What Is Faith?

FAITH “I believe with perfect faith…” Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon,1 popularly known as Rambam set forth thirteen principles of faith, which he believed were the minimum requirements of Jewish belief. These principles were controversial when first proposed and were effectively ignored by much of the Jewish community for the next few centuries.2 However, these principles are widely held today. Each of the thirteen principles begins with the phrase, “I believe with perfect faith…”

What is Faith Encarta Dictionary 1. Belief or Trust – Belief in, devotion to, or trust in somebody or something, especially without logical proof 2. Religion/Religious Group: A system of religious belief, or the group of people who adhere to it 3. Trust in God: Belief in and devotion to God 4. Set of Beliefs: A strongly held set of beliefs or principles 5. Loyalty: Allegiance or loyalty to somebody or something Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Simple believe i.e. holding something to be true or factual is a foundational requirement of faith. Faith as, discussed in this Midrash, is impossible without the belief that we are created by dedi against whom we have sinned and have become separated; but, He has provided the means for reconciliation through the sacrifice of His Anointed Son Yahushua. However, faith as discussed here, goes beyond simple belief (James 2:19). Critical components of faith as defined in the Besorah of Yahushua3 1. Things hoped for/Things not seen: Desired and Expected End State, Anticipated Goal Desired End State/Anticipated Goal: Resurrection to Eternal Life, Right to the Tree of Life, Entrance into the Kingdom of God/Heaven, Entrance into the New Jerusalem

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1135-1204 C.E. also compiled a list of 613 commandments "Dogma in Medieval Jewish Thought," Menachem Kellner 3 i.e. the Good News of the Salvation of dedi - Isaiah 52:7 2

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2. Substance/Evidence: Action(s) required to reach the desired end state the accomplishment of which results in discernable progress towards the anticipated goal. Required Actions (i.e. Works) = Substance: 1. Acknowledge, Confess and Repent from Sin (Isaiah 1:17 – 20, 55:6 7; Ezekiel 33:10 – 11, Psalm 51:1, 2nd Chronicles 33:1 - 20, Matthew 3:1 – 2, 4:17, Acts 2:1 – 39, 2nd Peter 3:9) 2. Love dedi with all one’s heart, soul, and might (Deuteronomy 6:5, Mark 12:30) 3. Revere dedi and keeping his commandments (Deuteronomy 10:12-13 and 30:11-14; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Luke 6:46, John 14:1-15) 4. Love one’s neighbor as one’s self (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31)

Evidence of Progress towards Goal: Manifesting the fruits of the spirit (Matthew 5:17, 7:12-23; Galatians 5:14 – 23, 1st John 3:9)

Non-examples of Required Actions 1. Willful selective observance of commandments based on personal preference or convenience (Isaiah 1:10 – 15) Evidence of Noncompliance with Required Actions 1. Continuing in sin and suffering its effects(Isaiah 1:1 – 9)

WORKS What are works? The term “works” is used in various instances throughout the Good News as it pertains to God, the Holy Spirit, the Law, and men. In the absence of a concise definition for “works” in the Good News itself, its meaning must be derived from the context in which it is used. This Midrash focuses primarily on those instances in which the term “works” is used in the context of faith. Following are some definitions pertaining to that context:

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General: Any action taken by an individual regardless of intent or motivation Pertaining to the Law: 1. Attempting to keep the commandments of God either grudgingly, out of fear, out of guilt or out of a sense of compulsion. 2. Attempting to keep the commandments of God for ulterior motives (Matthew 7:21 – 23, 23:1- 39, 2nd Timothy 3:1 – 17)) 3. Following God’s instructions out of genuine love and reverence for God and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (Jeremiah 31:31 – 34, John 14:15 – 21 and 16:13) 4. Good deeds; charitable or righteous acts (Isaiah 58:6 – 7, 1st Timothy 5:9 – 10) The Good News in some passages appears to denounce “works” particularly in comparison to faith (Romans 4:1 – 25, Galatians 3:1 – 29, Hebrews 11:1 - 40). Other passages appear to directly conflict with such denunciations by upholding “works” as essential to faith (Ya’aqob4 2:14 – 26). Ya’aqob, the brother of Yahushua and leader of the Jerusalem assembly, understood the word faith from its Hebraic origin and usage. Based on the literal meaning of its Hebrew root, faith demands “works” or actions. With his Hebraic understanding of the word faith, Ya’aqob went so far as to say, “…faith without works is dead…” Here it is necessary to put “works” in its proper context. Works, with respect to faith, are those necessary actions previously discussed and those as defined in items 3 and 4 above (substance) which result in observable progress (evidence) towards the goal. In light of what appears to be a conflict in the Good News and lacking the Hebraic understanding of the word faith, works and faith are often portrayed as two separate elements of salvation that must be carefully balanced against each other. Not so! Works are integral to and inseparable from faith.

CONCLUSION A life restored by grace and lived in faith results in the fruits of the Spirit, a transformed mind, willing obedience to dedi and the right to the tree of life.

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The Hebrew name Ya’aqob or Jacob in English is rendered James in most English translations as King James deliberately substituted his own name for Ya’aqob in the King James Version (KJV)

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