Faith in Jesus
Having faith in Jesus means believing in the Person and work of Christ —
…that the Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who became man, without ceasing to be God, having been conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, in order that He might reveal God and redeem sinful men (John 1:1-2, John 1:14; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 7:14; Philippians 2:5-8; Galatians 4:4-5);
…that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption through His finished work on the cross as a representative, vicarious, substitutionary sacrifice and that our justification is made sure by His literal, physical resurrection from the dead (Romans 3:24-25; 1 Peter 2:24; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:3-5);
…that He ascended to Heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God, where, as our High Priest, He fulfills the ministry of Representative, Intercessor, and Advocate (Acts 1:9-10; Hebrews 9:24, Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2);
…that the “Blessed Hope” of our Lord’s return is literal, personal, visible, and imminent.
The Bible uses the phrase “faith in Jesus” synonymously with belief in Jesus as Savior. When we place our faith in Jesus, we believe in Him, and God grants His righteousness to us. To have faith in Jesus means to trust Him. Fully. Without reservation. When a person has faith in Jesus, it means that he or she believes that Jesus is who He says He is (God in human form) and trusts what Jesus has done (was crucified, died, was buried, rose again on the third day, and ascended into heaven).
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The key is belief, in response to God’s love. Anyone who places his or her faith in Jesus has the promise of eternal life.
Without faith in Jesus, we remain in sin and cannot be accepted into God’s presence in His perfect heaven. With faith in Jesus, we are given access to the Father as God’s own children. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12).
To have faith in Jesus is to reject all other ways of salvation. We cannot trust in Jesus and anything else. We are to trust in Jesus alone. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). Salvation is exclusive. Jesus is the only way. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6).
We cannot earn our way to heaven by our own works of righteousness. Isaiah 64:6 says, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;”
And Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Are you ready to place your faith in Jesus? Do you trust Him to save you? There is no special prayer you must pray. However, you can respond right now with the following prayer:
“Dear Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner, and I deserve to go to Hell. But I believe with all my heart that You died on the cross for my sins, were buried, and rose from the dead three days later. I now place my full trust in You alone for my salvation and not in myself. Please save me, Lord Jesus, and give me the gift of eternal life in Heaven. Come into my heart, and show me how to live for You. Thank You for saving me. In Your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.”