Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 6/25/2010

Question
What does it mean to have faith and trust in Jesus Christ?

Answer
Hi Ryan,

Thank you so much for this great question.  Faith and trust are generally the same thing.  Everyone has faith in something.  The question one must ask himself is how do I hope to get to heaven?  Many people would cite some kind of work rite or ritual as reason that they have merited heaven.  Yes they may know about Jesus and even believe that He exists... but their faith or trust is in their own effort.  They are trusting in the fact that they have been baptized, taken communion, performed the sacraments, or some other merit.  The Bible is clear that it is impossible to merit heaven by works, or by keeping the Law.

Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Romans 3:19-23
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.  20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

To trust in Jesus or have faith in Jesus then is to transfer your trust from your dead works onto the fact that Jesus paid the price for our sin on the cross.  It is to turn from believing your own efforts may merit heaven to believing that Jesus' work on the cross will bring you to heaven.

John 3:16
16 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 King James Version, #Cambridge: Cambridge# 1769.

2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

The King James Version, #Cambridge: Cambridge# 1769.

Romans 5:8
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
The King James Version, #Cambridge: Cambridge# 1769.

Romans 10:9-10,13
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
The King James Version, #Cambridge: Cambridge# 1769.

Hebrews 6:1


... not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  
The King James Version, #Cambridge: Cambridge# 1769.

If you are willing to quit trusting in your works and ask Jesus to save you because of what he did on the cross, paying for your sins... you can know you are heaven bound too!  This is what it means to place your faith and trust in Jesus.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don