Through faith we move closer to God, while living life in a manner that pleases the Lord.
Belief is a deep, personal trust in God that helps Christians find strength, guidance, and comfort. The teachings in the Bible aim to help believers make moral and ethical decisions by providing guidance and principles for how to live one’s life. Belief shapes how we interact with God, and how we live our lives. It’s a powerful testament to the importance of faith – we’re called to embrace it, live it, and share it with others.
Examining Belief in Scripture demonstrates the concept’s importance to every Christian, and also identifies five biblical characters that displayed belief as core personality traits. Their steadfast support of God helped shape their destinies, and serve as case studies for us as we navigate our own journeys through faith.
The Importance of Belief
Accepting Scripture’s testimony about Jesus and trusting in his redemptive work is the starting point of Christian faith. The Bible presents faith as the means by which humans are saved from sin and judgment through believing in Christ’s atoning sacrifice (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Belief is foundational to the Bible because Scripture calls people to have sincere faith in God and Jesus Christ, who Scripture presents as supremely trustworthy (Hebrews 11:6). Christians believe the Bible is God’s authoritative and inspired revelation to humanity. Their faith in Christ shapes their worldview and guides their values, priorities, and behaviors.
True belief manifests itself in obeying God’s commands and embracing biblical principles. Christians aim to love others, practice forgiveness, care for the poor, remain sexually pure, and share their faith out of devotion to Christ and belief that the Bible contains timeless moral guidance. This impacts how they spend their time, talents, and treasures serving God, giving their lives meaning and hope.
Sincere faith provides strength to persevere through trials as believers pray and trust God will answer according to His perfect will. Their belief allows them to cast anxiety on Him and find joy in His presence during suffering. Faith in God’s sovereignty gives perspective that He works all things for the good of those who love Him.
Belief assures Christians that death is not the end but the beginning of eternal life with Christ. This brings comfort, courage, and purpose as they aim to glorify God now and forever. In summary, sincere belief fundamentally impacts a Christian’s identity, priorities, actions, and view of life on earth and in eternity.
Great Believers of the Holy Bible
1. Abraham: The Father of Faith
Abraham is often called the ‘Father of Faith,’ and certainly deserves a spot on this list. In Genesis 15:6, the Bible says, “And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” Abraham’s belief in God was so strong that it was credited as righteousness, and was what led him to leave his home and why God promised him descendants as numerous as the stars.
2. Ruth: Trust in God’s Plan
Ruth displays remarkable faith in the true God even though she was originally from Moab, a pagan land. She chooses to follow her Israelite mother-in-law Naomi back to Bethlehem, declaring “Your people will be my people and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). Ruth’s belief manifests in loyal commitment to Naomi, sacrificially providing for her as a poor widow. She risks rejection and ruin, but obeys Naomi out of trust in God’s unseen plan.
3. Mary: Belief in God’s Word
Another powerful example of belief is seen in Mary, the mother of Jesus. In Luke 1:38, Mary says, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word” Despite the extraordinary nature of Angel Gabriel’s message – and its extreme impact – Mary believed and accepted God’s will for her life. Her belief allowed her to become a part of God’s salvation plan for humanity, and made her the ideal mother for our savior, Jesus Christ.
4. The Centurion: A Gentile’s Belief
In Matthew 8:5-13, we read about a Roman centurion who approached Jesus to heal his servant. Despite not being a Jew, the centurion believed in Jesus’ authority and power. Jesus says in verse 10, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” The centurion’s belief in Jesus’ power, even without seeing it firsthand, exemplifies the kind of faith that Jesus commends.
5. Thomas: Belief through Doubt
Finally, there’s the story of Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples. Often called ‘Doubting Thomas,’ he refused to believe in Jesus’ resurrection until he saw the risen Lord himself (John 20:24-29). But when he encountered the risen Christ, Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” Thomas’ story shows us that the strongest belief can be born from doubt, and that even the most skeptical among us can have transformative encounters with God.
Belief in the Bible is not just about acknowledging God’s existence. It’s about trusting in His promises (like Abraham and Ruth), accepting His will (like Mary), recognizing His authority (like the Centurion), and encountering Him personally (like Thomas). These characters demonstrate that through belief we can become closer to God, while living our lives in a manner that pleases the Lord.