Lesson Introduction
Faith is central to our relationship with God. We receive eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, and we learn to rest in God’s promises as we grow in our understanding of His Word.
However, faith is sometimes misunderstood. Some people think they must feel strong every day to have genuine faith. Others believe they must achieve a certain level of goodness before they can be confident in their salvation.
In this lesson, we will discover what biblical faith means, why Jesus Christ is the object of our faith, and how faith helps us remain confident in God’s testimony even when our feelings or circumstances change.
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me eternal life through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You that I do not have to depend on my own goodness or strength to receive Your gift. Help me understand what it means to believe in Jesus and trust Your Word. Teach me not to measure Your faithfulness by my feelings or circumstances. Strengthen my understanding of the finished work of Christ, and help me walk by faith, grow in Your truth, and live with confidence in the life You have given me. In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.
1. Faith Means Trusting in Jesus Christ
Scripture — John 3:16 (KJV)
“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.”
Explanation
Faith is more than knowing that Jesus existed. It means believing in Him and trusting Him as the One through whom God has provided salvation.
A person may know many facts about Jesus without personally trusting Him. Biblical faith involves responding to who Jesus is and what He has done.
Our assurance of eternal life begins with Christ, not with our ability to prove that we are good enough to deserve God’s acceptance.
Practical Example
Imagine that someone offers you a gift. You may understand what the gift is, but you must receive it to benefit from it. In a similar way, learning about Jesus is important, but the gospel calls us to believe in Him.
Remember: Faith rests in Jesus Christ and trusts God’s provision of eternal life through Him.
2. Faith Is Not a Payment for Salvation
Scripture — Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)
“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.”
Explanation
Salvation begins with God’s grace. Faith is how we receive His gift; it is not a payment that makes God indebted to us.
We do not earn eternal life by praying a certain number of hours, performing enough good deeds, or reaching spiritual perfection. These things cannot replace the saving work of Jesus Christ.
This does not mean that how we live is unimportant. Rather, good works are not the price we pay for eternal life. They are part of the life of faith that God calls believers to live.
Practical Example
A believer may think, “I failed today, so perhaps God has taken away my eternal life.” Instead of trying to earn salvation again through good deeds, that person can acknowledge the failure, receive God’s correction, and continue trusting in Christ.
Remember: We are saved by God’s grace through faith, not by earning salvation through our works.
3. Faith Has an Object: Jesus Christ
Scripture — Acts 16:31 (KJV)
“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
Explanation
Biblical faith is not simply believing that something good will happen. It is not faith in our own faith, positive thinking, or personal strength.
Christian faith is directed toward Jesus Christ.
Our confidence does not come from how powerful we think our faith is. It comes from the One in whom we have placed our faith.
A believer may sometimes feel weak, confused, or overwhelmed. That weakness does not mean that Jesus has become less trustworthy.
Practical Example
Suppose you are crossing a bridge. Your confidence does not come merely from how confidently you walk. It also depends on whether the bridge is reliable. Similarly, our assurance rests on Christ’s faithfulness rather than on how strong we feel.
Remember: The strength of our assurance rests in the trustworthiness of Jesus Christ, not in our ability to feel strong.
4. Faith Comes Through Hearing God’s Word
Scripture — Romans 10:17 (KJV)
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Explanation
God’s Word helps us understand who He is, what Christ has accomplished, and what He has promised.
When we continually listen to God’s Word, study it in context, and consider its message, our understanding of Him can grow.
We should not build our assurance only on a dream, a feeling, a personal impression, or something another person has told us. Our beliefs should be examined in the light of Scripture.
Studying the Bible does not mean that we will never have questions. It helps us address those questions with a clearer understanding of God’s revealed truth.
Practical Example
When doubts arise about eternal life, a believer can return to John 3:16, John 6:47, and 1 John 5:11–13. Reading these passages carefully helps bring attention back to God’s testimony concerning His Son.
Remember: God’s Word gives us a foundation for understanding and growing in faith.
5. Faith Does Not Depend on Feelings Alone
Scripture — 2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV)
“(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”
Explanation
Our feelings change. We may experience joy one day and sadness the next. Sometimes prayer feels easy, and at other times our hearts feel troubled.
Faith does not require us to pretend that these emotions do not exist. Instead, faith teaches us not to make our changing feelings the final authority about God’s character or promises.
For example, feeling distant from God does not automatically mean that we have lost eternal life. We should examine our thoughts and actions through Scripture while remembering what God has said concerning Christ.
Walking by faith means trusting God’s truth even when our circumstances do not appear to support what we believe.
Practical Example
A believer going through a difficult season may feel forgotten. Rather than concluding that God has abandoned them simply because of that feeling, they can bring their pain to God and remember the promises revealed in His Word.
Remember: Feelings deserve honest attention, but God’s truth—not our changing emotions—is the foundation of our assurance.
6. Faith Trusts What God Has Testified About His Son
Scripture — 1 John 5:11–12 (KJV)
“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
Explanation
God has not left us to guess where eternal life can be found. He has testified that eternal life is in His Son.
This passage directs our attention away from endless self-examination and toward Jesus Christ.
Self-examination can be helpful when we need to correct our conduct or examine what we believe. However, we should not make our fluctuating performance the foundation of salvation. God’s testimony identifies Christ as the source of eternal life.
