Supposedly, there is a difference between Belief and Faith. In reality, the two are almost the same. Belief is the acceptance of concepts you have no evidence or proof of. Faith, goes a step farther and puts confidence or action in that which you accept as truth. However, in the Bible, in most places Belief and Faith are used interchangeably. Isn’t faith also accepting something as true when there is no evidence to support one’s belief?
An example of this is where James says: “…Faith without works is dead”. If you said Belief without Works is dead, it would mean the exact same thing. The reason is because of the way these two words evolved in their meaning over hundreds of years.
The word translated to faith from Greek, “Pistis”, meant “good faith, trust and reliability”.
Belief, originally was born out of two words: “Be” and “lief”. The word “leubh” the an Indio-European word which means – love, is where the part “lief” originated from.
So Belief originally meant to “be” in “love” with. This word eventually morphed into roughly something similar to faith. Belief, like love, can be subjective — not necessarily from concepts that are based on fact.
Faith and Belief
The main difference between these two words is that Belief can be used as a verb and Faith cannot. Belief is subjective and though Faith can also subjective, it has the added connotation of having trust and reliability.
Belief and Truth
Now these two are almost exact opposites. Belief is accepting something you have little or no evidence of. Belief is subjective, it can be based on feelings or opinions.
However, Truth is much different, it is something you KNOW to be a fact because of the evidence — there is no need to believe. Truth is objective, it is what it is no matter what anyone believes, feels or what someone’s opinion is. Truth is Truth regardless of anyone’s opinion. Someone’s opinion may change, but not the Truth — Truth is absolute.
Belief is the substance of the deceived, the evidence of fantasy.
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“Ye shall KNOW the truth…”, not BELIEVE the truth. “…and the Truth will set you free” — from the bondage of lies.
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It takes belief to be deceived. Without belief it is impossible to be deceived.
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Belief makes it possible and easy to be deceived.
You have to believe something, that’s true, and it’s alright, but you don’t have to believe a lie. Don’t just accept something as truth, just because someone said it.
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Question, question, question… Use critical and logical reasoning. That’s why God gave you a brain — use it!
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Logic reveals the difference between the Truth and a Lie. Truth can withstand Logic the Lie can not. Truth is fact based, untruth is based on fantasy.
Those of whom Jesus spoke had belief in him, because they called him, “Lord, Lord…” and said, “have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?“
But can belief in Jesus get one into the Kingdom of Heaven? Obviously not, since Jesus said it’s only the ones who have done the will of God that get in. “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Mat 7:21-23)
How about the virgins of Matthew 25 who believed in Jesus and also said “Lord, Lord“, and asked him to open for them? And because they were not ready he told them, “I don’t know you.”
The False Prophets that come in his name
For many shall come in my name, saying (that) I am (the) Christ; and shall deceive many. (Mat 24:5)
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. (Mat 24:11)
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. (Mar 13:6)
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying (that) I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. (Lk 21:8)
So even though they had faithfully gone to church, cast out devils in Jesus’ name, and even those who were virgins — all believing in Jesus, didn’t get into Heaven. They have to “go out” again. It is evident that believing in Jesus alone will not get one into Heaven — no matter what they believe. So if they don’t get into Heaven where do they go? To Hell? No.
“They are like the wind that goes wherever it will, but you can’t tell where it comes from or where it’s going.” That’s what those that are are like who are “born of the spirit”.
At the right time that spirit is “born again” with a new chance to try and get it right, and go through the process of perfection and purification again. (Jn 3) And they will continue with this process until they are finally accepted to enter into the kingdom of Heaven. And what determines who is accepted to enter?
It’s like James said: Faith (belief) without works (of righteousness) is dead. (Jam 2:26)
The works of righteousness is the will of his Father in Heaven — he made a very good list of those kinds of works in Matthew 25.
This is contrary to what Paul taught: NOT by works of righteousness which we have done, but by his mercy he saved us… (Tit 3:5)
So, it’s not belief that will get you into the Kingdom of Heaven — it is the “works of Righteousness” that YOU have done — NOT what Christ has done.
The truth is that the time does NOT “draw near”. The time has always been near and you never know when the time is for YOU personally!
Therefore be YE also ready: for in such an hour as YE think not the Son of man cometh (Mat 24:44)
Next: Ebionites | Earliest Jewish Believers: Ebionites Part 1