Faith in Jesus is a central tenet of Christianity. The Bible defines faith as trusting in something you cannot explicitly prove, and this faith in Jesus means believing that he is God in human form and trusting in his power to save. This means abandoning all human reliance and placing total dependence on God's character, actions and promises. Faith in Jesus is also linked to the concept of salvation. According to the Bible, salvation is found in no one else but Jesus, and faith in him grants the promise of eternal life.
What You'll Learn
Faith in Jesus means believing in Him as a saviour
The Bible states that righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe (Romans 3:22–23). It also says that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (1 John 5:1). Faith in Jesus is therefore a prerequisite for salvation. The Bible also makes it clear that salvation is exclusive to faith in Jesus, and that there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
The concept of faith is a challenging one to define. However, a biblical definition of faith is "trusting in something you cannot explicitly prove" (Hebrews 11:1). This definition has two aspects: intellectual assent and trust. Intellectual assent is the belief that something is true, and trust is the reliance on that belief. For example, a chair is often used to illustrate this. Recognising that a chair is designed to support a person who sits on it is intellectual assent, and actually sitting in the chair is trust.
Faith in Jesus, therefore, requires intellectual assent to the facts concerning Jesus as stated in the Bible, and a life-changing reliance on those facts. This means believing that Jesus is God incarnate, and that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and was resurrected. This is saving faith.
Faith in Jesus is also about commitment and action. James 2:26 states that "faith without deeds is dead". Faith in Jesus motivates Christians to action and good works, and this is evidence of their faith.
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Faith in Jesus means believing in God
Faith resides at the core of Christianity and the Christian life. While the Bible has much to say about it, faith is a challenging concept to define. A biblical definition of faith reaches beyond mere belief—the simple acknowledgment that God exists—and into the realm of trust. Genuine faith involves abandoning all human reliance on self-efforts and placing total dependence upon God’s character, His actions, and His promises, as revealed in His Word.
Hebrews 11:1 provides a clear definition of faith: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." In other words, faith is "trusting in something you cannot explicitly prove." This definition of faith includes two aspects: intellectual assent and trust. Intellectual assent is believing something to be true, while trust is actually relying on that belief. Understanding these two aspects of faith is crucial. Many people may believe certain facts about Jesus Christ, but true faith requires intellectual assent to the facts and trust in those facts.
Believing that Jesus is God incarnate who died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and was resurrected is not enough. Even the demons "believe" in God and acknowledge those facts. We must personally and fully rely on the death of Christ as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. We must "sit in the chair" of the salvation that Jesus Christ has provided. This is saving faith. The faith God requires of us for salvation is belief in what the Bible says about who Jesus is and what He accomplished, and fully trusting in Jesus for that salvation.
Faith in God involves an intellectual assent to the facts concerning God and a life-changing reliance on those facts. The first component of faith in God is believing that He exists. However, even this is not enough. As James 2:19 explains, the demons also believe in God’s existence. After acknowledging that God exists, the second element of faith in God is commitment. Faith without action is not true faith (James 2:26). However, even faith that motivates us to action is not enough. For faith in God to be genuine, we must accept Him as He has revealed Himself in Scripture. We cannot accept only the attributes of God that we prefer and reject the ones we don’t. If we do not accept God as He is, we are putting our faith in a false god of our own making.
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Faith in Jesus is a gift from God
Faith is a gift from God, given to us because of His grace and mercy, and because He loves us (Ephesians 4-5). It is not something that can be earned or deserved, and it is not given with any expectation of reciprocity. The Bible emphasises that faith is a gift so that God can be glorified for our salvation. If faith were something that could be earned, then humans would have a right to boast about their salvation, but all such boasting is excluded in Romans 3:27.
The only way to receive the gift of salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ. This is made possible by God revealing Himself to us (Ecclesiastes 3:11; Romans 1:19-20) and lovingly persuading us to come to Him (Romans 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9; Isaiah 30:18). God initiates the relationship, and we respond in faith.
To have faith in Jesus means to believe in Him as the Son of God, who died and rose again, and to trust in Him for our salvation. It means to reject all other ways of salvation and to trust in Jesus alone. This faith is not just a mental attitude or intellectual assent, but a life-changing reliance on the facts concerning God. It involves abandoning all human reliance on self-efforts and placing total dependence on God's character, His actions, and His promises, as revealed in His Word.
The Bible defines faith in Hebrews 11:1 as "confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." It is trusting in something that cannot be explicitly proven and taking possession of things not yet seen, but hoped for in the future. Faith sees through the lens of God's promises rather than our earthly circumstances.
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Faith in Jesus means trusting in Him
The Bible uses the phrase "faith in Jesus" synonymously with "belief in Jesus as Savior." Romans 3:22–23 says that "righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." When we place our faith in Jesus, we believe in Him, and God grants His righteousness to us.
To have faith in Jesus means to trust Him fully and without reservation. This trust is based on a true understanding of who He is, as revealed in the Bible. It requires intellectual assent to the facts concerning God and a life-changing reliance on those facts. We must believe in what the Bible says about who Jesus is and what He has done, and we must trust in Him for our salvation.
Faith in Jesus means abandoning all human reliance on self-efforts and placing total dependence upon God. It involves obeying His Word and trusting in His promises. We must personally and fully rely on the death of Christ as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. This is often referred to as "saving faith."
Through faith in Jesus Christ, we obtain "the victory that has overcome the world" (1 John 5:4–5). It is by grace that we are saved, through faith, and this is a gift from God, not something that can be earned through works (Ephesians 2:8–9). Faith in Jesus means trusting in Him and His promise of eternal life.
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Faith in Jesus means believing in His resurrection
The Bible defines faith as "trusting in something you cannot explicitly prove" (Hebrews 11:1). It involves intellectual assent and trust. Intellectual assent is the recognition and agreement that Jesus is God incarnate, who died on the cross for our sins and rose again. Trust, then, is relying on the truth of that belief. This trust is a life-changing reliance on the facts concerning Jesus, and it is this trust that saves.
When a person has faith in Jesus, they believe in His resurrection and trust in His power and goodness. This faith grants access to God's presence and the promise of eternal life. It is a gift from God, given because of His grace and mercy, and it is the only way to salvation. Jesus Himself asked the two blind men if they believed He could heal them, and when they answered yes, He healed them "according to their faith" (Matthew 9:28-29).
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Frequently asked questions
To have faith in Jesus means to believe in Him as the Savior and to trust Him fully and without reservation. It involves believing that Jesus is God in human form and trusting in His death and resurrection. This faith in Jesus as the Son of God and in His sacrifice is what leads to salvation.
Faith is defined in Hebrews 11:1 as "confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." It involves trusting in God and His promises, relying on Him, and obeying His Word. Faith is a gift from God, given to us because of His grace and mercy.
In the context of salvation, the debate often revolves around whether we are saved by faith, works, or a combination of both. Biblical Christianity teaches that salvation is by faith alone in Jesus Christ, and not by any works we do. Works refer to good deeds or religious acts, but these do not earn or maintain salvation. Instead, salvation is a gift from God, received through faith in Jesus.
Faith is important because it is the means by which we are saved and brought into a relationship with God. Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6) and we cannot be saved (John 3:16). Faith results in numerous blessings, including salvation, justification, and peace with God. Through faith in Jesus, we obtain eternal life.