Faith is central to salvation. The Greek word for faith, πίστις (pistis), conveys more than intellectual belief; it is a deep, unshakable trust, a confidence firmly planted and immovable. This kind of faith shapes not only what we believe but how we live. Hebrews 11:1 provides the foundational definition of faith:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Faith is the firm conviction of what God has promised and the assurance of His unseen work in our lives.
In its essence, pistis means being steadfast, unwavering in one’s trust in God, no matter the circumstances. A person with true faith cannot be swayed or convinced to abandon the Lord, for their belief is grounded in the truth of who God is. This study will explore the nature of saving faith, how it differs from false faith, and how faith is tied to obedience, repentance, and love for God.
Saving Faith: Believing That Jesus Is God
Saving faith is more than simply believing in the historical reality of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Even demons believe these facts:
“You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” (James 2:19).
Saving faith involves acknowledging that Jesus is Lord and trusting Him as God, Savior, and King. Romans 10:9 says,
“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Notice the dual requirement: confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection. To confess Jesus as Lord is to recognize His deity and submit to His authority. This confession is not mere words but a life lived in acknowledgment of His rule.
Jesus said, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).
True faith acknowledges Christ’s authority and results in obedience.
Faith That Does Not Save
James 2:14-17 challenges superficial or dead faith:
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Faith that does not save is mere intellectual assent without transformation. It acknowledges facts about God but does not result in repentance, obedience, or love for Him. This kind of faith is void of power and evidence, as seen in the parable of the sower, where some receive the word with joy but fall away when trials come or the cares of the world choke the word (Matthew 13:20-22).
Faith Tied to Obedience and Repentance
Faith and obedience are inseparable. True faith compels action, just as Abraham’s faith moved him to obey God’s command to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:9-12; Hebrews 11:17-19). James highlights this connection:
“Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?” (James 2:22).
Faith that saves is evidenced by a life of obedience, for it flows from a heart transformed by the Spirit.
Repentance is also tied to saving faith. True faith includes a turning away from sin and a turning toward God. Jesus began His ministry with the call:
“Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
Repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin; one cannot claim to trust Jesus as Lord while living in unrepentant rebellion against Him.
Faith and Love for God
Jesus emphasized the importance of loving Him, tying love to obedience:
“If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
This love is not abstract or emotional alone but demonstrated through faithful living. True faith in Christ produces love for God, which in turn results in a desire to honor and obey Him.
1 John 5:3 confirms this: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”
Love and faith cannot be separated. A person who truly believes that Jesus is God will revere His word and live according to His will. Conversely, one who disregards God’s commands reveals a lack of faith and love, as John writes: “He who does not love Me does not keep My words” (John 14:24).
The Strength of Saving Faith: Pistis in Action
True faith is steadfast and immovable. The Apostle Paul exemplified this unwavering confidence when he said,
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).
This is the essence of pistis: a faith so anchored in the truth of God’s nature and promises that no force in heaven or on earth can shake it.
Jesus commended this kind of faith in the centurion who believed in His authority: “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (Matthew 8:10). The centurion’s faith was rooted in his recognition of who Jesus was and his complete trust in His power. Saving faith is marked by this same resolute confidence.
Faith That Endures: The Testing of Faith
True faith is tested and refined through trials. Peter writes,
“That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7).
Trials reveal the quality of one’s faith, distinguishing genuine belief from superficial or false faith. Faith that saves endures because it rests not on circumstances but on the unchanging character of God. Habakkuk declared,
“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines… yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).
This is the faith of pistis, unshakable in the face of adversity.
The Object of Faith: Jesus as Lord and God
Saving faith is not merely believing that Jesus rose from the dead but believing that He is God, as Thomas declared after seeing the risen Christ:
“My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
Recognizing Jesus as God means submitting to His authority, acknowledging His deity, and trusting in His promises. This faith encompasses all that Jesus claimed about Himself and His mission: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
My Final Thoughts
Faith is more than intellectual belief; it is a steadfast trust in Jesus as God, expressed through obedience, repentance, and love. True faith is unshakable, a firm confidence in the character and promises of God. A person who truly believes that Jesus is Lord will seek to follow His commands, for love and faith are inseparable. As James reminds us, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). Let us examine our hearts, ensuring our faith is genuine, rooted in Christ, and evidenced by a life of obedience and love for Him. May our faith be as unshakable as the psalmist’s declaration: “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved” (Psalm 16:8).
