Question
What is faith in Jesus Christ?
Answer
Faith in Jesus Christ is acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in his Word, trusting in him, and also receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel.
Faith in Jesus Christ is acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in his Word, trusting in him, and also receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel.
Receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel.
Scripture
—Galatians 2:20 (ESV)I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
—Galatians 2:20 (NIV)I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
—Galatians 2:20 (NLT)My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Song
Video
Prayer
Adult
“Let us pray with the disciples, ‘Lord increase our faith’ and with the poor man in the gospel, ‘Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.’”
Footnote
Richard Sibbes (1577–1635). An English Puritan theologian, Sibbes was known in London in the early 17th century as “the Heavenly Doctor Sibbes.” Preacher at Gray’s Inn, London and Master of Catherine Hall, Cambridge, his most famous work is The Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax.
Attribution
From the sermon “Fountain Opened: or The Mystery of Godliness Revealed” in The Works of the Reverend Richard Sibbes, Volume 1 (Aberdeen: Chalmers & Co., 1809), 213.
Child
Lord, increase our faith. Lord, help us overcome our unbelief. Help us to receive and rest on Christ alone for salvation. Amen.
Attribution
Derived and adapted from Richard Sibbes in the sermon “Fountain Opened: or The Mystery of Godliness Revealed” in The Works of the Reverend Richard Sibbes, Volume 1 (Aberdeen: Chalmers & Co., 1809), 213.
“Let us pray with the disciples, ‘Lord increase our faith’ and with the poor man in the gospel, ‘Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.’”
Footnote
Richard Sibbes (1577–1635). An English Puritan theologian, Sibbes was known in London in the early 17th century as “the Heavenly Doctor Sibbes.” Preacher at Gray’s Inn, London and Master of Catherine Hall, Cambridge, his most famous work is The Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax.
Attribution
From the sermon “Fountain Opened: or The Mystery of Godliness Revealed” in The Works of the Reverend Richard Sibbes, Volume 1 (Aberdeen: Chalmers & Co., 1809), 213.
Lord, increase our faith. Lord, help us overcome our unbelief. Help us to receive and rest on Christ alone for salvation. Amen.
Attribution
Derived and adapted from Richard Sibbes in the sermon “Fountain Opened: or The Mystery of Godliness Revealed” in The Works of the Reverend Richard Sibbes, Volume 1 (Aberdeen: Chalmers & Co., 1809), 213.
Commentary
“Upon the whole, the best, and clearest, and most perfect definition of justifying faith, and most according to the Scripture, that I can think of, is this, faith is the soul’s entirely embracing the revelation of Jesus Christ as our Saviour…. It is called believing, because believing is the first act of the soul in embracing a narration or revelation: and embracing, when conversant about a revelation or thing declared, is more properly called believing, than loving or choosing…. The definition might have been expressed in these words: faith is the soul’s entirely adhering and acquiescing in the revelation of Jesus Christ as our Saviour—Or thus: faith is the soul’s embracing that truth of God, that reveals Jesus Christ as our Saviour—Or thus: faith is the soul’s entirely acquiescing in, and depending upon, the truth of God, revealing Christ as our Saviour. It is the whole soul according and assenting to the truth, and embracing of it. There is an entire yielding of the mind and heart to the revelation, and a closing with it, and adhering to it, with the belief, and with the inclination and affection.”
Footnote
Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758). A colonial American preacher, theologian, and philosopher, Edwards became pastor of his church in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1726. He is widely known for his famous sermon “A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections”. Edwards died from a smallpox inoculation shortly after beginning the presidency at the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University).
Attribution
From “Concerning Faith” in The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Volume 2 (London: Ball, 1839), 580.
Further Reading
“What is Faith?” in A Faith to Live By, by Donald Macleod.
“Knowledge” in Concise Theology, by J. I. Packer.