Faith
We are saved by true faith. How do you know you have living faith?
James was adamant "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone... But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?... For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James 2:17-26
If there are no works or if you are doing contrary to the doctrines of Christ that is very strong evidence you do not have real faith. Fake faith saves no one.
Matthew 24:5 "For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Or Matthew 7:21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" Those guys clearly thought they had faith and works but must have been deceived, at least self-deceived. And then there is the whole Matthew 25:34-46. Those helping the brethren are in even though they did not know why until they were told and those not helping the brethren are out.
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)[1] was not merely what you think nor believe, but it was the compelling conviction of the truth that controlled your actions, which means of course if your deeds, e.g. your fruits, are not what should be expected then that faith is not true faith.[2]
Pistis (Πίστις)[1] 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.”
Belief vs Faith
Belief is defined as "a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing." It is the attitude that something is the case or true. In epistemology, philosophers use the term "belief" to refer to attitudes about the world which can be either true or false. To believe something is to take it to be true. The English word "belief only appears once in the Bible (KJV).[3] It is translated from the Greek word "pistis" translated 239 times as "faith".[1] All faith includes belief but not all belief includes faith.
On the other hand, we see that faith includes a "conviction of the truth"[1] and is defined as probity which is defined as "Complete and confirmed integrity; uprightness... Tried virtue or integrity; strict honesty; virtue; sincerity; high principle". Probity has been defined as: “Justice, honesty. A man of probity is one who loves justice and honesty, and who dislikes the contrary.” Belief may be what you consider to be true but it is not always "confirmed... Tried virtue."
Many people may say they believe Jesus is the Christ[4] or even think that they believe but are they honest in their belief? Do they do what Jesus said? Are they a doer of the word?[5]
The fruits of true faith is "probity" or the works of “Justice, honesty.” Faith in Christ will compel us to seek the kingdom of God and produce the righteousness of God to be seen in the actions of Christians. If the fruits of true faith draws us to good works and compels us away from being workers of iniquity, then Modern Christians would not be engaging in covetous practices pursuing the wages of unrighteousness, nor taking a bite out of one another through the exercising authority of men who merely call themselves benefactors, but would be practicing pure Religion through a daily ministration of charity like the early Church.
Religious Faith
Understanding that religion is simply the faithful 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. Understanding the Imperial Cult of Rome and the Christian conflict with Rome can bring a fuller understanding of the Faith of early Christians and what Baptism meant and how it changed their lives.
The word faith only appears twice in the Old Testament but over two hundred times in the New Testament. The words translated faith in the Old Testament is also translated "truth" and appears in many forms.[6]
That is similar to the word charity that does not even appear in the Old Testament. We know the Old Testament speaks of freewill offerings and the whole national government depended upon those offerings or sacrifices given to the Levites. In the New Testament we see the same concept of freewill offerings expressed as charity which is often translated love. Trusting in the perfect law of liberty and the way of charity and love is all about having faith and bearing the fruit of that faith which comes with repentance.
The base Hebrew word AlefMemNun[7] is only translated faith in Habakkuk.[8] It is commonly translated "believe". The word we see translated "faith" once in the Old Testament is AlefMemVavNunHey[9] is also translated "office" five times. In Habakkuk 1 God talks about "men as the fishes of the sea" and men who "deal treacherously" "catch them in their net..." and they "sacrifice unto their net... and their meat [is] plenteous" and therefore they will not "empty their net, and ... continually... slay the nations?"
The kingdom of God was taken from the Pharisees because they were not bearing fruit. They were not bearing fruit because they were making the word of God to none effect as workers of iniquity.
The Pharisees were condemned because they did not attend to the weightier matters and they did not attend to them because their intent was to serve themselves rather than the people. They made all kinds of rules and listed things to do but their intent was not based on the faith of Abraham or Moses which brought them into conflict with Christ.
The systems of the world use a mix of socialism and capitalism. But they also allow an exercising authority over both the bureaucratic stones of their altars/institutions and over the people. This is because of the intent of their hearts.
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 if we 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 of Him and The Way he taught His Disciples. And if you loved Him, you would be compelled by that love and faith to Keep the Commandments. Your society and community would become truly free, and it would be void of the elements of the world and the bondage of Egypt. You would not become merchandise as predicted by Peter, nor would you become a surety for debt nor would you curse children with that debt, in your own wantonness and sloth.
