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Across the Pastor’s Desk by Kent Otterman

Two words that we read often in the Bible are “faith” and “believe.” For example, in Ephesians 2:8, Paul says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith.” In Romans 3:26 we read that God “justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” In Acts 16:31, after the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas how to be saved, Paul replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”

But what does it mean to have faith in Jesus or to believe in him? It means to personally trust in him for forgiveness and salvation. One definition of trust is “firm belief in the integrity, ability or character of a person or thing; confidence or reliance.”

Another definition of trust is “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength or truth of someone or something.” The word “reliance” is in both of these definitions. To trust in Jesus means to rely on him to forgive us and save us because we realize that we cannot save ourselves.

Why is it important to understand that the heart of faith and believing is trust?

Because there’s a kind of believing that doesn’t involve trust, and therefore doesn’t save.

James writes, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that — and shudder.” — James 2:19

Demons believe in God. They know he is real. Demons believe in Jesus, too. Remember the demon who once spoke to Jesus through the voice of a man and said to him, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” — Mark 1:24

We see that demons believe in Jesus in the sense that they know who he is. But they don’t trust in him for forgiveness, and they don’t rely on him for salvation.

I believe there are many people who have a “demon” kind of faith in Jesus. That is, they believe that Jesus was/is real and that he was/is the son of God, but they don’t personally trust in him for forgiveness or rely on him for salvation. Mental acknowledgement of Jesus is not the same as heartfelt trust and reliance.

What kind of faith do you have?

Kent Otterman is pastor at Round Prairie Lutheran Church in Glenville, Faith Lutheran Church in London and chaplain at Good Samaritan Society of Albert Lea.