Faith: Commanded
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Faith, as a central tenet of Christian doctrine, is not merely encouraged but commanded throughout Scripture. It is the foundation upon which the believer's relationship with God is built, and it is essential for salvation and spiritual growth. The command to have faith is woven throughout both the Old and New Testaments, underscoring its importance in the life of a believer.

Old Testament Foundations

In the Old Testament, faith is often demonstrated through trust and obedience to God. The patriarch Abraham is a prime example, as his faith was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6). The command to trust in God is evident in passages such as Proverbs 3:5-6, which instructs, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

The Israelites were repeatedly commanded to have faith in God, especially during times of trial and uncertainty. In Deuteronomy 1:32, Moses rebukes the Israelites for their lack of faith, saying, "But in spite of this word, you did not trust the LORD your God." This highlights the expectation that God's people should place their trust in Him, regardless of circumstances.

New Testament Commandments

The New Testament further emphasizes the command to have faith, particularly through the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Jesus Himself commands faith in God, as seen in Mark 11:22: "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. This directive is not merely a suggestion but a command that underscores the necessity of faith in the believer's life.

The apostle Paul reiterates this command in his epistles. In 1 Corinthians 16:13, he exhorts the believers, "Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong." Here, faith is presented as a command that requires vigilance and strength, indicating its critical role in the Christian life.

Faith and Salvation

Faith is commanded as a prerequisite for salvation. In Acts 16:31, Paul and Silas instruct the Philippian jailer, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." This command to believe is a direct call to faith, highlighting its essential role in the process of salvation.

Ephesians 2:8-9 further clarifies that faith is a gift from God, yet it is also a command to be obeyed: "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." While faith is a divine gift, the command to exercise it remains imperative.

Living by Faith

The command to live by faith is a recurring theme in the New Testament. In 2 Corinthians 5:7, Paul states, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." This command challenges believers to trust in God's promises and guidance, even when they cannot see the outcome.

Hebrews 11, often referred to as the "Faith Chapter," provides numerous examples of individuals who obeyed the command to live by faith. Hebrews 11:6 emphasizes the necessity of faith, stating, "And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."

Conclusion

Throughout Scripture, faith is not only encouraged but commanded as an essential aspect of the believer's life. From the trust exemplified by the patriarchs to the explicit commands of Jesus and the apostles, faith is foundational to the Christian experience. It is through faith that believers are saved, live, and grow in their relationship with God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Matthew 11:22
But I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 John 3:23
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Greek
3853. paraggello -- to transmit a message, to order
... Accordingly, 3853 () and faith (4102 ) are closely connected in the NT -- see 1
Tim ... to order NASB Word Usage charge (1), command (4), commanded (4), commanding ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3853.htm - 9k
Library

Faith Stopping the Mouths of Lions
... And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and
they cast them into ... And what dignity, respect, faith, and innocence are in them ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/faith stopping the mouths of.htm

Justification by Faith
... in Jesus Christ;" (though from some kind of faith in God they may spring;) "yea,
rather, for that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 5 justification by faith.htm

"Increase Our Faith. "
... "If ye had faith as a ... have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?'
Doth he thank the servant because he did the things that were commanded? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/increase our faith.htm

Faith and Repentance Inseparable
... The repentance which is here commanded is the result of faith; it is born at the
same time with faith"they are twins, and to say which is the elder-born ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/faith and repentance inseparable.htm

Noah's Faith, Fear, Obedience, and Salvation
... See again and again, "Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him."
Those who have faith in God should show it by a holy fear, which makes them ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 36 1890/noahs faith fear obedience and.htm

Second Great Group of Parables.
... The theme is no doubt suggested by verse 6. When one's faith endows him with ... 6,
contending that miracles are not among "the things that are commanded" in the ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xcii second great group of 7.htm

That the Foundation and Strength of Hope and Faith is Fear.
... to do them good, and to plant them in their land in faith, and with ... 4334] Also in
the same place: "And the king exceedingly rejoiced, and commanded Daniel to ...
/.../three books of testimonies against the jews/20 that the foundation and.htm

There are those who Think that the Christian Religion is what we ...
... religion is what we should smile at rather than hold fast, for this reason, that,
in it, not what may be seen, is shown, but men are commanded faith of things ...
/.../augustine/concerning faith of things not seen /1 there are those who.htm

Thou Shalt not Commit Adultery.
... Now, if no other work were commanded but chastity alone, we would all have enough
to ... In this work a good strong faith is a great help, more noticeably so than ...
/.../luther/a treatise on good works/thou shalt not commit adultery.htm

