Faith Science - The Mystery of Faith

• What is faith?

Merriam Webster Dictionary’s definition of the word faith is:
1. a) Allegiance to duty or a person: loyalty
b) (1) Fidelity to one’s promises (2): Sincerity of
intentions
2. a) (1): belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) Belief
in the traditional doctrines of a religion
b) (1): firm belief in something for which there is no
proof (2) Complete trust
3. Something that is believed especially with strong
conviction; especially: a system of religious beliefs

A quick glance at the secular definition of faith exposes one reason
why there is rampant confusion about what it really means. When
used in the Bible, the word faith is not “firm belief in something
for which there is no proof.” What is considered as “no proof ” is
described in the Bible as proof that is not naturally visible. The mere
fact that invisible proof is considered irrelevant in secular society
points to a major difference between the kingdom of God and the
system of the world.

The people of the world judge by what they see, but we judge by
the Word of God. Biblical faith is based on the evidence provided in
the Bible. According to 2 Corinthians 4:18, this is more reliable than
what can be seen in the natural. Everything seen in the Bible should
be defined by the Bible. Based on Hebrews 11:1 and Romans 10:17, a
proper definition of biblical faith is “complete trust in the invisible
evidence provided by the Word of God confirmed by commensurate
action.”

• How is faith increased?

The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our
faith.” The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a
mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be
uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it would obey you! When
a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does
his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? No, he says, ‘Prepare
my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you
can eat later.’ And does the master thank the servant for doing
what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when
you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who
have simply done our duty.’”
Luke 17:5–10 nlt

The disciples asked Jesus a simple question, and he gave them an
answer that was about as easy to interpret as other tongues. Why
didn’t he just say, “Do this and you’ll increase your faith”? Let’s now
ask God to show us the message behind this puzzle.

1. The meaning of the mustard seed parable.

The mustard seed story deals directly with the disciples’ request.
Jesus’s point was that if they used the faith they had properly, regardless
of its size, they would have been able to do the great things
they wanted to. Therefore, they didn’t need to ask him for any more.
What they had was enough!

As God’s messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest
in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how
much faith God has given you.
Romans 12:3 nlt

You have some level of faith. God gave you just enough to do what
he called you to do on this earth. However, if you aren’t getting all
that you need done, where is this faith that you already have? We’ll
take a look at that soon.

2. The meaning of the servant parable.

The servant parable is another eye-opener. Jesus said that it’s not
about increasing our faith to make things happen. It’s about doing
what God called us to do because that’s all that should matter. Our
most important search is for his will and not for the faith to manipulate
his hands. We must strive to do what he wants done because
we do not exist apart from that. As a result, once you find out what
God has called you to do at this moment, you will realize that the
measure of faith you have received already is just enough.
Therefore, what is this faith you already have?

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by
the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made
of things which do appear.
Hebrews 11:1–3 kjv

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of
God.
Romans 10:17 kjv

Your faith comes from the Word of God, which is the spiritual material
you need. Your belief in God’s Word is all the faith you need.
The more of the Word of God you feed yourself, the more effective
your faith becomes. Since we have access to the same Bible, we have
access to the same amount of faith. Still, you get out of faith what
you put into it. If you want your faith to be stronger and more effective,
you must feed it with more of the Word of God.