What is Faith?

There is debate as to whether there really is such a thing as a one-sided coin. There is no debate regarding faith being one-sided; there’s no such thing.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

faith is
substance of things hoped for
evidence of things not seen

KJB Definition – Faith: A compound substance of hope and evidence.

Consciously or subconsciously, faith is an integral part of life 24/7. We go to bed trusting that in the morning the earth will still be rotating on its axis and that the sun will rise.

Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Through faith
we understand

Psalm 19:1-2 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

Day unto day uttereth speech
night unto night sheweth knowledge

Always Two Sides

Merited

Faith comes into play in the daily routine of life. Following are a few examples and how there’s always two sides to faith.

Though we live in somewhat of a throw-away society, as consumers we usually put some thought process into the products or services we purchase. This would range from buying homes to vehicles on down through to appliances, groceries, clothing and things for consumption, personal needs and health care. The question, always in the back of our minds, is can we rely on the quality of this product to serve the need for which it was acquired? On the flip side, products and services usually come with warranties and labels with expectations or limitations of the user regarding their product or service. In other words, we the consumer, purchase something with our expectations and the provider provides us with a product or service with their expectations. We put faith in a product, but don’t break it! It may or may not be covered under warranty? Lawyers wait in the background, on the side of both the consumer and provider, if expectations aren’t met on either side.

Faith is the substance in relying on relationships regardless it be family, friends, coworkers, bosses, employees, or anybody else we happen to run into on a daily basis. There is a tendency, by most of us, to think the best of others though some have little to no trust outside of themselves. Couples enter into a marriage or relationship with expectations of each other being faithful and when trust is broken there are consequences. A strong household is built upon the principle of faithfulness extending back and forth between parents and children. Again, this principle can be applied to anyone from family to friends on down to a casual encounter with someone on the street or in a grocery store. We should expect to be able to trust the cashier behind the cash register… correct?

Another demonstration of faith is that we would like to be able to trust the policies that have been put into place for us ranging from federal to state to local governments and from banking to educational institutions. Whether you’re self-employed or work for someone else, policies are put in place, supposedly, for the benefit of both the employee and employer regardless if it is a large corporation or a small business. There are expectations of trust and consequences on both sides of all policies.

Faith comes into play regarding creeds or religion we adhere to and convictions adopted to guide our lives. One’s embracing of a particular creed, religion or denomination, inherits the ‘faith’ of that particular creed, religion or denomination. Christianity, Islam and Buddhism are classified as ‘faiths’. General reference is made discerning between the Catholic faith and Protestant faith. Each denomination has its own set of by-laws and doctrinal statements. Certain creeds, religions and denominations demand a lot of accountability; in others, not so much. We have certain expectations regarding our faith as well as our faith towards us. Are we living up to those expectations and is there reward and/or consequences? They who claim no existence of a divine being and don’t accept intelligent design, evolution becomes their faith by which their steps are ordered and wherein there are consequences.

Unmerited

There is one other very important illustration of faith yet to be mentioned. On occasion, we expect something from someone else simply based on their word. Founded on no merit of our own, somebody simply decides to give you something or do something for you out of the kindness of their own heart; this is often referred to as a gift. At times, there may be actual demonstration of grace or mercy in this deed. Without actually having yet received the item or action, you simply take their word for it and from your perspective… it’s as good as done! In other words, you believed them and you have faith in their faithfulness to do what was promised.

Unfortunately, we live in a day and age when it’s hard to have faith in much of anything extending from our government, religious institutions and on down to relationships. But, we are to remain faithful. Faith is never one-sided and there’s accountability. Sometimes that accountability is to our own conscience.

‘Faith’ is a central theme in Romans as Paul discerns between justification ‘by faith’ and ‘through faith’. Paul deals with all facets of ‘faith’. As illustrated above, 'faith' is a very inclusive word. The word ‘faith’ is used 34 times in Romans in a variety of different ways. A reading of the following list, of variations, shows the challenge in discerning the application at times.

Usages of the term ‘faith’ in Romans:

Romans 1:5 obedience to the faith

Romans 1:8 that your faith is spoken of

Romans 1:12 the mutual faith both of you and me.

Romans 1:17 revealed from faith to faith:

Romans 1:17 shall live by faith.

