What Is the Genesis of Faith in Christianity? Learn Key Truths about Faith and How it is awakened, restored and cultivated.

 I. Faith as Core to Human Existence

The genesis of faith in Christianity begins not in the intellect or institutions, but in the very essence of being human. Faith is not merely an external belief system or a response to doctrinal propositions—it is an ontological posture, a fundamental orientation of the self toward what is ultimate and unseen. From a biblical perspective, humanity was created for relational trust with God. This is why Scripture declares that:

“Whatever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23, WEB),
and “Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him” (Hebrews 11:6, WEB).

In this sense, faith is not an accessory to human life—it is the very breath of the soul, the pulse of trust by which a person aligns with the Creator. It is both the precondition and the expression of true spiritual life. The first humans were designed to live by faith—walking with God in trust. The Fall (Genesis 3) was not merely disobedience, but a rupture of faith—a turn from relational trust to self-reliance and fear.

Faith, therefore, is the means by which human beings return to their intended state—restored relationship, restored being.

II. The Biblical Origin of Faith

In Scripture, faith is consistently portrayed as a gift initiated by God, but also a genuine response of the human heart. Its genesis is twofold:

1. God's Self-Revelation

• Faith begins when God speaks. As Paul writes:

  “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17, WEB).

• Whether to Abraham (“Go from your country…”) or to the disciples (“Follow me…”), faith is awakened by the encounter with divine Word.

2. Response to the Person of Christ

• Biblical faith is not mere mental assent; it is trust in the character and promises of God, most fully revealed in Jesus Christ.

• Hebrews 12:2 calls Jesus the “author and perfecter of faith.” That is, He initiates faith by His Word and completes it by the indwelling of His Spirit.

3. Empowered by the Holy Spirit

• The Spirit illumines the heart to recognize Christ as Lord (1 Corinthians 12:3).

• Faith, while chosen, is impossible without divine illumination and conviction (John 16:8–13).

Thus, from a biblical standpoint, the genesis of faith is God’s gracious initiative, received by the human heart through hearing, trusting, and surrendering.

III. Fowler’s Stages of Faith: Human Development and Faith's Growth

James Fowler’s Stages of Faith add important psychological and developmental insight into how faith emerges, evolves, and matures in the human experience.

• Infants and children (Stage 0–1) begin with basic trust, often shaped by the presence or absence of love and consistency. This early stage mirrors the primal need for faith—a need to be held, known, and secure.

• Childhood and early adolescence (Stages 2–3) adopt religious narratives and beliefs largely uncritically, shaped by family, culture, and religious community. At this stage, faith is synthetic, communal, and often concrete.

• Adulthood (Stage 4 onward) brings critical reflection. The individual must ask: Is this my faith or simply inherited belief? At this stage, the genesis of personal faith often takes place. What was once external becomes internal. Faith moves from conformity to conviction.

• Few reach Stages 5 and 6, where faith is characterized by paradox, humility, deep relational trust, and even universal compassion. These stages resemble the biblical image of sanctified maturity—walking by faith, not sight; trusting through suffering and mystery.

Fowler’s framework helps us see that faith is not static; it is a living, dynamic process. The genesis of faith may begin in a moment of divine encounter, but it must be nurtured, tested, and refined over time.

Integrated Conclusion: The Genesis of Faith

In Christianity, the genesis of faith is both existential and relational, divine and human, momentary and progressive.

1. Faith begins with being—the human soul is wired to trust. Whether in God or in lesser things, we all live by faith in something.

2. Faith is awakened by God’s Word—through revelation, whether in Scripture, conscience, or the person of Christ.

3. Faith matures through life’s journey—as we move through stages of development, crisis, reflection, and surrender.

4. Faith culminates in union with Christ—the One who authors and finishes it, drawing us into His own trust-filled relationship with the Father.

Thus, faith is not merely what we believe—it is how we exist in God. To live by faith is to live in the fullness of what it means to be human: trusting, hoping, loving, and walking with God in restored fellowship.

"The righteous shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17, WEB)