This is a question that can be hard to answer.  Faith, especially, can be a difficult concept to pin down.  J. I. Packer has a great answer:

It needs to be said that faith is not a mere optimistic feeling, any more than repentance is a mere regretful or remorseful feeling.  Faith and repentance are both acts, and acts of the whole man.  Faith is more than just credence; faith is essentially the casting and resting of oneself and one’s confidence on the promises of mercy which Christ has given to sinners, and on the Christ who gave those promises.  Equally, repentance is more than just sorrow for the past; repentance is a change of mind and heart, a new life of denying self and serving the Saviour as king in self’s place.  Mere credence without trusting and mere remorse without turning, do not save.  -J. I. Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, 70-71.

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