Faith in Jesus Christ

Faith in Jesus Christ is the most basic and fundamental principle of the gospel of Christ.  Faith is the foundation to becoming a disciple of Christ, the power behind miracles, the answer to finding true happiness, and the mode by which we can return to live with our Heavenly Father and our families for eternity.   


What is faith?

In Alma 32:21 (Book of Mormon) it states, "And now as I said concerning faith--faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which as not seen, which are true."  

And in Hebrews 11:1 (New Testament) it states, "Now faith is the substance [meaning assurance] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."    

Faith is a belief in something that is true.  It is not a knowledge, but a belief.  We don't need to see Jesus Christ to have faith, all we need to do is believe in Him.  

After Jesus was resurrected, He appeared to His apostles.  Some of His apostles did not believe He was the resurrected Jesus Christ until they saw Him face to face.  Jesus was talking to one such apostle who did not believe until they saw Him, stating, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (John 20:29).  We do not need to see Jesus to have faith in Him.  Although I have not seen Jesus Christ, I know He is my Savior and Redeemer.  I know that through Him all things are possible.  I love my Savior. 


What do we have faith in?
  
Elder Dallin H. Oaks (an Apostle) has said, "Faith does not exist in itself.  Faith requires an object.  It must be faith in something or someone."  We cannot just have faith.  We need to have faith in Jesus Christ.  We need to believe in Him.  We need to trust and follow Him and His teachings.  We need to accept His will, do what He wants us to, and believe that His path for us will lead us to where we need to be and who we need to become.  We need to believe He atoned and died for us and that through Him and His Atonement, we can be forgiven of our sins and someday return to live with Heavenly Father.  We need to accept His doctrine and follow it, believing it will lead us to true happiness in this life and to Heavenly Father in eternal happiness.

I believe in Jesus Christ.  I have faith in Him.  I know that through Him and His teachings I will be able to find true joy, happiness, and peace in this life.  I know that through His Atonement I can be forgiven of my sins and become clean.  I know that I can one day return to live with Heavenly Father with my family for eternity if I believe and follow Jesus Christ.  I have faith that by following Jesus Christ, I will become a better person and will become who Heavenly Father needs me to be.  I have faith in Jesus Christ.  


Why is faith so important?

It is important to have faith because it is the foundation of everything.  It is the first step towards salvation, towards returning home to live with Heavenly Father after this life.  In the Book of Mormon in Mosiah 3:12 is states, "For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ."  Faith is the first step on our progression towards eternal life (living with God and our families for eternity).  It is so important to have and continually strengthen our faith.  

Not only does faith bring salvation, but it is also through faith and repentance that our sins can be forgiven.  Enos is a prophet in the Book of Mormon who has guilt for some sins he has committed.  He was feeling weighed down and so he decides to pray and ask God for forgiveness.  In response to his sincere, heartfelt prayer, "there came a voice unto [him], saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed" (Enos 1:5).  After he was forgiven, Enos asked the Lord how he was forgiven.  In response, "[the Lord] said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen...wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole" (Enos 1:6-8).  Because of his faith, Enos was forgiven of his sins.  This promise is all throughout the New Testament, too.  Jesus Christ heals and forgives the sins of others because of their faith.  Through faith and repentance we can be forgiven of our sins.  

Faith also brings miracles.  In the Book of Mormon in 1 Nephi 7:12, it states, "Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him?  Wherefore, let us be faithful unto Him."  Through faith in Jesus Christ, we can do all things that the Lord needs us to do.  This promise is also repeated in Moroni 7:33 which states, "And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me."  Through faith in Jesus Christ, all things are possible.    

Faith is a powerful principle.  Through faith we can begin on the path towards salvation.  Through faith, and repentance, we can be forgiven of our sins.  Through faith we can perform miracles all according to the Lord's will.


What does faith us lead to?

Faith leads us to action.  Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (an apostle) stated, "For our faith to make a difference, we must act.  We must do all that is in our power to change passive belief into active faith, for truly 'faith, if it hath not works, is dead'" (James 2:17).  We need to act on our faith.  Faith is manifest by the actions we have.  It is not possible to have true faith in Jesus Christ and perform negative actions.  We need to show Jesus Christ, through our actions, our faith in Him.  Such actions may include: scripture study, prayer, service, obedience to the commandments, loving our neighbor, and many more actions.     


How do we have and increase our faith?

In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Alma gives an amazing lesson on faith.  He exhorts us to have faith in Jesus Christ and His gospel.  He says, "But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words" (Alma 32:27).  In order to obtain faith, we first need to desire it.  Desire leads to action.  After we have desire, we "experiment upon" the word of God by following it.  We read and ponder the scriptures, pray to Heavenly Father, serve others, and obey all of God's commandments.  As we do these things continually, our faith will grow.       


Faith!

I strive everyday to increase my faith in Jesus Christ.  Because without faith in Jesus Christ, I can do nothing.  My faith in Him brings me joy, peace, happiness, comfort, and confidence.  My faith in Him helps me become a better person and missionary.  My faith in Him gives me the courage and strength to follow Him and His gospel.  I love my Savior.  I know He lives and He loves me.  I know that through faith in Jesus Christ all things are possible.  I know that with faith in Christ I can be forgiven of sins and mistakes and return to live with Heavenly Father.  Faith in Jesus Christ is the fundamental principle of the gospel of Christ.  I would invite all to try and strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ because I know it will bless our lives immensely.       


To learn more on faith, click here and read Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin's talk "Shall He Find Faith on the Earth."  It is an amazing talk and helped me structure my post on faith in Jesus Christ.