Faith

Definition and Meaning

Faith is trust in God and Jesus Christ and the acceptance as true of the word he has made known. The Korean term mideum (faith) is used almost interchangeably with sinang (信仰, "belief" or "faith"). The Old Testament Hebrew word emunah denotes steadfastness and faithfulness, while the New Testament Greek word pistis denotes trust and loyalty. Protestant theology commonly describes faith in terms of three elements: knowledge of the content of the gospel, assent to its truth, and trust, by which one commits oneself to God.

Biblical and Historical Background

Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Paul, citing Habakkuk 2:4, wrote, "The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17). Ephesians 2:8 states that salvation is grace received through faith. James 2:17, on the other hand, declares that faith without works is dead.

During the sixteenth-century Reformation, Martin Luther championed "faith alone" (sola fide): the teaching that a person is declared righteous not by works but by faith, a doctrine known as justification. This teaching became one of the Five Solas. The Catholic Church has held that justification requires love and good works together with faith, and on this point its understanding has differed from that of Protestantism.

Practice in the Korean Church

In the Korean church, mideum is both a doctrinal term and an everyday word. Attending church is called mideum saenghwal ("the life of faith"), and someone who has believed from childhood, following his or her parents, is said to have motae sinang ("faith from the womb"). A person of deep devotion is described as having "good faith" (mideumi jota), meaning strong or mature faith.

Denominations differ in emphasis:

• The Reformed tradition, including the Presbyterian churches, regards faith as a gift God gives through the Holy Spirit. It takes chapter 14 of the Westminster Confession of Faith, "Of Saving Faith," as its standard and often explains faith in connection with predestination.
• The Wesleyan tradition, including the Methodist and Holiness churches, holds that human beings respond in faith to the grace God first extends. It also stresses that faith must issue in a holy life, that is, in sanctification.
• Baptists hold as a principle that baptism by immersion is administered only to those who have personally professed faith.
• Pentecostal churches, such as the Full Gospel churches, emphasize an active faith that expects answers to prayer and divine healing. When this emphasis is tied to material blessing, it is sometimes criticized as prosperity theology.

The relationship between faith and works, and how to understand assurance of salvation, remain subjects of ongoing discussion among denominations.