What is the difference between having faith and believing

It took me years. I think more people abandon God out of a crushing sense of having been abandoned by God first than for any other reason. But were you really abandoned by God? Or were you abandoned by your own beliefs? When faith is on the line, belief will almost always let you down. Let me explain why. Belief is a product of the mind. A victim mind is already disadvantaged, but even a healthy, enabled mind runs into trouble.

The enabled mind may say, "God is faithful. He will: answer my prayers; cure my child; land the plane safely; reconcile my marriage; replenish my wealth. God is just and will set things right. If we only believe! Believe in what though? Believe in our own version of an indefinable Being who transcends us and all created things? Our beliefs are mostly narrow and rooted in culture and upbringing. Sometimes our most closely held beliefs are in direct conflict with everything else we know to be true.

If we decide or are told that the persecution is God's idea, or worse -- his divine will -- then how do we reconcile that deity with the God of love and benevolence?

This is so much easier when it's happening to someone else -- really. Intellectual abstraction is no substitute for direct experience. It can be argued that we only arrive at the intersection of faith and belief when we experience a life-threatening trauma ourselves. Once we do, we may be forced to change our beliefs or go crazy. We cannot stay mentally fit as exiles of our own minds.

Changing our minds means changing at least some aspect of our beliefs. And a belief, just because it has been handed down to us, is not necessarily true even when we think it is. Or more clearly, it is not necessarily the only truth. Belief is a product of the mind, but faith is not. Faith is a product of the spirit.

However, there is a slight chance that the person can fail the exam. Believes may also change depending on the circumstances, hence it is considered as a temporary concept. Using the above example, the person may believe that they are able to pass the exam, but what about the other exam after that. Faith is more commonly considered as a spiritual concept. It is considered as an allegiance, duty or loyalty to one person or being.

It can also refer to believing in something or something, even if no proof exists. For example: I have complete faith in God. This statement suggests that the person believes in God and is a loyal in serving the great being. It can also be referred to describe devotion in a person or a being.

Who is the object of your faith, belief, or trust? You see, these words are interchangeable because they are the same, not similar but exactly the same. Go argue this fact! I think there are several different definitions of these three words. It just depends on the definitions we use. In the Bible the words have the same meanings. Hello Ryan. It is different in the sense that we believe what God says in His Word and belief shows up as obedience, and our faith is in Christ, so we believe what God says in His Word and have faith in God to do exactly as His Word says.

There once was a great tightrope walker who was going to do his latest tight rope across a very deep canyon. Many people gathered to see his performance. He walked the tightrope across the canyon and back and then asked the audience if they believed he could push a wheelbarrow across the canyon and back.

They all shouted yes we believe you can. He proceeded across the canyon and back pushing the wheelbarrow to the loud applause from the crowd. To make things even more interesting he asked the crowd if they believed he could push the wheelbarrow across the canyon on the tightrope with someone in it.

Point of the story, for the Christian, is that believing is a small step in the right direction, while faith is a huge jump. Jesus Himself is the author and perfecter of our faith according to Hebrews worth reading whole of Hebrews 12 for context. John and Acts in the Bible we see belief as the first step to salvation and then faith follows right behind.

In the book of Acts account: the request to believe in the Gospel was followed by faith and action from the jailer and his household. We can thus perhaps say that faith is putting our belief into action and Jesus initiates and continues that faith if we offer up even a small amount. Faith is on a far Higher level? I am heartened by the article and the conversation of this thread. Biblically I find evidence that the Holy Spirit moves like the wind, as Jesus explained to Nicodemus.

I also find that God gives a measure of faith to each of his people, those who are born of God and not by lineage, culture, nor personal will Jn1. I have and will again have to change beliefs about things as I learn more and grow spiritually. Faith can only be exercised or not; and if not Jack becomes a dull boy. I was also glad to see the thread has continued activity. Thank you so much for such a powerful message..

May God continue to use and bless you in Jesus name pray Amen. You can believe what you hear without verifying the facts But you can not have faith on something you have not verified. The faith that gave Sarah the strength to conceive was based on her Judgment of who God is……. Faith here is based of authenticated evidence. There is a gift of Faith and also a fruit of faith. The Faith that appropriates salvation is Gift and not a fruit.

Faith as a fruits is a product of maturing in the spirit. I do not agree whatsoever with what you are saying sir! Goodness- you say this like we have any power at all to change. Your pride blinds you. Flesh cannot rid itself of flesh- only God can do such things.

Your message sends condemnation, not life, not hope. You send the message that there is no hope for sinners. Hello Kristina. Thank you for your comment. You accuse me of just what you are doing. I judge no one but I do judge whether somethign is true or not and now I see why you are so confused.

You are reading Andrew Murray, who is a false teacher and teacher of heresy, like universalism, or that all will be saved and is contrary to Scripture. Compositions such as his writings on the Faith Cure are certainly worthless settings forth of dangerous error.

The remainder of his works, at the most, should be read only by those who, within the protection of a strong Bible-practicing Baptist church, have a comprehensive knowledge of his Keswick and continuationist errors and the spiritual wisdom to reject them, as well a firm grounding in the truth of Scripture on the doctrines and practices concerning which Murray has been led astray.

Since such knowledge is absent in the vast majority of those who read Mr. Murray, the great majority of his readers should abstain from reading him. Repent of this today. If it were that we reap as we sow, what is the purpose of believing or practicing either Bible or any verse.

Suppose I consider that the most happy life will be mine only if I have all the worldly pleasures at my feet and even if I sincerely, heart fully believe and practice the bible and Christ and I do not get the pleasures in this life, is it not a sheer waste of time if the so called God does not grant me what I wanted in-spite of my continuous faith in him.

To God Be The Glory. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Subscribe me to your newsletter. Previous post: Does God Love Satan? A Study From the Bible. Was It Necessary? All Rights Reserved. Sitemap Privacy Policy Disclaimer Advertise. Thanks again for the article. It has given me motivation and strength in my daily living. Nikita Reply. Thanks for reading and commenting Nikita. Yours in Christ, Robert Reply. Thank you Robert for this reply, now i really understand Reply. A truly well written article.

God bless you Robert Ed Reply. That we are saved by grace? Brother in Christ, Chris Reply. Thanks dear,from your analysis i understood that faith means what you are not sure of,noy seen but believe means physical you can see it, Reply. God bless you and may heavens continue to lift u above ur colleagues and cause you to shine forth…Amen Reply. Ephesians — In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit… John — but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

John — Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.