Prayer and Faith
... Again: faith is obedient; it goes when commanded, as did the nobleman, who came
to Jesus, in the day of His flesh, and whose son was grievously sick. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/the necessity of prayer/i prayer and faith.htm

Resources
What does “from faith to faith” mean in Romans 1:17? | GotQuestions.org

Why is faith without works dead? | GotQuestions.org

What is faith in God? | GotQuestions.org

Faith: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Faith

Faith by It Saints are Supported

Faith by It Saints: Live

Faith by It Saints: Obtain a Good Report

Faith by It Saints: Overcome the Devil

Faith by It Saints: Overcome the World

Faith by It Saints: Resist the Devil

Faith by It Saints: Stand

Faith by It Saints: Walk

Faith in Believing God's Promise, That his Kingdom Would be a Perpetual Kingdom

Faith in Choosing to Fall Into the Hands of the Almighty for his Punishment for Counting the People of Israel

Faith in Christ

Faith in Christ Is: Accompanied by Repentance

Faith in Christ Is: Followed by Conversion

Faith in Christ Is: Fruitful

Faith in Christ Is: Most Holy

Faith in Christ Is: Precious

Faith in Christ Is: The Gift of God

Faith in Christ Is: The Work of God

Faith in Christ, Exemplified

Faith in Christ: Andrew

Faith in Espousing the Cause of his People

Faith in the Battle With the Canaanites

Faith in the offering up of Isaac

Faith is a Gift of the Holy Spirit

Faith is the Evidence of Things not Seen

Faith is the Substance of Things Hoped For

Faith Without Deeds

Faith without Fruits, is Dead

Faith: Abel

Faith: Abraham

Faith: Abraham, in Forsaking the Land of his Nativity at the Command of God

Faith: All Difficulties Overcome By

Faith: All Things should be Done In

Faith: Amaziah, in Dismissing the Ephraimites in Obedience to the Command of God

Faith: And Other Conquests

Faith: At the Death of Korah

Faith: Barnabas

Faith: Believing the Promise of Many Descendants

Faith: Caleb

Faith: Caleb, in Advising to Take the Land of Promise

Faith: Christ is the Author and Finisher of

Faith: Colossians

Faith: Commanded

Faith: Conquest of Jericho

Faith: Conquests By

Faith: Daniel

Faith: Daniel, in the Lions' Den

Faith: David, in Striking Down Goliath

Faith: Elijah, in his Controversy With the Priest of Baal

Faith: Eliphaz, in the Overruling Providence of God, That Afflictions are for the Good of the Righteous

Faith: Enjoined

Faith: Enoch

Faith: Essential to the Profitable Reception of the Gospel

Faith: Ethiopian

Faith: Examine Whether You be In

Faith: Excludes Boasting

Faith: Excludes Self-Justification

Faith: Exemplified

Faith: Ezra, in Making the Journey from Babylon to Jerusalem Without a Military Escort

