Bible teachings on faith | 23 lessons for us

Bible teachings on faith include the following:

• Faith is the substance of things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1).
• Faith gives us an understanding of the creation process (Hebrews 11:3).
• Faith helps us give God an excellent offering (Hebrews 11:4).
• Faith caused Enoch to be taken away (Hebrews 11:5).
• Without faith, we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6).
• Faith can deliver us from destruction (Hebrews 11:7; Hebrews 11:31).
• Faith makes one a friend of God (Hebrews 11:8).
• Faith breaks bareness (Hebrews 11:11).
• Faith enables us to pass the tests that come our way (Hebrews 11:17–19).
• Faith helps us denounce worldliness (Hebrews 11:24–28).
• Faith helps us escape from our enemies (Hebrews 11:29).
• Faith can tame wild animals (Hebrews 11:33).
• Faith can resurrect the dead (Hebrews 11:35).
• The faith of a mustard seed can move mountains (Matthew 17:20).
• We should walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
• We are saved by faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9).
• The life we live in our present bodies is by faith (Galatians 2:20).
• Blessed are those who believe without seeing (John 20:29).
• Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17).
• All things are possible to him who believes (Mark 9:23).
• The testing of our faith produces perseverance (James 1:2–4).
• The prayer of faith brings healing to the sick (James 5:15).
• Our faith overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).

Let us expound on each one of these points with reference to the scriptures.

1. Faith is the substance of things hoped for

According to the Bible, faith is a substance, which means that it is TANGIBLE and can be seen or felt. That is why it is also referred to as the EVIDENCE of what is yet to manifest. This is according to Hebrews 11:1, that says

“Now faith is the SUBSTANCE of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things not seen.”

To understand what we mean by saying that faith can be SEEN or FELT, let us consider the story about the healing of a paralytic man by Jesus, as recorded in Mark 2:1–12. According to this story, Jesus was having a meeting in a house in Capernaum where many people were present. As such, there was no more room left to accommodate any more people inside.

Along came four men carrying a paralyzed man whom they wanted Jesus to heal. On seeing that they could not access Jesus by going through the door due to the huge crowd, the four men climbed to the roof of the house and uncovered it. Then they lowered the bed, carrying the paralytic man to the point where Jesus was.

This is the point where the Bible tells us this:

“When Jesus SAW THEIR FAITH, He said to the paralytic, ‘son, your sins are forgiven you.”

Jesus healed the paralytic because he SAW the faith, or determination, of the four men who brought him. This is evidenced by the extra mile they went through, climbing the roof, breaking through it, and lowering the paralytic man to the spot where Jesus was. To these men, neither the huge crowd nor the inaccessible door would deter them from delivering the sick person to where Jesus was.

So in this case, the Bible teaches us that we should have FAITH THAT CAN BE seen in order to get answers to our prayers.

2. Faith gives us an understanding of the creation process

Faith enables us to understand that God created the world through His word. Genesis 1:1 tells us that in the beginning the world was formless, void, and covered with darkness. It was not until God SPOKE that order came into existence.

According to John 1:1–5, the Word that created the world is actually Jesus Christ himself. In this scripture, John tells us that this Word was with God in the beginning, and that this Word was God. He continues to teach that through Him, ALL THINGS were MADE because in Him was life. Thus, this Word is life-giving.

In the book of Colossians 1:15–16, the Apostle Paul sheds more light on the role of the Word (Christ) in the creation process by saying this:

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, dominions, principalities, or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”

It thus requires faith to believe that God is the author of all creation.

However, scientists find this very difficult to accept because, according to the ‘evidence’ at their disposal, everything seen came about through the process of EVOLUTION. They vehemently reject the creation story because it cannot be ‘scientifically proven’.

3. Faith helps us give God an excellent offering

Faith enables us to comprehend the kind of offering that will please God. We learn this from the story of Cain and Abel as recorded in Genesis 3. A day came when these two brothers brought an offering to God. Cain offered to the LORD the fruit of the ground, while Abel offered the firstborn of his flock and their fat. The Bible tells us that God respected Abel’s offering and showed no respect to Cain’s offering. The question is, Why?

Hebrews 11:4 gives us the reason. It says

“By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts, and through it, being dead, he still speaks.”

The first two words in this verse tell us that Abel’s offering was accepted because it was OFFERED BY FAITH. This qualifies what we previously said, that is, WITHOUT FAITH, it is IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE God. Thus, when we offer our worship, our prayers, or our praise to God WITHOUT FAITH, God will not be PLEASED, and thus He won’t RESPECT our offering, just as was the case with Cain.

