Faith is significant because it is taking God at His Word — the response He requires, counts as righteousness, and uses to guide believers.
Faith is not a vague belief; it is the God-ordained response to what He has spoken. The Bible shows that without faith it is impossible to please God, and both Noah and Abraham were counted righteous because they believed God. Les Feldick teaches that this same faith — taking God at His Word — is the foundation of salvation and the Christian walk.
Hebrews 11:1 — This verse gives the Bible's direct definition of faith.
Hebrews 11:6 — This verse explains why faith is absolutely necessary to please God.
Genesis 15:6 — This verse shows the defining example of faith being counted as righteousness.
The Bible defines and demonstrates faith in several places. Hebrews 11:1 says, 'Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.' Hebrews 11:6 adds, '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.' The example of Noah shows that true faith responds to God's Word. Warned by God about things not yet seen, Noah prepared an ark and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith (Hebrews 11:7). In the same way, Genesis 15:6 says of Abraham, 'And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.' Romans 10:17 explains how faith comes: 'So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.'
Les Feldick consistently defines faith as 'taking God at His Word.' He says this is the best definition he has found, and it means that when a person reads something in Scripture, he or she believes it because God said it — even if it cannot be fully understood. He insists this is not blind faith; it is documented faith, because the Word itself proves its validity. Les applies this definition to salvation and to the Christian life. He uses Romans 4 to show that Abraham was not saved by works but by faith. Abraham believed God, and God accounted it to him as righteousness. In the same way, when a person today trusts that Christ died to pay for sin, God sees that faith as salvation. Les also stresses that faith is not a one-time event; it guides believers through all of their Christian experience and teaches them how to walk.
Faith is not merely mental agreement. When God warned Noah about a flood that had never been seen, Noah moved with fear and prepared an ark. In the same way, Les says that when believers get into the Book and see what it says by faith, they will take appropriate action. Faith expresses itself in doing what God has said.
Les teaches that the first step in salvation is to believe what the Book says about yourself — that you are short of God's glory. That is taking God at His Word concerning yourself. From that starting point, faith continues to guide the believer through the whole Christian life.
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Les says a person cannot exercise faith until God speaks. Joseph could not have faith that Israel would leave Egypt unless God had said they would. The Bible is the documented basis for faith, which keeps faith from being blind.
Les describes salvation faith as a concerted faith and trust in the very act of God — that God Himself paid the penalty for all our sin. Christ would have gone to the cross even if only one person lived. When a person honestly believes this, God sees that faith as salvation, just as Abraham's faith was counted as righteousness.
Noah's Faith and Righteousness by Faith
Les shows that Noah's faith was acting on God's warning about a flood even though rain had never fallen. That faith made Noah heir of righteousness.
Abraham's Faith Counted as Righteousness
Les follows Paul's argument in Romans 4: Abraham was not saved by works but by faith. When he believed God, God accounted it to him as righteousness.
Faith as Substance and Evidence
Les quotes Hebrews 11:1 and insists his faith is not blind but documented in the Word of God.
Faith Guides the Christian Experience
Les says faith is the first step in salvation and then continues to guide believers through their entire Christian walk.
Faith Is Taking God at His Word
Les gives his core definition: faith is taking God at His Word. Even when a person cannot understand something, he or she believes it because God said it.
Believing in God vs. Believing God
Les distinguishes between believing in God and believing God. Biblical faith is taking what God says and believing it.
Faith for Salvation and the Christian Walk
Les applies faith to both salvation and everyday obedience. Taking heed to the Word of God is the same as faith.
Faith Comes by Hearing God's Word
Les says faith comes by hearing the Word of God. A person cannot exercise faith until God speaks, as seen in Joseph's confidence in God's promise.
Hebrews 11:1: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
This verse provides the Bible's foundational definition of faith.
Hebrews 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.
This verse shows that faith is indispensable to a relationship with God.
Hebrews 11:7: By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
This verse demonstrates the kind of responsive faith that God counts as righteousness.
Genesis 15:6: And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
This verse records the foundational example of Abraham's faith being counted as righteousness.
Romans 10:17: So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
This verse explains that faith is born from hearing and receiving God's Word.
Romans 4:3: For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
This verse confirms that the Old Testament pattern of faith was not by works but by believing God.
Faith is taking God at His Word. Hebrews 11:1 says faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. When a person reads what God has promised and believes it because God said it, that is faith.
Hebrews 11:6 says without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith is the response God requires, and He counts it as righteousness. In Scripture, both Noah and Abraham were righteous because they believed what God said.
No. Les Feldick teaches that many people believe in God, but biblical faith is believing God — taking what He says and believing it. That distinction is where true faith begins.
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