What is faith?

Faith is cultivated trust that God is and does what Scripture says. Trusting God requires both belief and action. Our faith problems lie in our feelings. A person can believe Christianity is true, inviting Jesus to be Lord, only to fall away because of contradictory feelings. “Faith is the art of holding onto things your reason once accepted in spite of your changing moods” (C.S. Lewis).

What is faith IN?

Philippians 2 speaks extensively about the nature and mission of Jesus. He was in the “form” of God, meaning having the essential divine qualities, “of one substance with the Father.” Jesus is God, but did not “grasp” his divine status for personal benefit. He “emptied” himself, which is not about limiting divine attributes, but rather pouring himself out. In Jesus’ incarnation we get to see God up close. He is fully God and fully man being born as a human, but without any sin. The poetic layout of verses 5-8 start with God and end with the cross. What love this is that God, the immortal One, could subject himself to death! Upon his resurrection Jesus was exalted above everything by the Father. God is worthy of our trust.

What is faith FOR?

“Have this mindset among yourselves…” (v. 5). We are to have the same mindset as Jesus, who is the greatest servant of all time. We do not have the ability to be virtuous apart from Christ’s work in us. We are to “work out” our salvation while God “works in” us. God is concerned with the kind of person you are becoming more than any specific deeds.

Taking It Home: Cultivate faith by developing a rule of life to keep the Gospel constantly before your eyes.