How is faith expressed?

[arunangelo]

Since God is love, to have faith in God is have faith in His love. Since faith is a force, it is always expressed in action. Therefore, when we have faith in God we will love others the way God loved us. If we believe that God loves us but we do not express the same love in our lives, then our faith is not alive (James 2:17). On the other hand if we put our faith into action it will set our heart on fire and grow within us. It will then propel us to go out of our way and spend every moment of our life to serve God by serving others. In this effort we will count no cost, expect no reward and accept any discomfort or peril that comes our way. It may seem impossible to have this type of faith. However, even if we have faith as small as a mustard seed it will grow mighty enough to move mountains (Luke 17:6).

[BroRog]

What makes you think that faith is a force?

[Kahtar]

What makes you think that faith is a force?

Perhaps you view faith as a mental concept, a mental affirmation?

[BroRog]

Perhaps you view faith as a mental concept, a mental affirmation?

Yes, Biblical faith is giving mental ascent to the truth.

[Kahtar]

Yes, Biblical faith is giving mental ascent to the truth.

Okay, and how, in your view, do works fit into the picture, or do they?

[BroRog]

Okay, and how, in your view, do works fit into the picture, or do they?

The Bible uses the term "works" in at least two ways. Paul uses the term to refer to religious rituals a Jewish person must perform in order to remain a covenant keeper in good standing. In Romans he argues that God is granting justification outside of that religious system, which means that God is granting justification and the forgiveness of sins to Gentiles as well as Jews. James, on the other hand, uses the term "works" to indicate "actions", which he says will demonstrate to him and others the credence of a person's faith. A person who has given mental ascent to the teachings of Jesus will act accordingly.

For instance, Jesus taught his disciples that they would be able to recognize each other by their love for each other. A disciple of Jesus will give mental ascent to the idea that Jesus' disciples should love each other. And those who put this love into practice indicate the genuineness of such a belief. James points out that if a person is not willing to help a brother in need, he questions whether such a person actually has faith.

[Kahtar]

So, with the exception of the 'force' thing, you are actually saying the same thing as Arunangelo. Perhaps he will shortly explain what he means by 'force'....................

[glf]

When the Lord calls a person to himself, usually in response to the prayers of one who is faithful and when that person answers the Lord's call, Jesus the author of our faith, plants a mustard seed of faith into the heart the repenting person who believes the Lord's word and calls upon Him for forgiveness. That touch by the power of God makes that belief to become faith. Faith is that form of believing which is only based upon God's word and always produces works or behavior meet to repentance in the person who turns to the Lord.
Just like any of our friends in this life, if we spend the time with someone that person can after a while become a best friend, so too with the Lord! The difference is that the Lord is found in His word by the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who illuminates the scriptures for those who have been born of the Spirit and take the time to put it into their minds, (Isa 28"9,10) "here a little, and there a little."
Jeremiah 31:31-34) The New Covenant changes the Old Covenant in that the Lord writes his commandments onto the tables of our hearts so that we will obey verses the OT people who broke their covenant. Now when we put God's word into our minds, the Holy Spirit, little by little, Makes those words to be Jesus to us, Spirit to spirit and we get to know him, more and more. (Rom10:17) Our faith is a product of the effect of God's word upon our hearts. (Jn17) We are sanctified by the Lord's word. (Eph5:26)Jesus cleanses the church by the Lord's word. (1Pet2:2) God's word is that spiritual food that makes us grow. (2Pet1:3,4) "According as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceedingly great and precious promises: that by these we might be partakes of the divine nature,"
The Holy Spirit uses the Lord's word to purify our consciences, little by little. We see sin more and more as Jesus does and the things that we once delighted in become points of conviction. In fact, the Holy Spirit will use our own guilt as a tool to set us free from the sin that does so easily beset us and if we're stubborn enough, we'll get to the place where the knowledge of how miserable we will become will give us the strength to say no to that sin. (2Cor7:11)"For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death." This process of change varies from person to person; some 30 fold, some 60 fold, and some 100 fold.
Add to this, (1Jn3:20-22) "If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things. If our heart condemn us not then we know that we have what we ask because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." One might say that a clear conscience empowers full power faith.
The proof of faith is the same as how we can tell if someone is saved, by their fruits. For example; in (2Pet1) we find that if add to our faith, virtue and to our virtue, knowledge and to our knowledge, temperance and to our temperance, patience and to our patience, godliness and to our godliness, brotherly kindness and to our brotherly kindness, charity and so if these qualities are in us and abound, we make sure of our calling and election: for it we do these things, we will never fall and an entrance shall be ministered unto us into the eternal kingdom, abundantly!

[Neanias]

I think one way is definitely rejoicing in the trials!

Also by surrender to God... If we really have faith in him, why could we not surrender?

[MoreMercy]

I think the answer to the titles question is quite simple:
Faith in Christ Jesus, and/or the Father is received by them and accounted to us when it is express by our personal obedience to their words. (all of their words)

For me it is that simple. And also, so very rewarding to us now even before we are restored to fellowship eternally with them.
If we are not rewarded daily now, then we either just do not recognize those rewards or we are not expressing faith in Christ Jesus's work done and/or expressing faith in/upon His and His Father's words. (all of them)

Well, it could get complicated and not so simple if we do not feed upon His words to know His words.
For those of us who cannot schedule time to feed/read/hear God's words, there are free online audio bibles found with google searches, just set your media player to loop and push the play button right before you lay down to rest or sleep.... Once His words are in us, the-His Holy Spirit should bring those words to our remembrance and/or amplify those words to us whenever He knows we need it. (if we abide in Him, and His word in us)


Build His Kingdom !


Father bless, and have mercy on us.

[episkopos]

Yes, Biblical faith is giving mental ascent to the truth.

LOL mental ascent! The puffing of the mind!

Mental assent has nothing to do with biblical faith.

[shepherdsword]

mental assent is the substance of things hoped for,it is the evidence of things unseen,by it the elders obtained a good report.


COME ON BroRog,if you miss this you miss the whole ballgame. Would you not agree the devils also have "mental assent"?

[BroRog]

mental assent is the substance of things hoped for,it is the evidence of things unseen,by it the elders obtained a good report.


COME ON BroRog,if you miss this you miss the whole ballgame. Would you not agree the devils also have "mental assent"?

Yes, the devils have mental assent, which is why salvation is based on more than faith.

[MoreMercy]

I am shocked !

Devils do not practice faith, they would not have become devils if they practiced it...
Devils practice knowledge, knowledge of God is not faith in God.
Salvation is based upon faith, active faith, producing faith, observable faith !


Father bless, and have mercy on all of us.

[BroRog]

I am shocked !

Devils do not practice faith, they would not have become devils if they practiced it...
Devils practice knowledge, knowledge of God is not faith in God.
Salvation is based on faith, active faith, producing faith, observable faith !


Father bless, and have mercy on all of us

Why are you shocked? Did I say that the devils practice faith? I don't think so. All I'm saying is that the Greek word for faith or belief is "mental ascent." If Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" and you believe that, you have faith.