Feb 27, 2026 6 min read Back to Basics: Christian living

Living Faith: Understanding Faith - Part One

Moving Beyond Belief to Action!

Introduction

Welcome to our five-part series on Living Faith, where we will explore one of the most vital aspects of the Christian life—faith that transforms belief into action. In a world where many claim to have faith, yet their lives remain unchanged, we must ask ourselves: what does genuine, living faith look like?

Throughout this series, we will journey together through the essential elements of authentic Christian faith. We'll discover that true faith is far more than intellectual agreement with theological propositions; it is a dynamic, life-changing force that shapes our decisions, our relationships, and our eternal destiny.

Each instalment builds upon the previous one, creating a comprehensive understanding of what it means to live by faith. Whether you're a new believer seeking to understand the basics or a mature Christian desiring to deepen your walk with God, this series will challenge and encourage you to move beyond passive belief into active, vibrant faith.

Jesus said, "According to your faith be it unto you" (Matthew 9:29, KJV). The measure of faith we exercise directly impacts the spiritual fruit we bear and the effectiveness of our Christian witness. It's time to examine our faith honestly and allow God to develop within us the kind of living faith that honours Him and transforms our world.

Let's begin this journey together, asking the Holy Spirit to illuminate our hearts and minds as we discover what it truly means to live by faith…

Understanding Faith: The Foundation of Christian Living

Faith stands as the cornerstone of the Christian life, yet it remains one of the most misunderstood concepts among believers today. Many confuse faith with mere intellectual assent to religious propositions, reducing it to a mental exercise rather than recognising it as a transformative force that reshapes every aspect of our existence. To truly understand faith, we must move beyond superficial definitions and explore its biblical depth, discovering that genuine faith encompasses trust, hope, conviction, and personal transformation.

What Faith Truly Is

The Bible provides us with perhaps the most comprehensive definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" . This profound statement reveals that faith is not wishful thinking or blind optimism. Rather, it is the very substance—the foundational reality—that gives weight to our hopes. Faith transforms our expectations from mere desires into confident assurance.

Faith also serves as evidence. Just as a court requires evidence to establish truth, faith provides spiritual evidence of realities that transcend our physical senses. We cannot see God with our natural eyes, yet faith gives us certainty of His existence and character. As the apostle Paul declares, "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7, KJV). This means that faith becomes our guiding principle, directing our steps even when circumstances obscure our vision.

Faith Distinguished from Mere Belief

One of the most critical distinctions we must make is between faith and mere belief. James addresses this directly when he writes, "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:19, KJV). Even demons possess intellectual belief in God's existence, yet they certainly do not exercise saving faith. This stark reality should challenge us to examine whether our faith extends beyond mental agreement.

True faith involves the whole person—mind, will, and emotions. It engages our intellect as we understand biblical truth, but it doesn't stop there. It captures our will as we choose to trust God's promises and obey His commands. It touches our emotions as we experience the reality of His presence and love. This comprehensive engagement distinguishes living faith from dead belief.

The Trust Element of Faith

At its heart, faith is fundamentally about trust. When the Bible speaks of believing in Christ, it means placing complete confidence in Him, not merely acknowledging His historical existence. Consider Abraham, the father of faith, who "believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness" (Genesis 15:6, KJV). Abraham's faith wasn't passive agreement; it was active trust that led him to leave his homeland and follow God into the unknown.

Trust implies relationship. We cannot truly trust someone we do not know. This is why Jesus emphasised, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (John 17:3, KJV). Faith develops as we grow in our personal knowledge of God through His Word, prayer, and experience. The deeper our relationship with Him, the stronger our trust becomes.

Hope as an Essential Component

Biblical faith is inseparable from hope. Romans 8:24-25 (KJV) tells us, "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it". This hope is not uncertain optimism but confident expectation based on God's faithful character and promises.

Hope gives faith its forward-looking dimension. Whilst faith trusts God in the present moment, hope anticipates His faithfulness in the future. Peter describes believers as those who "by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God" (1 Peter 1:21, KJV). Our faith rests on historical facts—Christ's death and resurrection—whilst our hope reaches toward eternal realities yet to be fully revealed.

Conviction: The Unwavering Nature of Faith

True faith carries deep conviction. It is not easily swayed by circumstances or popular opinion. Paul exemplifies this when he declares, "For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day" (2 Timothy 1:12, KJV). This conviction comes from personal encounter with God and grows stronger through testing.

Conviction means we stand firm even when faith is challenged. Job, despite losing everything, maintained his conviction: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him" (Job 13:15, KJV). This unshakeable confidence doesn't deny difficulties but transcends them, anchored in the unchanging nature of God Himself.

Faith as Personal Transformation

Perhaps most significantly, genuine faith transforms us from the inside out. Paul writes, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17, KJV). Faith doesn't merely add religious practices to our existing lives; it fundamentally changes who we are.

This transformative power works progressively as we continue in faith. Peter encourages believers to "add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity" (2 Peter 1:5-7, KJV). Faith initiates a lifelong journey of spiritual growth and character development.

The Source & Object of Faith

We must remember that even faith itself is a gift from God. Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV) declares, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" . We cannot manufacture saving faith through human effort; it comes from God's gracious initiative in our lives.

Furthermore, our faith must have the proper object. Jesus Christ is both the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2, KJV). He doesn't merely inspire faith; He is the One in whom we place our faith. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12, KJV).

Understanding faith correctly lays the foundation for everything else in the Christian life. It is not passive belief but active trust; not mere intellectual agreement but whole-person engagement; not static assent but dynamic transformation. As we grasp these truths, we position ourselves to develop the kind of living faith that pleases God and changes our world.

Let us heed the words of Jesus: "According to your faith be it unto you" (Matthew 9:29, KJV). The quality and depth of our faith directly impacts our spiritual fruitfulness. May we pursue genuine, biblical faith that trusts completely, hopes confidently, stands with conviction, and transforms us progressively into the image of Christ…

Key Takeaways:

Faith is substance and evidence: Biblical faith is not wishful thinking but the very foundation that gives reality to our hopes and provides evidence of unseen spiritual truths (Hebrews 11:1 KJV).
Faith goes beyond belief: Whilst demons believe in God's existence, they lack saving faith. True faith engages our mind, will, and emotions—not just intellectual agreement (James 2:19 KJV).
Faith is fundamentally trust: Biblical faith means placing complete confidence in God, not merely acknowledging facts. It develops through relationship and grows deeper as we know Him better (Genesis 15:6 KJV, John 17:3 KJV).
Faith includes confident hope: Our faith trusts God in the present whilst our hope confidently anticipates His faithfulness in the future, based on His unchanging character (Romans 8:24-25 KJV, 1 Peter 1:21 KJV).
Faith brings unwavering conviction: Genuine faith stands firm through trials and challenges, anchored in God's unchanging nature rather than shifting circumstances (2 Timothy 1:12 KJV, Job 13:15 KJV).
Faith transforms us completely: True faith doesn't just add religious practices to our lives—it fundamentally changes who we are from the inside out, creating new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV, 2 Peter 1:5-7 KJV).
Faith is God's gift with Christ as its object: We cannot manufacture saving faith ourselves—it is God's gracious gift. Jesus Christ is both the source and proper object of our faith (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV, Hebrews 12:2 KJV, Acts 4:12 KJV).
Faith determines our spiritual fruitfulness: The quality and depth of our faith directly impacts our effectiveness in the Christian life. Jesus said, "According to your faith be it unto you" (Matthew 9:29 KJV).