Nothing is more God-Centered than our faith. It is what justifies and gives us peace with God. Faith is what separates us from the rest of mankind because those who have faith have been raised to spiritual life in Christ. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Word Study
Faith – belief, trust, confidence, convicted, to rely upon someone or something, to be persuaded. This is more than just simple man-centered faith. Everyone exercises a type of faith from time to time. Take for example the person who boards an airplane. They trust and have faith that not only will that mechanical wonder get off the ground, but that trained pilots will help it land safely.
Biblical faith, the faith that pleases God, goes beyond simple faith common to all humanity. The type of faith that justifies is a God-Centered faith that believes God for who He is and what He has said. It trusts in what God has done for us regarding our redemption and salvation.
Assurance – the substance, the confidence, the essence, the reality. Faith is the substance that gives us confidence in the reality of our salvation in Christ. This is why I say that the answers regarding all questions about our salvation have the same answer. It is a Person. It is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the answer to all questions regarding our faith.
Why do we have faith? Because of Jesus Christ.
Why should we have faith? Because of Jesus Christ.
How do we know our salvation is real? Because of Jesus Christ.
How do we know our justification stands before God? Because of Jesus Christ.
How can we know that our salvation is secure? Because of Jesus Christ.
I could go on and on and on.
Conviction – the evidence or proof. Our faith is our evidence that these things are true. This is why when anyone asks me, “How do you know you are saved?” I respond, “Because the Spirit of God testifies to my spirit that I am a child of God.” The fact that I trust Christ for salvation is evidence of my God-Centered faith. I know I am pleasing to God because I have a God-Centered faith.
I base my faith on the Person of Jesus Christ.
I base my faith on the inerrant Word of God found in inspired Scripture.
I base my faith on the reality of the cross of Calvary and the atoning work that Christ performed that day.
I seek God because I have been raised to spiritual life.
I seek God because my faith empowers me to do so.
I seek God because I want to know the One who saved my soul and redeemed me from my sin.
Applying This God Centered Letter
- Do you have faith in God?
- Do you trust Jesus Christ alone for your salvation?
- How does your faith impact your daily life?
Praying This God Centered Letter
Lord, I have genuine faith in you. My faith is a gift from you. Your Spirit raised my spirit to life and Jesus Christ’s work on the cross redeemed me. I believe what Your word says. I believe what Your Son did for me! I have faith and confidence that I will stand before you one day fully righteous and justified because of Jesus Christ.
