In Romans 3:3, we encounter a bold statement from Paul about God. He says, ‘For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?’ Paul’s question forces all readers of the bible to ask, ‘What is the faith of God?’

A quick search on the internet will leave a searcher wanting concerning any explanation about the ‘faith of God’ because any description of the attributes of God leaves out faith. Two posts touch on the topic of which one is a post by a Latter-day Saint.¹ I did tackle this concept when I asked, ‘Does God exercise faith?’

I believe that this attribute of God has fallen from the Christian conversation due to a belief in a timeless and fixed future omniscient God. Most Christians would not even assign faith to God. Latter-day Saint Christians must tackle this attribute in God as the Lectures on Faith is explicit on His faith. Many Latter-day Saints struggle with understanding the faith of God due to the definitions of faith in the Book of Mormon that imply a lack of perfect knowledge. We read in Alma 32:26 and 32:21 that ‘faith is not a perfect knowledge’ and that ‘if we have faith we hope for things which are not seen, which are true’.

Some create two distinct types of faith where Alma’s definitions do not relate to God’s faith and others include Alma’s definition for all intelligent beings (God and us). In the next three sections (The two faiths, The Lectures of Faith on Faith, and Other Latter-day definitions of faith) I share quotes on faith. Finally, I will pull many of the quotes together to describe The faith of God.

The two faiths

Bruce R. McConkie defines two faiths in his book The New Witness to the Articles of Faith (pp.209-10). Notice how he imposes a timeless or future knowledge into the definition of God’s faith and then defines a mortal man’s faith as existing where knowledge is not complete. First, the definition of God’s faith under a belief of timelessness and fixed future perfect omniscience.

In the eternal sense because faith is the power of God himself, it embraces within its fold a knowledge of all things. This measure of faith, the faith by which the worlds are and were created and which sustains and upholds all things, is found only among resurrected persons. It is the faith of saved beings.

Then an alternate definition of faith for mortals.

But mortals are in process, through faith, of gaining eternal salvation. Their faith is based on a knowledge of the truth, within the meaning of Alma’s statement that ‘faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things,’ but that men have faith when they ‘hope for things which are not seen, which are true.’ In this sense, faith is both preceded and supplanted by knowledge, and when any person gains a perfect knowledge on any given matter, then as pertaining to that thing, he has faith no longer; or, rather, his faith is dormant; it has been supplanted by pure knowledge. (see Alma 32:21-34)

I do agree that the faith of saved beings and God is much more developed than mortal man’s faith. An immortal body may magnify our potential to exercise faith.

The Lectures of Faith on Faith

I don’t see a differentiation of faiths between God and man in the Lectures on Faith. I see Sydney Rigdon, Joseph Smith, and the others at the School of the Elders explaining one faith.

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (11:3). By this we understand that the principles of power which existed in the bosom of God, by which he framed the worlds, was faith; and that it is by reason of this principle of power existing in the Deity that all created things exist; so that all things in heaven, on earth, or under the earth exist by reason of faith as it existed in him. Had it not been for the principle of faith, the worlds would never have been framed, neither would man have been formed of the dust. It is the principle by which Jehovah works and through which he exercises power over all temporal as well as eternal things. Take this principle or attribute (for it is an attribute) from the Deity and he would cease to exist. Who cannot see that if God framed the worlds by faith, it is by faith that he exercises power over them, and faith is the principle of power? And if it is the principle of power in the Deity, it must be so in man as well? This is the testimony of all the sacred writer and the lessons which they have been endeavoring to teach to man.

Other Latter-day definitions of faith

The other definitions of faith that I can find do not differentiate the faith of mortals and God - although most of the definitions appear to be discussing mortal man without explicit statements of the definitions relating to God. Dennis F. Rasmussen does seem to be including God in his definitions when he writes What Faith is.

James E. Talmage on Faith

At this point, it may be useful to go to the original Articles of Faith book by James E. Talmage² to see how he defines faith. Notice how he wraps faith tightly together with a future.

Faith a Principle of Power.—In its widest sense, faith,—the assurance of things for which we hope, and the evidence of things not discernible through our senses,—is the motive principle that impels men to resolve and to act. Without its exercise, we would make no exertion the results of which are future: without faith that he may gather in the autumn, man would not plant in the spring; neither would he essay to build, did he not have confidence that he would finish the structure and enjoy its use; had the student no faith in the possibility of successfully following his studies, he would not enter upon his courses. Faith thus becomes to us the foundation of hope, from which spring all our aspirations, ambitions, and confidences for the future. Remove man’s faith in the possibility of any desired success, and you rob him of the incentive to strive. He would not stretch forth his hand to seize did he not believe in the possibility of securing that for which he reaches. This principle becomes therefore the impelling force by which men struggle for excellence, oftentimes enduring vicissitudes and suffering that they may achieve their purposes. Faith is the secret of ambition, the soul of heroism, the motive power of all effort.