4. Faith caused Enoch to be taken away

According to Genesis 5:23–24, Enoch walked with God for three hundred and sixty-five years, and then God ‘took’ him away (raptured). Why did this happen? The answer is found in Hebrews 11:5. This is what it says:

“By faith, Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death and was not found, because God had taken Him; for before he was taken, he had this testimony, which pleased God.”

So God took Enoch away because he was PLEASED by his FAITH.

5. Without faith, you cannot please God

In Hebrews 11:6, the Bible tells us that FAITH PLEASES God. This is what the scripture says

“But WITHOUT faith, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

This scripture teaches us how to COME to God or how to APPROACH God. It says that when we come to Him, either in prayer or otherwise, we MUST COME BELIEVING that He is. In other words, we must believe in our hearts that He is God, ABLE to do what we are PETITIONING Him to do. It should never be lip service.

He must SEE this FAITH in our hearts. Without this, all our efforts, whether in prayer, praise, or worship, will be FRUITLESS.

This is why the Apostle James warns us against approaching God while harboring doubt in our hearts. He tells us that doubt will get us nothing from God. We read this in James 1:5-8

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. BUT LET HIM ASK IN FAITH, WITHOUT DOUBTING, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For LET NOT THAT MAN SUPPOSE THAT HE WILL RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM THE LORD; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Thus, it is our FAITH that PLEASES God, causing Him to release the answer to our prayer.

6. Faith can deliver us from destruction

Faith in God can deliver us from destruction in life-threatening situations. A good example is the case of Noah, who, together with his household, got delivered from the great flood that destroyed everything with the breath of life in the earth.

In the book of Genesis 6, the Bible tells us that the wickedness of man became so great that it bothered God. This is because the earth had become ‘corrupt and filled with violence, and all flesh had corrupted its way (Genesis 11–12). Because of this, God decided to destroy the earth, including man and beast.

However, the Bible says Noah was a just man who walked with God. Because of this, God decided to spare him from the destruction that was to befall the earth. So He instructed Noah to build an ark that would house him, his household, and some animals during the flood.

Noah’s faith is depicted by his obedience TO BUILD THE ark despite the fact that it had never before rained on the earth. This is in accordance with Genesis 2:4-6, that says

“This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, before any plant of the field was in the earth, before any herb of the field had grown. FOR THE LORD HAD NOT CAUSED IT TO RAIN ON THE EARTH, and there was no man to till the ground; but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.”  

Thus, despite the fact that he had never seen rain, Noah BELIEVED God and went ahead to build the ark.

As a result, Noah and all his household were saved from death, along with all the animals that got into the ark.

Hebrews 11:31 tells us that the harlot Rahab and her household were saved from the destruction that befell Jericho because she BELIEVED that the city had been delivered to the children of Israel. Consequently, she received the two spies sent by Joshua and saved their lives by hiding them on the roof of her house. The two spies paid back her kindness by telling Joshua about her, leading to her salvation during the fall of Jericho.

7. Faith makes one a friend of God

The Bible also teaches that your faith can please God so much that He becomes your friend. We know this because God became Abraham’s friend as a result of being impressed by his faith. Isaiah 41:8 says

“But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham, MY FRIEND.”

After his first encounter with God, Abraham’s entire life became a journey of faith, which saw him take actions that an otherwise FAITHLESS person would not.

Right from the moment God ‘called him out’ of his family to take a journey to an unknown land, to the waiting for the promised son, to the time he was tested to offer Isaac as a sacrifice to God, we see deeds of FAITH that truly endeared Abraham to God.

Hebrews 11:8 puts it this way:

“By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place that he would receive as an inheritance. And HE WENT OUT, NOT KNOWING WHERE HE WAS GOING. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

8. Faith breaks bareness

Though Sarah’s age was advanced, she BELIEVED God’s promise to her Husband that she would one day bear a child; and Isaac was BORN. This is according to Genesis 18:10–14. It says

“And He said, ‘I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.’ Sarah was listening through the tent door, which was behind him. NOW ABRAHAM AND SARAH WERE OLD, WELL ADVANCED IN AGE, AND SARAH HAD PASSED THE AGE OF CHILDBEARING. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, ‘After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?’ And the LORD said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old? Is ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.’’”

This teaches us that whatever situation of bareness we may be experiencing in our lives, if we keep trusting God for a breakthrough, it will surely come our way.

9. Faith enables us to pass tests that come our way

Faith enables us to pass the tests that come our way, as was the case with Abraham when God asked him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice to Him.

Without knowing that he was being tested, Abraham almost killed Isaac in order to honor God’s command. This is because he believed that even if Isaac were to die, God had the power to raise him up from the dead, in order to fulfill His promise that through Isaac, Abraham’s seed would become great. Due to his obedience, Abraham passed God’s test.