Faith: Faith in Christ: About Five-Thousand People

Faith: Faith in Christ: About Three-Thousand People on the Day of Pentecost

Faith: Faith in Christ: Abraham

Faith: Faith in Christ: Barnabas

Faith: Faith in Christ: Blind Bartimaeus and a Fellow Blind Man

Faith: Faith in Christ: Colossians

Faith: Faith in Christ: Crispus

Faith: Faith in Christ: Ephesians

Faith: Faith in Christ: Eunice, Lois, and Timothy

Faith: Faith in Christ: Jairus, for the Healing of his Daughter

Faith: Faith in Christ: James and John

Faith: Faith in Christ: Jews at Jerusalem

Faith: Faith in Christ: Jews at Rome

Faith: Faith in Christ: John the Disciple

Faith: Faith in Christ: Lydia

Faith: Faith in Christ: Mary, the Sister of Martha

Faith: Faith in Christ: Multitudes

Faith: Faith in Christ: Nathanael

Faith: Faith in Christ: Peter

Faith: Faith in Christ: Philemon

Faith: Faith in Christ: Philip

Faith: Faith in Christ: Stephen

Faith: Faith in Christ: The Blind Man Whom Jesus Healed on the Sabbath

Faith: Faith in Christ: The Congregation at Thyatira

Faith: Faith in Christ: The Corinthians

Faith: Faith in Christ: The Crippled Man at Lystra

Faith: Faith in Christ: The Disciples, Through the Miracle at Cana of Galilee

Faith: Faith in Christ: The Ethiopian Eunuch

Faith: Faith in Christ: The Nobleman Whose Child Was Sick

Faith: Faith in Christ: The People of Antioch

Faith: Faith in Christ: The People of Joppa

Faith: Faith in Christ: The People of Lydda and S H) Aron

Faith: Faith in Christ: The Philippian Jailor

Faith: Faith in Christ: The Samaritan Leper

Faith: Faith in Christ: The Sick People of Gennesaret

Faith: Faith in Christ: The Syrophoenician Woman

Faith: Faith in Christ: The Wise Men from the East

Faith: Faith in Christ: The Woman Who Anointed Jesus' Feet

Faith: Faith in Christ: The Woman With the Issue of Blood

Faith: Faith in Christ: Thessalonians

Faith: Faith in Christ: Those Who Brought the Paralyzed Man to Jesus

Faith: Faith in Christ: Those Who Brought Those Who Were Sick With Palsy

Faith: Faith in Christ: Through the Preaching of Jesus

Faith: Faith in Christ: Through the Preaching of Philip

Faith: Faith in Christ: Two Blind Men

Faith: General Scriptures Concerning

Faith: Gideon

Faith: Hannah

Faith: Hezekiah

Faith: Impossible to Please God Without

Faith: Isaac

Faith: Jacob

Faith: Jacob, in Blessing Joseph's Sons

Faith: Job

Faith: Jochebed, in Caring for Moses

Faith: Jonathan, in Stricking Down the Philistines

Faith: Joseph

Faith: Joseph, Concerning God's Providence in his Being Sold Into Egypt

Faith: Joseph, in Obeying the Vision About Mary and to Flee Into Egypt

Faith: Justification is By, to be of Grace

Faith: Lois

Faith: Manoah's Wife

Faith: Martha

Faith: Mordecai, in the Deliverance of the Jews

Faith: Moses

Faith: Nathanael

Faith: Necessary in the Christian Warfare

Faith: Ninevites, in Obeying Jonah

Faith: Noah

Faith: Noah, in Building the Ark

Faith: Often Tried by Affliction

Faith: Paul

Faith: Peter

Faith: Pharaoh's Servants, Who Obeyed the Lord

Faith: Philippian Jailor

Faith: Preaching Designed to Produce

Faith: Priests

Faith: Produces an Evidence of the New Birth

Faith: Produces Boldness in Preaching

Faith: Produces Christ Dwells in the Heart By

Faith: Produces Christ is Precious to Those Having

Faith: Produces Confidence

Faith: Produces Hope

Faith: Produces Joy

Faith: Produces Necessary in Prayer

Faith: Produces Peace

Faith: Produces Those Who are not Christ's Have Not

Faith: Protection of, Illustrated: A Breastplate

Faith: Protection of, Illustrated: A Shield

Faith: Rahab

Faith: Rahab, in Hospitality to the Spies

Faith: Romans

Faith: Saints Die In

Faith: Saints should Abound In

Faith: Saints should be Grounded and Settled In

Faith: Saints should be Sincere In

Faith: Saints should be Strong In

Faith: Saints should Continue In

Faith: Saints should Have Full Assurance of

Faith: Saints should Hold, With a Good Conscience

Faith: Saints should Pray for the Increase of

Faith: Saints should Stand Fast In

Faith: Samaritans

Faith: Sergius Paulus

Faith: Shadrach

Faith: Simeon, when he Saw Jesus in the Temple Courtyard

Faith: Stephen

Faith: Sum Total of Religious Belief and Life

Faith: The Disciples

Faith: The Gospel Effectual in Those Who Have

Faith: The Objects of, Are: Christ

Faith: The Objects of, Are: God

Faith: The Objects of, Are: Promises of God

Faith: The Objects of, Are: The Gospel

Faith: The Objects of, Are: Writings of Moses

Faith: The Objects of, Are: Writings of the Prophets

Faith: The Scriptures Designed to Produce

Faith: The Spies, Sent to Reconnoiter Jericho

Faith: The Three Hebrews, Who Refused to Worship Nebuchadnezzars Idol

Faith: The Wicked Destitute of

Faith: The Wicked often Profess

Faith: Thessalonians

Faith: Thomas

Faith: Through It Is: Access to God

Faith: Through It Is: Adoption

Faith: Through It Is: Edification

Faith: Through It Is: Eternal Life

Faith: Through It Is: Inheritance of the Promises

Faith: Through It Is: Justification

Faith: Through It Is: Preservation

Faith: Through It Is: Remission of Sins

Faith: Through It Is: Rest in Heaven

Faith: Through It Is: Salvation

Faith: Through It Is: Sanctification

Faith: Through It Is: Spiritual Life

Faith: Through It Is: Spiritual Light

Faith: Through It Is: The Gift of the Holy Spirit

Faith: Trial of

Faith: Trial of Abraham, when Commanded to Leave his Native Land and to Go where he did not Know

