Faith in the biblical sense usually refers to the faith of men and women in God. Heb.11.1 is regarded as a definition of faith but it would be abstract and impractical without the many examples of faithful people which follow in that chapter. From the Bible records of the men and women mentioned in Hebrews it is clear that faith is very much a part of the relationship between God and His people. God, in His holiness, is able to accept us and to change us because we trust Him. When He says He will forgive and renew us we know from experience that He means it. Sin and unbelief create a barrier that separates us from Him but He wants us as His own children. In Jesus' parable of 'two sons', the younger boy needed to believe that his father might accept him back even as a servant, before he could make the return journey and discover his father's love.

Returning to Heb.11, William Barclay in his commentary, translates v.1 "Faith means that we are certain of the things we hope for, convinced of the things we do not see." If we apply that to the weather, our trust might be in the weather forecaster. If there is repeated inaccuracy in weather forecasting we may be led to ignore weather warnings and have no confidence in the science of meteorology. If we apply Barclay's translation to our career prospects, our faith might be based upon the known honesty and generosity of an employer. In each example our confidence for the future is built upon past experience and in hope for something better. Our trust is in another's reputation and their fulfilment of promises. Constantly we should be looking for evidence that other people can be trusted, because social units however large or small can only operate if there is a measure of trust between the people involved.

Jesus appears to have had some surprises concerning people's belief in Him and about what He was doing and saying. He was shocked by the unbelief of His fellow Jews (Mark 6.6). For many centuries God's people had enjoyed the growing revelation of their Creator. They had inherited the promises made to the Patriarchs who had been great men of faith. These were not abstract ideas but down to earth assurances that they could test in their own experience. Israel's Law, given through Moses, if obeyed in the spirit in which it was given, would demonstrate that God's rules really work. The unfolding pattern of God's purpose came through the prophets. They told the people of Israel what God was like and what He was doing. Into that revelation was woven the eternal loving desire of the Almighty Creator to express His friendship to His creation on Earth. That too was something that could be tested by experience. God doesn't want blind credulity or superstitious hopefulness. As if all that He had given was not enough, God sent His Son to demonstrate His love in flesh and blood.

Jesus showed in word and action just how much God cared. Some Gentiles noticed it more readily than Jews. They had not been blinded by their own preconceived ideas as to what God ought to be like and what He ought to be doing. How Jesus rejoiced as He said "O woman, great is your faith!" (Matt. 15 28; see also Luke 7. 9). The simple souls in Israel, whose minds had not been clouded by dogma and ritual reached up in faith to His mighty power and were healed of their diseases (Luke 7. 50). Those whose hearts cried out "I believe, help my unbelief!" were rewarded by seeing and understanding the signs of the Kingdom of Heaven (Mark 9.24; Luke 17.5).

Jesus went to the heart of the matter when He told the disciples concerning a dumb spirit that "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer." (Mk.9.29). Effective prayer is not intoned in archaic language of a bygone era. Nor is it concerned to lecture God about His own plan and purpose. It is the outpouring of a heart that has a desperate need and that speaks in today's language about today's experiences. It is the most effective way to strengthen faith. God's people who want to dispel doubts and totally trust in the Lord must live a life of prayer. Faith then becomes a shield (Eph.6.16) that quenches the darts of doubt and keeps the enemy at bay. We may be busy in serving the Lord and we may give much time to studying the Word, but those activities are only effective when we have continuous, personal contact with our Heavenly Father.

The heart of the Gospel is 'to believe' that Jesus is God's son, sent to Earth to show us that God has a way of mending broken lives ‑ of making men and women whole. Repeatedly Jesus urged the disciples to have faith; to believe Him (Matt.17. 20; Mark 11. 22). He was very concerned about their absence of faith and the fact that they would not trust in the living God for their daily needs (Luke 12. 28). Faith to the Jew should not have been a passing incident or localised interest. Faith is the very atmosphere of life, entering into every tiny detail of what life is about. Their faith was not the superficial religion of idol worshippers. Their God was real, with eyes to see and ears to hear. He was the Creator, steadfast and reliable; who made covenants which lasted from century to century, and who could be relied upon to keep promises which He had made two thousand years before. Such eternal love demands the abandonment of self interest, and claims our willingness to let God do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. What He gives to us is not a reward for anything we have done for Him but the outpouring of merciful generosity in response to our faith. Nothing is too hard for Him; there is nothing that He cannot do, if it is good and right. Therefore Jesus was able to say "…whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith" (Matt. 21. 22)

Justification before God, His forgiveness and cleansing from sin, is received as an act of faith. We must be willing to cast ourselves upon the mercy of God and realise that He is more ready to forgive our sin than we are to request that forgiveness. Faith is thankfulness and responds obediently to His revealed will. Faith is trust in God and the old hymn rightly exhorts 'trust and obey'. That obedience leads us to action. James wrote "So faith, if it does not lead to action, it is by itself a lifeless thing" (Jas.2.17 REV). Faith in Jesus Christ does not promote a lazy religion. It is a living piety which grows into a vigorous relationship with God and His dear Son.

"Faith comes from what is heard"; so writes Paul in his discussion about the need for the Gospel to be preached (Rom. 10. 17). While there is a constant and urgent need for the Church to preach the Gospel yet a great many of the seeds of faith are sown among the members of our own human family or among friends and acquaintances. Nor is communication of the Gospel always in the language of the tongue but in the kindly actions and thoughtful patience of daily life. A life that has real trust in Jesus Christ has its own manner and method for telling the Good News. That message is referred to in Scripture as 'the Faith'. The content of the preaching of the early Church rapidly became 'that faith which God entrusted to his people once for all" (Jude 3). That in which we believe shapes our lives and is that which is spoken of as 'the Faith'. It is not the complex interpretations of the Gospel which form 'the Faith' nor is it the personal opinions of a few faithful souls who persuade themselves that they have the whole truth and nothing but the truth and nobody has it quite like them. That which may be described as 'the Faith' is that which builds us into the likeness of our Master and cements us to Him and each other forever. It is in fact that which will be as important to us in a million years from now as it ought to be today. 'The faith' is that real personal knowledge of God that can be understood by all. It doesn't take a highly academic and intellectual person to understand it. It is that knowledge which enables us to walk with God by faith in Him alone.