Faith is a central theme throughout the Bible. Scripture tells us that faith is essential to pleasing God and receiving salvation. Here is an overview of some of the key things the Bible teaches about faith:
Faith comes from hearing God’s word
The Bible tells us that faith comes from hearing the message about Christ:
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Romans 10:17)
God’s word is the source of faith. As we read, study, and apply Scripture, our faith grows. Regularly being in God’s word builds our trust in Him.
We are saved by grace through faith
Ephesians 2:8-9 explains that our salvation is not through our own works but by grace through faith:
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
We cannot earn salvation. It is only by God’s grace, received through faith in Christ, that we are saved.
Faith pleases God
Hebrews 11:6 declares:
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
A life of faith brings joy to God’s heart. Trusting Him and living out that trust through obedience pleases Him.
Faith involves both belief and action
Genuine faith is more than just intellectual agreement. It also affects how we live. In James 2:14-26, the Bible stresses that faith must produce good works:
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? . . . In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:14, 17)
True faith leads to action and obedience. We live out our trust in God through submitting to Him.
The ‘hall of faith’ examples in Hebrews 11
Hebrews 11 recounts many heroes of the faith. This “hall of faith” passage cites example after example of people who trusted God:
“By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice…By faith Noah…By faith Abraham…By faith Moses…By faith the people passed through the Red Sea…By faith the walls of Jericho fell…By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac…” (Hebrews 11:4, 7, 8, 29, 30, 17)
This chapter encourages us to follow the example of men and women of faith who believed God. Their stories inspire our own faith.
Faith means trusting God even when we don’t understand
Often God calls us to obey Him even when it doesn’t make sense to us. Faith means walking in trust not sight. The Bible commends Abraham’s faith:
“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” (Romans 4:20-21)
Like Abraham, faith means clinging to God’s promises even when our situation seems hopeless.
Faith overcomes fear
When frightening things happen, faith in God gives us courage and strength. Psalm 56:3-4 expresses this:
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.”
Trusting in God allows us to overcome fears and have confidence to face difficulties.
God equips us with armor for the battle of faith
Ephesians 6:16 describes faith as a “shield” that protects us spiritually:
“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
Clinging to faith wards off the attacks Satan hurls at us. God gives us spiritual armor, including the “shield of faith,” so we can stand firm in the faith.
We walk by faith, not by sight
2 Corinthians 5:7 contains this well-known statement about faith:
“For we live by faith, not by sight.”
Faith means moving forward in obedience to God even when we can’t yet see the outcome. We trust God’s promises more than our own perceptions.
Prayer and worship strengthen faith
Developing intimacy with God through prayer and praise increases our faith. When we delight in Him, we grow in our trust of Him. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that diligently seeking God releases faith.
Faith is a fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 lists faith as one of the fruits produced in us by the Holy Spirit:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
God develops faith in us by His Spirit at work in our hearts and minds. The Holy Spirit grows faith from the inside out.
We are called to live by faith
2 Corinthians 5:7 encourages us to make faith a way of life:
“For we live by faith, not by sight.”
A life of faith impacts everything we do. Our actions, priorities, perspectives, and purpose stem from trusting God.
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for
Hebrews 11:1 gives a definition of faith:
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Through faith, we have certainty and conviction about the promises of God that we have not yet seen fulfilled. Faith makes God’s promises real to us even before we experience them fully.
We are justified by faith
The Bible emphasizes that righteousness comes through faith, not works. Romans 5:1 assures us:
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Our right standing before God comes through trusting in the sacrificial death of Jesus on our behalf, not through our own good deeds.
Without faith, we cannot please God
As Hebrews 11:6 expresses, faith is indispensable to relating to God:
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
We must have faith to connect with God. Attempting to live the Christian life without genuine trust in God falls short of what pleases Him.
Faith gives us access to God’s grace
Romans 5:2 explains that faith opens the door to experiencing God’s grace and power:
“Through [Jesus] we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
It is through putting our faith in Christ that we can enter into a relationship with God by His grace and walk in the hope of His promises.
Jesus is the author and perfecter of faith
According to Hebrews 12:2, Christ pioneered faith and exemplifies it fully:
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
Jesus embodied perfect trust in the Father. He initiates and develops our faith as we fix our eyes on Him.
Asking Jesus to increase our faith
Since faith is so important, it is wise to pray as the apostles did in Luke 17:5 – “Increase our faith!” Jesus graciously responds by giving us more faith as we turn to Him.
Faith is a gift from God
Romans 12:3 clarifies that God gives different measures of faith:
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”
God sovereignly distributes faith according to His will and wise purpose. We depend on Him to supply the faith we need.
Persevering in faith to the end
Hebrews 12:1-2 encourages us to run the race of faith with endurance:
“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
Genuine faith persists to the finish line. We demonstrate true trust in Christ by relying on Him day after day until the end.
The righteous will live by faith
Habakkuk 2:4, quoted in Romans 1:17 and other passages, contains this well-known statement:
“The righteous will live by his faith.”
Living by faith – trusting God and obeying Him daily – is the defining mark of the redeemed in Christ. Active faith marks a true believer.
In summary, the Bible teaches that faith is essential to the Christian life. We are saved by grace through faith. We please God and experience His blessings by trusting Him fully. Faith overcomes fear, produces action, perseveres to the end, and marks the life of the righteous. Jesus is the perfecter of faith. By the Holy Spirit, God develops faith in us as we seek Him in prayer and in His Word.