Real faith compels virtue by controlling what you do in matters of justice and honor.
Real faith causes you to keep the commandments and not covet your neighbor's goods. It would compel the people to do what Christ commanded.
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 if you are a Doer of His word. Otherwise your faith is a lie.
People who do not live by faith in Christ and His Way often live by force, biting one another.
People who do not live by faith often live by socialism and other Covetous Practices:
- "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith." (Habakkuk 2:4)
- "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17)
- "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith." (Galatians 3:11)
- "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." (Hebrews 10:38)
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>
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 4102 ~πίστις~ pistis \@pis’-tis\@ from 3982; TDNT-6:174,849; {See TDNT 634} n f AV-faith 239, assurance 1, believe + 1537 1, belief 1, them that believe 1, fidelity 1; 244
- 1) conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it
- 1a) relating to God
- 1a1) the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ
- 1b) relating to Christ
- 1b1) a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God
- 1c) the religious beliefs of Christians
- 1d) belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same
- 1a) relating to God
- 2) fidelity, faithfulness
- 2a) the character of one who can be relied on
- 1) conviction of the truth of anything, belief; in the NT of a conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, generally with the included idea of trust and holy fervour born of faith and joined with it
- ↑ 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.” - ↑ 2 Thessalonians 2:13 ¶ But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
- ↑ Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
- Luke 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
- ↑ Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
- Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
- Matthew 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
- Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
- Luke 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
- ↑ 0530‘emuwnah, 0529 ‘emuwn, 0539 ‘aman, 0540, 0541, 0542, 0543, 0544 all have to do with being faithful.
- ↑ 0539 ^ןמא^ ‘aman \@aw-man’\@ a primitive root AlefMemNun; v; AV-believe 44, assurance 1, faithful 20, sure 11, established 7, trust 5, verified 3, stedfast 2, continuance 2, father 2, bring up 4, nurse 2, be nursed 1, surely be 1, stand fast 1, fail 1, trusty 1; 108. The letters Alef Mem Nun also appear as 0540 0541 0542 0543 0544
- 1) to support, confirm, be faithful
- 1a) (Qal)
- 1a1) to support, confirm, be faithful, uphold, nourish
- 1a1a) foster-father (subst.)
- 1a1b) foster-mother, nurse
- 1a1c) pillars, supporters of the door
- 1a1) to support, confirm, be faithful, uphold, nourish
- 1b) (Niphal)
- 1b1) to be established, be faithful, be carried, make firm
- 1b1a) to be carried by a nurse
- 1b1b) made firm, sure, lasting
- 1b1c) confirmed, established, sure
- 1b1d) verified, confirmed
- 1b1e) reliable, faithful, trusty
- 1b1) to be established, be faithful, be carried, make firm
- 1c) (Hiphil)
- 1c1) to stand firm, to trust, to be certain, to believe in
- 1c1a) stand firm
- 1c1b) trust, believe
- 1c1) to stand firm, to trust, to be certain, to believe in
- 1a) (Qal)
- א Alef Father-Son- begin- The Paradox: God and Man - (ox bull) [strength, leader, first] (Numeric value: 1)
- מ ם Mem Fountain of water, a flow, a fountain of the Divine Wisdom [massive, overpower chaos] (Numeric value: 40)
- נ ן Nun Heir to the Throne, Aramaic fish in the Mem (fish moving in flowing waters) or in the Hebrew the Nun may mean the kingdom with a double Nun suggesting spiritual insight in two realms. [fish moving... Activity life] (Numeric value: 50)
- 1) to support, confirm, be faithful
- ↑ Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
- ↑ 0530 ^הנומא^ ‘emuwnah \@em-oo-naw’\@ or (shortened) ^הנמא^ ‘emunah \@em-oo-naw’\@ from 0529; n f; {See TWOT on 116 @@ "116e"} AV-faithfulness 18, truth 13, faithfully 5, office 5, faithful 3, faith 1, stability 1, steady 1, truly 1, verily 1; 49
- 1) firmness, fidelity, steadfastness, steadiness