“But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you–therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 3:6-8).
As mentioned earlier, the concept of faith appears frequently in 1 Thessalonians chapter three and twice within the short passage quoted above. But while faith is a critical component of our relationship with God, some may struggle to accurately define it.
For instance, some believe faith involves “belief without evidence.” We might define this approach as “blind faith” or the type of faith that has no basis in reality. On the other hand, genuine Biblical faith represents “a belief in or confident attitude toward God, involving commitment to His will for one’s life.” (1) That confident assurance is based in part upon the evidential nature of Jesus’ ministry.
For instance, consider how Jesus referenced the tangible evidence He offered concerning Himself…
“Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves” (John 14:11 NIV).
“If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him” (John 10:37-38)
“But I have greater evidence on my side than that of John. The works which the father has given me to complete – these works, which I’m doing, will provide evidence about me, evidence that the father has sent me” (John 5:36 NTE)
Jesus also sought to communicate those evidences to modern-day audiences through the testimony of His first-century followers (and later Biblical authors)…
“I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:20-21).
We should never mistake genuine faith for something that has no basis in reality. Real Biblical faith involves a belief in a God who has already proven Himself through the Scriptures and in the lives of those who sincerely follow Christ. This was the type of faith displayed by the young Thessalonian church, much to Paul the Apostle’s relief and satisfaction.