The Right Way of Believing
Dearly beloved of God, what is the right way of believing?
The Greek word “pistis” is a noun, and it is translated “faith” in English, while the cognate verb “pisteuo,” is translated “to believe.” They both come from the same word family although you could not tell it from the way they are translated into English.
Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” The article is present in the Greek although it is not translated into English. The use of the article sets this “faith” apart as unique, as one of a kind.
This verse speaks of hearing the Word of God, and believing what God says as opposed to all other ways that we could choose to believe. We are not the ones that determine what is to be believed; God is. Our opinion is insignificant. We are to believe what God says we are to believe.
The verse more accurately reads, “So the [right way of] believing comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of God {OR/ concerning Christ}.” The Working Translation
First, we must hear from God if we are to have the right way of believing. God is the Prime Mover. He informs us of what we are to believe by giving us His Word. The Word of God is the object of “faith” concerning spiritual matters.
The context is speaking about salvation. God informs us what we are to believe if we are to be saved. We are to confess Jesus as Lord, and believe that God raised him from the dead if we are to be saved. That is the right way of believing.
We do not tell God what we choose to believe concerning salvation; He informs us of the right way to believe. He is the Prime Mover. He sent His Son. He raised him from the dead, and He will save those who believe regarding Jesus Christ.
We do not presume to tell God what He is to do because of what we may think; our opinion is insignificant. God informs us what we are to believe. He is the Almighty One, not us. He is the One with the ability, and willingness to perform His Word.
Once people have God’s Word, they can respond to what He says by believing Him: that is the right way of believing.
Biblical believing is to have trust and confidence in the information God reveals, therefore, it is vital that we accurately know what He says we are to believe.
Hebrews 4:2
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith [believing] in them that heard it.
Again, the article precedes the word “faith” in the Greek text. The Word they heard from God did not profit them because it was not mixed with the right way of believing by those who heard it.
Chapter 3 informs us that in the wilderness they would not hear His voice; instead they hardened their hearts, and rebelled against God. Instead of the right way of believing, they had an evil heart of unbelief in withdrawing from the Living God. How are we to walk with God?
Romans 5:2
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
God expects us to walk by believing what He says. The context concerns our hope in Christ.
Hebrews 10:23 WT
Let us hold fast the confession [what is to be confessed] of the hope without wavering, for He Who has promised is faithful.
God expects us to hold fast what He says concerning the hope without wavering. Why? Because He is the One that promised it, and He is the One that with the power to bring it to pass. He that promised is faithful!
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith [believing] is the substance [hupostasis: substance, ground, foundation] of things hoped for, the evidence [elenchus: proof, evidence] of things not seen.
Believing is the foundation of matters hoped for when our believing is founded on the accurate information that God reveals in His Word. [See I Thessalonians 4:13-18 for the Word of the Lord concerning our hope in Christ.]
God is not a man that lies, neither is he the son of man that he should repent: has He said, and shall he not do it, or has He spoken, and shall He not make it good? [See Numbers 23:19]
God’s Word is reliable because He is faithful. He stands behind every word that proceeds out of His mouth, and He is capable of performing it by His almighty power.
He always keeps His Word, therefore, we should believe what He instructs us to believe, whether He speaks of salvation, walking with Him, our hope, or any other subject He addresses. That is the right way of believing, dearly beloved of God.