Faith is the consent of the will to the assent of the understanding. Faith always has in it the idea of action—movement towards its object. It is the soul leaping forth to embrace and appropriate the Christ in whom it believes. It first says: "My Lord and my God," and then falls down and worships.
A distinction between believing about Christ and on Christ is made in John 8:30, 31, R. V.—"Many believed on him…. Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him."
S. THE MEANING OF FAITH IN PARTICULAR:
a) When Used in Connection with the Name of God.
Heb. 11:6—"But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Also Acts 27:22-25; Rom. 4:19-21 with Gen. 15:4-6. There can be no dealings with the invisible God unless there is absolute faith in His existence. We must believe in His reality, even though He is unseen. But we must believe even more than the fact of His existence; namely, that He is a rewarder, that He will assuredly honor with definite blessing those who approach unto Him in prayer. Importunity will, of course, be needed (Luke 11:5-10).
There must be confidence in the Word of God also. Faith believes all that God says as being absolutely true, even though circumstances seem to be against its fulfillment.
b) When Used in Connection with the Person and Work of Christ.
Recall the three elements in faith, and apply them here.
First, there must be a knowledge of the claims of Christ as to His person and mission in the world: As to His person—that He is deity, John 9:35-38; 10:30; Phil. 2:6-ll. As to His work—Matt. 20:28; 26:26-28; Luke 24:27, 44.
Second, there must be an assent to all these claims, John 16:30; 20:28; Matt. 16:16; John 6:68, 69.