Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. – Galatians 2:16

The point was made very briefly at the beginning of our study that faith must have an object. Faith is not just a mental assent to a set of facts. In the case of saving faith this is certainly true – saving faith must have an object. We all believe in something, and as demonstrated, what we believe works its way out in how we behave.

When we are talking about saving faith, what is the object of that faith? The only right and proper object of our faith is the Person of Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9). He is what we believe. He is Who we trust. He is Who we listen to and obey. He is Who we are commanded to preach. Let’s spend some time this week looking at the Scriptures to answer these questions about the Object of our Faith:

1. Who is Jesus?
2. Why Did Jesus Come?
3. How Did Jesus Die?
4. Was Jesus Resurrected from the Dead?

First though, we will simply examine this truth confirming that Jesus is the Object of our faith. This is an easy enough proposition to prove from Scripture. In fact, there is more material supporting this claim than we can possible study in one book. Here are a few verses that make the point that we are to place our faith in Jesus Christ if we are to be saved.

Jesus, in His Own Words

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. – John 3:16

He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. -John 3:18

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” – John 3:36

“I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. – John 6:35

And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” – John 6:40

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. -John 6:47

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. – John 7:38

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” – John 11:25-26

I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. – John 12:46

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. – John 14:1

The Apostles, in Their Own Words

To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” – Peter in Acts 10:43

So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” -Paul and Silas to the Philippian Jailor and His Family in Acts 16:31

John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. -Paul in Acts 19:4

Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame. – Paul in Romans 9:33

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” – Paul in Romans 10:11

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, – Paul in Ephesians 1:13

For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, -Paul in Philippians 1:29

However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. – Paul in 1 Timothy 1:16

Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” – Peter in 1 Peter 2:6

He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. – John in 1 John 5:10

Faith’s Dawn

This sampling then shows that if we have saving faith, faith that works, then it is faith in the Person of Jesus Christ. He is the Object of our faith. Spurgeon preached concerning faith in the person of Christ often. Here is one excerpt from a message titled “Faith’s Dawn:”

Now, observe we have called this faith true faith, and we will prove it to have been so. First, it was faith in the person of Christ. It is a great mistake to fancy that to endorse sound doctrine is the same thing as possessing saving faith, for while saving faith accepts the truth of God, it mainly concerns itself with the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and its essence lies in reliance upon Jesus himself. I am not saved because I believe the Scriptures, or because I believe the doctrines of grace, but I am saved if I believe Christ; or, in other words, trust in him. Jesus is my creed. He is the truth. In the highest sense the Lord Jesus is the Word of God. To know him is life eternal.