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***How would you define "faith"?***

FAITH. The N.T. mentions three kinds of faith: demonic faith (Jam. 2:19), dead faith (Jam. 2:17-26), and saving faith (Ep. 2:8-9). Saving faith is described in Romans 4:9-25

9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
Gen 17:5

18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
Gen 15:5

19
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification

. Faith comes through hearing the Word of God (Ro. 10:17). Truths such as creation and salvation must be received by faith (He. 11:2). Without faith it is impossible to please God (He. 11:6).

***How would you define "belief"?***

BELIEVE. Man's part in salvation is to believe in Jesus Christ (Jn. 3:16; 6:28-29). What does this mean? In the English Bible, the Greek word commonly translated "believe" (pisteuo) is also translated "commit to one's trust" (Lk. 16:11; Jn. 2:24; Ro. 3:2; 1 Co. 9:17; Ga. 2:7; 1 Th. 2:4; 1 Ti. 1:11; Tit. 1:3). This is the basic meaning of believing in Christ. It means to commit myself to Him, to fully trust Him for salvation. It means to believe in such a way that I actually turn away from sin and idols and false religion to receive Jesus Christ as my only Lord and Savior.

Another Greek word translated believe or trust is peitho. It means to be confident, to be fully persuaded (Ro. 2:19; 8:38; 2 Co. 2:3; 2 Th. 3:4; 2 Ti. 1:12). This is the type of faith which is required for salvation. To be saved, a person must be fully persuaded that Jesus Christ is everything the Bible says He is. He must be confident that Jesus can and will save him from sin (He. 3:14).

This true Bible meaning of "believe" clarifies the problem of faith and works in salvation. It is faith alone, not works, which saves (Ro. 3:4; Ga. 2:3; Ep. 2:8-9; Tit. 3:3-7); but real Bible faith always results in a changed life and in good works (Ep. 2:10; Tit. 3:8; 2 Co. 5:17; 1 Jn. 3:1-3). Those who profess to believe in Christ, but whose lives remain unaffected by their profession, do not have the type of faith required for salvation.

True faith is based upon God's Word, the Bible (Ro. 10:17; He. 11). True faith is not a blind wish or uncertain hope. The lost man, for example, often believes everything will be all right with him after death no matter what religion he follows, because he "feels" that he is O.K. with God. This is blind faith. The Christian's faith, on the other hand, rests upon the sure Word of God (Jn. 20:30-31; Ac. 1:3). To have saving faith a person must hear and believe the words of the Bible concerning God's promises in Christ. To have daily, serving faith, a Christian must read the Bible often and believe its words. "So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Ro. 10:17).

BigMack