Romans 3:3 the faith of God

Romans 3:22 by faith of Jesus Christ

Romans 3:25 through faith in his blood

Romans 3:27 by the law of faith

Romans 3:28 is justified by faith

Romans 3:30 circumcision by faith

Romans 3:30 uncircumcision through faith

Romans 3:31 the law through faith

Romans 4:5 his faith is counted

Romans 4:9 that faith was reckoned

Romans 4:11 righteousness of the faith

Romans 4:12 steps of that faith

Romans 4:13 righteousness of faith

Romans 4:14 faith is made void

Romans 4:16 it is of faith

Romans 4:16 of the faith of Abraham

Romans 4:19 not weak in faith

Romans 4:20 was strong in faith

Romans 5:1 being justified by faith

Romans 5:2 have access by faith

Romans 9:30 of faith

Romans 9:32 they sought it not by faith

Romans 10:6 righteousness which is of faith

Romans 10:8 the word of faith

Romans 10:17 faith cometh by hearing

Romans 11:20 thou standest by faith

Romans 12:3 the measure of faith

Romans 12:6 the proportion of faith

Romans 14:1 weak in the faith

Romans 14:22 Hast thou faith

Romans 14:23 eateth not of faith

Romans 14: 23 is not of faith is sin

Romans 16:26 obedience of faith

The Confusing Challenge

The real challenge that comes, accompanied with some confusion, is in not recognizing that Paul is both distinguishing between, while proving at same time, two distinct methods in which God chose to deal with man in the doctrinal arena of ‘justification’ and ‘righteousness’. Without this recognition it’s virtually impossible to understand Romans!

In Romans, ‘faith’ is a vehicle of substance, carrying hope and evidence that must be put into proper context of Paul’s argument, of the collective distinctions, made within Romans. ‘Faith’, is the vehicle in which God has used since the creation of man, but we must understand how this vehicle has played role in God’s means and methods, of righteousness for man, down through the ages.

The Trick

The trick, for the translators of the KJB, was in reflecting ‘faith’, not just in distinction, but in contrast between various people groups before the Mosaic law, under the Mosaic law and then after the Mosaic law. Once the reader understands the definitions of ‘by faith’ and ‘through faith’ and the distinction between them and how applied to these various people groups, Paul’s argument takes on new meaning! This then opens up a brand new avenue and approach to studying and understanding the scriptures! This is particularly true in discerning between God justifying the circumcision ‘by faith’ and the uncircumcision ‘through faith’, in context of the beginning chapters of Romans.

The trick for the translators of the KJB, in showing Paul’s argument, was five-fold:

Giving definitions to ‘by faith’ and ‘through faith’.
Showing distinction between ‘by faith’ and ‘through faith’.
Demonstrating this distinction between ‘by faith’ and ‘through faith’ regarding the various people groups prior to the law, under the law and then after the law.
Tie 'faith’s' relationship to both justification and righteousness.
Above all, accomplish the prior four (4) goals with restriction in using variations of the same word… ‘faith’, which breaks the cardinal rule in defining a word using same word.

In some instances, Paul turns on a Caesar’s coin (figuratively speaking) and if the student loses sight of Paul’s reference point of timeline, being his gospel and ministry, a verse or passage is met with much confusion. Herein is the root of most confusion and controversy!

Definitions of ‘by faith’ and ‘through faith’ are given under their designated outline chapters and Paul’s perspective is found under the chapters of "Paul’s Gospel" and "Paul an Apostle".

Doctrine of Justification

A major theme in Romans is faith’s relationship to justification. The doctrine of justification is the second most important doctrine in scripture, standing second in line only behind the doctrine of the godhead and deity of Jesus Christ.

Job 9:2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

but how should man
be just with God?

Job 15:14 What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?

What is man, that he should be clean?
and he which is born of a woman
that he should be righteous?

It is Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, whom goes to great lengths to answer that question and it is a KJB that explicitly spells out the distinction between justification ‘by faith’ and ‘through faith’, which is the focus of this website and study.

Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

For I speak to you Gentiles,
inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles
I magnify mine office

Romans 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

which shall justify
the circumcision by faith
and uncircumcision through faith

Romans 3:30 is the pivotal text of this study and when the doctrine of justification is understood, in light of a KJB, so many controversial and/or hard to understand subjects, in the scriptures, are cleared up along with many hard to answer questions being resolved.