Dake Bible Discussion Board ⇒ What is faith?

[victoryword]

That was so sweet

However, I prefer the Bible's definition: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Heb. 11:1)

I know, that sounds a little too "metaphysical" for you, doesn't it?

Not at all however I do wonder if you understand it?

It has worked for me from a practical standpoint for nearly 30 years so certainly I have some understanding of it, though I am sure tht there are more depths of revelation concerning it that God can show me. On the other hand, the idea of faith is "just knowing God's will and obeying it" shows a lack of full understanding. Certainly faith begins with knowing the will of God and then acting on it, but sometimes the will of God is not made tangible and visible. Sometimes circumstances seem to go directly against what God has said so a person has to act on God's Word alone without any other evidence than the fact that God is faithful to do as He has said. That often means speaking (confessing) what God has said even when everything appears to contradict it.

This is the kind of stuff you often claim to be "metaphysical" teaching. This is what I claim to be Biblical faith teaching.

Did you even read what you wrote? God's will sometimes is not made tangible and visible so a person has to act on God's word alone. If you have God's word you have something tangible and visible.

You have regurgitated absolute philosophical nonsense.

I know exactly what I wrote. I wrote in sync with what God's Word itself says:

• Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb. 11:1)

If it is "not seen" then it is not "tangible" or "visible". Let us look again at God's Word:

• For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7)
  
  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (John 20:29)

"Words" themselves are not "tangible" or "visible". God's Word is to be taken and accepted as real apart from sight, or any visble or tangible evidence. If something is seen, there is no longer any requirement to have faith.

[Justaned]

That was so sweet

However, I prefer the Bible's definition: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Heb. 11:1)

I know, that sounds a little too "metaphysical" for you, doesn't it?

Not at all however I do wonder if you understand it?

It has worked for me from a practical standpoint for nearly 30 years so certainly I have some understanding of it, though I am sure tht there are more depths of revelation concerning it that God can show me. On the other hand, the idea of faith is "just knowing God's will and obeying it" shows a lack of full understanding. Certainly faith begins with knowing the will of God and then acting on it, but sometimes the will of God is not made tangible and visible. Sometimes circumstances seem to go directly against what God has said so a person has to act on God's Word alone without any other evidence than the fact that God is faithful to do as He has said. That often means speaking (confessing) what God has said even when everything appears to contradict it.

This is the kind of stuff you often claim to be "metaphysical" teaching. This is what I claim to be Biblical faith teaching.

Did you even read what you wrote? God's will sometimes is not made tangible and visible so a person has to act on God's word alone. If you have God's word you have something tangible and visible.

You have regurgitated absolute philosophical nonsense.

I know exactly what I wrote. I wrote in sync with what God's Word itself says:

• Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb. 11:1)

If it is "not seen" then it is not "tangible" or "visible". Let us look again at God's Word:

• For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7)
  
  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (John 20:29)

"Words" themselves are not "tangible" or "visible". God's Word is to be taken and accepted as real apart from sight, or any visble or tangible evidence. If something is seen, there is no longer any requirement to have faith.

I see God's word both in scripture and in my heart and it is both visible and tangible. I think I have discovered why you guys have faith in faith you really don't understand faith in God.

[victoryword]

I know exactly what I wrote. I wrote in sync with what God's Word itself says:

• Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb. 11:1)

If it is "not seen" then it is not "tangible" or "visible". Let us look again at God's Word:

• For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7)
  
  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (John 20:29)

"Words" themselves are not "tangible" or "visible". God's Word is to be taken and accepted as real apart from sight, or any visble or tangible evidence. If something is seen, there is no longer any requirement to have faith.

I see God's word both in scripture and in my heart and it is both visible and tangible. I think I have discovered why you guys have faith in faith you really don't understand faith in God.[/quote]

No. Actually you have Ed's word in your heart because you consistently ignore God's Word for your own philosophies.

