What Is Faith?

The Bible says that without faith we can't please God and that the goal of our faith is salvation.
God wants us to have living faith so we can grow in our relationship with Him. So what is faith,
and how do we receive it and grow in it?
Acts 8 tells the story of the Ethiopian eunuch, a high official under Queen Candace, who was
confused by what he was reading in the book of Isaiah. He believed the Bible and strove to follow
God's way, but he didn't yet understand about Jesus Christ. God sent Philip to explain more of
God's truth to him and to help him take the next steps in his relationship with God.
After reading the Messianic prophecy in Isaiah 53:7-8, the Ethiopian official asked Philip, "'I ask
you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?'
"Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.
"Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, 'See, here is
water. What hinders me from being baptized?'
"Then Philip said, 'If you believe with all your heart, you may.' And he answered and said, 'I
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God'" (Acts 8:34-37).
The Ethiopian eunuch demonstrated his beliefhis faithin our Savior Jesus Christ and was ready
for the next step in his growing relationship with God.

What Is Faith?
Faith is an essential part of our relationship with God. It is a prerequisite to beginning the
conversion process, which is a necessary step on the road to salvation and eternal life.
Without faith we can't please God (Hebrews 11:6), essentially because if we don't believe in Him
and believe Him, we won't really be trying to please Him! In the New Testament, both faith and
belief are generally translations of the Greek word pistis. People who live by faith as followers of
Jesus Christ are called "believers" (Acts 5:14).
"The main sense of the word 'faith' in the NT is that of trust or reliance... [Pistis] bears the sense
not of faithfulness alone, but of the reliance and trust that is the basis of man's faithfulness, i.e.,
the faithfulness that expresses confidence in the faithfulness of God" (International Standard Bible
Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, 1982, article, "Faith").
How does the Bible describe faith?
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith goes beyond what we can perceive with our physical senses, so it does not work by the rules
of science. Faith allows us to believe that the invisible God can do what is physically impossible. In
that sense, faith is built and grows on a spiritual plane, not a physical or scientific one. But that
doesn't mean observation, science and rational thinking aren't part of how we come to believe in
our miraculous Creator God in the first place. In fact, there is no contradiction or conflict between
godly faith and true science. After all, since God is the Creator of everything, science is the study
of God's creation.
Is our belief in God based on a rational foundation?

Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the
things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse...
1 Thessalonians 5:21
Test all things; hold fast what is good.
God's way is rational, and He wants us to test it out and prove that it works. But there is more to
faith than what we process in our rational brains. There is a spiritual and emotional component
that is a gift from God and grows as our relationship with God grows.
Who is the source of faith?
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
not of works, lest anyone should boast.
As we saw in the last lesson, our relationship with God starts with God. He calls us and opens our
minds to understanding and believing. That initial seed of faith is a gift of God and, as we will see
in a future lesson, faith is also a fruit that comes through using God's Holy Spirit.
What can we do if we don't have enough faith?
Mark 9:23-24
Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my
unbelief!"
Matthew 7:7
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."
Mark gives this poignant example of a father recognizing his lack of faith and asking for God's
help. God is pleased when we recognize our own inadequacy and seek His strength and
encouragement.
How do you grow in faith?
Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Hearing and studying the Word of God can help us see God's faithfulness in the past and His solid
promises for the future.
Is believing in God enough?
James 2:19
You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believeand tremble!
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is,
and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
God wants us to believe in Him. (For help in strengthening your belief in our Creator God, see our
booklet Life's Ultimate Question: Does God Exist?) God also wants us to believe what He says. (For
more on this, see Is the Bible True?) He wants us to diligently seek Him, which is done through
prayer, Bible study, meditation and fasting. (See these helpful articles: "The Privilege and Power of
Prayer", "Learn, Live and Love the Bible", "Meditation: What's on Your Mind?", "Fasting: A Spiritual
Power Tool!")

What did Jesus Christ tell us to believe?