To have the Son is to belong to Him through faith. Our assurance is therefore rooted in our relationship with Christ, not in the idea that we have never made a mistake.
Practical Example
Instead of repeatedly asking, “Have I done enough to deserve eternal life?” a believer can ask, “What has God testified concerning His Son, and am I trusting in Christ?”
Remember: God has testified that eternal life is in His Son. Look to Christ as the source of your life.
7. Faith Trusts Christ Even During Difficult Seasons
Scripture — Hebrews 10:23 (KJV)
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”
Explanation
The foundation of our confidence is God’s faithfulness.
Believers can experience sickness, disappointment, unanswered questions, financial struggles, persecution, and grief. These difficulties do not automatically mean that God has rejected them or that their faith has failed.
The verse directs our attention to the One who made the promise: God is faithful.
Holding fast to our confession does not mean that we must never feel afraid or ask questions. It means that we continue turning toward Christ rather than treating every difficult circumstance as proof that God’s promises have failed.
Practical Example
A believer who loses a job may struggle with fear about the future. That person can honestly acknowledge the fear, seek practical help, pray, and continue trusting Christ without assuming that hardship proves a loss of salvation.
Remember: Our circumstances may change, but God’s character remains the foundation of our confidence.
8. Faith Leads Us to Walk in Love and Good Works
Scripture — Galatians 5:6 (KJV)
“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
Explanation
Faith is not meant to remain merely an idea in our minds. Trusting Christ influences how we treat other people and how we respond to life.
When we understand God’s grace, we can learn to show grace to others. As we grow in Christ, our faith should increasingly be expressed through love, honesty, forgiveness, generosity, and service.
These actions do not purchase eternal life. They are expressions of a life being shaped by faith.
We should also remember that growth takes time. A new believer may still need to learn, receive correction, and develop mature habits.
Practical Example
A believer who has received forgiveness from God may begin learning to forgive someone who has hurt them. The process may be difficult, but the believer can ask God for wisdom and take appropriate steps toward responding with love.
Remember: Good works do not buy eternal life; faith expresses itself through a life increasingly shaped by love.
9. Genuine Faith Can Grow Through Learning and Correction
Scripture — 2 Peter 3:18 (KJV)
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
Explanation
Growing in faith does not mean that we must become perfect before we can have assurance. It means that we continue learning about Christ and allowing God’s Word to shape our understanding and conduct.
A believer may discover that a previous belief was mistaken. Another may recognize a harmful habit that needs to change. Such discoveries can become opportunities for learning and growth.
We should neither ignore correction nor assume that every mistake proves we have no faith. Instead, we can receive biblical instruction with humility and keep our attention on Christ.
Our growth is a journey. We should not confuse spiritual maturity with the condition for receiving God’s gift of eternal life.
Practical Example
Someone who has recently come to faith may still struggle to understand the Bible. Rather than giving up or pretending to know everything, they can study Scripture, ask sincere questions, and learn from trustworthy teachers who handle the Word carefully.
Remember: We do not need perfect understanding to begin trusting Christ, but we should remain willing to grow in His grace and knowledge.
10. Let Your Confidence Rest in Christ’s Finished Work
Scripture — John 19:30 (KJV)
“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
Explanation
When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He declared the completion of the work He had come to accomplish at the cross.
Our assurance of eternal life must be understood in light of His work, not as a reward for our ability to achieve spiritual perfection.
This does not mean that believers never need correction or that their choices have no consequences. It means that we do not add our own good deeds to Christ’s work as though His sacrifice were insufficient to provide salvation.
We respond to His finished work with faith, gratitude, obedience, and love. We continue to grow, not to make Jesus’ work complete, but because we have received life through Him.
Practical Example
When a believer recognizes a personal failure, they can acknowledge it honestly and seek to make things right where appropriate. They do not need to conclude that Christ’s work was insufficient. They can return to the truth of the gospel and continue walking with Him.
Remember: Our confidence is in Jesus Christ and His finished work, not in our ability to earn what He has freely provided.
Lesson Summary
In this lesson, we have learned that:
-
Faith means trusting in Jesus Christ.
-
Faith is the means by which we receive God’s gift, not a payment for salvation.
-
Jesus Christ—not the strength of our feelings—is the object of our faith.
-
God’s Word provides a foundation for understanding and growing in faith.
-
Our assurance should not be controlled by changing emotions.
-
God has testified that eternal life is in His Son.
-
We can continue trusting Christ during difficult seasons.
-
Genuine faith expresses itself through love and good works.
-
Believers should continue growing in grace and knowledge.
-
Our confidence rests in Christ’s finished work.
Final Takeaway
Faith is not about proving that we are strong enough to save ourselves. It is about trusting Jesus Christ, believing God’s testimony concerning Him, and learning to live in the reality of the eternal life God has given us.
When doubts arise, return to God’s Word. When feelings change, remember His testimony. When you need correction, receive it with humility. Through every season, keep your attention on Jesus Christ.
Reflection Question
When your feelings, circumstances, or personal performance make you uncertain about your salvation, how can you use God’s Word to redirect your attention toward Jesus Christ and His finished work?
Coming Up Next
Lesson 7: Understanding God’s Promises and Our Assurance of Eternal Life
In the next lesson, we will explore how to understand God’s promises in their biblical context, distinguish His revealed promises from our personal expectations, and build assurance on what He has actually said in His Word.