Faith and Acceptance in Christ

Article 5 of 13 in the Walking with Jesus Series

What does it actually mean to believe in Jesus Christ? Many people would say they believe in Jesus - they accept that He existed, that He was a good teacher, perhaps even that He rose from the dead. But the New Testament describes a faith that goes far beyond intellectual agreement with historical facts. It is a personal trust, a reliance, a resting of the whole soul upon Christ and His finished work. And it is the only way to receive what God freely offers.

The writer of Hebrews gives the classic biblical definition:

The word translated "substance" is the Greek hypostasis, which means a foundation, a firm basis, a title deed. Faith gives substance - real, solid grounding - to what is hoped for. It is not wishful thinking. It is a confident trust in the reality of what God has promised, even when that reality is not yet visible.

The word translated "evidence" is elenchos, meaning proof or conviction. Faith provides a kind of evidence - not physical evidence, but the testimony of God Himself, which is more reliable than anything we can see or touch. As John writes: "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater." (1 John 5:9, KJV)

The primary New Testament word for faith is pistis, and the corresponding verb is pisteuo, translated "believe." These words carry the sense of trust, reliance, and commitment - not merely intellectual assent. When Jesus said "Whosoever believeth in him should not perish" (John 3:16, KJV), the word "believeth" (pisteuo) means to entrust oneself to, to rely upon. It is the faith of a person who steps onto a bridge, not merely the faith of a person who believes the bridge will hold.

This distinction is important. James writes that even the demons believe - and tremble (James 2:19). Intellectual acknowledgment of facts about God is not saving faith. Saving faith is a personal reliance upon Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

Ephesians 2:8-9 is one of the clearest statements of the relationship between grace, faith, and works in all of Scripture. Three things stand out:

1. Salvation is by grace. Grace (charis) means unmerited favour - a gift given to those who have no claim on it. Salvation originates entirely in the goodness of God, not in any quality or effort of the person saved.

2. Salvation is through faith. Faith is the channel through which grace is received. It is not the cause of salvation but the means of receiving it. The hand that takes a gift does not earn the gift. It simply receives it.

3. Faith itself is a gift. "And that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Even the faith through which we receive salvation is given to us by God. This prevents any boasting. We cannot take credit even for believing, because the capacity to believe is itself a work of the Holy Spirit in us.

Paul confirms this in Romans: "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17, KJV). Faith is awakened in us as we hear and receive the Word of God. This is why the reading and hearing of Scripture is so essential to the life of faith.

Jesus used the imagery of eating and drinking to describe the act of faith:

Coming to Christ and believing on Christ are used interchangeably. Faith is the act of coming - of drawing near to Christ and receiving what He offers. Just as eating bread involves actually taking it in, not merely admiring it from a distance, faith involves actually receiving Christ, not merely acknowledging His existence.

John uses the same imagery of receiving:

Receiving and believing are parallel. To believe in Christ is to receive Him - to open the hand and take what He is offering rather than trying to earn it or waiting until you feel worthy of it.

The doctrine of justification by faith is the heart of the Reformation and the heart of the gospel. Paul states it plainly:

To be justified (dikaioo) means to be declared righteous - to be acquitted before the bar of God's justice. This is not a declaration that we are actually righteous in ourselves. It is a declaration that we are accepted in Christ, whose righteousness is credited to our account. Paul describes this exchange:

Our sin was placed on Christ. His righteousness is placed on us. This is the great exchange, received by faith alone.

• "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." (Romans 4:3, KJV)
• "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." (Romans 4:5, KJV)
• "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand." (Romans 5:1-2, KJV)
• "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." (John 3:36a, KJV)
• "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24, KJV)

"Faith is a feeling of certainty that I must generate." Faith is not a feeling. It is a choice to trust God's Word regardless of feelings. Feelings fluctuate with circumstances, health, and sleep. The object of faith is not our feelings but the Word of God, which does not change. The person who chooses to trust God's Word in the absence of reassuring feelings is exercising genuine faith - perhaps the strongest kind.

"I need to have enough faith for God to save me." The size of faith is not what matters. Jesus said that faith as small as a mustard seed could move mountains (Matthew 17:20). What matters is the object of faith. A small faith in a great Saviour is sufficient. The issue is not the quantity of your faith but the reliability of the One you are trusting.

"Faith and works are opposites." Paul and James are often set against each other on this point, but they are addressing different questions. Paul (Romans 3-4; Galatians 2-3) argues that works cannot justify - we are not saved by what we do. James (James 2:14-26) argues that genuine faith will produce works - a faith that produces no change in life is not genuine faith. Both are correct. Works do not earn salvation, but genuine faith always produces them.

"Once I have believed, I never need to exercise faith again." Faith is not a one-time transaction. It is a living relationship that must be maintained and exercised. Paul speaks of "the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God" (Galatians 2:20, KJV) - present tense, ongoing. The Christian life is a life of continual faith, continual reliance on Christ.

1. Distinguish between faith and feeling. If you are waiting to feel certain before you will trust God, you may wait a long time. Choose to trust His Word regardless of how you feel. Act on what He has said, not on what you feel.

2. Rest in what Christ has done. The gospel is not primarily a call to do more. It is a call to receive what has already been done. If you are exhausted by trying to earn God's acceptance, stop. Receive the gift. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28, KJV)

3. Feed your faith on Scripture. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). The person who wants their faith to grow must spend time in Scripture, receiving the promises of God and choosing to trust them.

4. Exercise your faith. Faith grows through use. Trust God with something that requires trust. Pray for something that only He can accomplish. Obey when obedience is costly. Each act of faith strengthens the capacity for the next.

1. Read Romans 4:1-8. Paul uses Abraham and David as examples of justification by faith. What did Abraham do that was "counted unto him for righteousness"? What does it mean to be justified "without works"?

2. Read John 6:35-47. Jesus uses the imagery of eating and drinking to describe faith. What does this imagery tell you about the nature of faith? How is "coming to Christ" different from merely knowing about Him?

3. Read Hebrews 11:1-6. What does verse 6 say is required to please God? What two things must the person who comes to God believe?

4. Read Galatians 2:16-21. Paul uses the phrase "faith of Jesus Christ" (v. 16) and "faith of the Son of God" (v. 20). Some scholars understand this as referring to Christ's own faithfulness as the basis of our justification. How does this understanding enrich your view of what we are trusting when we exercise faith?

5. Is there an area of your life where you are still trying to earn God's acceptance rather than receiving it by faith? What would it look like to rest in what Christ has already done in that area?

• Confession and Forgiveness - Article 4 in this series
• The New Birth - Article 6 in this series
• Growing Through Faith - Article 7 in this series

Primary passages: Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 5:1-2; John 6:35-47

Supporting passages: John 1:12; John 3:16, 36; John 5:24; Romans 4:1-8; Romans 10:17; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:16-21; Hebrews 11:1-6; James 2:14-26; 1 John 5:9

Recommended reading:

• Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, Chapter 8: "Faith and Acceptance" (Review and Herald, 1892)
• Martin Luther, Preface to the Epistle to the Romans (1522)
• John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress (1678) - the allegory of Christian receiving the scroll at the cross

Do you have a question about faith or justification? Ask it here - your question may become our next article.

This article was adapted from the themes presented in the classic devotional book Steps to Christ. To access the original book, please click here.