Real Faith – What is it?

True Christian faith consists of three elements:

1. Knowledge
2. Agreement
3. Trust

First, there must be content to our faith—content we gain primarily from studying the Holy Scriptures. We declare, “I believe that . . .” The word “that” refers to certain facts about the object of our faith, the true and living Triune God.

But mere knowledge is not enough!

We must also agree with what the Bible teaches concerning the true God. Yet even such mental assent does not save us, for the demons believe in this manner and only tremble (James 2:19).

The final and most important element of true faith is trust—we must personally entrust ourselves to this infinite, personal God of the Scriptures—our Creator, Redeemer, and Sovereign Lord. We must entrust our past, present, and future to him, that we may be eternally saved. We must look away from ourselves and fix our eyes on the Savior, Jesus Christ.

True faith wholeheartedly trusts and entrusts.

But faith is only as strong as the object in which it is placed.

If we trust in idols, our faith will be worthless;

If we trust in others, our faith will be useless;

If we trust in ourselves, our faith will be hopeless;

If we trust in money, our faith will fail us.

Christian faith rejects all such dependence on ourselves or anyone else and relies only on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christian faith results in life, life more abundant, even life everlasting!

Is your faith a dead faith? Consider this question further by reading Pastor Mathew’s sermon, “Absolutely Dead Faith.”