So far we’ve learned about humanity’s problem (sin) and God’s solution (Jesus). But here’s the thing: the fact that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead does not save you from your sins. It’s your personal response to Jesus that opens the door to salvation and makes you “born again.” The Bible calls it “saving faith,” and in this lesson we’ll tell you all about it.
God’s Love
Saving faith starts with God. What was his motivation for sending Jesus to the cross? Why did he make such a costly sacrifice? The Apostle John gives the answer:
1 John 4:9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.
Out of love, God sent Jesus into the world to solve our sin problem. Many religions depict a deity who is full of wrath toward the human race. Other faiths describe a god who requires strict obedience to a list of rules. These ideas generate a picture of a transactional god, a cosmic deity doing business with people who struggle to keep up their end of the bargain.
But the God of the Bible is different. He’s a relational God, proactively reaching out to the human race in spite of their failure to bring anything good to the table. And this God didn’t send Jesus into the world with reluctance or out of obligation; he did it willingly – out of love.
Our Attitude
So God’s heart is the first thing you need to know about saving faith. The second thing has to do with your heart. Saving faith requires more than just the right information about Jesus. It also requires the right attitude toward God, which the Bible calls “repentance.”
When the apostle Peter preached his first sermon after Christ’s death and resurrection, he invited people to respond to the message of salvation. Their response perfectly models the heart attitude necessary for saving faith:
Acts 2:37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
Read the full sermon for yourself (Acts 2:14-36) and you’ll see that Peter covers Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection – putting it all in the context of the story of Israel. Then he closes his sermon by pointing out that Israel rejected Jesus and nailed him to the cross. The message should have offended the Jewish listeners.
But that’s not what happened. Instead, the message “pierced their hearts” and the listeners humbly submitted themselves to God. They didn’t claim to know more than Peter, but instead wanted to know what they had to do in order to be saved. Peter’s response was simple:
Acts 2:38 Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God….
Repentance is the attitude that says, “I’ve changed my mind and I’m ready to go God’s way now.” It’s an act of the will, a relinquishing of control. It happened to the listeners in Acts 2, and it resulted in their humble response to Peter’s message. And it still happens to people today when they’re ready to respond to Jesus in faith.
The Confession
When God begins a saving work in your heart, it’s important to express it in words. The Bible calls this “confession.” To confess literally means to “say the same thing.” When we confess our faith, we are repeating what God has already said. We are agreeing with Him that we’re sinners and that Jesus can save us. Here’s how Paul explained it:
Romans 10:9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Believe and declare. That’s how we activate saving faith in Jesus. Have you ever done this? Are you ready to do it now? If so, pray a “sinner’s prayer” like this:
“Jesus, I recognize I’m a sinner. I know that you died on the cross and rose from the dead so that I could have life. I’m turning from my sin now, and I’m turning to you in faith. I trust in you alone to forgive my sin and give me new life. Thank you for this free gift. Amen.”
There’s nothing magical about these particular words. What matters is that you have the right information (about sin and Jesus) and that you respond to it with the right attitude (repentance). That’s the essence of confession. Once you’ve done it, the Bible says you’re saved: forgiven of your sins and given a new life in Christ.
Saved by Grace
Some people find this hard to believe. Does the Bible actually teach such a simple pathway to salvation? Is there really nothing more that God requires of me? It sounds too good to be true! But the Bible makes it clear:
Ephesians 2:8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
It’s human nature to want to earn our keep. We love the sense of accomplishment that comes from an honest day’s work. In the physical realm this is a good thing and the Bible even commands it (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12). But the spiritual realm works differently. In God’s economy, we cannot work for our salvation. God alone can save us, and he alone gets all the credit.
Jesus did all of the work to save us. The Bible teaches that we are “dead in our sin” – and dead people can’t do anything! That’s why the Bible uses the word “grace”. It literally means “gift”. A gift is freely given, and you can’t work for it. If you try to pay for it, it’s no longer a gift.
Here’s the point: No level of personal performance can earn God’s approval. We are saved 100% by grace the moment we trust Jesus for salvation.
Everyone Who Believes
So there’s one final question you might have about saving faith: Could it really be true for you? This brings us to one final verse:
Romans 3:22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
Some people are so burdened by their sin or doubts that they feel out of God’s reach. Some may ask, “How could Jesus possibly want a relationship with someone like me? What if I’ve committed the unforgivable sin?” Others question, “I’m not sure my faith is strong enough. I still have questions about the Bible.”
So here’s the good news: the pathway to salvation is simpler than you think. Jesus did the heavy lifting; you just believe. The blood of Jesus is far more powerful than the skeletons in your closet; just believe (Romans 8:1). The message of the cross can overcome your doubts; just believe (1 Corinthians 1:18-21). Those who have trusted Jesus for salvation are made “right with God” in an instant, not in a lifetime of good works. This is what the Bible says about “saving faith” – the most important defining moment of your life.
Saving faith is an end and a beginning. It’s the end of your old life, and it’s the beginning of a new way to live. That’s what we’ll cover in the next few lessons.
