Faith's Components
I don't know what your church background is, but hopefully you attend a church that recites a creed every week. The question that precedes these sacred recitations is one that all Christians must consistently ask themselves: Christians, what do you believe?I believe in the Trinity. I believe in the Incarnation. I believe in the bodily resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Yet belief, no matter how proper or orthodox it is, is not the equivalent of faith.
The Christian life is built upon a set of beliefs that revolve around the person and work of Jesus Christ. But belief alone does not constitute saving faith. After all, we know that even the demons could properly identify Jesus and his relationship to the Father (Matt. 8:29; Mk. 5:7; etc.) and believe in one God (Jas. 2:19). And James is quite clear that faith must be accompanied by good works, for it is otherwise dead (Jas. 2:17). But what faith itself is is a significant question, and I'm afraid that too many Christians merely assume that it is just right belief.
After the last several months of my life, I have been forced to acknowledge that there is more to faith than belief. After all, I have spent the last 8 years of my life committed to learning what orthodox Christian beliefs are and how to properly articulate them to others. But faith is quite another thing altogether. Proper belief is only the starting point of faith, not its sole component. For belief to be faith, it must be accompanied by the following two things: trust and obedience.
No one lives life in a vacuum. Throughout all of life's circumstances, Christian faith consists of proper belief, trust, and obedience. What good is proper belief if you don't trust the one you say you believe in? What good is trust if you're not willing to obey the one you trust? Belief, trust, and obedience all feed into and are incomplete without the other.
Adam and Eve knew God in the garden. They believed He existed, but they neither trusted nor obeyed Him. Likewise you and I in our Christian experience know God. We believe He exists and we (rightfully) affirm the creeds. But unless you are willing to trust Him in the difficult times and obey Him no matter what the cost, you do not have the fullness of faith that God desires from you.
The song* is old, but its message rings true:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other wayThe fifth verse stands out the most to me:
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.What is lacking in your Christian life right now? Chances are it can be traced back to your definition of faith. Don't rely simply on proper beliefs, as crucial as they are. Allow God to form in you a spirit that is both trusting and obedient.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
*Trust and Obey, John H. Sammis, 1887.
