As Christians we confess that we are saved by grace through faith, but can any faith save? Faith plays a central role in every religious understanding. The word faith is often used interchangeably with the word religion as though they were the same things. People talk about their faith or where they place their faith. What exactly is this faith that everyone talks about?
Many people speak of faith as though it is a capacity or a power that all people naturally possess. As Lutheran Christians we speak of faith a bit differently. Faith isn’t about what you possess, but rather what possesses you. It is a gift of God that allows you to live out trust in God. In the Small Catechism Luther explains the 3rd article of the Apostles Creed saying: “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in my Lord Jesus or come to Him, but the Holy Spirit has called my by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the one true faith”
We confess that it is God Himself who calls us into faith in Christ; to say it another way: Faith has us.
Faith is a gift that God gives to all He chooses to bring us to Him. This faith does save us. God gives us this faith so that we can lay hold of His grace in Christ. He does everything in our salvation. This is wonderful news because we do not have to worry about the quantity or quality of our contribution, nothing depends on us, everything depends on Jesus.
I pray that this truth gives you peace and the ability to rest in Christ. He has done it all for you.
