Dear Conrad -- You used the phrase "true faith" in one of your answers, and I was just pondering the word. I know in the word it says, "believe with all your heart, mind, and soul" but I was just thinking about our ability to that. In essence, what is true faith, and how is it obtained? -- Rob Ferguson

Dear Rob,

Good question. There are three elements of true faith.

1. Knowing God’s Word
2. Believing God’s Word
3. Doing God’s Word

If you are missing one of those things, it’s not really faith. If we are talking about “Saving Faith” – “Word” would mean Christ.

A simple example would be this. It does me no good to say, “I believe that lifting weights will make me stronger,” and not do it. It does no good to go to a hungry person and say, “Be filled.” You actually have to give him food.

James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? [15] Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. [16] If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? [17] In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

This is an example of having the first two elements of faith but not the last.

James goes on to make a joke saying, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.” James is saying, well if you have the first two elements, you have as much faith as the demons do.

This also means that we are not saved through faith and works, but true faith produces works. James 2:18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

Having Knowing and Believing only - is disobedience, Knowing and Doing only - is Legalism, Believing and Doing only - is Existentialism.

It is important to have all three parts for our faith to be true and complete.

As far as your question, “how is [faith] obtained?” That is best answered with Eph 2:8-10, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. [10] For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.