He then goes on to explain how the faith of man and God must work together to bring future desired events to fruition.

But, it may be argued that faith of itself is not a source of power; that its effect is due to an external interposition of Divine aid, which faith merely secured; and the skeptic may add that an omniscient God, if truly loving and kind, would act independently and give without waiting to be invoked through faith or prayer. A sufficient answer is found in the abundant proof furnished by the scriptures, that the Almighty operates in accordance with law; and that arbitrary and capricious action is foreign to His nature. However the laws of heaven may have been formulated, the application of their beneficent provisions to humanity is dependent on the faith and obedience of the mortal subjects. Consider the defeat of Israel by the men of Ai; a law of righteousness had been violated, and things that were accursed had been introduced into the camp of God’s people this transgression stopped the current of Divine help, and until the people had sanctified themselves, the power was not renewed unto them. Christ was influenced, and to some extent controlled in His miracles among men by the faith or lack of faith of the people. The common benediction, “Thy faith hath made thee whole,” with which He announced the healing interposition, is evidence of the fact. Then we learn that in His own country He could do no mighty work, being restrained by the unbelief of the people.

Boyd K. Packer on Faith

Boyd K. Packer provides an impactful definition of faith;³

Faith, to be faith, must center around something that is not known. Faith, to be faith, must go beyond that for which there is confirming evidence. Faith, to be faith, must go into the unknown. Faith, to be faith, must walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness. If everything has to be known, if everything has to be explained, if everything has to be certified, then there is no need for faith. Indeed, there is no room for it. (Elder Boyd K. Packer, “What is Faith,” Faith, Deseret Book Company, 1983, p. 42)

David A. Bednar on Faith

David A. Bednar states a definition as well;

Three key elements of faith, then, are highlighted in this verse from Hebrews and in the teachings of the Prophet Joseph: (1) faith is the assurance of things hoped for, (2) faith is the evidence of things not seen, and (3) faith is the principle of action in all intelligent beings.

Let me describe these three elements of faith in another way. Faith in the Savior simultaneously faces the future, looks to the past, and initiates action.

Dennis F Rasmussen on Faith

Dennis was an associate professor of philosophy at BYU when he penned this definition.

Because we are intelligent beings who possess faith as well as hope, the things we seek in the future can affect our present plans. … When God gave man dominion over the earth, he did so because man, as an intelligent being, had the power to act by faith, and thus to act like God. Man’s task, within the sphere of his stewardship, is to continue the work of creation by the principle of faith, shaping the future in accordance with this principle.

…

The future is a realm of ends, but some of them exclude each other. An action that will achieve one end, such as traveling, excludes another, that of staying home instead. In facing the future, then, faith is always confronted with choices. It must seek one end or another, but it cannot seek all ends. And even though it sets for itself as its highest end the achievement of happiness, faith must still choose among various particular actions.

…

As a single example of the kind of commitment made by this inward activity of the soul in accordance with virtue, think of the act of promising. Only intelligent beings, beings capable of faith, can make a promise. But what is a promise? A promise is more than a spoken utterance and more than a written agreement, though these external things may manifest it. First and foremost, a promise is a self-chosen act of will that remains fixed and unchanging over a span of time reaching into the future. Some promises, such as legal contracts, have a specified period of duration. Other promises, such as those we call sacred covenants, have no temporal limit. They reach out into the future forever. How much faith and hope does it take to make and then to keep such covenants?

The faith of God

So we are left to discern what the Faith of God is and how similar the definition of Man’s faith is to God’s. As I have shown above, some LDS have proposed that there is an all knowledge faith and limited knowledge faith. My concern is that I can’t find any scriptural justification that any faith, including God’s faith, can exist with fixed future perfect knowledge (the traditional definition of omniscience).

If faith ‘must center around something that is not known’, then what is it that is not known to God? God is omniscient and must know all that is knowable. He knows all of history perfectly, all humankind’s hearts to the depths, and all current conditions of the universe, but something must be unknown to God for Him to have that attribute of faith. My proposal is the future choices of agents are contingent and thus not entirely, or precisely, knowable until we choose. God can exercise faith in the unknown, not perfectly explainable and certified agency of His children and shape a future in accordance with His will.

Faith is the message of John’s announcement in the New Testament, ‘In the beginning was the Word’ to declare the power of Christ in the plan of salvation. His word could be spoken and guarantee salvation to all that choose Him due to His faith from the beginning. Christ’s faith was of such greatness that He could speak and no other intelligent beings could force Him to break is promise of a future atonement. God, as the only being that is capable of keeping His promises without variability⁴, is the only one in whom we should put our faith. Hence, when we talk of faith, we always speak of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Only God is capable of the type of faith that can make a self-chosen act of will that remains fixed and unchanging over a span of time reaching into the endless future.

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