Faith in Jesus Christ

The LDS Bible Dictionary offers an excellent definition of true faith. 1 See how this definition applies to faith in Jesus Christ.

Faith in Jesus is hope--“Faith is to hope for things which are not seen, but which are true, 2 and must be centered in Jesus Christ in order to produce salvation.”

Faith in Jesus Christ is confidence—“To have faith is to have confidence in something or someone. The Lord has revealed himself and his perfect character, possessing in their fullness all the attributes of love, knowledge, justice, mercy, unchangeableness, power, and every other needful thing, so as to enable the mind of man to place confidence in him without reservation….”

Faith in Jesus Christ through obedience and righteousness—“Strong faith is developed by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ; in other words, faith comes by righteousness….”

Faith in Jesus Christ is power to act—"Faith is a principle of action and of power, and by it one can command the elements and/or heal the sick, or influence any number of circumstances when occasion warrants.” 3

Faith in Jesus Christ brings remission of sins—“Even more important, by faith one obtains a remission of sins and eventually can stand in the presence of God.”

Faith in Jesus Christ based on true knowledge—“All true faith must be based on true knowledge or it cannot produce the desired results."

Faith in Jesus Christ comes first— “Faith is the first principle of the gospel and is more than belief, since true faith always moves its possessor to some kind of physical or mental action…” and this action is always repentance, followed by making sacred covenants, the first being baptism. “A lack of faith leads one to despair, which comes because of iniquity.”

Faith in Jesus Christ begins as a seed—“Although faith is a gift, it must be cultured and sought after until it grows from a tiny seed to a great tree. The effects of true faith in Jesus Christ include:

1. an actual knowledge that your course of life is acceptable to the Lord; 4



2. a reception of the blessings of the Lord that are available to man in this life; and



3. an assurance of personal salvation in the world to come. These things involve individual and personal testimony, guidance, revelation, and spiritual knowledge.”

Miracles do not produce faith in Jesus Christ—“Miracles do not produce faith but strong faith is devloped by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ…although miracles often confirm one’s faith…Where there is true faith there are miracles, visions, dreams, healings, and all the gifts of God that he gives to his saints.”

What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ?

We must have faith in Jesus Christ as the Only Begotten Son of God, and the Savior and Redeemer of the world.

• Faith in Jesus Christ means believing that he can rescue us from sin, cleanse us completely of sin’s effects and return us to the presence of God where we can live forever.
• Faith in Jesus Christ means relying on his grace and mercy to help us through any difficulty and return us safely to Heavenly Father.
• Faith in Jesus Christ means accepting his atonement and teachings, and applying them in our lives.
• Faith in Jesus Christ means believing that he has overcome death and has the power to bless us to live again through the resurrection.
• Faith in Jesus Christ means trusting him and believing and acting on what he says. Faith in Jesus means knowing that he promises for obedience and he always keeps his promises.
• Faith in Jesus Christ means believing that we gain the favor of Heavenly Father when we follow his Son.

What do we do to show our faith in Jesus Christ?

The true actions that flow from our faith in Jesus Christ are repenting of our sins, accepting baptism in his true Church, receiving the Holy Ghost, making and receiving all the covenants and ordinances of the gospel, and enduring to the end in faithfulness.

Faith in Jesus Christ is believing in his attributes of character and perfections

We express our faith in Jesus Christ by believing in his characteristics, attributes and perfections, which are identical to Heavenly Father’s. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that Jesus is an eternal being, who is:

• merciful,
• gracious,
• slow to anger,
• abundant in goodness and has been and will be forever,
• perfectly consistent and never changes
• a God of truth who cannot lie
• not favoring one person over another,
• a God of infinite love, 5
• knows all things past, present and future,
• has all power,
• is just and exercises perfect judgment,
• is completely merciful,
• knows all truth and is filled with grace and truth. 6

In addition to all these, Jesus has no limitations; he has the ability to be with us constantly and individually without dividing his attention. He is kind, forgiving, charitable, and has a fullness of perfections and a fullness of all good things. 7

Blessings for having faith in Jesus Christ

As we develop faith in Jesus Christ, we grow in our belief that our sincere repentance will lead to his lasting forgiveness and his ability to reconcile us to our Heavenly Father.

An outgrowth of our faith in Jesus Christ is our trying to emulate him--his characteristics, attributes and perfections. As we do our best, he blesses us to become more and more like him.

In addition to emulation, we demonstrate our love for and faith in Jesus Christ by striving to keep his commandments, which are the patterns for developing his characteristics, attributes and perfections. As we keep his commandments, he blesses us for our obedience. Receiving blessings solidifies our faith in him.

Our faith in Jesus Christ increases when we hear the word of God 8 and read the word of God. 9 Increased faith in Jesus Christ brings greater confidence when we pray; we feel more assured that we will receive his help to conquer temptations, overcome sin, meet life’s challenges, and seek the desires of our hearts.

Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we believe with greater assurance that he can help and heal us both physically and spiritually.

Questions about 'Faith in Jesus Christ'

• What is the definition of faith in Jesus Christ? What blessings does faith in Jesus Christ bring?
• What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ?
• What do we do to show our faith in Jesus Christ?
• Faith in Jesus Christ is believing in his attributes of character and perfections. What are they?
• What blessings flow from having faith in Jesus Christ?
• If you are suffering either physically, mentally or emotionally, do you believe that faith in Jesus Christ can help and heal you?

References for "Faith in Jesus Christ'

1. "Faith," LDS Bible Dictionary, p. 669-670
2. Hebrews 11:1 Alma 32:21 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). "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 are not seen, which are true" (Alma 32:21).
3. Jacob 4:4-7 – For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us. Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son. Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea. Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.
4. Hebrews 11:4 – By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5. Lectures on Faith, p. 39
6. Lectures on Faith, p. 42-49
7. D&C 93:16-17 – And I, John, bear record that he received a fulness of the glory of the Father; And he received all power, both in heaven and on earth, and the glory of the Father was with him, for he dwelt in him.
8. Romans 10:17 – So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
9. Helaman 15:7-8 – And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to know of the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers, and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them—Therefore, as many as have come to this, ye know of yourselves are firm and steadfast in the faith, and in the thing wherewith they have been made free.