Our Definition of “Faith” is Fragmented
If you go to the library and look for the “faith” section, you’ll find a bunch of doves and yoga poses. Society views “faith” as phony and obsolete, but even to Christians, it can feel vague and ambiguous.
So what is faith?
Our Fragmented Definition of “Faith”
We commonly think of “faith” as intellectual agreement.
For example, if someone tells me that humanity landed on the moon, and my brain agrees with that claim, then I “have faith” in that claim.
Defining faith as “intellectual agreement” might work for that example, but it causes problems when people think that intellectually agreeing with Jesus is all you need to do to go to heaven. Since Americans are culturally familiar with Christianity, they might think they are going to heaven if they intellectually agree with these kinds of claims:
God exists
Jesus is God
Jesus died on a cross
Jesus resurrected
Jesus is Lord
But the Bible makes it seem like intellectually accepting these kinds of claims is NOT enough to get you into heaven. For example, James says,
“You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”
—James 2:19 (ESV)
In this passage, James mocks people who think they’re saved just because they intellectually agree with Christian teachings. He points out that even demons intellectually agree with Christian teachings, yet demons don’t go to heaven.
Similarly, Jesus says,
“Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.”
—Matthew 7:21 (ESV)
According to this verse, there are people who intellectually agree with the fact that Jesus exists and is Lord, yet they will NOT get to experience eternal life. Even though they intellectually agree with Jesus, they don’t have the kind of faith that produces eternal life.
These kinds of verses lead me to think that the kind of faith we need to have in order to experience eternal life must be something MORE than just intellectual agreement.
Biblical Definition of “Faith”
So if faith can’t be defined as “intellectual agreement,” then what is it?
The Bible describes faith as dependence. Eternal life doesn’t come from accepting a list of claims about Jesus—it comes from depending on Jesus.
Related Articles:
How Does Faith Get Me Eternal Life?
Why Is Faith the Thing That Saves?
Real Faith Affects Our Actions