What is Biblical Faith and Where Does It Come From?

If you asked a group of people if they had faith, many would say yes. That’s because we exercise faith every day without thinking much about it. You sit in a chair expecting it to hold you. You board a flight trusting the pilot is trained to get you there. But having that kind of faith does not automatically make you “spiritual” or a Christian. As believers, we stand on Biblical faith, rooted in the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is way more than having positive thinking, hoping for the best, or trying to “manifest” what we want.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” That means that Biblical faith is confidence in God, His character, His Word, and His promises. It is trusting God so confidently that what we cannot yet see shapes how we live right now.

So where does that kind of faith originate from?

Faith Begins with God

Biblical faith begins with God’s grace toward us. God acts first. He reveals Himself, gives us His Word and the gospel, and draws us toward Christ. Jesus said in John 6:44, “No one can come to me unless the Father draws them.” This means that God initiates, but He calls us to respond, to believe, trust, receive Christ, and follow Him.

Faith Becomes a Way of Living

Romans 10:17 says faith comes from hearing the Good News about Christ. As we hear and receive God’s Word, the Holy Spirit uses it to awaken and increase our faith. But faith also calls us to obedience. There are two Biblical stories that illustrate this point.

For example, in the Old Testament, Noah obeyed God and built an ark before he saw any rain. At Jericho, the Israelites followed God’s unconventional instructions to overtake the city and bring the walls down by marching around it for seven days while blowing ram’s horns, even though they could not see how this would allow them to possess the land. Both of these illustrations remind us that part of the process of faith is doing what God says even when we don’t understand. Faith believes. Faith trusts. Faith obeys. Faith acts. And faith perseveres.

Faith Keeps Its Eyes on Jesus

Hebrews 12:2 says, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith.” The story of the Apostle Peter walking on water is a great illustration of this because, as he kept walking on water, he kept his attention on Jesus. But when he took his eyes off

Christ and focused on the wind and waves around him, fear replaced faith, and he began to sink.

Sometimes, like Peter, we can find ourselves focusing on our circumstances instead of Jesus, but when we turn our focus back to Him, our perspective shifts from what is happening around us to Jesus. He is the One who controls all things, so He is the object and finisher of our faith.

Weekly Challenge

This week, remember that Biblical faith begins with God’s extension of grace toward us. So, how are you making room to spend time with Him so you can hear and receive His Word? Are you willing to believe and obey what God says even when you can’t see beyond your circumstances or understand what is happening?

Because remember this: you can never generate Biblical faith on your own. You must respond to God in faith, receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, obey His Word, and continue to keep your eyes focused on Him so you can victoriously navigate through life’s ups and downs!

Want to go deeper?

Watch Pastor Teresa's message, Unshakable Faith: The Origin of Faith on YouTube.

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