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What is Faith? Trusting in the Wonderful Person of Jesus

“Just have faith!” People often say words like that, but what does “faith” truly mean? Is it merely wishful thinking, a blind leap into the dark, or believing something despite all evidence to the contrary? For many exploring Christianity or those new to following Jesus, the concept of faith can seem vague, confusing, or even irrational, leading to uncertainty about how to approach it. Yet, faith stands at the very heart of the Christian experience. It’s the foundation upon which a relationship with God is built and lived out. Understanding faith isn’t about summoning up a feeling; it’s about discovering a confident trust rooted in someone utterly trustworthy: Jesus Christ.

The Bible presents faith not as guesswork, but as assurance and conviction based on the reliable character and promises of God, supremely revealed in His Son. It’s looking beyond what we can merely see or touch and trusting in the reality of God and His work in the world through Jesus. Faith isn’t opposed to reason; rather, it often builds upon evidence – the evidence of creation, the historical reliability of Scripture, the transformed lives of believers, and most compellingly, the person and work of Jesus Himself. Exploring faith is embarking on an adventure of trusting the most wonderful person in the universe.

Let’s delve into what faith truly means by examining its nature and expression, particularly as it relates to the amazing person of Jesus Christ.

Understanding Faith Through the Lens of Jesus

Biblical faith is more than simple intellectual agreement. While it includes believing that certain things are true (like God exists, Jesus rose from the dead), it primarily involves personal trust and reliance in someone – specifically, Jesus Christ. The book of Hebrews famously describes it: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). It’s a confident expectation based on God’s faithfulness, demonstrated perfectly by Jesus.

Here are ten key aspects of faith, illuminated by the life, teachings, and significance of Jesus:

Fact 1: Faith’s Object is Jesus Christ (Trusting in Him)

Christian faith isn’t a generic belief in something positive; it has a specific object: Jesus Christ. It’s trusting in who He is (the Son of God, Savior, Lord) and what He has done (His life, death, and resurrection). Faith means relying on Him completely for forgiveness of sins, for a relationship with God, and eternal life. It’s not faith in our ability or goodness, but faith placed firmly in the person and finished work of Jesus.

Importance: Why is it crucial that faith has Jesus as its specific object? It clarifies that salvation and a relationship with God aren’t achieved through vague spirituality or general belief but through a personal commitment to Christ. For you, understanding a point like that directs your trust appropriately. It means your hope isn’t placed in shifting circumstances or your efforts but in the unshakeable foundation of Jesus Himself. Placing faith in Him is the pathway to experiencing all God offers.

Scripture: Acts 16:31 (ESV) “And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’”

Fact 2: Jesus Praised Great Faith (Recognizing Trust)

During His earthly ministry, Jesus encountered various levels of faith. He marveled at and praised examples of extraordinary trust, often from unexpected people. He commended a Roman centurion whose faith in Jesus’s authority didn’t even require Jesus’s physical presence to heal his servant (Matthew 8:5-13). He praised a Canaanite woman whose persistent faith led to her daughter’s healing (Matthew 15:21-28). Jesus recognized and affirmed the deep trust placed in Him.

Importance: Jesus’s commendation of great faith encourages you to trust Him boldly. It shows that He notices and values heartfelt reliance upon Him, regardless of your background or status. For you, seeing Jesus praise faith demonstrates that He responds positively to confident trust. It motivates you to move beyond hesitant belief toward a more robust, active reliance on His power and goodness, knowing that He welcomes and honors such faith.

Scripture: Matthew 8:10 (ESV) “When Jesus heard a report like that, he marveled and said to those who followed him, ‘Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith’” (Referring to the centurion).

Fact 3: Jesus Responded to Faith (Healing and Action)

Numerous times in the Gospels, Jesus’s miracles were directly linked to the faith of the person seeking help or those bringing them. He often said things like, “Your faith has made you well” (Mark 5:34) or “According to your faith be it done to you” (Matthew 9:29). While He could act sovereignly without expressed faith, He frequently chose to respond to active trust placed in Him, demonstrating a connection between faith and receiving God’s power.

Importance: Observing Jesus respond to faith highlights that faith is not passive; it often involves an active step of reaching out and trusting Him. For you, a truth like that encourages you to actively exercise your faith when seeking God’s help or intervention. While faith doesn’t manipulate God, it positions your heart to receive His work. It demonstrates that trusting Him opens the door for His power to operate in your circumstances, according to His will.

Scripture: Mark 5:34 (ESV) “And he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’”

Fact 4: Faith is a Gift from God (Enabled by Grace)

While we are called to exercise faith, the Bible teaches that saving faith itself is ultimately a gift from God, enabled by His grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 states clearly that salvation comes by grace through faith, “and a faith like that is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” God initiates, opens hearts, and provides the very ability to believe in Jesus.

Importance: Understanding faith as a gift prevents pride and fosters gratitude. It means your salvation isn’t based on your ability to muster up enough belief but on God’s gracious initiative in drawing you to Himself. For you, recognizing faith as a gift provides assurance. If you have faith in Jesus, it’s evidence of God’s work in your life. It brings immense relief, removing the burden of trying to ‘generate’ faith through our effort, and encourages reliance on God to sustain and grow the faith He has given.

Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And a faith like that is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Fact 5: Faith Leads to Action (Living Trust)

Biblical faith is never merely intellectual agreement; it inevitably leads to action. The book of James strongly emphasizes that “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). Genuine trust in Jesus naturally results in a changed life – obedience to His teachings, love for others, turning away from sin, and engaging in good works prepared by God. Actions don’t earn salvation, but they are the necessary evidence of authentic, living faith.

