Faith in Christ Is Personal Trust in Jesus Christ.
Faith in Christ is at the very heart of salvation.
However, like repentance, faith is often misunderstood. Some people treat faith as mere agreement with facts. Others think it is positive thinking.
Still others imagine that faith means believing strongly enough that God will do whatever they want. But biblical faith is far deeper and far more personal than that.
Faith is relying on Him.
Faith means resting your hope of salvation on who Jesus Christ is and what He has done.
Faith does not say, “I am good enough.” Faith says, “Christ is enough.”
Resting in Christ aloneWhat Faith in Christ Is
Faith in Christ is personal trust in Jesus Christ.
It is not merely believing that He existed. It is not merely believing that the Bible contains true things about Him. Nor is it merely admiring Him, respecting Him, or being interested in Him.
Faith is relying on Him.
In other words, faith means resting your hope of salvation on who He is and what He has done. It means turning away from confidence in yourself and placing your confidence in Christ alone.
What Faith in Christ Is Not
Faith is not mere mental agreement.
A person may say, “I believe Jesus died on the cross,” and still remain lost if he has never truly entrusted himself to Christ. It is possible to know facts and yet never come to the Savior.
Faith is also not confidence in your own sincerity.
You are not saved because you meant well, because you felt deeply, or because you tried your best. Instead, saving faith looks away from self and rests in Christ.
Faith is not a bargain with God either. It does not say, “Lord, I will improve my life, and then You will accept me.” Rather, a needy sinner comes and casts himself upon the mercy of God in Jesus Christ.
The Object of Saving Faith
Saving faith matters because of the One it rests in.
Faith does not save because it is strong in itself. Instead, faith saves because it lays hold of a strong Savior.
So even weak faith, if it truly rests in Christ, is better than great confidence in anything else.
What Faith Looks Like in Practice
To believe in Christ is to come to Him.
That means you stop trusting in your works, your religion, your efforts, your morality, your background, and your feelings as the basis of your standing before God.
My only hope is Jesus Christ.
Many people ask what faith in Christ really means, and the answer is that true faith rests in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
That faith is not dead or empty. Rather, it produces movement toward Christ. It leads a person to call on Him, follow Him, and begin walking in newness of life.
Faith and Obedience
Obedience does not replace faith, but real faith leads to obedience.
A person is not saved by obedience. Nevertheless, the faith that saves does not leave a person content in disobedience. Where there is real trust in Christ, a growing desire to honor Him will appear.
This is why faith in Christ cannot be separated from the life it produces.
A Needed Warning
Do not rest in the idea that because you once agreed with certain truths, all is well.
Ask yourself honestly:
The difference is eternal.
It is possible to know religious words and still never rest your soul in Jesus Christ.
Final Encouragement
You do not need to make yourself worthy before coming to Christ.
Christ is enough.
Faith does not say, “I am good enough.” Instead, faith says, “Christ is enough.” That is where peace is found. That is where salvation is found.
That is why biblical faith matters so much.
Take the Next Step
The next question many people ask is whether they can know for sure they are saved. Continue with the next teaching.