Faith
As is implied from the previous section, Christian faith is not a blind, irrational faith. It's based on the historic record of Jesus' miracles as passed on to us by eyewitnesses. Faith in Christ is the sole condition for salvation, apart from works.
Eph 2:8,9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."
Titus 3:4,5a "When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."
Rom 4:6-8 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him."
However saving faith is not simply believing a set of propositions, though propositions are involved. Faith fundamentally means "to trust". Thus it says in the NIV "Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness." Rom 4:4,5 The same Greek word translated "trust" here is elsewhere translated "believe" (pisteuo) or its noun form "faith" (pistis) For these are interchangeable. Fundamentally, to believe in Jesus is to trust in him.
A person who claims to believe Jesus on certain points and disagree with him on others is not trusting in Jesus. Or they are fabricating a "Jesus" in their own mind and don't believe in the Biblical Jesus. Believing in Jesus is much like a child trusting their parents. Though they may not understand all their ideas, yet the child trusts them.
Do you trust in Jesus?
As is implied from the previous section, Christian faith is not a blind, irrational faith. It's based on the historic record of Jesus' miracles as passed on to us by eyewitnesses. Faith in Christ is the sole condition for salvation, apart from works.
Eph 2:8,9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."
Titus 3:4,5a "When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."
Rom 4:6-8 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him."
However saving faith is not simply believing a set of propositions, though propositions are involved. Faith fundamentally means "to trust". Thus it says in the NIV "Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness." Rom 4:4,5 The same Greek word translated "trust" here is elsewhere translated "believe" (pisteuo) or its noun form "faith" (pistis) For these are interchangeable. Fundamentally, to believe in Jesus is to trust in him.
A person who claims to believe Jesus on certain points and disagree with him on others is not trusting in Jesus. Or they are fabricating a "Jesus" in their own mind and don't believe in the Biblical Jesus. Believing in Jesus is much like a child trusting their parents. Though they may not understand all their ideas, yet the child trusts them.
Do you trust in Jesus?
