Is Faith based on Knowledge?


Faith Based on Knowledge

The Bible teaches that Faith is based on knowledge. There is no such thing as “blind” faith. Genuine faith is built on facts presented to the mind (John 20:30, 31). In the Scriptures, faith and knowledge are never in contradiction. Knowledge always comes before faith, and where there is no knowledge there can be no faith. Without knowledge, it is impossible to have faith.

In John 6:69, Peter said to the Lord: “And we have believed and know that thou art the Holy One of God.” In 2 Timothy 1:12, Paul said “I know him whom I have believed.” The Samaritans told the woman who brought Christ to them, “Now we believe, not because of thy speaking; for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Savior of the world” (John 4:42).

In Hebrews 11, we read about the “Hall of Fame of Faith.” Their faith was great because each person had known God. We read “by faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain…” (11:7), “by faith Noah…prepared an ark to the saving of his house…” (11:7), and that “by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go unto a place which he was to receive as an inheritance…” (11:8). Did these people act without evidence? No.

In these lives, the people acted because they had knowledge upon which to build their faith. Cain and Abel had been taught what would be a “more excellent” sacrifice. Noah was told that a flood will come. Abraham was asked to get out of his home to a place that God will show; he traveled by directions provided by the Almighty. None of these individuals took a “leap of faith.” They all acted because their knowledge produced faith. Thus, we see that faith is knowledge-based! When one gains knowledge of the truth, he works according to the knowledge he has.

God’s wants that “all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). He wants us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). Through such knowledge, we can be saved (1 John 5:13). Jesus said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Truth is easy to understand. But those who reject it will be “without excuse” (Romans 1:20).

In His service,
BibleAsk Team

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