“Faith Defined”

In this first episode of our series of studies about the subject of faith, our discussion will revolve around the word “faith”.

We will find the best definition of faith, not in the dictionary but in the word of God itself, the Bible, the best reference book in all matters spiritual and in other aspects of life too.

Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

We can see two meanings from what we just read:

First is “assurance of things hoped for”.

Faith is one’s confidence — — one’s assurance to oneself — — that something which is not yet actually true as a tangible reality will surely come true as a tangible reality for the simple reason that that something has been true as a concept or notion from an indefinite period of time and is yet to be actualized.

We know that something is as good as true or as good as done although, at present, we can see zero trace of it in the horizon. We’re still hoping for it. Thus, when we claim God’s promises, we believe that God will fulfill His promises to us in the time of His choosing.

But hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees? (Romans 8:24b)

Right. Tell me who. That is why there is such thing as hope because hope is about something which is not yet real or present but which we hope to be real or present. We don’t see yet the things we hope for. If we already can, that’s no longer hope but materialization.

Second definition is “proof of things not seen”.

Faith is also one’s strong and solid conviction that something is true regardless of the latter’s intangible nature. A proof has to be tangible for it to be considered credible. A proof is an object or any kind of concrete thing that tells us that something is true without any shadow of doubt. But here, the epistle writer unhesitatingly declares faith to be a “proof” as if it is a concrete object because faith is not a concrete object.

It’s because consciousness of a Higher Being is inherent in man. Nobody taught a child to believe in God and yet he/she naturally does so. This consciousness can either be enhanced or snuffed out by the things that mold the child’s mind as he/she grows up. It can be the circumstances in the child’s life, the information that he/she is constantly fed, or both. If a mere consciousness of a Higher Being or a nominal belief in God can itself be called a proof because it is inherent in human beings, how much more true faith in the one true God.

People who have true faith in the one true God simply know that certain things are true although they can’t see them. Most especially, they simply know that God is true, that He exists, that He is there, that He created all things although they can’t see Him. Because that’s God’s very nature: invisible. Yet He is very true.

If there is a God, that God can’t be like anything else in the universe. He has to be but one. If He is more than one, then He becomes a lesser god. Because a true God cannot be divided or multiplied and does not share His essence to anyone else. He has to be superior in all sorts of ways and simply perfect and absolute. The most logical form He must have is that of immaterial. If God’s base form is material, then He becomes limited by a certain space in the universe; but God cannot be limited by space. The universe itself is limited but not God. Of course, God can take the form of an angel, a burning bush, fire and cloud, or a human being if He so wishes; but His natural essence is that of immaterial. Therefore, although God cannot be seen, that doesn’t make Him “not true”. God can be invisible and yet still be very true.

Let’s take for another example the composition of our material form as human beings. You know, doctors who are strict adherents to scientific procedure are simply amazed whenever they explore and talk about the human anatomy. They can’t help but rave about the wonders of the human body: the positioning of the organs, their interconnectedness to each other, their unique functions, and how they work aggressively to protect the body as a whole even if the possessor himself doesn’t think about them much. All these doctors sound the same when they conclude that such wonder as the human body can only originate from Someone higher than human beings themselves and be created by a Grand Designer with a very keen attention to detail.

That in itself makes faith a “proof”. Faith is the one that testifies to the things that are not seen, and there are a lot of things going on in the spiritual realm that are not visible to the naked eye. Faith is so true and so sure and so valid that the epistle writer calls it a “proof”. Faith as proof is at par with, if not above, other concrete proofs that people can use to convince others that something is true without a shadow of doubt. The testimony that faith makes is incredibly powerful.

But you might say, “But I don’t believe in things that I can’t see.” Okay, let’s address this:

Not everything in this life has to be visible. So far, we’ve overused the word “concrete”. What’s the antonym for concrete? Abstract! Abstract means things that are not perceivable by our senses of SIGHT, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Do these natural properties of abstract stuff make them untrue? Why is the word “abstract” even in our vocabulary if people, in general, don’t accept it as true?

So if our reasoning goes, “But I don’t believe in things that I can’t see,” then it’s as if we’re closing our minds already to abstract stuff which are as true as the concrete stuff.

That’s the very nature of faith. It deals with unseen things that are so true, so alive, and so functional. We don’t have to see those things to know that they are true. We just know that they are true. We are 100% convinced of it. If we can only believe in things that we can perceive by our five senses, then what do we need faith for? That’s why there is such thing as faith.