We read this in Hebrews 11:17–19, which says

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called,’ concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.”

10. Faith helps us denounce worldliness

Faith enables us to denounce the world and all that it has to offer in pursuit of eternal life. A good example in this case is Moses, who, after knowing his true identity, refused to partake of the pleasures offered at the pharaoh’s palace, choosing instead to hang out with his brethren, who were slaves.

This is according to Hebrews 11:24–28, which says

“By faith, Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.”

This rejection of worldliness by Moses is in line with what the Bible teaches in 1 John 2:15–17. In this text, the Apostle John teaches that we should desist from befriending the world or the things therein, which include the ‘lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life,’ all of which are passing away together with the world.

11. Faith helps us escape from the enemy

When the Tenth Plague struck the land of Egypt, all the firstborn, both men and beasts, died. Consequently, Pharaoh and his people let go of the children of Israel. However, the hearts of Pharaoh and his people afterwards became hardened again, and they pursued Israel.

When the children of Israel saw the army of Pharaoh in hot pursuit, they cried out to the LORD, who parted the waters of the Red Sea, thus providing an escape route for them. On seeing Israel escape right before their eyes, the Egyptians pursued them into the Red Sea, but unfortunately, the waters came back together and killed all of them (Exodus 14).

Thus, the children of Israel were able to escape from their enemies through faith. This is how Hebrews 11:29 puts it

“By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.”

As Christians, we face enemies of different kinds who are constantly seeking to destroy us. Consequently, if we keep faith in God, He is more than willing to provide us with an ‘escape route’ from these enemies, to the glory and honor of His name.

12. Faith can tame wild animals

The Bible also teaches that faith can keep wild animals from attacking us. The story of Daniel in the den of lions is a case in point. The Bible teaches that because of Daniel’s faithfulness in serving God, an angel of the LORD was dispatched to stop the lions from attacking and killing him. On the other hand, the moment his accusers and their families were thrown into the same den, the Bible tells us that not a single bone in them remained intact by the time they hit the bottom of the den (Daniel 6).

This story is captured in Hebrews 11:32–33 as follows:

“And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets, who THROUGH FAITH subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, STOPPED THE MOUTHS OF LIONS, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became valiant in battle, and turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”

13. Faith resurrects the dead

In Hebrews 11:35, the Bible teaches that, by faith, ‘women received their dead raised to life again’.  

In Luke 7:11–15, the widow of Nain got her son raised back to life because of her faith in Christ Jesus.

Through the faith of Mary and Martha in Jesus, Lazarus was raised back to life after having been dead for four days (John 11:1-44). This means that God’s unlimited power is always available to all who BELIEVE in Him. In fact, in Mark 9:23, the Bible says that ‘all things are possible to him who believes.’

14. The faith of a mustard seed can move mountains

Jesus taught that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible for us. This statement was occasioned by the inability of His disciples to cast a demon out of an epileptic man. This story is recorded in Matthew 17:14–21 as follows:

“And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him, saying, ‘Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.’

Then Jesus answered and said, ‘O FAITHLESS and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.’ And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the child was cured at that very hour.

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’

So Jesus said to them, Because of your UNBELIEF; for assuredly, I say to you, IF YOU HAVE FAITH AS A MUSTARD SEED, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.’”

From this passage, we learn that the reason most of us don’t get answers to our prayers is because of our unbelief, just like in the case of Jesus’ disciples. In other words, we fail to get answers to our requests because we are faithless and because the size of our faith is WAY smaller than the size of a mustard seed. However, Jesus introduced another dimension on how to deal with such STUBBORN SITUATIONS. He stated that in order to be successful, we need to combine our FAITH with PRAYER and FASTING.

15. We should walk by faith, not by sight

The Apostle Paul taught the brethren at Corinth to walk by faith and not by sight. In other words, he was imploring them to keep believing that upon their death, they would only be ‘absent from their physical body but present with the Lord’.

This is according to 2 Corinthians 5:6–8, which says

“So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord. FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

16. We are saved by faith in Christ

The Bible teaches that we are saved by faith. This is because, for one to get saved, he must BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God and that He shed His blood and died on the cross to save humanity from perishing.

Consequently, it is by BELIEVING in the finished work of Christ Jesus on the cross that we pass from death to life. This is why the Bible teaches that there is NOTHING WE CAN DO in order to earn salvation, because our WORKS amount to NOTHING.

In fact, in Isaiah 64:6, the Bible equates our WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS to ‘FILTHY RAGS’ that cannot save anyone.

