What is *Faith*? The Biblical Truth About Having Faith

There has been a drastic misunderstanding (and undermining) of the type of faith that Christians are required to have.

Most people (including believers) are of the notion that the ‘faith’ that Christ requires us to have is ‘blind belief’.

I’ve found within my Christian walk that believers think it’s okay to believe even without evidence. However, this sort of thinking is actually the opposite of what Christ expects from us.

Biblical grounds for Faith

While reading the book of Hebrews, I came across something interesting:

“Faith is the confidence in things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11 (NIV)

Scripture actually indicates that faith requires evidence. This evidence we have in Christ will assure us in the things we hope for; the things we cannot see with our natural eyes.

Hebrews 11 outlines how faith was demonstrated by the patriarchs and matriarchs who saw the evidence of God’s work in their lives.

Abraham was a man who trusted in God’s Word and promises. Abraham’s evidence for God’s divine power stemmed from what he saw. He observed God’s demonstrated power throughout his life and had ample reason to trust in God.

Abraham isn’t the only example the Bible gives. The book of Hebrews compiles a list of those who demonstrated this incredible faith in the Old Testament. However, many Christians (and skeptics) still think that faith requires no evidence.

Many might say, ‘Well, there are no miracles being performed today, so how can we truly have evidence?’

Perhaps we consider the miracles of God to be something on a grander scale, ignoring the finer things that God has provided us with. God still does work miracles for those who put their complete trust in Him. But even if you haven’t seen a ‘miracle’, the greatest demonstration of God comes from Jesus Christ, who came in flesh and died and rose again.

Christ is the Evidence of Our Faith

So, exactly how is this ‘evidence’ for our faith?

1 Corinthians 15:14-20 states that if Christ did not rise from the dead, then our faith is in vain. It goes on to say that our lives would be the most miserable of all human lives because then we would have no future hope. Yet, Paul believed and had faith because he had seen the risen Christ with his own eyes!

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. ¹⁵More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. ¹⁶For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. ¹⁷And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. ¹⁸Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. ¹⁹If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. ²⁰But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:14-20 (NIV)

Christ’s death is undeniable, even among secular scholars. The empty tomb provides us with the greatest miracle of all: He is risen! Even hard-core skeptics are forced to admit that there is no buried body, no tomb that contains Christ’s remains.

We, as believers, have unmistakable evidence that Christ is risen and is seated at the right hand of Majesty. In this, we can place our hope and trust in a future with Christ. We can be sure that His presence is seen in our lives through the persistent miracles of His power that continue even today.

Our faith in God is founded in Christ, and our hope is not in vain because Christ is risen.

Have faith!

Signed,