Faith in Christianity

Christianity, faith, like in other Abrahamic faiths, centers on a belief in God, a belief in the reality of a transcendent domain that God administers as his kingdom, and in the benevolence of God's will or plan for humankind.Christianity differs in that it centers on a belief in the ministry of Jesus, and in his place as the prophesied "Christ," as substantiated by his Passion and Resurrection.

The precise meaning of "faith" in Christianity may differ among the various Christian traditions, but this verse is often given as a kind of standard statement of Christian faith: :"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (]

Faith involving knowledge

Protestants differ on the exact relationship between faith and knowledge, although all agree that knowledge is normally involved. Roughly, the split is between paedobaptists and baptists, with paedobaptists asserting that faith means placing one's trust in Jesus Christ according to the measure of understanding granted, and baptists asserting faith means placing one's trust in Jesus Christ with a certain minimal core of understanding being necessary.

Faith is an operation of the Spirit of God

Assent to the truth is of the essence of faith, and the ultimate ground on which our assent to any revealed truth rests is the veracity of God. Historical faith is the apprehension of and assent to certain statements which are regarded as mere facts of history. Temporary faith is that state of mind which is awakened in men (e.g., Felix) by the of the truth and by the influence of religious sympathy, or by what is sometimes styled the common operation of the Holy Spirit. Saving faith is so called because it has eternal life inseparably connected with it, and is a special operation of the Holy Spirit

Faith as a gift of God

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast." From this, some Protestants believe that faith itself is given as a gift of God ("e.g." the Westminster Confession of Faith [ [http://www.reformed.org/documents/index.html?mainframe=http://www.reformed.org/documents/westminster_conf_of_faith.html "The Westminster Confession of Faith] , 1646] ), although this interpretation is disputed by others. [GREGORY P. SAPAUGH, [http://www.faithalone.org/journal/1994i/J12-94c.htm "IS FAITH A GIFT? A STUDY OF EPHESIANS 2:8,"] Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society, Volume 7:12, Spring 1994]

The Calvinistic View of Faith: [Saving] Faith, itself, is a gift from God.

The Arminian View of Faith: Faith is not a Gift of God but salvation is. Hebrews 11:6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

So to say faith is a gift would be "Without the Gift of God" it is impossible to please God and to receive this gift through seeking Him with the gift he would give you.

Salvation is the Gift.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons)

The warrant of faith is the truthfulness of God

The basis for faith is divine testimony, not the reasonableness of what God says, but the simple fact that he says it. Faith rests immediately on "Thus saith the Lord". But in order to understand this faith the , sincerity, and truth of God must be owned and appreciated, together with his unchangeableness.

What is faith? It is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Heb. 11:1); that is, it is the assurance we have, of the existence, of unseen things. "Joseph Smith Jr." (Lectures on Faith)

Alma 32:21 in the Book of Mormon says: 'And now as I said concerning faith— faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.'

References

External links

* [http://www.christonline.info Save the World Online Church"]
* [http://www.newadvent.org/summa/3.htm "Summa Theologica" "Second Part of the Second Part"] See Questions 1-16
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05752c.htm "Catholic Encyclopedia" "Faith"]