17. The life we live in our present bodies is by faith

Though we became saved through BELIEVING in Christ Jesus, we are still held hostage in our corruptible bodies, which are at constant war with the Spirit. This is because, while the flesh is given to worldliness, including the ‘lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life,’ the spirit is given to Godliness and righteousness through Christ Jesus.

For this reason, Galatians 2:20 tells us that the life we live in our bodies as believers is by faith. The scripture says:

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

18. Blessed are those who believe without seeing

After the resurrection of Christ Jesus, He appeared to His disciples, who were gathered in a room with its doors shut. However, on this occasion, one of His disciples, Thomas, was absent. On being told of Jesus’ visitation by the other disciples, Thomas just could not believe them. He clearly stated that he would only believe after seeing the risen Christ with his own eyes.

A day came when the disciples were again gathered together in a closed room, and Jesus appeared to them. The good thing was that this time around, Thomas was present. Jesus then called Thomas to him so that he could touch Him to confirm that indeed He had been resurrected. Jesus then reprimanded him by saying it is better to believe without seeing (John 20:29).

Following were the words of Jesus to Thomas in John 20:29

“Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN AND YET HAVE BELIEVED.”

19. Faith comes by hearing

In Romans 10:17, the Bible teaches that faith ‘comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’

In other words, if you want to grow your faith as a believer, you must constantly expose yourself to the word of God, either through reading the Bible or listening to sermons. This can be achieved by establishing a daily routine of private Bible study or engaging in corporate Bible study with other believers.

We read this in Hebrews 10:24–25.

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much as you see the Day approaching.”

20. All things are possible to him who believes

The Bible also teaches that faith makes all things possible. We read this in Mark 9:23, which says

“Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM WHO BELIEVES.’”

As long as we put our trust in Christ, the Bible teaches that we can do ALL THINGS. In the book of Philippians 4:13, The Apostle Paul puts it this way:

“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”

It means that as long as we abide in Christ and Him in us, impossibilities will not be an option for us. These sentiments are also echoed in John 15:7-8, as follows:

“If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, YOU WILL ASK WHAT YOU DESIRE, AND IT SHALL BE DONE FOR YOU. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”

21. The testing of our faith produces perseverance

The Bible also teaches that occasionally our faith will be put to the test so that we may become perfect and complete. We read this in James 1:2–4, which says

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PATIENCE. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

The word perfect here is used in the context of Matthew 5:47, where Jesus says

“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

Jesus spoke these words after directing His disciples to love their enemies and treat them well without being vengeful. He said this because God the Father shows goodness and kindness to all men, whether good or evil. As we go through the testing of our faith, we learn to put our trust in God again and again until we overcome the instrument being used to test us.

22. The prayer of faith brings healing to the sick

The Bible also teaches that the prayer of faith can help cure a sick brother and cause God to forgive his sins. We read this in James 5:15 as follows:

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And THE PRAYER OF FAITH WILL SAVE THE SICK, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”

23. Our faith overcomes the world

Finally, the Bible teaches that the only thing that overcomes the world is OUR FAITH in the saving gospel of Christ. This is recorded in 1 John 5:4-5, that says

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And THIS IS THE VICTORY THAT HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD—OUR FAITH. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Therefore, those who believe in Christ are able to overcome worldliness, represented by ‘the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life’. Individuals who are not born again will always remain under the sway of these evils.

Titus teaches that it is by faith in the saving grace of Christ that believers are able to denounce worldliness. This is recorded in Titus 2:11 as follows:

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Conclusion

This article discussed Biblical teachings on faith. The article seeks to add to the already-existing body of knowledge about faith. It can also be used as a guide for teaching about faith by both Sunday school and Youth class teachers. For those who are used to the strong meat of the word, this is an additional resource to your arsenal of teachings on faith. As you read the article, compare the content with what the scriptures say in order to reinforce what you already know about the subject under discussion. I leave you with this Bible verse about faith, as recorded in the book of Romans 10:17, that says:

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

I hope the information was helpful. Thank you.

Related Post: Bible verse teaching about faith

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Prayer to become a born again Christian

“Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and hereby ask for your forgiveness;

I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that you are the only begotten Son of the living God;

I believe that you were sent of your Father to the earth to save sinners like me;

I now accept you as my personal Lord and Savior.

Come into my heart and baptize me with The Holy Spirit.

Thank you for saving me.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

Amen!”

Congratulations friend! You are now a born-again Christian!

Welcome to the Family of God!

Benediction

“The LORD bless you and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace.”

(Numbers 6:24-26)

Shalom.

Source: https://www.biblegateway.com/