The theme articles were originally written over 15 years ago for the original Bible Tour. Many of them, like the one below, will be updated over the coming year. This original article helps to restart the resource and I am grateful for it, but do keep checking them as you read through the Bible over the year as they will be refined and developed and further resources will be added.

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe  (Augustine)

‘The righteous will live by his faith’ (Habakkuk 2:4)

Throughout the Bible, faith is a continual theme in the dealings of God with his people. Faith is the basis and foundation for all that God does with and through his people. Faith can be likened to spiritual oxygen for every believer. It is essential to live our Christian life. 

Faith pleases God

The eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews chronicles the men and women of faith in the Old Testament and they emonstrate the power of living by faith. These people lived by faith in a Messiah who was still to come. They are commended in the Bible for living by faith. We live by faith in a Messiah, Jesus Christ, who has come – who died, rose again, and who poured out his Holy Spirit on his people. 

The writer of Hebrews exclaims:

‘Without faith it is impossible to please God’ – Hebrews 11:6

Faith is a fundamental and essential ingredient in our lives. There is no greater joy for a child than to please his father or mother. As God’s children, when we live by faith, it pleases our Father in heaven.

In an age obsessed with information, it is easy to think that we gain God’s approval and build our relationship with him on the basis of our knowledge of the Bible. It is certaily good to know about the Bible,but this knowledge is only effective when it comes with faith in God, and in his powerful Word. Faith brings power, life and the dynamic powerr of God’s truth iton our lives

What is faith?

The writer to the Hebrews gives us a concise and powerful definition:

‘Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see’ Hebrews 11:1

Faith is important because by it we are reminded that there is an unseen realm, the heavenly dimension. It reminds us that we are ‘citizens of heaven’ living on earth. It encourages us that we are ambassadors of the Kingdom living in this world by faith and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We come to Christ through faith, responding to his wonderful grace and kindness that leads us to repentance. This saving faith that we believe and confess (Romans 10:9) is expressed in our baptism in water and in receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Faith to live by

However, faith is never a one-off event or a feeling. It is a lifestyle of trusting God and believing his word.  Faith in Jesus Christ and his word is what God looks for in his people (Luke 18:8) and when he sees it, he responds.

Faith is linked to authority (Luke 7:9) and when we have faith we can move in authority. This may be demonstrated in signs, healings and miracles

Faith is like our spiritual muscle that grows and strengthens as we move in obedience to God’s Word. But, equally, however small we think our faith is, when we put it into action we can achieve great things. Jesus said that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, we can move mountains (Matthew 17:20).

We not only use faith for great miracles and exploits. We can and must build our lives upon faith. By faith, we can bring our offerings to God in response to his word, knowing that God will provide and meet all our needs, according to his riches in Christ.

By faith, we build and work out covenant love in marriages, relationships with our children, and between one another in the church community. By faith, we can read the Bible and stand on its promises. By faith, we can see the knowledge of the glory of the Lord covering the earth as the waters covers the sea.  By faith, we can see a glorious, radiant and powerful church prophetically announcing and advancing the Kingdom to all nations and cultures, and into every area of society.