Mark 1:14-15
Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of
God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in
the gospel."
Gospel means "good news," and the news about the return of Jesus Christ to set up God's utopian
Kingdom is the best news this troubled world can hear! When we believe the gospel, we will be
motivated to share this good news (Matthew 24:14; 28:19-20). (For more, see The Gospel of the
Kingdom.)
What did Jesus Christ tell us to do?
John 14:15
"If you love Me, keep My commandments."
When we believe what God says, we should do what God says. (For more, see The Ten
Commandments.)
What is dead faith?
Matthew 7:21
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does
the will of My Father in heaven."
James 2:20
But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Just calling Jesus our Master isn't enough, and just saying we have faith isn't enough. Our growing
belief in God will motivate us to strive to obey Godto do His will and obey His law.
What is living faith?
James 2:17-18
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someon
e will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will
show you my faith by my works.
Real, living faith motivates our actions. There is no conflict between James and Paul, as some
believe. When Paul said faith was a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8), he continued by saying we were
"created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in
them" (Ephesians 2:10).
When we believe in God and believe God, what will we be motivated to do?
Matthew 3:8
Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance...
Romans 2:4
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the
goodness of God leads you to repentance?
As we saw earlier in Mark 1:15, Jesus commanded us to repent and believe the gospel. God's
goodness leads us to this next step in turning our lives toward God. And as John the Baptist
mentioned, repentance also involves fruits, or changes in our lives. We will cover repentance in
more detail in the next lesson.

Basic Doctrines:
Faith Toward God
by Staff
Forerunner, "Bible Study," March 1999

We have studied all but one of the subjects the apostle Paul mentions in Hebrews 6:1-2 as
the fundamental doctrines of Christ: "faith toward God." Paul makes the point here that
Christians should not stall on the basic principles learned at the beginning of conversion. We
are to move forward to perfection or spiritual maturity and completeness.
How does "faith toward God" apply? Do we not constantly and continually need faith? Does
Paul intend that we somehow move beyond faith in our quest for maturity? Is there a
difference between "faith toward God" in our initial conversion and a more mature faith that
eventually supercedes it?
1. Is faith toward God something people are born with or learn? Mark 7:7; John 4:22; II
Timothy 3:5.
Comment: Many profess faith in God but do not even know Him! Their worship is vain, not
knowing who they worship and learning the doctrines of man, not God. A belief imparted by
parents or other authority figures that God exists is not sufficient to establish contact with
Him. For example, the Pharisees, familiar with the God of the Old Testament and believing
they were in good standing with Him, received Christ's rebuke that their faith was in vain.
This is true of most people today who think they "know the Lord" and profess faith toward
Him.
2. How do we find the real God and begin to have true faith? John 6:44; Deuteronomy 29:34; Romans 11:25-32; 10:12-15; I John 5:19-20.
Comment: Man cannot "find" God; only God can initiate a calling. The world, including most
of physical Israel, is consigned to unbelief until later in God's plan, yet most modern
Israelites would say they know God or believe in Him. Romans 10:12-15 describes how God
generally introduces people to Himself, though they may suppose they initiated contact with
Him by "calling on the name of the Lord." Men must hear of Him through a preacherand
one whom God has sent, not one that is self-proclaimed.
3. How can we know if a preacher and his message are of God? How can we have genuine
faith in a God proclaimed by a preacher? Romans 10:17; John 4:24; II John 9-10.

Comment: Faith comes by hearing the Word of God, the Bible. Unless the words spoken
conform to it, they are merely doctrines of men and do not reflect the true God, for those
that worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. This requires searching the Scripture as
the Bereans did to verify if the preacher's words are true (Acts 17:11). One cannot know the
true God unless one knows the truth of God.
4. How do we express faith toward God? How do we know our trust in Him is soundly based?
I John 3:22; Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:17-26.
Comment: Obedience and keeping the law are prerequisites to true, living faith. Without
obedience, faith is dead, worthless. By these few scriptures alone, we know that anyone who
says the law is done away has not yet made contact with the true God and has no basis for
faith toward Him!
5. What are some examples of this process in action? Acts 2:41-42; 8:27-38.
Comment: God sent true ministers to the people, who believed His words from their mouths
and obeyed the true doctrines. Seeing God's promises, they adopted the way of life that
leads to their fulfillment. By their daily actions, walking in the footsteps of the apostles and
Jesus Christ, they expressed living faith toward God, were baptized and received the earnest
of His Spirit toward salvation.
6. Is faith toward God all that He requires? Are we "once saved, always saved"? Is our faith
sufficient? Luke 18:7-8; 16:10-11; 19:17; James 1:6-8; 2:18-20, 26.
Comment: Since Christ questions whether even the elect will have the kind of faith He
requires, it should be obvious we must grow in faith. Our initial faith toward God has to
expand from a tender trust to full-blown conviction. Though we begin by being faithful in little
things, we begin to develop the absolute trust required to submit our lives to our Sovereign
and Provider without question, equivocation or wavering.
7. What if we do not have this kind of faith? Hebrews 10:31-39.
Comment: Paul admonishes us to look back to our calling and initial faith toward God,
including the early trials we faced. They should remind us that God indeed fulfills His
promises to us. Meanwhile, we must not draw back from the course we have set (Luke 9:62),
but live by faith.
8. Do we have examples of this kind of mature faith to follow? Hebrews 11:2, 39; Luke
21:15-18; Matthew 10:28; Hebrews 5:14.

