Many people place great importance on faith in their religious activities, and faith is indeed most important in the sight of God, for in Hebrews 11:6 we are told that "without faith it is impossible to please Him." 

Faith is based on many things by various people.  Some put their faith in men -- their preacher, their parents, or some scholar.  Others have a tendency to trust their emotions -- a "better-felt-than-told feeling."  However, the Bible definition of scriptural faith is found in Hebrews 11:1,  "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says  "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.'' It is only to the scripture we can go to find the source of scriptural faith. 

According to Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."  Before anyone can have scriptural faith, he must first hear what God has revealed in His word, for we cannot know anything about the mind of God except what He has revealed.  According to 1 Corinthians 2:11 "For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?  Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." 

If God's mind has not been revealed on a matter by the Holy Spirit in the scriptures, man has absolutely no basis for faith in the matter.  He has no assurance on which to base his conviction. 

Hebrews 11 mentions several accounts of those who lived by faith in the Old Testament, and why they were deemed faithful in God's sight.   "By faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice" (v. 4); "By faith Abraham . . . obeyed" (v. 8); "By faith Moses" chose to suffer affliction with God's people, forsook Egypt, kept the Passover, and passed through the Red Sea on dry land (vv. 24-29).  In all these examples, as well as scores of others, we see that it was by their faith in God's word, and nothing else, that prompted their actions.  In many cases they could not understand the reason or logic in the commands God gave.  That is where real scriptural faith comes in. 

There are many man-made creeds and doctrines in the world today, many partially based on the Truth; but a partial truth is not a truth at all. 

We are to obey everything that God's word commands, no more and no less. 

"We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). 

Faith in God's word requires repentance (Luke 13:3); confession of Christ as the Son of God (Matthew 10:32-33); and baptism for the remission of sins (Mark 16:15-16; Romans 6:4-6).  This is the beginning of faith to which is added virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love as maturity in Christ is gained throughout our lives (2 Peter 1:5-11).