Since the Bible tells us we are “saved through faith,” the “just shall live by faith” and that “without faith, it is impossible to please God,” faith is among the front line essentials of the Christian life. Faith is also a vital essential to true salvation. Properly understanding faith, which has become so perverted in churches today, is essential to the genuine victorious Christian life. 

Common sayings, often heard today, like “have faith in yourself,” “have faith in your faith,” “keep the faith” (in what exactly and how?), “keep a positive attitude,” use the “power of positive thinking,” speak the “positive word of faith,” the “power is in your tongue,” “do good works” etc. All of these use appropriate “God words” and the name of Jesus. 

    First of all, the Bible clearly and absolutely tells us NOT to have faith in ourselves, but in God and in His Person and Character. The Bible also tells us not to have faith in faith, but in God’s faithfulness. And, as for good works, these must come out of faith and all of our