March 1, 2026
What is saving faith? Will any belief in just anyone or anything get a person to heaven?
God has given us a very clear answer in the Bible. He has revealed to us that saving faith is specifically trust or confidence in Jesus as our Saviour from sin. No other belief will save (John 14:6). We see more clearly what saving faith is by noting what it is not.
Saving faith is not a mere belief in the existence of a god. All people, by nature, know from creation and their consciences that God exists (Rom. 1:18-23; 2:15). This general belief in the existence of a god will not save anyone (James 2:19). Neither is faith the mere knowledge of the facts of the Gospel, that Jesus lived, died, and rose again. Even the demons have this type of belief, but they are not saved (Luke 4:34; James 2:19).
Saving faith is trust or confidence in Jesus as our Saviour. It is a resting of the heart on Jesus and His promises of salvation. The writer to the Hebrews tells us, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Heb. 11:1).
While faith is trust or confidence, it must also have an object on which to rest. Just as a building will remain firm only when grounded on a firm foundation, so also faith saves only when it rests on Jesus Christ and the promises He makes in the Gospel (Gal. 2:20; 1 John 1:7). Saving faith is found in the heart of the person who confesses with Luther:
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord. He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death.