Faith: Trial of Abraham, when Commanded to offer Isaac

Faith: Trial of by the Question of Jesus, As to Who he Was

Faith: Trial of by Their Inability to Cast out the Evil Spirit from the Epileptic Boy

Faith: Trial of Daniel, when Forbidden to Pray to Jehovah

Faith: Trial of Ezra, in Leaving Babylon Without a Military Escort

Faith: Trial of Gideon, when Commanded to Deliver Israel

Faith: Trial of in the Tempest at Sea

Faith: Trial of Job, by Affliction and Adversity

Faith: Trial of Joshua and the People of Israel, in the Method of Taking Jericho

Faith: Trial of Moses, at the Red Sea, by the Complaints of the People

Faith: Trial of Moses, when Sent to Pharaoh

Faith: Trial of Noah

Faith: Trial of of Peter, when Asked Whether he Loved Jesus

Faith: Trial of of Philip, when Questioned by Jesus As to How the Multitude Would be Fed

Faith: Trial of The Disciples, when Jesus Came Walking Upon the Sea of Galilee

Faith: Trial of The Syrophoenician Woman

Faith: Trial of The Three Hebrews, when Commanded to Worship the Image

Faith: Trial of The Two Blind Men Who Appealed to Jesus for Sight

Faith: Trial of, Works Patience

Faith: True, Evidenced by Its Fruits

Faith: Whatever is not of, is Sin

Faith: when Aaron Declared the Mission of Himself and Moses

Faith: Widow of Zarephath in Feeding Elijah

Faith: Woman Who Was a Sinner

Faith: Works by Love

Related Terms

Faith-righteousness (2 Occurrences)

Based (40 Occurrences)

Actions (62 Occurrences)

Assurance (16 Occurrences)

Schoolmaster (3 Occurrences)

Steadfastness (15 Occurrences)

Credited (19 Occurrences)

Access (9 Occurrences)

Author (5 Occurrences)

Strengthened (113 Occurrences)

Credit (39 Occurrences)

Confession (22 Occurrences)

Basis (21 Occurrences)

Circumcised (58 Occurrences)

Apostate (5 Occurrences)

Apostasy (6 Occurrences)

Sorts (65 Occurrences)

Abraham's (34 Occurrences)

Baptismal (1 Occurrence)

Scriptures (25 Occurrences)

Simply (27 Occurrences)

Charity (29 Occurrences)

Cured (62 Occurrences)

Believers (50 Occurrences)

Value (138 Occurrences)

Conduct (93 Occurrences)

Catholic

Accordance (118 Occurrences)

Stronger (59 Occurrences)

Sincere (18 Occurrences)

Spreading (74 Occurrences)

Courage (74 Occurrences)

Breastplate (45 Occurrences)

Verily (146 Occurrences)

Substance (99 Occurrences)

Afterwards (143 Occurrences)

Condemned (49 Occurrences)

Conscious (93 Occurrences)

Solemnly (62 Occurrences)

Cheer (22 Occurrences)

Abel (22 Occurrences)

Saved (183 Occurrences)

Sins (351 Occurrences)

Creeds

Adoption (5 Occurrences)

Vain (141 Occurrences)

Apostles'

Quiet (167 Occurrences)

Sarah (38 Occurrences)

Verity (2 Occurrences)

Common (118 Occurrences)

Scripture (51 Occurrences)

Void (64 Occurrences)

Contrite (5 Occurrences)

Contrition (1 Occurrence)

Conviction (10 Occurrences)

Causing (248 Occurrences)

Convinced (26 Occurrences)

Allows (7 Occurrences)

Accounted (32 Occurrences)

Acquitted (24 Occurrences)

Arises (21 Occurrences)

Adherents (5 Occurrences)

Acceptance (24 Occurrences)

Accepted (82 Occurrences)

Afflictions (24 Occurrences)

Surprised (46 Occurrences)

Striving (33 Occurrences)

Soundness (6 Occurrences)

Sober (18 Occurrences)

Specially (26 Occurrences)

Saving (37 Occurrences)

Strengthen (105 Occurrences)

Strive (64 Occurrences)

Serious (31 Occurrences)

Amen (74 Occurrences)

Ages (114 Occurrences)

Aim (17 Occurrences)

Yea (867 Occurrences)

Faith: Colossians
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