to-face.
Key Truths to Remember
- Faith has an object.
- Christian faith is directed toward the living God.
- Faith is more than positive thinking.
- Faith rests upon God rather than a preferred outcome.
- Christian faith responds to God’s revelation.
- The resurrection of Jesus is central to faith.
- Saving faith includes knowledge.
- Saving faith includes agreement with the gospel.
- Saving faith includes personal trust in Christ.
- Faith rests upon God’s promises.
- Faith trusts realities not yet seen.
- Faith believes that God exists.
- Faith seeks God.
- Faith responds through obedience.
- Faith perseveres while waiting.
- Humanity cannot save itself.
- God is rich in mercy.
- Salvation is by grace.
- Salvation is received through faith.
- Salvation is not the result of works.
- No one can boast before God.
- Good works follow salvation.
- Believers are united with Christ.
- Christ lives within believers through the Holy Spirit.
- The Christian life continues by faith.
- Jesus loved sinners and gave Himself for them.
- Faith and repentance belong together.
- Living faith produces spiritual fruit.
- Questions can be brought honestly to God.
- Weak faith can rest upon a strong Savior.
- Feelings are not the final authority.
- Trials reveal and refine faith.
- Faith trusts God without understanding everything.
- Faith waits upon God.
- Remembering strengthens faith.
- Assurance rests upon Jesus Christ.
- Faith grows through Scripture.
- Faith grows through prayer.
- Faith grows through obedience and fellowship.
- The believer lives by faith in the Son of God.
Closing Prayer
Faithful Father,
Thank You for revealing Yourself and inviting me to trust You.
Thank You that salvation does not depend upon my goodness, achievements, religious activity, or ability to save myself.
Thank You for Your mercy, love, kindness, and grace.
I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe He lived without sin, died for sinners, rose from the dead, and reigns as Lord.
Help me trust His righteousness rather than my performance and His sacrifice rather than my efforts.
Forgive me for placing my confidence in myself, other people, money, comfort, success, or circumstances.
Teach me to live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Where my faith is weak, strengthen me. Where I have questions, guide me into truth. Where I have sinned, lead me into repentance. Where I am afraid, remind me of Your presence.
Help me obey even when I cannot see the outcome. Teach me to wait without losing hope and to trust Your wisdom when I do not understand.
Use Scripture, prayer, Christian fellowship, trials, and obedience to deepen my faith.
Let my faith become visible through love, holiness, generosity, forgiveness, service, and perseverance.
Protect me from pride. Every good thing I have comes from Your grace.
When I doubt, help me pray honestly: “I believe; help my unbelief.”
May my life rest securely upon Jesus Christ, the faithful Savior and solid foundation.
In His name, amen.
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