Jesus’ Views on No Faith, Little Faith, Small Faith, and Great Faith – Which Faith Should a Christian Have?

Faith is the foundation of our walk with God. Hebrews 11:6 declares:

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (NKJV)

Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus consistently highlighted the condition of people’s faith—sometimes rebuking their lack of it, other times commending its greatness. To grow spiritually, every Christian must pay attention to these categories of faith and strive for the level that pleases the Lord.

1. No Faith

In Mark 4:40, after calming the storm, Jesus turned to His disciples and asked:

“Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (NKJV)

“No faith” is when fear, doubt, and unbelief completely override confidence in God’s word. It results in panic and despair in the face of trials. Believers in this condition depend only on the natural, ignoring God’s supernatural ability.

⚠️ Danger: Without faith, prayers are powerless, and spiritual life becomes stagnant.

2. Little Faith

Jesus often rebuked His disciples for “little faith.” For example:

• “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31 NKJV) – spoken to Peter as he began to sink while walking on water.

• “If God so clothes the grass of the field… will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:30 NKJV).

“Little faith” believes in God but struggles with consistency. It is easily shaken by circumstances and quickly overtaken by worry or doubt.

⚠️ Danger: Little faith receives some answers but cannot sustain results in the long run.

3. Small Faith (Mustard Seed Faith)

In Matthew 17:20, Jesus said:

“…for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” (NKJV)

Here, Jesus revealed that even small, genuine faith is powerful when exercised. The mustard seed is tiny but alive—it grows! Small faith is not useless; it is the starting point.

✅ Encouragement: Don’t despise small beginnings. If acted upon, small faith develops into stronger faith.

4. Great Faith

Jesus commended only two people in the Gospels for having “great faith”:

1. The Centurion – Matthew 8:10 (NKJV): “When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!’”

• He believed Jesus’ word was enough without physical presence.

2. The Canaanite Woman – Matthew 15:28 (NKJV): “Then Jesus answered and said to her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’”

• She persisted despite resistance and received her miracle.

Great faith rests confidently on God’s word, overcomes obstacles, and remains steadfast until the promise manifests.

Which Faith Should a Christian Have?

While mustard-seed faith can move mountains, Jesus commends great faith. That is the goal of every believer: to grow from no faith → little faith → small faith → great faith.

Romans 1:17 reminds us:

“The just shall live by faith.” (KJV)

And Romans 10:17 shows how faith grows:

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (NKJV)

How to Build Up Great Faith

1. Hear and Meditate on God’s Word Daily

• “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night…” (Joshua 1:8 NKJV).

2. Act on the Word

• James 2:26 (NKJV): “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

3. Pray in the Spirit

• Jude 1:20 (NKJV): “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.”

4. Endure Tests with Patience

• James 1:3–4 (NKJV): “…the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

5. Surround Yourself with Faith Atmosphere

• Hebrews 10:25 reminds us not to forsake fellowship. Faith grows in a community of believers.

Conclusion

Jesus does not want His disciples to remain at the level of no faith or little faith. He calls us to grow until we can stand in great faith—faith that takes God at His word, perseveres against resistance, and produces undeniable results.

Let us commit to growing in faith daily, so that Jesus may also marvel at us, saying: “Great is your faith!”

✍️ Reflection Question:

Which level of faith best describes your current walk with God—no faith, little faith, small faith, or great faith?

🙏 Prayer:

Lord, I choose to grow in faith. Help me hear Your word daily, act upon it, and persevere until I walk in great faith that pleases You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Message Bearer, Cornelius Bella