“While God can be just, and yet justify the sinner through the merits of Christ, no man can cover his soul with the garments of Christ’s righteousness while practicing known sins, or neglecting known duties. God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be continual obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and purifies the soul” (Review and Herald, November 4, 1890)

Faith is trusting in God - believing that He loves us, and knows what is for our best good. Thus, instead of our own way, it leads us to choose His way. In place of ignorance, it accepts His wisdom; in place of our weakness, His strength; in place of our sinfulness, His righteousness. Our lives, ourselves, are already His; faith acknowledges His ownership and accepts its blessing. Truth, uprightness, purity, are pointed out as secret of life’s success. It is faith that puts us in possession of these. Every good impulse or aspiration is the gift of God; faith receives from God the life that alone can produce true growth and efficiency.

Faith comes from the Word of God (Romans 10:14 KJV: "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"), and we are to live according to every Word of God (Mathew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God). Therefore, before doing anything we should see what God has said about it - and do as He has said. That is living by His Words, and that is living by faith in what He has said. One can eat by faith by eating the food God has specified; dress by faith by wearing such attire as God has said becomes His children; marry by faith by marrying "only in the Lord" as He has said; and so on with everything in life.

"The foundation of all faith is the Word of God, for faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Anything that does not have the Word of God as its foundation is not true faith.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.… (Proverbs 3:5-7)

To ignore His will on any point, take liberties with what He has said and follow our own desires and then pray for Him to bless us, is presumption.

“Faith is not feeling. ‘Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen’ (Hebrew 11:1). True faith is in no sense allied to presumption; for presumption is Satan’s counterfeit of faith.

“Faith claims God’s promises, and bring forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims the promises, but uses them as Satan did, to excuse transgression (1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law). Faith would have led our first parents to trust the love of God and obey His commands. Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from the consequences of their sin. It is not faith claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions on which mercy is to be granted. Genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provision of the scriptures.

A very broad application of these great principles summed up concerning one truth is this: If we believe that Christ is coming soon, we will live as if we expected to see Him; we will be faithful even unto death we can die by faith if need even as we can live by faith.

Thus the entire life should lived by faith; not in an ecstasy of trust that rests in God’s hand waiting for Him to do all these things, but a life of active endeavor to do everything just as He has commanded. “A mere profession of discipline-ship is of no value. The faith in Christ which saves the soul is not what it is represented to be by many. ‘Believe, believe,’they say,’and you need not keep the law.’ But a belief that does not lead to obedience is presumption. The apostle John says (1 John 2:4, “He that said, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him”).

Every act of life should be based upon the instruction God has given. We are to work and pray, and then believe that God will remove every mountain of difficulty that is in the way and make it possible for us to do all He has specified.

Thus faith works, as is set forth in James 2:14-26. Faith causes action; faith works. Thus it is with everything in life.

“God requires obedience, not for the purpose of showing His authority, but that we may become one with Him in character. We will find in God attributes of character needed form characters after His likeness. We are to form characters that are in harmony with the Deity. Thus our natures become spiritualized in every faculty” (1 Peter 1:15-16 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”)

Obedience Definition in the Bible
-The general concept of obedience both in the Old and New Testament relates to hearing or hearkening to a higher authority.
-One of the Greek terms for obedience in the Bible conveys the idea of positioning oneself under someone by submitting to their authority and command.
-Another Greek word for obey in the New Testament means "to trust."
-According to Holman's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, a succinct definition of biblical obedience is "to hear God's Word and act accordingly."
-Eerdman's Bible Dictionary states, "True 'hearing,' or obedience, involves the physical hearing that inspires the hearer, and a belief or trust that in turn motivates the hearer to act in accordance with the speaker's desires."
-Thus, biblical obedience to God means to hear, trust, submit and surrender to God and his Word.

Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands. As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! I will obey your decrees. Please don't give up on me! (Psalm 119:1–8, NLT)

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. (2 Corinthians 7:1, NLT)

The verse above says, "Let us work toward complete holiness." We don't learn obedience overnight; it's a lifelong process that we pursue by making it a daily goal and habit.

Example of Faith and obedience (see Hebrews 11)
[1] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
[2] For by it the elders obtained a good report.
[3] 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.
[4] By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
[5] By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
[6] But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
[7] By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
[8] By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
[9] By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise
[10] For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
[11] Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
[12] Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
[13] These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
[14] For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
[15] And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
[16] But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
[17] By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
[18] Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
[19] Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
[20] By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
[21] By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
[22] By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
[23] By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
[24] By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
[25] Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
[26] Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
[27] By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
[28] Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
[29] By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
[30] By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
[31] By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
[32] And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
[33] Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
[34] Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
[35] Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
[36] And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
[37] They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
[38] (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
[39] And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
[40] God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.