In Luke 17:5-6, the apostles say to the Lord, “Increase our faith”. This text continues the context of examining humility and what the humble can do. There is an inseparable relationship between humility, faith, and forgiveness. The context is Jesus commanding that if a brother sins seven times a day and repents, he must be forgiven. To forgive unceasingly around the clock is a massive burden, which is why the disciples ask for their faith to be increased.
However, the apostles misunderstood faith by asking for an increase, assuming that a bigger quantity of faith is required for a harder task. Faith is not about quantity. Christians think that if we have more faith, than they could obey the command to forgive. This assumes that bigger and increased faith leads to self-sufficiency, but having spiritual authority does not mean operating independently from God. Asking for increased faith biblically means depending on God more, but the disciples wanted a bigger tool to handle the matter themselves.
Furthermore, saving faith and everyday faith are the same plant; saving faith is the root, and everyday faith is the fruit. Believers already have this faith from conversion. So increasing faith is not about seeking a new, additional power, but living out the faith already possessed.
The Lord defines biblical faith by responding, “If you have faith like a mustard seed”. The issue is not the quantity of faith, but whether there is actual reliance on God. Not how large it is, but if you have true faith. Biblical faith means personally coming to Jesus, leaving self-reliance, and depending on Him for life. It is not just agreeing with Him, but turning from sin and turning toward Christ.
Believers are called to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Walking by faith does not mean ignoring reality, but relying on God’s word over human feelings and obeying even when it does not make sense. A genuine, small faith is like a mustard seed; while it does not seem impressive, it is real and mighty. Faith might be small, but what matters is that it’s real. The church is also small, a little flock, but size doesn’t matter, as long as it’s a real church. We are all little children, turning from self, letting go of control, trusting God, and depending on Him completely (Mt 18:3).
Jesus tells the disciples that with faith like a mustard seed, they could say to a mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you”. A mulberry tree represents something deeply rooted and humanly impossible to remove, much like the command to forgive unceasingly. Just as planting a tree in the ocean to bear fruit seems impossible, true forgiveness and salvation are impossible by human power alone, but with God, all things are possible (Mark 10:24). We must realize that salvation is God’s greatest miracle and accomplished the most difficult task, yet we are saved by faith.
Faith must be expressed and put into practice. For example, when a relative of John Macarthur’s son was tragically murdered by a robber, the parents chose to forgive the killer. How could they do that? Because God commands it and faith obeys. True faith lives in obedience, trusting and depending on the Lord. Similarly, the Roman centurion demonstrated mighty faith simply by trusting Jesus’s authority to heal his servant. His faith was not systematic with lots of details, but he expressed his faith in Jesus without needing to see anything (Matthew 8:8-9). Faith is expressive and practiced. True faith continues to trust, obey, and speak out even when nothing has happened yet and we are still waiting. There’s nothing else we can do but have faith.
Jesus concludes the definition by stating, “and it would obey you”. When real faith is practiced, it aligns with God’s will and participates in His authority. Practicing faith means the result will happen in God’s timing, or He will provide something even better for His glory (Hebrews 11:39-40). The Christian calling to forgive unceasingly, love enemies, and overcome sin is completely beyond natural ability without faith. Therefore, believers must continually practice this small but genuine faith, trusting that God is always good and His power is always enough to handle the impossible.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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