Also, those unseen things prove to be the more meaningful, amazing, and wonderful things in life that we can be conscious of and meditate upon. They enrich our soul, deepen our humanity, and make us better persons. They help us distinguish ourselves from beasts. Deeply imbedded in our inner being and properly learned, they sometimes subconsciously make us do amazing works, deeds, and feats that make a difference for the better.

Therefore, it is those things that we are recommended to pursue first and cultivate in ourselves. Just like in any profession, we study theory first before proceeding to actual practice. After gaining a considerable grasp of the underlying concepts and principles, we then proceed to applying them in real life and see whether they work or whether some of the theories have to be modified. We must first be proficient in the abstract before we can gain some level of competency in the actual concrete stuff. If we want to be better persons, we won’t despise fantabulous abstract concepts like faith in the one true God.

All of us can just rely on things we can readily see and are within our reach. Why not? It’s the most practical thing to do. But what’s so special about it? Those things we rely on are at best temporary and shallow. There is barely in them that can help us hone our inner qualities as human beings and elevate our humanity.

So through faith, we first believe in the one true God whom we don’t see; and second, we also believe in things that we don’t see: those meaningful, amazing, and wonderful things that are in the abstract category. We are encouraged to have our eyes, ears, and hearts open to them.

If we’re not a fan of abstract concepts, if we haven’t developed good thinking habits, if we haven’t spent considerable time meditating about life, if we don’t enjoy much thinking things through, how do you think we will fare when time comes when we would have to take a step of faith or be in a dilemma of some sort? Our judgment may turn out skewed and faulty, and we might get in serious trouble because of it.

Taking a step of faith, therefore, is not a dumb, stupid, and mindless exercise of will. We take a step of faith after carefully considering things, after thinking hard, after deliberating with a sure, resolute, and final decision. Taking a step of faith is not blind faith.

Likewise, faith in the one true God whose name is Yahweh is not blind faith. It’s a sensible, logical, intelligent kind of faith. It’s not something that people are just indoctrinated about; indoctrination can either be good or bad. But true faith in the one true God is a personal experience of our soul with God. When we put our faith in God, we are fully aware of what we’re doing and what we’re getting ourselves into.

It’s because God gave us minds. Do you think that our minds just came by themselves, at random? Did we suddenly just become “intelligent” life forms? So when it comes to faith in God, we are expected to exercise our brains the same way we are advised to exercise our muscles. God entrusted us with our minds, and we better be good stewards at it. It doesn’t matter whether we are naturally perceptive or not. God made us different. If we’re diligent in working and producing with our minds good things that glorify God, more wisdom and capabilities will be given to us. If we are lazy and we make a lot of excuses, our little yield will even be taken from us and will be given to hardworking servants.

As we need to move about to stay healthy, we also need to do some mental exertion to cultivate our faith in the one true God so that we can really attain advancement and growth in knowledge and wisdom. We are to question every information that we are being fed even from well-meaning ones. We are to be critical to every line of thought that we read and hear, process them, and determine whether they are sensible or not.

So with the minds that God gave us, we study our faith in God through the revelation that God gave us: the Bible. The Bible is so rich and profound that it never ceases to yield new insights to each passing generation in human history, to the ancient and to the modern. Our lifetimes may not even be enough to learn all of the Bible.

We are advised, first, to develop the habit of reading and studying the Bible regularly. Then we can benefit from the explanations and insights of gifted teachers, and we can ask them questions if we need to learn more or clarify things. We can engage in meaningful discourses about relevant topics from the word of God, and we can also share the results of our personal study so that not only we can learn but others can learn from us. We can also share our meaningful experiences with God, our testimonies of how He works in our lives in small and great things, with fellow believers. Those are just some of the healthy ways to grow in faith in God.

By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible (Hebrews 11:3).

Everything that now exists in the physical realm, from the vast planets to microscopic single-celled organisms, every form of matter from the largest to the tiniest, were originally non-existent until God spoke them into existence. The invisible God caused the visible matter to appear. The invisible created, handled, and arranged the visible. The things that are seen today were made out of things that are not seen and by the God whom we can’t see.

So we see here that the abstract actually transcends the concrete in the same way that theory oversee and guide practice and written laws guide and oversee the conduct of citizens in any society. We realize that the unseen things sometimes matters more than visible matters we are so fond of relying on.

So if the things that we can readily see are the only things that we believe, then it’s as if as we’re closing our minds already to things that are beyond the physical which may turn out to be the better things in life.

Study the Bible with me: Faith series, episode 1
by: Marven T. Baldo