Creation is filled with evidence pointing to God’s existence and power. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead…” (Romans 1:20). Though we cannot see God, His handiwork is all around us.

We are made aware of God’s existence through the things that are made, but the only way to truly know Him is through His inspired word. “‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:10-11).

By His word, God reveals things about Himself and about reality that are not possible for men to discover on their own. He reveals His eternal nature, sin and salvation, heaven, the angels, and much more. We cannot see these things, but we can know about them. How? By faith, because God reveals them to us through His word.

 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Hearing God’s word is the only way we can begin to have a faith that is pleasing to God.

This brings up an important question. If faith that pleases God comes by hearing His word, what about beliefs we may have about God or spiritual things that cannot be found in the Bible?

Many religious doctrines taught today either cannot be found in the Scriptures or created by twisting the Scriptures (taking them out of context). Concerning those doctrines, the apostle John said, “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9).

There are also gospels (messages that offer salvation) being taught today that cannot be found in the Scriptures. Different gospels began to be taught as early as the first century. The apostle Paul addressed this problem in Galatians 1:6-9: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”

These things teach us that not just any gospel can save and not just any faith is pleasing to God. There is “one faith” just as there is also “one hope” according to God’s promises (Ephesians 4:4-5).

How can we know whether our current beliefs agree with the one faith God revealed in the Bible? How can we know whether our faith is pleasing to God?

The simple answer is, we need to test our faith. Since “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God,” we need to compare our current beliefs against what the Bible says. That’s what Paul says to do in 2 Corinthians 13:5: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you are disqualified.”

It may be that we will find some areas where we need to change our thinking. That’s a good thing. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul says that’s exactly why God gave us His word. It is “Profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

That fact is, there isn’t a single person alive on earth that has perfect understand and faith in all things. Even the apostle Paul said late into his life, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me” (Philippians 3:12). God’s word is perfect, but men always have room to grow.

Faith that pleases God involves much more than believing His word in all things. It is a faith that loves the truth and is always learning, searching, and growing. It is a faith that has absolute confidence in God and His power, but also strives to constantly seek a better understanding of God and His ways. It is a faith that is willing to be corrected and happy to change to draw closer to God’s will.

Psalm 26:2-3: “Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my mind and my heart. For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.”