KINDS OF FAITH

1. NATURAL FAITH

All men have natural faith inherent in them. In this world the normal way of functioning of life is based on an element of natural faith. For example, you go to a strange doctor and take the prescription to a strange medical shop, and buy medicine made by a strange company, and take it believing that you will be healed. Another example, you get into bus or aircraft by believing that you will reach the destination. Another example, you sit on a chair, without checking it, believing that it has enough legs to support you.

2. GENERAL FAITH – SIMPLE FAITH

Before the sin and fall it was natural for man to believe in God. But after the fall it became natural for man to doubt God. Due to sin the spiritual nature of man degenerated to a state where man is naturally capable of only doubting God. That means, now man has to make a supernatural effort to believe in God. Today it is a great struggle for man to believe God.

Adam and Eve caused fall by disbelieving God through doubt. We can now be saved by reversing the doubt and disbelief by faith and belief in Jesus Christ.

We receive salvation and the baptism of HS by this simple faith. We can receive answers to prayer by this simple faith (Mk 11:24), by believing in God and appropriating his promises in the word by faith. We can have this simple faith ever increasing. It is also a fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:22). We should keep adding virtues to our faith (2Pet 1:4-10). It is also a gift of Holy Spirit (1Cor 12:4-11). It becomes part of our Christian character. But it is different from the supernatural manifestation of the gift of faith. Unless you exercise the faith you already have, you cannot get the higher kinds of faith.

God is the only legitimate object of faith. God only can have faith in Himself. Man can have faith only in God, not in himself.

3. COMMON FAITH  - FUNDAMENTALS OF CHRISTIAN FAITH  “To Titus, my true child after a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior”. (Titus 1:4). Common faith comes by hearing the word (Rom 10:17). Every believer has it (Rom 12:3). It is common faith because all Christians have commonly accepted certain fundamental truths as their belief system. Any man can have this common faith.

4. TEMPORARY FAITH

Some believe only for a while not till the end. They make a shipwreck concerning their faith and fall away. “And those on the rock [are] they who, when they have heard, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away” (Lk 8:13; 1Tim 1:19).

5. INTELLECTUAL FAITH

In such a faith the person believes in the truthfulness of the Bible and its records. He can intellectually agree with the past present and future aspects of all the doctrines of the Bible. This is mere intellectual faith. It remains at the mental level. It does not reach deep into the heart or spirit. But he will not act upon the word of God or obey the truth. He claims to be a believer. But he will not put forth active effort to obey God and get His promises or spiritual blessings. He knows to do good things, but will not do. He wants to get things from God, but will not act for it and get it. He will not act based on the promises of God. Such a person knows the medicine can cure him but he does not have enough faith to eat it, and is not cured. He knows food is good for his health; he may even cook it but does not eat. So is not benefitted from it. Such people will claim that they believe in God, while they may not be even born again. This is a very deceptive condition.

A doubting or unbelieving mind will not act on the word of God. Such people will be happy to get a blessing but cannot make a fight of faith for it. But God will not answer to disinterested requests. Even man will not honor such disinterested requests.

6. ACTIVE FAITH

This faith acts upon the truth, commandments and promises of the word of God. It moves from the hearing and thinking stage to the desiring and acting stage; that is from a hearer of the Word to a doer of the Word. This only is the true believing and faith. Here the person takes God at His word, obeys God’s commandments and acts towards receiving the promises of God. The person refuses to doubt or reason out, but just believes and acts on God’s Word. The person proves the originality of his faith by works. “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead” (James 2:26). Thus he begins to produce fruit.

The simple faith of the believer can be developed into a great force in our daily life. By such an active faith in Jesus Christ it is possible to have victory over sin, devil, sickness and circumstances of our life. From a position of defeat we can get into a position of conquering. “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (Jn 15:7). As a branch of Christ, His life and power will flow through you. You become an asking and receiving believer. If you become like Christ, you can get answers from God like Him. Be determined to get all the benefits for which Christ died for you.

The basic principle of true is inherent in this verse – “calleth the things that are not, as though they were” (Rom 4:17). True faith is action for things that are not there, but is within the scope of the promises of God. It has the absolute confidence and supernatural knowledge that God will act upon the situation, based on His promises. It believes it is done regardless of whatever unfavorable circumstances. It begins to see the result in the spirit and starts giving thanks.

7. GIFT OF FAITH (1COR 12:7-11)

Gift of faith is different from this simple saving faith. Those who have the gift of the spirit can believe in God in such a way that God honors their word as his own, and miraculously brings to pass the desired result. It operates at the will of God, not our will. All things are possible to him that believes (Mk 9:23). All gifts operate by ordinary faith. Miracle Opportunities abound in our life. The handicapped people are opportunities for us to be tools for God to do miracles for His glory. But we fail in our faith. God is always a miracle working God. You should believe that God can do it for you. You must have a felt need. We must have confidence in God revealed in Christ, not in ourselves.

Strong and unwavering faith will be answered by God.