The concept of faith is central to Christianity. But what exactly is faith? Is it just intellectual assent to a set of doctrines or propositions? Or is there more to faith than that? Let’s explore what the Bible has to say about the nature of saving faith.
When examining Scripture, it becomes clear that biblical faith involves more than just mental agreement to facts about God and Jesus. James 2:19 states that even demons can have an intellectual knowledge of God’s existence and tremble in fear. So mere intellectual assent is not true saving faith.
Faith in the Bible involves trust, reliance, and commitment. Hebrews 11 highlights the faith of Old Testament saints and describes their faith as an assured confidence in God’s promises (Hebrews 11:1). Abraham had faith when he obeyed God’s call to leave his homeland and sojourn in a strange land, “not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8). His faith entailed stepping out in obedience to God’s word and trusting God’s guidance and provision. Throughout Hebrews 11, faith is linked to action and perseverance. Biblical faith is more than just believing facts about God; it involves entrusting oneself completely to God.
Ephesians 2:8 declares, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” Here, faith is depicted as the means by which we lay hold of salvation. Faith is our inward response to the gospel where we cast ourselves on Christ alone for salvation, repenting of sin and surrendering our lives to His lordship. This faith is a gift of God’s grace at work in our hearts (Acts 18:27, Ephesians 2:8).
When Jesus rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith in the midst of a storm, He asked, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40). Here, faith meant trusting God’s purposes and resting in His sovereign control over circumstances, rather than giving in to fear. Biblical faith entails looking away from ourselves and circumstances and looking to Christ and His promises.
Paul writes of “the obedience that comes from faith” (Romans 1:5) and says, “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Galatians 5:6). Faith inevitably produces the fruit of obedience and love. If there is no heart transformation, then genuine faith is likely lacking.
Jesus repeatedly rebuked people who had an intellectual knowledge of Scripture but lacked true heart faith. Many scribes and Pharisees knew the prophesies about the Messiah but rejected Christ when He came because their hearts were far from God. They had outward religious conformity without inward heart renewal.
When a rich young ruler approached Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus told him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him (Luke 18:18-23). Though the man understood and believed Jesus’ words, he refused to obey because his heart was captivated by his wealth. He had intellectual assent but not heart faith.
So in summary, biblical saving faith goes beyond just mentally agreeing with facts about Jesus. Faith involves relying on, clinging to, and committing oneself completely to Christ, so that your understanding of truth penetrates from your head to your heart, transforming your desires, thoughts, and actions. Faith means laying aside trust in one’s own goodness and achievements and depending fully on the finished work of Christ and following Him wholeheartedly. Faith expresses itself in obedience, good works, and spiritual fruit from a heart of love.
The Bible contrasts intellectual assent with heart faith in many passages:
– “Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” (Acts 14:17)
– But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. (1 Corinthians 1:27)
– “We live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
– 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)
– Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:3-4)
– In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:6-7)
– By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. (Hebrews 11:8)
– In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. (James 2:17-18)
In summary, biblical saving faith is far more than just intellectual assent to facts about God and Jesus. Genuine heart faith expresses itself in a life of following Christ, loving others, obeying God’s Word, trusting in His promises, and bearing spiritual fruit. The obedience that comes from faith demonstrates its authenticity. Faith is believing, trusting, and committing one’s whole self to Christ as Savior and Lord.