The words faith and believe are common in both everyday and religious language. You might consider a scientific theory or a research result credible because you believe that the underlying information and evidence are reliable. In that case, you believe what you trust to be true. On the other hand, you might have faith or trust in something happening even if you have little or no evidence. For example, you might firmly believe that wars between people will one day come to an end.
In everyday life, faith is needed in two ways: when knowledge is not enough or we cannot trust in it completely, and when something is believed specifically because we have prior knowledge or evidence. Each person assesses the reliability and sufficiency of the information they receive.
The same applies to how we relate to the accounts in the Bible. Some of us consider the content of the Bible completely reliable, others do not. However, a person is not saved by knowledge but by faith alone. In one sense, faith and knowledge are opposites, yet faith “stands on the shoulders of knowledge.” Therefore, knowledge cannot be separated from saving faith, because the Bible and the knowledge it contains are necessary for believers. It is important to understand, however, that saving faith according to the Bible is not generated by the power of knowledge and evidence.
Why Do I Need Faith?
According to the Bible, every person is sinful and in need of God’s forgiveness. Faith is the only way to connect with God and receive the forgiveness of sins:
According to the story of Creation, God, who is perfectly good, created humans in His own image—perfect. Humans lived without sin, pure and holy in God’s presence, freely willing and doing what God desired. Only in this state of righteousness could humans be truly connected with God.
However, in the Fall into sin, humans turned away from God. They chose and did what was contrary to God’s will—sin. As a result, the entire human race became corrupted and inherited the original sin, which has been part of every human being’s nature from conception. Because of the original sin, humans are sinful by nature and therefore cannot be truly connected with God.
From a human perspective, the situation is completely hopeless. God demands perfection, but as sinners, we cannot fully obey His law. God’s justness calls for punishment for humans, but His love desires to forgive them. God resolved this contradiction in a way summarized beautifully by the evangelist John:
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his unique Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life“ (John 3:16)
Jesus suffered the punishment we deserved because of our sins and made it possible for us to stand again before God as holy and pure. A person who hears this good news—the Gospel of Jesus—and personally believes it receives the forgiveness of sins and is united with God.
When Jesus appeared to Paul, He said: “…they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” (Acts 26:18)
Credible knowledge does not save
The writer of Hebrews states: “…without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Is saving faith simply belief in that God exists? James, the brother of Jesus, writes: “You believe that there is one God. That’s fine!” (James 2:19)
But he immediately adds: “…Even the demons believe that and tremble with fear.” (James 2:19)
Even demons believe in God, yet they are not saved. Belief in God’s existence alone is not enough.
To be saved, one must believe in Jesus and what He has done for us. But even believing the Bible’s account of Jesus’ sacrificial death is not enough if that faith is based solely on knowledge and human reasoning—similar to our “faith” in the reliability of scientific research.
Let me offer you an analogy: Most of us agree that people should be well-mannered. We can list good manners easily: greeting, thanking, helping others, keeping promises, and so forth. We know what good manners are.
But is knowledge of good manners enough? Of course not. We must also be willing to live according to them. Simply knowing or believing in the power of good manners is not enough; we must actually practice them.
The same rule applies to our relationship with God. Knowledge of God’s plan of salvation does not save anyone. One must become part of that plan, through which people are made sinless, holy, and loving towards God again.
Saving faith is entirely a gift from God
At the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus proclaimed: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
Later, however, Jesus taught: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:44)
Thus, Jesus calls for repentance and faith, yet He also shows that humans cannot, on their own, find the ability to repent, reform their lives, or even trust in God’s promises. The only remaining possibility is that saving faith must be received as a gift from God.
The Apostle Paul reminds the believers in Ephesus of this gift: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8) Earlier, Paul had pointed out how they had received this faith: “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him…” (Ephesians 1:13)
Saving faith is thus a gift that the Holy Spirit gives using God’s Word and the church, meaning believing people. Believers, through the power of the Holy Spirit and the command of Jesus, proclaim the good news of salvation—the Gospel. “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5)
Faith brings Christ to the person
How does saving faith, given by God, differ from faith based on knowledge? How can I know if I am part of God’s salvation plan?
The writer of Hebrews describes faith: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Faith is about certainty and strong trust.
But what creates such trust if not knowledge and evidence? The answer is given by Paul: “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.” (2 Corinthians 3:4)
It is Christ Himself who produces this trust, not knowledge or evidence. Christ lives in the believer’s heart through faith: “So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love…” (Ephesians 3:17)
Thus, saving faith is primarily trust in God’s promises, not a result of knowledge and evidence. Knowledge and evidence are related to faith, but they do not create it. Ultimately, through the Gospel, God gives not only faith but also Himself: Faith brings to the believer Christ, in whom the believer has full salvation: forgiveness of sins, appeasement of God’s wrath, and firm trust that this salvation is personally for them.
When Christ, through His Spirit, lives in the believer, everything becomes shared: Christ takes upon Himself your sins and suffers the punishment you deserve. In return, you receive Christ’s holiness and sinlessness as if they were your own.
Relationship between faith and knowledge
As it was said earlier, knowledge and evidence are related to faith, but they do not produce it. A person can even have saving faith without any knowledge.
Jesus lifted up a small child as the model of faith. He said: “Let the little children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.” (Luke 18:16) The gospel writer uses the Greek word brephē, meaning infants, very young children.
Jesus immediately continues: “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” (Luke 18:17)
Everyone understands that an infant cannot comprehend knowledge about God’s salvation plan. They have no understanding to form the basis of their faith. Yet Jesus presents such a child as a model for His kingdom—a kingdom only be accessible through faith.
Does evidence belong to faith, or is it even opposed to it?
The Apostle John writes: “If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself.“ (1 John 5:9-10)
Jesus Himself said that He is “the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
Thus, through faith, Christ’s Spirit living in a person generates truth, testimony, and trust. Even though we can never perfectly describe God’s truths, through faith we possess the perfect Truth and Wisdom that creates an internal testimony: “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Romans 8:16)
Childlike faith is not about the level of knowledge or understanding but about Christ’s presence and grace, which is needed even by a small child, who is part of corrupted humanity. Child-like faith does not try to earn God’s grace through good deeds but accepts it solely as a gift from God.
Still, as I mentioned earlier, knowledge remains important for believers for two reasons: First, the proclamation of the Gospel is not possible without language and knowledge about Jesus. Second, we cannot defend ourselves against false teachings unless we know the true teaching. False doctrine distorts the truth and can cause a Christian to lose the Truth, that is, Christ. Jesus Himself warns: “Unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24)
Is faith alone enough?
A small child receives faith without any merits or actions. But what about adults? Do we need to first reform our lives before we can possess faith?
The Bible gives a clear answer:
“We conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.” (Romans 3:28)
“We believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.” (Acts 15:11)
God’s law reflects His good will, guiding us to love God above all and our neighbors as ourselves.
Paul writes about his life as a Pharisee: “As to righteousness under the law, blameless.” (Philippians 3:6) However, he continues: “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” and “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3:7-8)
Paul’s conclusion is: “…and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith“ (Philippians 3:9)
All attempts to earn God’s grace are just rubbish and sin in God’s eyes. That’s why Jesus calls us to enter through the “narrow gate” (Matthew 7:13). To enter through it, we must give up all our own efforts and achievements.
A person is saved by grace alone, by faith alone, because of Christ alone—and therefore salvation is available to everyone, including you.
Author: Olli Saari
Image: SRK