The Oxford dictionary defines faith
noun
- 1. complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
“this restores one’s faith in politicians” - Similar: trust, belief, confidence, conviction, credence, reliance, dependence, optimism, hopefulness, hope, expectation
- Opposite: mistrust
- 2. strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.
If we allow the world to define faith we will find ourselves severely limited in our ability to comprehend all that faith is and does in experiencing true faith. So many times in my past when people ask me “What faith are you?” they only want to discover what religious affiliations I have.
I will go with definition 1 complete trust and confidence is someone and that someone being Jesus Christ. Yet that statement is inadequate to explain the experience that is the result of placing my faith in Christ.
Placing my faith in Christ has an expected outcome similar to planting a seed in fertile ground. What we plant can only produce one tree, for man is like a tree planted by a river, which produces fruit of its own type. This I understand from Psalm 1:3 and Jeremiah 17:8 because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 10:17
The biblical experience is not confined to mere definitions and will not be kept in a box to be viewed in secret where no one else can see it or discover its power.
I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
The Word of Life
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.