[Justaned]

I know exactly what I wrote. I wrote in sync with what God's Word itself says:

• Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb. 11:1)

If it is "not seen" then it is not "tangible" or "visible". Let us look again at God's Word:

• For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7)
  
  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (John 20:29)

"Words" themselves are not "tangible" or "visible". God's Word is to be taken and accepted as real apart from sight, or any visble or tangible evidence. If something is seen, there is no longer any requirement to have faith.

I see God's word both in scripture and in my heart and it is both visible and tangible. I think I have discovered why you guys have faith in faith you really don't understand faith in God.

No. Actually you have Ed's word in your heart because you consistently ignore God's Word for your own philosophies.[/quote]

Actually I say the same thing about you. The difference my theology lines up with the Creeds and Doctrines that have been set in place in the Christian church for 2000 years. They were not invented in a Princeton Dorm room by an half baked meta-physicist that had some bad pepperoni on his pizza earlier that evening.

If you don't like the little boys definition of Faith perhaps you will be able to understand this one better.
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

And the fact we can not see them does not make them any less tangible, to those of us that believe and trust exclusively in God.

[Ironman]

Faith is the substance of reality before the tangable proof is evident.

macca

As all ways, right on target!

[Ironman]

That was so sweet

However, I prefer the Bible's definition: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Heb. 11:1)

I know, that sounds a little too "metaphysical" for you, doesn't it?

I know you never said that in anger, were you just being an infallible one?

Did you go to Bible collage, Seminary or divinity school? if so, Bible collage, Seminary or divinity school does not a Bible expert make.

You can be such a mongrel at times!

[Ironman]

VW wrote,

First you say;

"
I see God's word both in scripture and in my heart and it is both visible and tangible. I think I have discovered why you guys have faith in faith you really don't understand faith in God."

.

Then you say;

"Certainly faith begins with knowing the will of God and then acting on it, but sometimes the will of God is not made tangible and visible."

.

You speak double Dutch! Are you Catholic? If not, your going on like a Catholic priest, making out God is a mystery, His will is far geater than we can even begin to understand."

A God who does not make Himself clearly understood, then judges someone on the invisible and the intangible, is no God at all.

[Rocky]

Don't be quoting bible scripture about faith, Ed may get offended Next thing you know he will be accusing people of claiming authority over the devil, counting things that be not as though they were, moving mountains, having prayers answered, prospering, believing that God will meet every need of his children. Then the next thing you know people might start getting healed, and delivered from the sin nature, and claiming Victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil, and we cant have none of that it will be total anarchy, ANARCHY I tell ya!!

[victoryword]

Don't be quoting bible scripture about faith, Ed may get offended Next thing you know he will be accusing people of claiming authority over the devil, counting things that be not as though they were, moving mountains, having prayers answered, prospering, believing that God will meet every need of his children. Then the next thing you know people might start getting healed, and delivered from the sin nature, and claiming Victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil, and we cant have none of that it will be total anarchy, ANARCHY I tell ya!!

Yeah, it does get to the point that when Scripture is not the final say in a debate then the debate becomes nothing more than a match of wits (and even who hurl the most hurtful insults), which is often the case when debating with Ed and some others here.

[Justaned]

Don't be quoting bible scripture about faith, Ed may get offended Next thing you know he will be accusing people of claiming authority over the devil, counting things that be not as though they were, moving mountains, having prayers answered, prospering, believing that God will meet every need of his children. Then the next thing you know people might start getting healed, and delivered from the sin nature, and claiming Victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil, and we cant have none of that it will be total anarchy, ANARCHY I tell ya!!

Rocky
Classsic example of you attacking me instead of addressing the subject in debate. Now if I respond in kind you get all fussy about me picking on you. It is okay for you to say this about me but I can't say that about you.

Also let me say your comments about things I have said in the past prove you did not understand what I was saying nor that you have thought through to conclusion what you think you believe on the subjects.