Fé: o que é, como funciona e sua prática diária

O que é a fé segundo a Bíblia

A fé bíblica é a certeza convicta das promessas de Deus e a prova daquilo que os olhos naturais não conseguem ver (Hebreus 11:1). Longe de ser otimismo ingênuo ou pensamento positivo, ela é uma confiança ativa no caráter e na fidelidade daquele que prometeu.

Na tradição bíblica, ter fé envolve crer que Deus existe e confiar que ele cuida daqueles que o buscam sinceramente.

1 Now faith is [the] substance of things hoped for, [the] proof of matters not being seen,(Hebrews 11:1)

6 and apart from faith it is impossible to please [Him], for it is required of him who is coming to God to believe that He exists and [that] He becomes a rewarder to those seeking Him.(Hebrews 11:6)

11 And by faith Sarah, herself barren, received power to conceive seed even after the time of life, seeing she judged Him who promised faithful;(Hebrews 11:11)

2 looking to the Author and Perfecter of the faith—Jesus, who, for the joy set before Him, endured a cross, having despised shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God;(Hebrews 12:2)

38 but, "The righteous will live by faith; and if he may draw back, My soul has no pleasure in him."(Hebrews 10:38)

Salvação e justificação mediante a fé

No coração do Novo Testamento está o ensino de que a reconciliação com Deus não é conquistada por mérito ou esforço próprio, mas recebida como presente pela fé em Jesus Cristo. Essa mensagem atravessa as cartas apostólicas: a fé acolhe o favor imerecido de Deus e produz paz duradoura com o Criador.

Essa confiança não brota do vazio, mas nasce ao ouvir a mensagem do evangelho.

8 for by grace you are saved, through faith, and this [is] not of yourselves—[it is] the gift of God, 9 not of works, that no one may boast;(Ephesians 2:8,9)

17 For the righteousness of God in it is revealed from faith to faith, according as it has been written: "And the righteous one will live by faith,"(Romans 1:17)

5 and to him who is not working, and is believing on Him who is declaring righteous the impious, his faith is reckoned for righteousness—(Romans 4:5)

1 Having been declared righteous, then, by faith, we have peace toward God through our Lord Jesus Christ,(Romans 5:1)

10 for with the heart [one] believes to righteousness, and with the mouth is confession made to salvation;(Romans 10:10)

17 So then faith [is] by a report, and the report through a saying of God,(Romans 10:17)

20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me; and that which I now live in the flesh—I live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me;(Galatians 2:20)

26 for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for as many as were immersed into Christ put on Christ;(Galatians 3:26,27)

A fé na oração e diante do impossível

Nos Evangelhos, Jesus repetidamente desafiou as pessoas a confiarem no poder soberano de Deus. Ter fé na oração não significa tentar manipular a vontade divina, mas reconhecer que Deus pode agir além dos limites humanos.

Mesmo uma fé pequena como um grão de mostarda é suficiente quando repousa no Deus Todo-Poderoso.

20 And Jesus said to them, "Through your want of faith; for truly I say to you, if you may have faith as a grain of mustard, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible to you,(Matthew 17:20)

21 And Jesus answering said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you may have faith, and may not doubt, not only this of the fig tree will you do, but even if to this mountain you may say, Be lifted up and be cast into the sea, it will come to pass;(Matthew 21:21)

22 and all—as much as you may ask in the prayer, believing, you will receive."(Matthew 21:22)

29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you,"(Matthew 9:29)

28 then answering, Jesus said to her, "O woman, great [is] your faith, let it be to you as you will"; and her daughter was healed from that hour.(Matthew 15:28)

23 And Jesus said to him, "If you are able to believe! All things are possible to the one that is believing";(Mark 9:23)

22 And Jesus answering says to them, "Have faith from God;(Mark 11:22)

24 Because of this I say to you, all whatever—praying—you ask, believe that you receive, and it will be to you.(Mark 11:24)

37 because nothing will be impossible with God."(Luke 1:37)

Fé prática: obras, caráter e perseverança

A Escritura distingue a fé genuína de uma mera afirmação teórica. O apóstolo Tiago enfatiza que a fé verdadeira inevitavelmente transparece em ações de justiça, obediência e cuidado com o próximo. Sem frutos concretos, qualquer profissão de fé torna-se vazia.

Nas dificuldades e provações diárias, essa mesma fé funciona como um escudo contra o desespero e serve para amadurecer a perseverança cristã.

26 For as the body apart from [the] spirit is dead, so also the faith apart from works is dead.(James 2:26)

3 knowing that the proof of your faith works endurance,(James 1:3)

5 And if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from God, who is giving to all generously, and not reproaching, and it will be given to him; 6 but let him ask in faith, doubting nothing, for he who is doubting has been like a wave of the sea, driven by wind and tossed; 7 for do not let that man suppose that he will receive anything from the LORD— 8 a soul-split man [is] unstable in all his ways.(James 1:5-8)

6 in which you are glad, a little now, if it be necessary, being made to sorrow in various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith—much more precious than gold that is perishing, and being approved through fire—may be found to [result in] praise, and honor, and glory, at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom, having not seen, you love, in whom, now believing [although] not seeing, you are glad with unspeakable joy and have been filled with glory, 9 receiving the outcome of the faith—salvation of your souls;(1 Peter 1:6-9)

9 whom you must resist, steadfast in the faith, having known the same sufferings of your brotherhood to be accomplished in the world.(1 Peter 5:9)

16 in all, having taken up the shield of faith, in which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one,(Ephesians 6:16)

2 and if I have prophecy, and know all the secrets, and all the knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, and do not have love, I am nothing;(1 Corinthians 13:2)

13 Watch, stand in the faith; be men, be strong;(1 Corinthians 16:13)

7 for we walk through faith, not through sight—(2 Corinthians 5:7)

Confiança no dia a dia e a promessa da vida eterna

Viver pela fé significa abrir mão da autossuficiência e permitir que a sabedoria de Deus guie escolhas, relacionamentos e caminhos cotidianos. Mesmo diante do sofrimento ou da morte, o cristão apoia sua esperança na promessa da ressurreição e da vida plena com Cristo.

5 Trust to YHWH with all your heart, || And do not lean to your own understanding. 6 In all your ways know Him, || And He makes your paths straight.(Proverbs 3:5,6)

15 For thus said Lord YHWH, || The Holy One of Israel: "In returning and rest you are saved, || In keeping quiet and in confidence is your might," || And you have not been willing.(Isaiah 30:15)

13 and the God of the hope will fill you with all joy and peace in the believing, for your abounding in the hope in power of the Holy Spirit.(Romans 15:13)

11 and you, O man of God, flee these things, and pursue righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance, meekness.(1 Timothy 6:11)

7 I have striven the good strife, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;(2 Timothy 4:7)

13 if we are not steadfast, He remains steadfast; He is not able to deny Himself.(2 Timothy 2:13)

4 because everyone who is begotten of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcame the world—our faith.(1 John 5:4)

16 for God so loved the world that He gave the only begotten Son, that everyone who is believing in Him may not perish, but may have continuous life.(John 3:16)

35 And Jesus said to them, "I AM the bread of life; he who is coming to Me may not hunger, and he who is believing in Me may not thirst—at any time;(John 6:35)

25 Jesus said to her, "I AM the resurrection, and the life; he who is believing in Me, even if he may die, will live; 26 and everyone who is living and believing in Me will not die—throughout the age;(John 11:25,26)

15 Behold, He slays me—I do not wait! Only, I argue my ways to His face.(Job 13:15)