What do people mean when they say one has the "Thomas" type of faith?


Let's begin by reading in John:
Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord."

But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked , Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"

Then he said to Thomas , "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
(John 20:24-29)
"Thomas faith" means you have to see it before you believe it. God wants us to have faith in Jesus and His Word (the Bible) when we hear it, without having to see it first.

It is this type of faith that causes a person to be blessed. You and I will not see Jesus until we pass on to the other side, but we believe in Him now because we heard the good report (Rom. 10:8-17).

As Christians, we cannot even receive answers to prayer unless we can believe God gives us what we ask before we have it or see it (Mark 11:23-24). Do not be like Thomas. Believe it before you see it!

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