Useful Bible Studies > 1 Corinthians Commentary > chapter 12
Faith is a gift that the Holy Spirit gives. So, in the Bible, faith is not merely a belief in something. People can convince themselves about all kinds of things, and they call that: faith. But that is not what the Bible means by ‘faith’.
In the Bible, faith means trust in God. Especially, it refers to trust in God’s promises. God has made a promise, and the person with faith trusts him to do that thing. That person knows that God will not disappoint him. God’s promises are certain. So the person with faith continues to trust God, whatever may happen.
That kind of faith is not just a belief or a thought in a person’s mind. It is not imagination. It is something that God’s Holy Spirit has shown to that person’s spirit (2:9-11). Faith belongs in a person’s spirit and not just the mind. That is why faith is so powerful (Mark 11:22-24)
During his life on earth, Jesus cured people because of faith. After that, God continued to cure people when Christians had faith. Of course, doctors and nurses also make people well. But Paul’s subject here is not the natural, human skill of doctors and nurses; he is discussing gifts of the Holy Spirit.
So, Christians should not think that they can cure people by their prayers or by their own faith (Acts 3:12). It is faith in Christ that cures people (Acts 3:16). It is the Holy Spirit who gives to God’s people the power to pray in faith. This is not a human skill; it is a gift from God.
Next part: More gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.