Comment: At our calling we were excited about having found God and His truth. We may
have even thought we were ready to face the lion's den, crucifixion, the fiery furnace or
boiling oil. In retrospect, however, our failure to follow all God's instructions, our weakness in
trials, our impotence in tests of faith are mute testimony that our zealous, early faith, though
encouraging, was not the kind Christ is looking for in His elect. He seeks mature faith as we
see in these Christians of Hebrews 11. They were faithful in little and followed through when
everything was on the line. This is the mature, living, unwavering faith required for salvation
that allows us to please Him.
Have we reached the point where we do not fear those who can destroy the body, but He
who can destroy both body and soul? Do we practice this living faith in our daily walk? The
justthose who are righteousshall live by faith, and in doing so, will inherit the Kingdom of
God!

1999 Church of the Great God

PO Box 471846
Charlotte, NC 28247-1846
(803) 802-7075
Back to the top

Read
more:
http://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/BS/k/816/BasicDoctrines-Faith-Toward-God.htm#ixzz2KzFanuXQ

Faith Toward God

Hebrews 6:1-3 - Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ,
let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of
repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine
of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead,
and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit. [Emphasis
added are mine]
(It is recommended to read this link before continuing in this section. They are like two
sides of the same page.)

Faith What is it?

1. firm conviction, fully persuaded (belief)
2. a personal surrender to Him (an act)
3. a conduct inspired by such surrender (an act)
4. abandonment of self into the care of another (an act)
Defined faith is a fully persuaded belief that is ensued by action
coinciding with that belief. It is not simply a mental assent of knowledge
or truth. It is not simply agreeing with something that is true. Biblical
faith provokes that person to act upon that belief in some fashion and
allow it to dictate their actions. A synonym that I think is better suited to
the biblical definition of faith is the word trust. Trust has more of the
connotation of surrendering or abandoning ones self into the care of
another. Biblical faith is absolutely and undeniably active in nature and
expression.
Paul preached the gospel to the Jews and Gentiles. At one time he met
with the elders of the church and recounted his experiences and shared
this statement:

Acts 20:20,21 - And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto
you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from
house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks,
repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
[Emphasis added are mine]
Paul held nothing back that would be spiritually profitable. He taught,
publicly and from house to house that he visited, the message of
repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Identity of the Man Jesus Christ
The author of Hebrews states that one of the origins of the doctrine of
Christ is faith toward God. Paul preached faith toward our Lord Jesus
Christ. Is this a Contradiction? Was Paul misquoted? No, not at all. We
must remember that these recorded words are the inspired word of God,
not the mistakes of men's writings.
Let us look at the testimony and witness of the writers of the Old and New
Covenant to see that faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ is faith toward
God.
Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace. [Emphasis added are mine]
Isaiah prophesied of a child who would be born. This child would be
considered The mighty God, the everlasting Father. This scripture is
undoubtedly the prophecy concerning Jesus Christ. Jesus is our mighty
God and the Father eternal who was manifested in the flesh.
Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a
virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name
Immanuel. [Emphasis added are mine]
Isaiah prophesied of this same child in another instance and said they will
call Him Immanuel. We find in Matthew 1:23 that Immanuel (Emmanuel)

