Three Elements of Genuine Faith: Part Three

In this blog series we've been taking a closer look at the elements that make up genuine faith. In part one I argued that in order for genuine saving faith to take place, there first my be knowledge/awareness of the gospel content. It's not enough just to "have faith"-- as if faith in and of itself ever saved anyone. The object of faith must be the Lord Jesus Christ and the work He accomplished in His life, death, resurrection, and ascension for sinners.

Then in part two I shared that in order for true saving faith to occur, there must be a belief/assent to those facts of the gospel. In other words, it isn't enough just to have the right knowledge, there must be a belief in that truth--- where the person esteems it to be reliable facts. Or to say it a different way, not only must a person understand the content about Jesus being the sinless Son of God sent to redeem sinners, they must also believe it and give assent that it is indeed true.

But friends, as we press forward now into part three, what is so interesting about these first two elements of faith-- Facts/Content, and the Belief of Facts/Content--- is that Satan and his demonic hordes do in fact meet the requirements for these first two limited senses of faith. James 2:19 NASB says "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder."

Remember, Satan and his evil workers know all the proper facts regarding Jesus Christ. They know that Jesus is the Savior, the Son of God sent from heaven. And a step further, Satan and his demonic minions not only know the facts about Jesus--- they even believe them! If the demons didn't actually believe in Jesus' almighty power as the Son of God, why else would they cower in Jesus' presence in Luke 8:31-- begging Jesus not to send them from the bodies of the swine into the eternal abyss? They certainly did believe that Jesus was the all-powerful Christ. So it is clear that Satan and his demons have the first two elements of faith-- the right content and belief in the right content as true.

But Satan and his demonic host are certainly not redeemed or right with God--- so that tells us there must be more to genuine saving faith. And that is where this third element to saving faith becomes so vital. It truly is the dividing line between true faith and false faith:

3. Genuine faith must include trust/commitment.

In years gone by, ancient scholars used to speak of this third element of faith as "fiducia", which is Latin for trust or commitment. It speaks to a real yielding of oneself to Christ which goes beyond mere knowledge of content-- or even the belief that the content is true.

When we examine the Scriptures carefully, we discover that in order for real saving faith to take place-- this third and vital element must be present--- the element of embracing Christ to the point of trusting Him and committing oneself fully to Him for eternal life. This is a most vital step, the step that Satan and his minions refuse to take. Some years ago Dr. Jim Boice wrote "...believing the truths of Christianity itself, if we do not go on to this third necessary element, only qualifies one to be a demon!"

There are so many people out there today who know the facts about Jesus-- and even "believe" that Jesus lived, died, and was resurrected. Our churches are full of them on Christmas and Easter Sundays. But what separates the true Christians from the false professors is this third element of personal trust and commitment to Jesus. While they know about Jesus, and affirm that He was the Savior--- they have never personally yielded their souls to Him and put all their trust in Him for eternal life. And because that personal yielding and commitment to Jesus is absent, so is their salvation.

Those who truly wish to be disciples of Christ, must have a radical, personal commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, by which every aspect of living is affected. When a person truly comes to faith in Christ, this humbling yielding to His lordship affects one's values, desires, perspectives, and daily actions. As that person dies to self and yields to Christ in all things-- the Bible says that is genuine, saving faith. As Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20 NKJV "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no long I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Friend, can you say that all three elements of saving faith are present in your life? That is a penetrating and hard question, but it is one that must be asked because anything less than a faith with all three biblical elements is a worthless faith that doesn't save-- its an empty faith disconnected from the Savior's life-giving work.