How Do We Acquire Faith?

Mike Johnson

There are many views concerning how people acquire faith. Some people say the alien sinner is to pray for faith. Others may say that God miraculously strikes a person with faith, and they may cite how they received “theirs” one day in a cornfield. We need to consider what the Bible has to say on this subject. The subjective feelings and speculations of people matter little.

The subject of how to acquire faith is important because faith is essential. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Further, John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Thus, since faith is essential, it is crucial to know how to acquire faith.

The teaching of the Scriptures on this subject is unambiguous. God’s Word, the Bible, is where we acquire our faith. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Furthermore, John 20:31 shows us the effect of the recorded miracles of Christ. It says, “John 20:31, “…but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” In John 17, Jesus prayed for unity among his apostles. He stated in verse 20, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word.” Thus, according to Jesus, belief would come by the preaching of the Apostles. The conversion cases illustrate this point also. With the Corinthians, for example (Acts 18:8), the people heard, believed, and were baptized. (Note also Acts 15:7, 11:13-14; Luke 8:12.)

Many do not have or have become weak in faith. The reason is they have not turned to or have turned from its source. That source is the Bible; it is the producer of our faith.