And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32
     (The following article is from the website http://www.bible-infonet.org.)

I. Introduction.
     A. The word "faith" is a New Testament word. It is found 231
          times in the King James translation, and occurs only twice in
          the Old Testament.
     B. The words "believe, believing, believeth, belief" occur 179
          times in the King James translation--21 times in the Old
          Testament and 158 times in the New Testament.
     C. The importance of faith.
          1. Faith saves (Heb. 11:6; John 3:16; John 3:36; Eph. 2:8).
II. How Does Faith Come?
     A. Some say faith comes by direct, immediate operation of the
          Holy Spirit, separate from the Bible, in an incomprehensible
          experience.
     B. The New Testament tells us faith is the result of knowledge.
          1. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word
               of God" (Rom 10:17 KJV). The American Standard translates
               the verse, "So then belief cometh by hearing . . . ."
               "Belief" and "faith" are interchangeable in Bible usage.
          2. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which
               shall believe on me through their word" (John 17:20 KJV).
          3. "And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up,
               and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a
               good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles
               by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and
               believe" (Acts 15:7 KJV).
          4. "Many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were
               baptized" (Acts 18:8 KJV).
          5. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall
               be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they
               have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of
               whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without
               a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be
               sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them
               that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of
               good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel.
               For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?"
               (Rom. 10:13-16 KJV).
               Note: You cannot call on God without believing in God.
               Note: You cannot believe in God without hearing, i.e.,
                    receiving information.
               Note: You cannot hear without a preacher.
               Note: They cannot preach except they be sent.
               Note: "It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to
                    save them that believe" (1 Cor.1:21).
     C. Faith therefore is not a leap in the dark. It comes from
          knowing facts and having considered evidence.
III. What is Saving Faith?
     A. Misconceptions.
          1. All faith is saving faith.
          2. The New Testament speaks of different kinds of faith.
               There is a faith that will save, and there is a faith
               that will not save.
               Note: Many Jewish rulers believed on Jesus but would
               not confess him because they feared the Pharisees and
               being put out of the synagogue (John 12:42-43).
               Note: Demons believe and shudder, but demons will not
                    be saved (James 2:19).
     B. Saving faith is conviction based on facts and manifested by
          obedeince.
          1. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the
               evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1 KJV)--The
               American Standard says, "Now faith is assurance of
               things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen."
               Note: Saving faith is substance, evidence, conviction,
                    assurance. We must not believe because of
                    convenience and prejudice. Faith is conviction
                    based on evidence. The word translated
                    "evidence" or "conviction" in Hebrews 11:1 means
                    "reproof," denoting a proof, proving, test (See
                    Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament
                    Words).
          2. At Pentecost the people were presented with proof that
               Jesus is Lord, and were then told to believe it
               absolutely. "Let all the house of Israel therefore know
               assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ,
               this Jesus whom ye crucified" (Acts 2:36).
               Note: Faith does not end with sight!
               Note: Paul saw the risen Jesus and said, "That I may
                    know him, and the power of his resurrection"
                    (Phil. 3:10). "I know him whom I have believed"
                    (2 Tim. 1:12).
               Note: Paul had knowledge born of sight, but he believed
                    on Jesus. "That life which I now live in the flesh
                    I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of
                    God" (Gal. 2:20).
          3. Saving faith illustrated in Hebrews chapter eleven.
               Note: Abel "offered" (v. 4); Noah "moved with Godly
               fear" (v. 7); Abraham "obeyed" (v. 8); The walls of
               Jericho after them were "compassed about seven days"
               (v. 30).
               Note: In the Bible, no person was ever blessed because
                    of his faith until that faith manifested itself
                    in an overt act of obedience.
          4. James 2:14-26 defines the faith principle as inclusive
               of obedience to God -- works of righteousness.
               Note: Faith without works is dead (James 2:17).
               Note: Cannot show faith apart from works (James 2:18).
               Note: Demons believe and shudder (James 2:19).
               Note: Faith without works is barren (James 2:20).
               Note: Abraham was justified by faith because of what he
                    did (offered Isaac upon the altar) (James 2:21).
               Note: Abraham's faith produced works and works made his
                    faith perfect (complete) (James 2:22).
               Note: We are not justified by faith only (James 2:24).
               Note: Faith without works is as dead and useless as a
                    body without a spirit (James 2:26).
     D. Saving faith must do something (obey). The faith that makes
          us acceptable to God is a conviction that grows out of
          knowledge and that compels absolute obedience to rules,
          principles, and standards.
          1. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark
               16:16; See also Gal. 3:26-27).
          2. Be faithful at all cost, even death, and receive a crown
               (Rev. 2:10).

     [EGW editor’s note:  This article was first posted here in 2003.  When I last tested these three links to www.bible-infonet.org on July 18, 2014, the website was not online and the domain name was listed as being for sale.  Presumably the email address is no longer valid as well.  I did not attempt to test the mailing address or phone number.
     According to 1 Peter 3:21, baptism saves us through the resurrection of Christ.  Peter says quite plainly that baptism is not a bath for washing away dirt, but that it is how a good conscience answers God.  Doesn’t it makes sense that if God asks and instructs people to become Christians by being buried & raised with Christ in baptism, the person conscientious of God would want to please Him by obeying Him according to His wishes?
    Click here to locate more Exploring God’s Word articles on the subject of faith; or the subject of baptism.]