Usually after a calamity, one hears the words, "Where was God in all this? Why didn't He prevent it?" While some 95 to 98 percent of the people in the United States profess a belief in God, only around 40 percent attend any church regularly. There is a great disparity in what is professed and what is practiced.

Where does faith come in this process? Without faith one cannot understand or please God (Hebrews 11:6). Jesus Christ said, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mark 16:16). The apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "By grace you have been saved through faith" (Ephesians 2:8). So faith is vital to a person's future!

What is faith and what do you need to believe? The Bible shows faith comes in different forms. One faith has to do with the set of beliefs a person holds. Some may ask the question, "What faith do you profess?" Jude 3 exhorts Christians to "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." He is referring to the set of doctrines we are to believe.

A second type of faith has to do with a faith that is the fruit of the Holy Spirit—which God promotes and produces within a person. Galatians 5:22 lists one of the fruits that the Spirit produces in our lives as faith or faithfulness. This is a faith that is supported by God's Spirit.

The gift of faith is the third type. This is found in 1 Corinthians 12 in which Paul explains about gifts that the Spirit gives. I understand this to mean an extra measure of faith to see one through difficult times. Have you ever seen individuals come through major trials and wondered how they were able to do so? The gift of faith may have been the source of their strength.

The final aspect of faith is that which brings one to Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of John we read of an encounter that Jesus had with the Jews. They were looking for faults in Jesus so they might accuse Him. He taught them some things; and as a result, many believed in Him. He showed that their initial faith was not complete when He said "...If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32).

Faith is defined by the apostle James as that which has two components. The intellectual and the active are both sides of real faith. If one only believes in his mind, it is not good enough. The believer must also show his intellectual faith by his actions. James uses the example of Abraham who not only believed God would and could fulfill His promises and take care of his family, but also demonstrated his conviction in following God by being willing to do whatever God said, however difficult it was (compare James 2:14-23; Genesis 22:1-12; Hebrews 11:17-19).

Some basics are essential to believe. We must believe in God (Romans 1:20). He is the One who has a plan of salvation for us. We must believe in Jesus Christ as God's Son who came into the world to live a perfect life and to die for our sins (John 3:16). We must believe in God's Word as inspired and as a guidebook for our salvation (Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; John 5:39; 1 John 2:3-4).

We must believe God and His teachings if we are to recognize where we have gone astray and know to turn from unrighteousness to God's righteousness. It involves repentance or change. But, prior to repentance, one needs to have faith! Jesus showed both were essential in Mark 1:15.

So, faith has four aspects: the set of beliefs, the fruit of the Spirit, the gift of the Spirit and one's own belief to bring him or her to God. Take the time to establish in your mind and heart firm reasons to believe that God exists. Take time to really believe that Jesus was the Christ and that He died for each one of us. Take the time to form sound reasons to believe that the Bible is God's Word for humankind. When you need extra help, ask God for His strengthening so that you may believe from the heart (Mark 9:23-24). The Ethiopian eunuch's response to the statement "if you believe with all your heart" was a convicted "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." (Acts 8:37). Philip then baptized him and the eunuch was under the grace of God and on the way to the Kingdom of God.

May God give you the resolve, conviction and courage to seek to believe in Him and His ways (intellectually and actively—"I know" and "I do") with all your heart! VT