You’ve heard it a million times: “faith in Jesus” or “believe in Jesus.” But I’m serious when I say that faith in Jesus can profoundly transform your life.
Discovering the profound meaning and impact of my faith in Jesus has been my life’s greatest joy and I hope it’s yours too.
But whether you grew up in church or whether this is the first time you’ve felt curious to learn more, this is the perfect place to learn what faith in Jesus means for your life!
This article explores the concept of faith in Jesus Christ in two ways:
- what faith in Jesus means and
- what faith in Jesus does
What faith in Jesus means
Faith means believing in something even without visible proof.
Our faith that the sun will rise tomorrow precedes the sunrise itself. We can’t see it yet but we know it will be there. In other words– we have faith that it will rise!
According to Hebrews 11:1, “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (ESV).
Faith in Jesus means that we believe in Jesus and that we believe what Jesus taught.
Believing in Jesus
When Adam and Eve sinned, mankind became morally corrupt. Their fall into sin broke God’s heart because sin gets in the way of His relationship with His children.
But God is merciful and gracious and loving. He sent His Son, Jesus, to become a human being and live in complete obedience to God so he could take on the punishment that our sin deserves.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ESV).
The Gospel Truth
If we have faith in Jesus, it means that we believe Jesus lived a perfect life, died, and that God resurrected him as a sign that death had been defeated. Most importantly, it means that our sin can be dealt with on the cross if we accept salvation through Jesus.
Faith in Jesus means that we believe these truths about Jesus. This is what someone means when they say they believe in Jesus.
Believing Jesus
Secondly, faith in Jesus means that we believe Jesus.
God sent His son to become a human to fulfill His plan for the salvation of His people.
Jesus was carpenter by trade until God called Him to His true mission on Earth: saving the world from its sin.
Teachings of Jesus
Jesus embarked on His mission by becoming a Jewish teacher or Rabbi who taught God’s law in a radically new way.
He taught that we should love our neighbor, love our enemies, serve others, deny ourselves, and seek first the kingdom of God.
If you want to learn more about the teachings of Jesus, read his Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7! The Bible Project published a helpful explanation of Jesus’ teachings here if you’re looking for additional information!
Listening to Jesus
In order to truly believe in Jesus we must put our faith in him and listen to his teachings.
Many want to believe in Jesus so that their sin will be forgiven and they can spend eternity with God in Heaven without having to make any changes in their lives.
But God’s word says that if our faith is in Jesus and our sins are forgiven, God will transform our heart. We will have a new desire to listen to and obey God’s law.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV).
On the other hand, if we don’t genuinely try to listen to and obey Jesus, we have no assurance of our salvation from our sin according to John 3:36 (ESV).
Our Struggle With Sin
Because we are all sinners in need of God’s grace, none of us are able to obey God perfectly. That’s why we must trust in Jesus who died on our behalf.
If our faith is in Jesus, our sin is wiped away forever and we can live in the freedom that a personal relationship with God allows.
However, accepting the gift of salvation doesn’t mean we suddenly have a handle on everything we’re struggling with!
It’s paradoxical but true.
We continue to struggle with sin and brokenness except we are empowered by the strength God provides.
What faith in Jesus does
Putting our faith in Jesus is the first step down a path of heart transformation that won’t be complete until we reach Heaven’s gates.
And once we take that step, we can find infinitely greater meaning in life through a personal relationship with God
Relationship with God
God created us for a relationship with him so we can only be spiritually filled when we’re able to rest in His presence.
Before they disobeyed God, Adam and Eve could actually walk with God in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8). It wasn’t until sin entered the picture that we and our Heavenly Father were separated.
There is a reason that God hates sin but loves sinners. God wants to reconnect with every one of his sons and daughters. He wants to reconnect with us but our sin is the obstacle.
The Love of God
As often as I hear it, the message of God’s love for us still shocks me.
I just don’t understand why the creator of the universe would rather die on a cross for my sins than give me up. Especially when it was my own sins that separated me from my loving heavenly father in the first place.
But that’s the reality of God’s love if you do have faith in Jesus and in the message of the Bible.
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 (ESV).
God is so good.
Assurance of Faith
If you think you have faith in Jesus, how can you be sure?
Faith is the invisible work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts but at the same time it determines whether we spend eternity with God or we don’t.
Letters in the New Testament do reference an assurance of faith which gives us a sense of security in and peace with God (i.e. Hebrews 10:22, Ephesians 1:18).
Our assurance of faith develops when we persevere through testing and rely on God through various trials.
The Life of A Christian
However, there are several things we know about followers of Jesus.
- Believing in Jesus means we believe Jesus
Someone who claims to be a follower of Jesus wants to obey Jesus’ teachings and the Word of God. Our actions, words, and lifestyles should reflect our faith. See
“to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV).
- Believing in Jesus means we’re filled with the Holy Spirit
Once a person accepts the gift of salvation, God sends the Holy Spirit to dwell inside that person. The Holy Spirit then convicts them of sin, reveals God’s truth to them, sanctifies them, and leads them (John 16:13). In other words, the spiritual fire in our lives is from the Holy Spirit.
- Believing in Jesus means we want to develop our relationship with God
God designed us for a relationship with Him. He wants us to lean on Him in everything we do! He wants us to bring our worries, our needs, our joys, and our sorrows to Him in prayer because he cares for us.
Your next steps
Wherever you are in your spiritual walk, I pray you continue to learn more about yourself and about the God who loves you.
If you’re just now finding your faith in Jesus, your next step of faith could look like…
- reading the book of John in the New Testament
- finding a local church to attend each Sunday
- praying for 15 minutes every day
Don’t underestimate how transformative a time of prayer can be! God can break strongholds and work miracles in anyone’s heart and anyone’s life.
Maybe you’ve known the Lord for a while but want to grow spiritually. Try…
- joining a Bible study group at your local church
- sharing the love of God by serving your community
- asking for prayer requests from your church, co-workers, friends, and family.
Benediction
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV).