Faith
The word for faith today can be defined as:
- "Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing; or the observance of an obligation from loyalty; or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement; or a belief not based on proof; or it may refer to a particular system of religious belief."
The English word faith appeared around 1200 AD from the Middle English feith, via Anglo-French fed. It is probably from Latin fidem and the accusative of fidēs meaning trust and fīdere meaning to trust.
The Greek word for faith (pistis) was not merely what you think nor believe but was the compelling conviction of the truth that controlled your actions, which means of course your deeds, e.g. your fruits, are not what should be expected then that faith is not true faith.[1]
Pistis (Πίστις) did not just mean you believed something to be true but it was the personification of good faith, trust and reliability. Greek rhetoric and Christian faith share the concepts of faith (pistis). So from the Greek point of view pistis or faith by its nature produced good or good works. It included the concept of probity which was synonymous with integrity, rectitude; uprightness; honesty, faith, honor.
Two hundred years ago the English word faith was defined as “Probity; good faith is the very soul of contracts. Faith also signifies confidence, belief; as, full faith and credit ought to be given to the acts of a magistrate while acting within his jurisdiction. Vide Bona fide.”
We see that faith is defined as probity. Probity was defined as “Justice, honesty. A man of probity is one who loves justice and honesty, and who dislikes the contrary.”
Understanding that religion and faith are simply the performance of duty to God and your fellow men—and NOT just what you think—overturns many of the modern religious doctrines. It also brings the nature of modern government and its politics into a new light and understanding.
There are many people who say they have faith in Jesus who was the Christ but for that to be true they would have to know the real Jesus Christ. If they did believe in the real Jesus they would find themselves compelled to adhere to the Doctrines of Jesus by that faith. If we are not doing what Christ said to do or are doing what he said made the word of God to none effect then the truth of our assumed faith comes into question and we may have need of repentance.
That trust in Jesus would include love and if you loved Him you would be compelled by that love and faith to Keep the Commandments.
Real faith compels virtue by controlling what you do in matters of justice and honor.
Real faith is our allegiance to what was called The Way. You are only a real Christian if you have repented and are following Christ and His Way and a Doer of His word. Otherwise your faith is a lie.
- Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
- Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
- Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
- Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
That Word You Use - Part 2 - Faith
What did the word Faith mean before it became just what people think?
http://www.hisholychurch.org/news/articles/ThatWord2nwv.php
Chapter 14. of the book The Covenants of the gods
Trust vs Faith
Audio http://keysofthekingdom.info/COG-14.mp3
Text http://www.hisholychurch.org/study/gods/cog14tvf.php
See more Forbidden Definitions
References
<references>
- ↑ Matthew 7:16 “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”
Matthew 7:20 “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”