From the Greek noun pistis and the Greek verb pisteuo. It means "a firm persuasion; a conviction based upon hearing." It is also what is believed or the contents of one's belief, i.e., "Stand firm in the faith," (1 Corinthians 16:13). The main elements of faith in God and Christ and the Word of God are: (1) a firm conviction, or, a sure and firm and strong belief, which comes to one because of a demonstration or a sound argument (the Gospel), producing a full acknowledgement of God's revelation or Truth; (2) a personal surrender to Him; (3) a conduct, or, behavior, or, actions in one's life, brought about by one's surrender to God. When one's faith rests on God Himself, then all of God's promises and assurances and commands are taken on faith as a matter of course (one KNOWS that the promises will be fulfilled, the commands are just and for our good, etc.) and without question as to the trustworthiness of God. Faith comes by hearing (studying, learning) the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ, (Romans 10:17). Obedience comes from faith, (Romans 1:5). The righteous live by faith, (Romans 1:17). Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, (Romans 3:22). God's children have been justified through faith, (Romans 5:1; Galatians 2:16). Faith without deeds (works of service, or the action of service to God) is dead, (James 2:26). The child of God can resist the devil by standing firm in the faith, (1 Peter 5:8-9). The faith of the child of God overcomes the world, (1 John 5:1-5). Faith is the root of the Christian life. This faith is not the collection of Truths to be believed. That would be called "the faith," as in Jude 1:3: "Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith [the total body of God's promises, assurances, commands, etc., concerning the child of God, the church, Christian living, etc.--the message, or Good News, of God that is given to His children to guard, defend and spread to the world] that was once for all entrusted to the saints." Our God is a JUST (righteous) God. He gives to all people the ability to believe--to have a faith. And this faith, again, is not the collection of Truths that God has given us, but it is the God-given ability--the capacity that is in each person--to trust in Christ for salvation. The God-given Truths form "the faith"--all that faith in God and Christ represent--its revelation to us, its fulfillment, its guidance that leads to salvation, its teachings and admonitions to the church, its Truths to live by as we are IN Christ, and it's promises from God. This is also called "the TRUE faith." 1 Timothy 2:7: "And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle--I am telling the Truth, I am not lying--and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles."
(See also Baptize / Baptism / Baptizing, Confess / Confession, Obey / Obedience / Obedient, Repent / Repentance, Serve / Service / Serving, Truth / Truthful / Truthfully, Word....)
From the Greek word philos, meaning "loved, dear, friendly." One can only be a friend of Jesus by doing what He commands. In John 15:13-14, Jesus says, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command." One's ability to be a friend of Jesus is brought about because of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, opening up the way to be reconciled to God. One cannot atone for one's own sins. Jesus had to be the perfect atoning sacrifice for all sin. But one can receive the result of Jesus' atoning sacrifice--reconciliation with God. Reconciliation means that one is no longer an enemy of God, but has become a friend of God. This is done by doing what Jesus commands.
One can reject Christ and reconciliation with God--stay in the circumstance of being enemies of God--by being "a friend of the world". That is, one can love the world and hold it dear, thereby hating God. James 4:4-5 says, "You adulterous people [those who are spiritually unfaithful, who love the world rather than God], don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."
(See also Atone / Atonement / Atoning, Reconcile / Reconciliation, Righteous / Righteousness.)
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