I believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God and Jesus died for my sins, but I struggle with the trust that seems to come easily for others. I try and try but just keep failing. I’m afraid I don’t have real faith. Is my faith fake?

Martin Luther once said, “Nothing in the world causes so much misery as uncertainty.” We hear Jesus say, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. . . . I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ ” (Matthew 7:21,23). That’s terrifying, but that is what Jesus will say to those with no faith.

What faith is

But what is faith? The Bible describes the components of faith as knowledge, assent, and trust. Do you know that Jesus died on the cross for your sins? Do you assent to the fact that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are historical facts? Do you trust that Jesus did all those things for you? If the answer is yes to all those questions, you have saving faith. Even in the case of infants, you can see those same components when it comes to trust for their mothers. An infant knows his mother’s voice, assents to her love, and trusts her voice. Faith, whether for the 8-day-old or 80-year-old, is a miracle! You stated in your question, “I believe that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God and Jesus died for my sins.” That is saving faith!

Sometimes, though, we feel like our faith is weak. But it’s interesting to see that when the Bible speaks of saving faith, it does not qualify it as weak or strong. Since saving faith is essentially trust in Jesus as our Savior, the strength of that faith is Jesus, the object of faith. When you find a qualifying word like “great” or “no” for faith in Scripture, it’s always talking about trust in specific words and promises of Jesus. Take Mark 4:35-41. When a furious storm came on the Sea of Galilee, the disciples said to Jesus, “Don’t you care if we drown?” Jesus calmed the storm and then asked them, “Do you still have no faith?” He wasn’t talking about whether they believed he was the Messiah. His question could have led the disciples to recall how, as described in Mark chapter 3, he had appointed them to preach his Word. A storm was not going to prevent that plan from being carried out. The disciples’ faith was “weak” in that they didn’t understand this.

What faith is not

Saving faith is not a pious wish with no basis in fact. If I say, “I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow,” it’s nothing more than a foundationless hope.

Saving faith is also not based on feelings. Feelings are fickle. In other words, even when I don’t feel saved, it does not change the fact that I am!

C. F. W. Walther, the first president of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, wrote: “If you are Christians, you will admit that you are far oftener troubled and worried than comforted. When you feel the comfort of the Gospel in your heart, that is a glimpse of the light that may come to you on a certain day; but then several days may pass when you will not catch that glimpse again. Always keep this reflection present: ‘For such poor sinners as I am the Gospel—the sweet Gospel—has been provided. I have forgiveness of sins through Christ’ ” (The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel, p. 49). Faith is not a feeling. Faith is not a pious wish. Faith is simply trust that Jesus is your Savior.

What faith does

Faith alone saves, but faith is never alone. James 2:26 says, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” Jesus says, “Every good tree bears good fruit” (Matthew 7:17). It’s the nature of a healthy tree to bear fruit. It does not bear fruit because the farmer stands in front of it and asks it to. No, it happens naturally. It’s what good trees do! Likewise, faith is always expressing itself with good fruit. Paul writes in Galatians 5:22,23, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

You mentioned trying and trying. I assume that means that you are looking at your life and trying to gain confidence from seeing the fruits of faith. Because you do not see what you see in others, you wonder if you really have faith. We need to be careful not to dictate what those fruits of faith will look like. Perhaps you’re looking for oranges at the moment when the Spirit is producing apples in you.

In reality, looking at our own lives of sanctification for confidence in justification will often lead to despair. While the new self of faith desires to live for God, we are plagued with our old self until Jesus takes us home to heaven. The apostle Paul recognized how frustrating this battle is: “I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing” (Romans 7:19). The reality is that the hardest thing for believers to believe when they look at themselves is that they really believe.

What faith clings to

So where do we need to look? Jesus. We are not saved because of anything in us. In fact, admitting that fact is when we are ready to hear why we are saved. It’s only because of Jesus. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8,9). Notice that John could have said, “he is faithful and loving” or “he is faithful and merciful,” but instead he says, “he is faithful and just.” Jesus paid for your sins. John is saying that it would be unjust for God not to forgive you.

Faith clings to its object: Jesus. The object of saving faith is its strength. A child holding on to his father may feel secure, but not as secure as when the father holds on to his child. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27,28).

Faith clings to its object: Jesus. The object of saving faith is its strength.

Listen to the Lord’s voice in his Word. Look to his cross often and be reminded each time, “He did that for me.” Go to the Lord’s Supper for assurance of forgiveness. So often, we walk away from the Lord’s Supper looking somber, but think of what happens at that Table. You approach the almighty God and instead of being struck down, Jesus smiles; gives you his body and blood; and says, “I forgive you.” Remember your baptism, where he clothed you with his perfection.

Because of what Jesus has done and continues to do for you, what will Jesus say to you on the Last Day? “I know you. Welcome home, my precious lamb.”

Ask a question at forwardinchrist.net/submit.

Author: David Scharf
Volume 111, Number 09
Issue: September 2024

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