The truth about faith
- Dustin Elliott
- Sep 17
- 4 min read
You meet someone new. They ask if you believe in God. You say yes.
Then they ask, “What does it take to get to heaven?”And you respond with what you’ve always heard: “John 3:16, for God so loved the world, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
So they come back later and say, “I did my research. I’m convinced God exists. Am I saved now?”
It's a great question. If only the idea of ‘belief’ were so simple.
True belief is having faith, not simply acknowleding existence
James 2:19 says: “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that, and shudder.”
In other words, recognizing God's existence doesn't automatically mean salvation. Demons acknowledge God, but they don’t place their faith in Him.
Belief, in the biblical context, is more than intellectual assent; it’s trust. It’s faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
You can believe a person exists, but that doesn’t mean you believe in their mission or entrust your life to their values. The only way belief is made visible is by the faith that follows. Consequently, the only way faith is made visible, is by what you do.
James 2:17-18 “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works
Faith That Costs Something
Matthew 13:44-46 speaks of a man who finds a treasure and sells everything he owns to buy the field it’s in. That’s what the kingdom of God looks like, a faith that goes all in.
Can I honestly say I’ve sold out the material world? No. I fall short. But Romans 3:23 points out that All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Thankfully, Romans 8:39 reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Grace bridges the gap between the faith we aspire to and the flaws we live with.
Can You Believe Without Knowing the Whole Bible?
Romans 1:20 points out that God has revealed Himself to us through nature.
Testimony, personal experience, and even the majesty of creation can plant the seeds of belief.
But hearing the Word strengthens it. Romans 10:17 says “faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
What Should We Expect of New Believers?
How quickly should someone believe? And how much pressure should we place on them?
Even those who saw God’s power firsthand struggled:
Nebuchadnezzar praised God, then later took credit for his kingdom (Daniel 4).
The Israelites saw the Red Sea split, and still lost faith (1 Corinthians 10:1-5).
Transformation takes time. Seeds don’t sprout overnight. Faith isn’t a light switch; it requires continuous growth. In the Bible, the name Israel means “One who struggles with God”.
Is it ok to Doubt?
If you’ve ever questioned your faith, you’re not alone. People doubt after losing loved ones or when life doesn’t make sense. Even Jesus’ disciples had doubts after the resurrection (Matthew 28:17, John 20:24-25).
But God isn’t afraid of your questions:
Mark 9:24: “I believe, help my unbelief.”
Jude 1:22: “Be merciful to those who doubt.”
Asking difficult questions and search for answers is a route to deepen your faith.
How Do We Strengthen Our Faith?
Romans 10:17: Reading God’s word.
James 1:2-5: Ask for wisdom during trials.
Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust God, not just your own understanding.
Faith isn’t a feeling. It’s a decision to trust, especially when emotions fail you.
Your Faith Can Impact Others
Daniel’s integrity caused kings to acknowledge God:
Daniel 6:25-27: Darius issued a decree honoring Daniel’s God.
Zechariah 8:23: People will cling to you when they see God in you.
Your obedience and perseverance during difficult times can become someone else’s reason to believe.
Why Christianity?
Because Christianity alone claims a God who:
Walked among us (Hebrews 4:15)
Suffered like us (Hebrews 12:2-3)
Backed it with eyewitness testimony from multiple sources, including the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, along with non-biblical historians.
The Bible doesn’t just offer inspiration. It offers history, thousands of manuscripts, corroborated prophecies, and fulfilled promises.
Secular historians like Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, and Josephus all acknowledged Jesus existed. The dispute isn’t over whether He lived. It’s whether He was who He said He was.
When You Struggle With God’s Plan
When your faith doesn’t seem to work and when life is hard despite your prayers:
Romans 5:3-5: Suffering builds perseverance and hope.
Hebrews 12:6-11: God disciplines those He loves.
Isaiah 41:10: “Do not fear, for I am with you.”
You don’t have to see Him to find peace.Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us that when we bring our anxieties to God in prayer, peace follows, even if answers don’t.
Closing Thought: Faith Isn’t Easy, But It’s Worth It
Faith is the most difficult thing you’ll ever pursue, but the most rewarding. Hebrews 11 walks through the lives of those who trusted God despite everything they faced. Many of the people in these texts are famous names within the Bible. But these people fell on difficult times, they were filled with doubt, and they ended up carrying out great missions on behalf of God.
Don’t wait until you’ve got it all figured out. That time will never come. You don’t have to work on being better to come before God; you just have to choose him.
Believe. Then ask God to help your unbelief. And when you fall short, grace fills the gap.