This is the second foundation stone listed in Hebrews 6:1,2

It is our response to hearing the Gospel. "I have declared to both Jews and Greeks" said the Apostle Paul, "...that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 20:21

It is the basis of our relationship with God: "...without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6

The simplest answer ever given to the question, "What must I do to be saved?" was "...believe in the Lord Jesus." Acts 16:30 ,31

Full faith involves 5 characteristics: faith is historical, faith is personal, faith is a confession, faith is practical and faith is continual.

1. Faith is historical

   Saving faith is faith based on historical facts: Facts which have already taken place, or will do so. We are invited to believe in things that have happened in the past, together with the earliest Christians’ interpretation of these facts. “What I received I passed on to you,” says the Apostle Paul, “...as of first importance; that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, then to the twelve.”  - 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

   These 3 facts are the fundamental facts of the Christian faith, together with the Apostles’ explanation of these events.
    

2. Faith is personal

   Our belief in the facts about Jesus and the meaning of these facts must become personal. Christian faith is not merely believing that Jesus died and rose again; it is believing in him as personal Savior.

   When the jailer of the town prison asked Paul and Silas, “Men, what must I do to be saved?” they made saving faith a personal matter: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household.” Acts 16:30,31. This demonstrates to us that faith is a personal matter. Without trusting in Jesus as Lord and Savior we remain un-saved.

   Here is a good test of genuine faith in God. Can you say, “The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me?”  - Galatians 2:20

3. Faith is confession
   
   'Confession' in everyday language means owning up to some crime or sin. In the Bible confession is also about agreeing with what God says to us. Paul tells us that faith has to be expressed so that God can save us. "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Romans 10:9,10

   Faith needs to be put into words, then, and addressed to both God and men. Our confessions to God reinforce convictions in our hearts. God himself hears our words of confession: our words of faith become effective. Other people listen to our confession of faith and are strengthened in their faith if they are believers, or challenged to step out in faith themselves if they are unbelievers.

4. Faith is Practical

   It is faith in action that saves. The Apostle Paul thanks God for the Thessalonian Christians "work produced by faith" 1 Thessalonians 1:3. James insists that "faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." James 2:17. He continues "you see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone." James 2:24. He gives the example of Abraham who was told by God to put his son on the altar and trust him. "Abraham's faith and actions were working together, his faith was made complete by what he did." James 2:22. Abraham risked his whole future by trusting God. The writer to the Hebrews spends a whole chapter giving examples of men and women who as a part of their faith took action in obedience to God.

   We learn from their example. Faith is not just accepting the truth of God's word; it is acting on that truth. There is always an element of risk involved.

5. Faith is Continual
   
   True faith involves continuing to act on God's word however long it may take for his promises to be fulfilled. You are summoned to "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" at the beginning of your Christian life; then to go on believing in him for the rest of your live.

   Faith is a walk: a series of steps stretching from this life into the next. We can trust in God's grace for every situation in which we may find ourselves in the near and distant future.

   Summary:

   You should be clear in your mind that faith is not a feeling but an attitude of believing and agreeing with what God says about Jesus.

   God himself enables us to trust in him as a person; he also enables us to trust in his words. Faith includes believing in historical facts, especially the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
   It includes agreeing with what God says in his word, and acting in obedience to this word. We are called to live by faith, to walk by faith, and to testify to our faith.

   The Christian's faith is an attitude: "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

   The Christian faith is an activity: "let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith." Hebrews 12:2

Your Personal Response:

Your personal faith as you begin the Christian life involves the following:

BELIEVING that Jesus is the Son of God, Israel's Messiah sent by the Father as the only way of salvation; 1 John 4:9,10; Acts 4:12; John 4:22.
TRUSTING in Jesus' death on the cross to save you from your sins - past, present and future; 1 John 1:8-10. 2;1,2. His death on the cross was an atonement for sin. He took your punishment for sin. Because the penalty for lawlessness and rebellion has been paid, you are forgiven and acceptable to God; Ephesians 1:7,8.
CONFESSING that Jesus is alive and is Lord of your life and head of a new human race; Romans 10;9-11.
RECEIVING from God the gift of forgiveness and eternal life.
COMMITTING your whole life to him in trust and obedience; Romans 1:5; Galatians 2:20.

Homework

God's word will make you grow

Faith comes and grows by hearing God's word. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:14-17; Romans 10:16,17

BENEFITING FROM THE BIBLE

The following are 5 ways to benefit from the Bible.

You can speak back to the devil as Jesus did, with words from the Bible. Matthew 4:10,11

Stepping out in Faith

What specific need or situation requires you to step out in faith? For example, a sickness to be healed, a bill to be paid, a job to be acquired, a bad habit to be broken, a responsibility the Lord is asking you to take on your shoulders which you find daunting?

Find scriptures, which you can confess and from which you can pray.

Is there another Christian with whom you can pray in agreement concerning this specific matter?

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