What is Faith? The word is used time and again dealing with life and God. Please let us look closer into the spiritual aspects of faith as discussed in the Bible.

What does Webster dictionary define faith as? "Complete trust or confidence."

The Greek word which is translated faith means to trust in, rely on, adhere to.

The New Testament of the Bible is written in the common Greek of 2000 years ago. Anytime one translates from one language to another there is never a complete conveyance of meaning. Cultures change, words over the years take on different meaning; this makes it important to make a study of what is meant in important doctrines.

Take the word "faith" in common Greek. The characters that spell out the Greek characters are not available here; if you want to see what they are look in a Bible concordance or dictionary.

It is interesting to note that in an English translation of the Bible the following occurs. When the Greek word is used as a noun; in an English translation it is translated as "faith". When used as a verb; this same Greek word is translated as the word "believe". Same Greek word, however; two different English words. In English the words are not completely equivalent.

There is no English word "faithing" for use as a verb. "Faithing" is not in the dictionary. "Faith" in the English language is not used as a verb. The translators used the word "believe" as the nearest equivalent.

Let me give an example. Suppose a Dad is in the water under the diving board in a swimming pool. His young daughter is standing on the board. Her Dad says "Jump and I will catch you! She sees and believes that here Dad is there ready to catch her. She only shows faith and trust when she jumps off the security of the board into his arms.

"Faith" requires action! "Faith" is "belief" in action.

James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.

16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.

Hebrews chapter 11 list the people that make up the Hall of Champions of Faith. Each one of those people by faith took action! They did not just believe it; they trusted to the point of taking action.

That brings us back to self examination. Are we acting out our belief in Jesus Christ?