Understanding Faith

The New Testament was written in Greek rather than English, and our english understanding of the word faith has been shaped by religion and society. Therefore to understand the word faith correctly, we must look to the language and usage of the word faith in the New Testament. The Greek word translated as 'faith' or 'faithfulness' is pistis, a noun, and 'faithful' or 'trustworthy' come from pistos, the adjective; 'believe' is pisteuo , the verb form. As we can see they all come from a common stem. In classical Greek all are related to trusting and that which is worthy of trust. And as much as trust can be a duty, the adjective pistos may carry the nuance of obedient. Pistos (faithful) is also used of those in contractual relationship and of husband and wife. (see TDNT 6:174)

From the associations of this word family it ought to be clear that much of the Christendom's concept of faith is bogus. For Roman Catholism, the Orthodox church, and much of Protestantism hold faith to be assensus, assent to a set of doctrines. This is not the faith of the New Testament.

This corrupted understanding of faith has effected our Bible translations. for example:

John 3:15 that whoever believes in Him may [not perish but] have eternal life.

Other translations read the same in regard to believe.Yet the Greek can be translated as:

everyone who commits [himself] to Him, or everyone who trusts in Him

The point being that pisteuo is not the acknowledgement of Christ, but trusting and confident commitment to Him. In other words, being a disciple of Jesus, hence:

"If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
"For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and take counsel whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks terms of peace.
"So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
(Luke 14:26-35 NAS)

Jesus is clearly calling for much more that assent to a set of doctrines, or even trust in the Bible or the atonement. He is calling for our total commitment to Himself, the kind of commitment required of a bride to her bridegroom. This is saving faith. This is what Jesus continues to demand. He may not require you to give up all your possession today, but would you if He did? He may not require you to leave your family today, but if it was required to remain faithful to Him, would you? You may not be nailed to a cross tomorrow, but if the choice was that or denying Christ, would you choose Christ even if it meant death on a cross? If you count your own life dearer than Christ, you cannot follow Him. And if He is the Way as He said, if you don't follow Him you can never come to the Father.

If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. (Romans 10:9,10 NAS)

Now don't think that Paul is saying that everyone who calls Jesus "Lord" will be saved. Jesus said that many will come to Him saying,

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'" (Matthew 7:21-23)

If Jesus is Lord, then you must obey Him. Those who do not practice obedience will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven regardless of what pastor so and so says, or theologian such and such. True faith brings about obedience. True faith brings repentance. True faith changes us from the inside out by the power of God. True faith is throwing yourself as a little child would into the arms of Jesus. And confession is not about calling Jesus "Lord" where it is popular to do so, but where it may bring scorn, mocking, persecution, or worse.

If you think I am being hard or going to far, I suggest you ask some brothers or sisters in China, or perhaps those living in a hard line muslim country about the cost of following Jesus.

"And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved." (Mark 13:13 NAS)

Please read Understanding Repentance