is interpreted as "God with us." The baby was considered God with us
even from His birth.
Let us look at Pauls testimonies identifying who Jesus Christ was to him:
I Timothy 3:16 - And without controversy great is the mystery of
godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, [Emphasis added are
mine]
Paul writing to Timothy explicitly declared that God manifested or
revealed Himself in the flesh. That flesh spoken of was the man Jesus
Christ.
II Corinthians 5:18,19 - And all things are of God, who hath reconciled
us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of
reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world
unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath
committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [Emphasis added are
mine]
Paul said to the Corinthians that, by Jesus Christ, we have been
reconciled to God. He clarifies that statement and clearly says how
because, God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself.
Colossians 2:9 - For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Paul said that in the body of the man Jesus Christ dwelt all the fullness of
the Godhead.
Colossians 1:15 - Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn
of every creature: [Emphasis added are mine]
Paul said Jesus was the image of the invisible God of Israel in the flesh.
No man can see God unless He makes Himself visible and perceivable in
some fashion. He made Himself visible and perceivable in the flesh. Thats
why Jesus said, He that hath seen me hath seen the Father (John 14:9).
Philippians 3:8 - Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have

suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may
win Christ, [Emphasis added are mine]
Paul confessed that Christ Jesus was his Lord. There is only one Lord
(Mark 12:29; I Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:5). Was Paul mistaken
again? Did Paul believe that he submitted himself to two Lords? God the
Father and Jesus His Son? Not according to Paul.
I Corinthians 12: 4-5 - Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same
Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which
worketh all in all. [Emphasis added are mine]
Paul addressed the diversity of gifts and said they are from the same
Spirit. He said there are differences of administrations of these gifts, but
they are still from the same Lord. There are diversity of operations, but it
is the same God that works in them all. Paul understood that there was
one God, who was and is the same Lord, who was and is the same Spirit
from the Old Covenant.
I Timothy 4:10 - For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach,
because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men,
specially of those that believe. [Emphasis added are mine]
Paul said to Timothy that, We trust in the living God, who is the Savior of
all men. Was Pauls God and Savior two different persons? Paul's God
was His Savior. His Savior was God.
Titus 1:3,4 - But hath in due times manifested his word through
preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment
of God our Saviour; To Titus, mine own son after the common faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ our Saviour. [Emphasis added are mine]
Paul testified to Titus that the Lord Jesus Christ was the our Savior! Are
we to believe that God our Savior, God the Father, and the Lord
Jesus Christ our Savior are 3 different people? Paul was writing of his
God, his Savior, and recognizing Him in His roles as God the Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ the Redeemer.

Titus 2:13 - Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of
the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; [Emphasis added are
mine]
Paul said in the same letter to Titus a little later that he was looking for
the glorious appearing of his great God and Savior - Jesus Christ!
Titus 3:4,6 - But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour
toward man appeared,...
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
[Emphasis added are mine]
Paul is not acknowledging two different persons. Paul is speaking of Him
in terms of His roles. The man Jesus Christ was none other than our God
and Savior come in the flesh.
Let us look at Peter's testimonies identifying who Jesus Christ was to him:
I Peter 1:1,11 - Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to
them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the
righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the
everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. [Emphasis
added are mine]
Was Peter misguided, deluded and deceived? He emphatically confesses
and claims that Jesus Christ is his God, Lord, and Savior. Peter is in
complete agreement with Paul on the identity of Jesus Christ.
Let us look at Thomas' testimony identifying who Jesus Christ was to him:
John 20:27,28 - Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and
behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side:
and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto
him, My Lord and my God. [Emphasis added are mine]
Thomas probably made the greatest statement of faith before receiving
the blessed Holy Spirit. Jesus was to him, My Lord and my God. Three
witnesses who testify that the true identity of Jesus Christ is God. Not

another God (god). Not a 2nd person of God (god), but God Himself
manifested in the flesh.
Let us look at John's testimony identifying who Jesus Christ was to him:
John 1:1,2 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
[Emphasis added are mine]
More properly translated and paraphrased this verse says that in the
beginning was the Word. Not only was the Word with God, but God was
the Word.
John 1:14 - And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)
full of grace and truth. [Emphasis added are mine]
Since God was the Word and the Word was made flesh, Paul was able to
say to Timothy, by revelation, that Jesus Christ was God in the flesh or
manifested (revealed) in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16).
Later John wrote a letter we call I John and in this letter he begins in very
much the same style as the gospel of John that he wrote:
I John 1:1,2 - That which was from the beginning, which we have
heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon,
and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was
manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you
that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested
unto us;) [Emphasis added are mine]
In this verse John starts with that which was from the beginning (just as
in the beginning was from John 1:1). That which he heard, saw, looked
upon and touched was/is the Word of life (also known as the Word
from John 1:1). This life was manifested (also known as the Word [of
Life] was made flesh from John 1:14 & I Timothy 3:16), and John states
that he saw the Word and witnessed that the Word dwelt among us (John
1:14).

