The second of the six foundations in Hebrews 6:1 is faith toward God. Biblical faith is not positive thinking, not blind optimism, and not a leap in the dark. It is confident trust in what God has said and done — supremely in Jesus Christ. At Grace Fellowship Church in Sarasota, faith is where the Christian life begins, and how it is lived out every day.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” — Hebrews 11:1
The Greek word pistis — translated “faith” — carries the sense of confidence, trust, and dependence. Faith does not create reality. It receives what God has already made real. God speaks first; faith says yes.
This is why Romans 10:17 says “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Biblical faith is not a feeling we summon up. It is a response to what God has revealed. Without the Word, there is nothing to have faith in. With the Word, faith is possible for anyone who will listen.
Abraham is the model. “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform” (Romans 4:20–21). Abraham did not invent something. He trusted what God had spoken.
Real faith has actual content. It believes specific things about God, about Christ, about the gospel. “I know whom I have believed” (2 Timothy 1:12). Faith without content is wishful thinking dressed up.
Beyond data, faith is relational. It trusts the living God personally. It says, “I believe You.” This is the step from knowing about Jesus to knowing Him (John 17:3).
“Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18). Real faith obeys, follows, steps out. A belief that never changes behavior is not biblical faith. It is agreement.
Scripture could not be clearer on this: salvation is received by faith alone, in Christ alone, by grace alone. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9).
Why faith? Because faith looks away from self and toward Christ. Faith is the only posture a sinner can take before a holy God and not be destroyed. Works say, “Look what I have done.” Faith says, “Look what He has done.” The difference is the difference between heaven and hell.
At Grace we preach faith without qualification. Not faith in your faith. Not faith in your sincerity. Not faith in your church attendance. Faith in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ.
“Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” — Hebrews 11:6
Faith saves the sinner. And then faith carries the saint — every day, in every situation — for the rest of life. “The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17). Not “the just shall begin by faith.” Shall live by it.
In suffering, faith holds on to what God has said when the feelings collapse. In temptation, faith preaches the gospel to itself at the moment of decision. In waiting, faith trusts the character of the One who promised. In giving, faith lets go of what cannot be kept. In witness, faith speaks when the room is hostile.
At Grace Fellowship Church in Sarasota, we talk about faith as a daily muscle. The Word feeds it. Prayer exercises it. Community strengthens it. Hardship tests it. And the end of a faithful life is to see in full what we trusted for so long by faith.
Faith is not a one-time decision filed away. It is how a Christian walks every day — obeying by faith, forgiving by faith, suffering by faith, pressing on by faith. And over years of that daily walking, the believer is formed into the likeness of the Son. Faith in motion is sanctification in motion.
— Sundays at 10:00 AM · 4350 17th Street, Sarasota, FL.