Now faith is the substance (certainty) of things hoped for (the promises of God), the evidence (conviction) of things not seen. ^{Hebrews 11:1}

Faith defined.

Faith is confidence, trust, and conviction that what we believe is true. Our faith is believing the Word of God, which leads to submission to the lordship of Jesus Christ. Faith begins by hear God’s word; through it, we are justified and saved from his coming wrath

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ^{Romans 10:17}

What is it that the Word of God tells us to believe?

When we hear the Word of God, we hear some incredible things:

• Everyone is spiritually dead, an adversary to God, and headed to eternal damnation.
• God created and carried out an amazing plan to save us from Hell through a substitutionary sacrifice that needed innocent blood to pay for the sins of the guilty.
• God implanted himself in a teenage Jewish girl and was born Jesus Christ, who lived a flawless, sinless life.
• Jesus suffered a brutal death on the cross to substitutionally atone for our sins, then was raised from the dead.
• Only those who believe this will enter Heaven, and those who do not will spend eternity in the agony of Hell.

Who would believe this?

This incredible message is delivered through preaching by mortal men, maybe a sweaty evangelist in a $2,000 suit. We read scriptures written by a God we cannot see, hear, or touch, yet we are expected to believe or face a punishment so terrible it is beyond comprehension. Who in their right mind would believe any of this? Our intellect, rational reasoning, and culture lead us to dismiss this as nonsense and move on with our lives. And that is precisely what most choose to do.

The Miracle.

Jesus answered and said unto them, this is the work of God, that ye believe on him who he hath sent. ^{John 6:29}

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. ^{John 6:44}

But here is the miracle of faith: those who hear and believe the good news of Jesus Christ are drawn and empowered by God to do so. Faith is not something we produce ourselves. It is God who gives us faith, and it is God who brings our spirit to life. Salvation by faith is an unearned and undeserved gift from God’s grace and mercy; a gift that, by free will, we can choose to accept or reject.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ^{Ephesians 2:8}

The Substantiation of Our Faith

Through life’s trials and challenges, we find that answered prayers confirm, validate, and strengthen our belief that the object of our faith is real and that we are not running this race in vain.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. ^{John 15:7-8}

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. ^{James 5:16}

Recognizing God’s work in our lives is another powerful confirmation of our faith’s validity. God moves to guide our path and shape circumstances, and his work’s impact is clear in the life of a person with faith in Jesus.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. ^{Philippians 2:13}

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. ^{Psalm 32:8}

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. ^{Proverbs 3:5-6}

Fools for Christ

Our faith is visceral, and the secular world views Christians as naive, ignorant fools. However, we know that once the time for faith has passed, we will be proven wise, and the profane man will be exposed as a fool in his worldly intellect. God takes great pleasure in saving humble, trusting souls who believe despite the world’s wisdom.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.^{1st Corinthians 1:18-21}

Man Owns His Unbelief

The origin of faith is God. The origin of unbelief is free will, a heart hardened by the pursuit of worldly desires, and a conscience seared by the love of sin. It is humanity’s default to not believe the word of God.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ^{1st Corinthians 2:14}

 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ^{John 3:18}