Hello everyone, it has been a while since I have written on the blog. I am guest-posting today for #WORDNerdWednesday. Come read about the word “faith.”
The word “faith” in Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament, has no less than 
five word translations. Some of the most notable translations from the Old Testament are amen, batach, chasah, yaqual and quwah. While noting that the Hebrew language uses words that are designed to help form mental pictures, faith is most commonly seen as amen which means to believe, to put your trust in or to lean on Yahweh (God) for support.
The Greek word for “faith” in the New Testament is pistis. In the Greek language, the word faith is not limited to a mental asset or to believing certain ideas. The single word faith encompasses all of the following words: faith, faithfulness, reliability, promise, pledge, proof, trust, confidence, the act of believing, the content of “what” is believed, all that the gospel stands for, what is given evidence to and the system of doctrine or morality particularly referring to the Christian faith.
There are over 475 instances within the English Standard Version of the Bible where the word faith can be found. It can be seen from the very first page of the Scriptures, appearing numerously, all the way until the last page of the Bible.
The most basic definition of faith is the substance of hope and the belief of things not seen. Hebrews 11: 1 (ESV) says “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Let’s look at the meaning of faith a little further. Faith can also be defined as trust, putting our trust or our belief in the promises of God and His Word. Leaning on God for support.
Faith is a requirement for every person who believes in the LORD, His Son Jesus, The Holy Spirit and the Bible. In fact, a person cannot approach God without faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Nonetheless, neither can a person please God without faith in His Son Jesus (Hebrews 11:6).
Faith is a covenant word. Meaning in order to understand it, we also have to see faith in terms of relationships. Our commitment, our trust and our human reliance on a reliable God binds together to form a covenant between humanity and The Most High God. God shows Himself faithful and people respond with faithfulness. God by His grace makes a promise and then commits Himself to His people.
To say that you have faith, is to bind yourself to that which you have faith in. Keeping in mind that when you profess to have faith, it does not say much about you, but rather it says so much more about who or what you have faith in. God is a trustworthy God and He uses faith as the instrumental cause of salvation.
Faith is a free and unmerited gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8) It comes by hearing it and hearing it comes by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17) Therefore, faith is to be regarded, protected and established for the sake of spreading the gospel.
Faith, but not only faith…….there is a difference between having a form of faith only and having a saving faith. The Bible tells us that even the demons believe and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (James 2:19). A saving faith is to not only believe, but to also put your trust in Jesus Christ. Belief and trust must go together to have authentic saving faith.
Faith helps us to see the unseen and believe the unbelievable. This is not a blind faith, but a faith grounded in God’s Word. Several Scriptures point to the Bible being written so that you many believe, also that the gospel is spoken so that you may believe and that the Scriptures are searched daily so that one may believe. God directly imparts faith through the instrument of His Word. Faith is believing that if God said it, I believe it and that settles it! “for we walk by faith and not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
About the Artist: Lindsey Keith is a 17 year old Senior who LOVES God, her family, dance, Art and horses. Lindsey can be found doing the typical teenage stuff like volunteering or babysitting when she is not creating beautiful Art. She volunteers at church and a therapeutic horse ranch. She is honored to have achieved being on the California Scholarship Federation each semester of her high school career and has received straight A’s during her schooling adventures. Lindsey’s goal at this point in her life is to receive scholarships to be able to attend a Christian University after graduating High School. Her talent on loan from God is exuberant in extraordinary ways. I absolutely love that she finds time to create beauty right where she is. Way to go Lindsey! To see more of Lindsey’s beautiful artwork, search for her on Instagram @noel.nouveau.art
~Misty~
Please finish reading this post at: creativeinspirationsatmymessydesk for today’s #WORDNerdWednesday.
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