Faith in Christianity

Within Christianity, faith, in one sense, is often discussed in terms of believing God's promises, trusting in his faithfulness, and relying on God's character and faithfulness to act. Some denominations believe in the New Covenant and in the doctrine of salvation by faith alone (sola fide). According to most Christian traditions and denominations, Christian faith requires a belief in the resurrection of Jesus, and the Agony in the Garden which Jesus states is the plan[1] of God the Father.[2][3]

Since the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century, the meaning of the term faith has been an object of major theological disagreement in Western Christianity. The differences have been largely overcome in the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (1999). The precise understanding of the term "faith" differs among the various Christian traditions. Despite these differences, Christians generally agree that faith in Jesus lies at the core of the Christian tradition, and that such faith is required in order to be a Christian.

Some of the definitions of faith in the history of Christian theology have followed the biblical formulation in Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen".[4]

Christian faith builds on Old Testament faith because the promises of the Old Testament are accepted as being fulfilled in the ministry, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.[5]

  1. ^ Compare Matthew 26:39: "And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."
  2. ^ The importance of a belief in the resurrection is substantiated in several ways: (1 Corinthians 15:1–4) '... the gospel I preached to you... Otherwise, you have believed in vain...'. The same book says, in 15:14: "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith" (see also Acts 2:32; Philippians 3:10; John 11:25).
  3. ^ Compare: Starwalt, Ervin R. (1996). "Eschatology of the Gospels". In Couch, Mal (ed.). Dictionary of Premillennial Theology. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications. p. 127. ISBN 9780825494642. Retrieved 2021-10-29. John's gospel is intended to conduct people to saving faith in Christ.
  4. ^ Cf. "Faith". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 9. London-Chicago-Geneva-Sydney-Toronto: W. Benton. 1964. p. 40.
  5. ^ Cameron, Nigel M. De S. (1989-08-29). "Christian Faith. An introduction to the study of the faith by Hendrikus Berkhof (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1986, xxii + 572 pp. £24.55)". Evangelical Quarterly: An International Review of Bible and Theology. 61 (2): 177–178. doi:10.1163/27725472-06102017. ISSN 0014-3367. S2CID 251993386.