If you were asked to characterize your faith, how would you do so? Perhaps you would characterize it as weak or strong. Maybe you would characterize it as tested and true. Some might even characterize it in terms of the denomination they are a part of. Others could only honestly admit to possessing the faith of their parents. How many would honestly and only characterize their faith as a Biblical faith?

Clearly, not all “faiths” are alike. If we were to take 10 deeply convicted “Christians” and line them up and ask them one of the most fundamental questions, “What must one do to be saved?” … we would likely get 5-8 different answers. Even among the similar answers, we would likely find answers rooted in different schools of thought and sourced from different places.

The word of God is clear on a few points regarding faith.

1. Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). Faith is not optional, it is essential.
2. Faith comes from hearing God’s word (Rom. 10:17). It does matter where our faith is derived from.
3. There is only one faith (Eph. 4:5). While there are many “faiths” in this world, only one faith saves!
4. We walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7). For a faith to save, it must be lived by.

There are some other realities regarding faith we might consider, but one reality  is more personally challenging than most. Paul instructs, so I challenge you, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith...” (2 Cor. 13:5a).

Is your faith rooted in God’s word? Are you walking by God’s precepts? Is your faith pleasing to God? Are you building a Biblical faith?