Importance: Recognizing that faith leads to action helps you assess the genuineness of your own belief. It challenges a passive or purely intellectual approach to Christianity. For you, a principle like that means true faith will progressively transform your behavior and priorities. It motivates you to live out your trust in practical ways, demonstrating the reality of your relationship with Jesus through how you treat others, make decisions, and use your resources. It connects belief with everyday life.

Scripture: James 2:17 (ESV) “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

Fact 6: Faith Grows Through Hearing God’s Word (Nourishment for Faith)

How does faith begin and grow? The Bible points to the Word of God, particularly the message about Jesus Christ. Romans 10:17 states, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Engaging with the Bible – reading it, hearing it taught, meditating on its truths about Jesus – nourishes and strengthens faith. As we encounter Jesus in Scripture, our trust in Him deepens.

Importance: Knowing that faith grows through God’s Word provides a clear pathway for strengthening your trust. It highlights the vital role of the Bible in the Christian life. For you, actively engaging with Scripture becomes essential for nurturing your faith. It means that making time to read the Bible, listen to sound teaching, and reflect on its message about Jesus is not just a religious duty. Still, the primary means God uses to build your confidence and reliance upon Him.

Scripture: Romans 10:17 (ESV) “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Fact 7: Faith Pleases God (Essential for Relationship)

The Bible makes a remarkable statement in Hebrews 11:6: “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Trusting God – believing He is who He says He is and that He responds to those who seek Him – is fundamental to a relationship with Him. Faith honors God by taking Him at His word and relying on His character.

Importance: Understanding that faith pleases God elevates its significance beyond personal benefit; it relates directly to honoring God Himself. It clarifies that approaching God requires trust. For you, exercising faith in Jesus isn’t just about receiving salvation; it’s an act that brings pleasure to your Creator. A motivation like that encourages you to actively trust Him in various areas of your life, knowing that your reliance on Him is valued and essential for drawing near to Him.

Scripture: Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Fact 8: Faith Overcomes Fear and Doubt (Trust Amidst Storms)

Life inevitably brings challenges, fears, and moments of doubt. Faith provides the anchor in such times. When the disciples panicked in a storm, Jesus questioned their lack of faith before calming the sea (Mark 4:35-41). When Peter began to sink while walking on water, Jesus attributed it to his doubt (Matthew 14:28-33). Faith doesn’t eliminate challenges, but it empowers believers to face them with courage and confidence in God’s presence and power through Jesus.

Importance: Recognizing faith as the antidote to fear and doubt is immensely practical. Life will bring storms, and your own heart may wrestle with uncertainty. For you, cultivating faith means actively choosing to trust God’s character and promises even when circumstances are frightening or confusing. It provides stability when emotions fluctuate because it shifts your focus from changeable feelings or circumstances to God’s unchanging nature and reliable promises. Jesus’s power over storms, both literal and figurative, assures you that faith fixed on Him can overcome anxieties and lead you through difficulties with His peace.

Scripture: Mark 4:40 (ESV) “He said to them, ‘Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?’”

Fact 9: Faith Results in Salvation/Eternal Life (The Gift Received)

The core message of the Gospel is that salvation – forgiveness of sins, reconciliation with God, and the gift of eternal life – is received through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Good works or religious rituals do not earn it. Believing in Jesus, trusting in His finished work on the cross and His resurrection, is the sole condition for receiving God’s gracious gift of salvation.

Importance: Understanding that salvation comes through faith alone is the cornerstone of Christian belief and provides incredible assurance. It means your eternal destiny rests not on your fluctuating performance but on the solid foundation of Christ’s work received by trust. For you, a truth like that removes the burden of trying to earn God’s favor. It offers peace and security, knowing your relationship with God and your eternal future are secure simply because you have placed your faith in Jesus.

Scripture: John 3:16 (ESV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Fact 10: Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of Faith (He Starts and Finishes It)

Hebrews 12:2 offers a profound insight, calling Jesus the “founder [or author] and perfecter of our faith.” He not only initiates faith within us (as a gift of grace), but He also sustains it, develops it, and brings it to completion. Our faith journey, from beginning to end, is dependent on Him. He is the source, the sustainer, and the goal of our faith.

Importance: Knowing Jesus is the author and perfecter of your faith provides immense encouragement and relieves pressure. It means the responsibility for maintaining and growing your faith doesn’t rest solely on your shoulders. For you, a realization like that fosters dependence on Jesus. When your faith feels weak, you can look to Him to strengthen it. It assures you that He who began a good work in you through faith will see it through to completion. Your confidence rests ultimately in His faithfulness, not your own.

Scripture: Hebrews 12:2 (ESV) “…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Living by Faith in Jesus

What is faith? It is the confident trust and reliance upon the person and work of Jesus Christ, based on the reliable testimony of God’s Word. It’s believing God is who He says He is and that He will do what He has promised, all centered on His Son. Faith is a gift, initiated and perfected by Jesus, that leads to salvation, transforms our actions, overcomes fear, and pleases God.

Living by faith means actively choosing to trust Jesus daily – trusting His forgiveness for your sins, His wisdom for your decisions, His strength for your challenges, and His promises for your future. It’s an ongoing relationship of dependence and confidence. If you are exploring Christianity or new in your walk with Jesus, the invitation is to place your faith in Him. Trust Him. Rely on Him. Why not take that step today? As you look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, you’ll find your trust growing, leading you into the secure, purposeful, and wonderful life only He offers.

Thank you today for letting Olive Branch Publishing offer you insights that can help you grow as a new Christian in today’s world.