Faith: A Practical Definition

What is faith? For many, faith is synonymous with religion – I am a follower of the Christian faith. Secular dictionaries define faith as a strong belief or conviction in “in something for which there is no proof.” How does the Bible define “faith?”

The word translated as “faith” in the Tanakh (Old Testament) is the Hebrew word “emunah.” It appears 108 times. Emunah means firmness, steadfastness, fidelity. It is the actions we take based on what we believe. “Emun” is a closely related Hebrew word which means, “to trust something is true.” Faith requires trust. Trust leads to obedience. Obedience leads to action.

The best-known passage on faith in the Tanakh is Habakkuk 2:4 “the righteous will live by their faith.” It teaches us that the evidence of our pursuit to live a righteous life (to live in obedience to what we believe) is the actions we take based on what we believe. The appearance of this verse three times in the New Testament (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38) demonstrates the importance of this truth. The righteous will live by actions that demonstrate what they believe.

The epistle of James gives a concrete example of actions that are motivated by what we believe. “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself” (James 2:14-17).

John the Baptist called on those professing to have repented of their sins to perform acts “in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8 and Luke 3:8). John then defines the behaviors that believers should demonstrate (Luke 3: 10-14). James echoes this when he says, “show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18).

Good works are not the basis of our salvation. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Good works are the evidence of our salvation. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

Jesus said, “If you love me keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Our “good works” are to love God with all our heart, soul and mind and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:34-40). The commandments in the Bible are the blueprint detailing how to love God and to love others. “This is the love of God that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” (1 John 5:3) Faith is love in action.