“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”  Romans 5: 1-2

Let us look into these verses to see what Scripture says of faith.  The Greek word here for faith is PISTIS.  Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary defines it: primarily, ‘firm persuasion’ a conviction based on hearing…’

Scripture tells us that--
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  
Romans 10:17

The righteous shall live by faith, the Apostle Paul tells us,
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’”  Romans I:16-17

Faith is an indispensable element of our relationship to God,
“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6

Faith is a defensive weapon and part of the full armor of God as we see in Ephesians 6:16,
“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.”

Faith is essential to prayer:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith, without doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven about tossed by the wind.”  James 1:5-6

With Paul we can say,
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

Paul speaking of unity, we see in Ephesians 4:4-6
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  
Hebrews 11:1
And Vs.3
“By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

Hebrews 11 is sometimes called the faith chapter.  Read the chapter and see so many of the verses begin with ‘By faith’!  It is a refresher course of these faithful servants of God and an especially wonderful reminder to us.  They are listed here in the New Testament to point us to the importance of the Old Testament.  The whole Bible is The Book of Jesus!

Thank you Most Holy Lord God for your grace, mercy, love, kindness and goodness.  Oh how we love, worship and adore you.  Amen