This entire chapter describes faith as the result of real encounter between man and God. Faith is our reaction to something-or Someone-very real.  

 Faith produces right conduct (vv. 1-5).

We put it together in mind, emotion, will, and spirit, and come out with changed behavior. We experience a genuine spiritual birth and become new people. For this reason, we are able to live differently. We can love other believers. We can keep God’s commandments. We can even overcome the present world system. 

 Faith creates experiences which are credentials to believers (vv. 6-8).

The strongest credential for a believer is his own changed life. He has become a living epistle. It is writ- ten in his heart that God is faithful. We experience the reality of the gospel in three distinct ways: the blood of cleansing and forgiveness, the waters of baptism, and the empowering of the Holy Spirit. 

Faith creates an internal witness (vv. 9-12).

In Romans 8:16, Paul describes the affect of this witness in producing inner assurance regarding our relationship to God. We have a deep sense of belonging. We truly are His children and we know it. 

 Faith is the proof of the confidence we exhibit (vv. 13-21).

We believe our prayers are answered because God is there to hear them and to act upon our petitions when we pray in accord with His purposes. This knowledge that we must pray according to His will to be heard lifts prayer out of the realm of autosuggestion. Our reliance is not upon our prayers but upon Someone outside ourselves.