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What does it mean for a Christian to "have faith"?
What does it mean for a Christian to "have faith"?
By Paul's definition, it is 'to believe that Christ died, and was raised from the dead for you'; which he calls 'the faith'.
"put your trust in"...this will be demonstrated by your actions along with patiently waiting for that hope to be realized.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as 1) assured expectation of what is hoped for and 2) living convinced by evidence of realities we cannot see with our physical eyes.
For it to be "faith" it cannot be based on a false hope and still fit this definition, so it has to be based on some kernel of accurate knowledge to be legit.
Hebrews 11:4-40 relates specific examples of men and women of faith, and how their "having faith" gave them strength and courage even when they knew their hope would not be fully realized before they would die. These ones are still waiting for the resurrection that has not happened yet. When they do wake up they will be able to look back and around to see that all they were promised has been realized.
"In faith all of these died, although they did not receive the fulfillment of the promises; but they saw them from a distance and welcomed them and publicly declared that they were strangers and temporary residents in the land. For those who speak in such a way make it evident that they are earnestly seeking a place of their own. And yet, if they had kept remembering the place from which they had departed, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they are reaching out for a better place, that is, one belonging to heaven. Therefore, God is not ashamed of them, to be called on as their God, for he has prepared a place for them." - Hebrews 11:13-16
Do you think it's usually that we have faith that something specific will happen or work out, or can faith be a state of mind in a way?
It is said that what the human eye has never seen, the human ear has never heard, and the human mind has never imagined....that is what awaits those who love God.. God and the divine are beyond space and time as mortals understand it.....no mortal has ever seen God or Heaven, nor will they ever....so the one who is worthy of salvation is the one whose life is lived in faith loving God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength...all else will unfold naturally...
Do you think it's usually that we have faith that something specific will happen or work out, or can faith be a state of mind in a way?
By Paul's definition, it is 'to believe that Christ died, and was raised from the dead for you'; which he calls 'the faith'.
Having faith is accepting a determined dogma without the need to see evidence of this dogma being an.actual real fact, it's like a somewhat blind trust
"Faith is the assured expectation of what is hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities that are not seen...Moreover, without faith it is impossible to please God well, for whoever approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him." (Hebrews 11:1,6)What does it mean for a Christian to "have faith"?
Faith is acceptance that something is true or real without sufficient evidence to back it up.What does it mean for a Christian to "have faith"?
Of course there is subjective evidence of the Divine..but it is ineffable and thus beyond the understanding of the profane... The profane who have not experienced the 'calling' means they have not yet passed the test of worthiness....Faith is acceptance that something is true or real without sufficient evidence to back it up.
This is also based on subjective faith. It is merely an unsubstantiated claim. You BELIEVE that "the profane who have not experienced the 'calling' means they have not yet passed the test of worthiness". But, it is nothing more than your opinion on the subject. You have "faith" because you "accept it" without any supporting evidence.Of course there is subjective evidence of the Divine..but it is ineffable and thus beyond the understanding of the profane... The profane who have not experienced the 'calling' means they have not yet passed the test of worthiness....
Haha.....you are making a sweeping statement that disregards the broader implication of what faith actually means.. There are people whose faith in the Divine is based on belief alone...and who have not had any real subjective 'calling'....but then there are those whose faith is based on a subjective ineffable experience or calling that is evidence of the Divine, but not meant for anyone else, least of all the profane... What's that saying....oh yes....do not cast pearls before swine, less they trample them in mud and turn on you...This is also based on subjective faith. It is merely an unsubstantiated claim. You BELIEVE that "the profane who have not experienced the 'calling' means they have not yet passed the test of worthiness". But, it is nothing more than your opinion on the subject. You have "faith" because you "accept it" without any supporting evidence.
Faith is acceptance that something is true or real without sufficient evidence to back it up.
"Faith is the assured expectation of what is hoped for
People "have faith" all the time in non-spiritual matters. I have faith that the sun will rise in the east and set in the west each and every day. This is well-founded by observation and it effects how I make decisions in my everyday life. When I observe a close friend and get to know him, I develop faith that he will respond according to a set pattern consistent with his personality and values system. What I have faith in is his future responses following a set pattern. That faith is based on a shared history and my observing him. But my faith is in what is "unseen" because the future can not be seen with our literal eyes until it becomes the present. Likewise when I see an airplane flying overhead, I have faith that it had an intelligent designer. I have never seen that designer but I "know" he exists or existed. As I get to know more about airplanes, I come to have faith that someone refuels it. I have never seen this person, but I know he exists. These "unseen realities" may not have a large impact on everyday life, but they do help me construct a mental picture of what is real.
So to answer your question, it is a bit of both, but in both cases there are solid reasons for setting aside doubts and putting confidence in the promises of future realities and in unseen present-day realities.
When it comes to promises of God for future blessings, our faith becomes the title-deed to those future realities.
"Moreover, without faith it is impossible to please God well, for whoever approaches God must believe that he is (or "exists.") and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him." (Hebrews 11:6)