Who was the Word (of Life) that John the apostle kept referring to in his
writings? In the beginning, was the Word, the Word was with God, and
God was the Word (of Life). The Word, who is God, manifested Himself in
the flesh. This manifestation in the flesh was Jesus the Messiah, the Son
of God.
I John 5:20 - And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given
us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in
him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God,
and eternal life. [Emphasis added are mine]
The final witness in agreement with Paul, Peter, and Thomas is John. John
testifies with emphatic agreement that Jesus Christ is the true God and
eternal life.
Lets read what Jesus said to the Pharisees who would not believe that
Jesus was who He said he was.
John 8:23,24,39-41,44,47 - And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath;
I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said
therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not
that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith
unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of
Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth,
which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of
your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we
have one Father, even God.
(Jesus speaking) - Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of
your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and
abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not,
because ye are not of God. [Emphasis added are mine]
The identification of Jesus is undeniable. He said to the Pharisees that if
they would not believe that He was who He said He was that they would
die in their sins. They tried to rely on their earthly heritage for salvation
by saying Abraham was their father. Jesus rebuked them for that for they

did not follow the example of Abraham in doing his works (obeying the
voice of God) and if they were Abrahams true children (of the seed of
faith) they would have accepted what Jesus said and believed. Then the
Pharisees said that they had one father who was God. If their father truly
was God they would have heeded Jesus' words because he that is of God
hears His voice and Jesus was the express voice of God. The Pharisees did
not hear or heed the voice of God in Jesus and proved that their true
father was the devil and so did the lusts of their father.
Jesus showed a very important principle in familial relationships. Children
do the will of their father. Children of God do the will of God and children
of the devil (disobedience) do the will of the devil.
The Mediator the Man Christ Jesus
I Timothy 2:5 - For there is one God, and one mediator between God and
men, the man Christ Jesus; [Emphasis added are mine]
God has made the man Jesus Christ the mediator. Jesus Christ is the
mediator, the one who restores and reconciles man to God. A mere
mortal man could not have thought of such a thing, let alone have the
power and ability to do such a magnificent and wonderful thing for man.
Only God could have done such a thing, and He did it through the man
Jesus Christ.
Man cannot approach God or see Him, and indeed no man has seen God
(I John 4:12). However, we can approach God through mediation. David
Huston, a pastor and author, writes in his article entitled The Water and
the Tree,
Speaking to His apostles as the Mediator between God and men,
Jesus declared, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through Me (John 14:6). Throughout the
ages, people have attempted to come to God through many
pathways, but according to the Bible, a person can only come to

God by way of the Mediator, the Man Christ Jesus. As Peter

explained, Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the
unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the
flesh but made alive by the Spirit (I Peter 3:18).
The God of the Old Covenant, also known as the Father, is Jesus our God
and Savior. Jesus is the door and portal and by faith in Him we can have
access to the riches of the kingdom of God and eternal life. This is the
God whom the apostles preached. This is the God whom I preach.
By putting our faith in Jesus Christ, we testify that our reliance and trust
is in God.
Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ:
We are justified by that faith in Jesus and now find everlasting peace with
God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 3:26 - For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ
Jesus. [Emphasis added are mine]
By our faith in Jesus Christ we are now the children of God.
Are we to keep our faith in God, as the Pharisees so thought, separate
and apart from Jesus Christ?
Revelation 14:12 - Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that
keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. [Emphasis
added are mine]
According to our God, Jesus Christ, we are to keep the faith of Jesus. The
"faith of Jesus" is a complete surrender to God. Our willingness to be
abandoned into His hands is what sets us apart from all men who do not
put their trust in God. "Walking in the Spirit" or "Walking by faith" means
that our lives and bodies are presented before Him, for Him to live
through us. Just as the man Jesus Christ surrendered himself willingly to

the Spirit of God to accomplish the Father's will, so are we expected to

trust in God in that very same manner.
Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
In conclusion, faith toward God is believing that Jesus Christ was who He
said He was - the Father - God Himself come in the flesh. Following that
belief is your conscious and willful act of surrendering yourself and
completely abandoning yourself into His care and following after Him.