Why You Should Know The Three Elements of Faith

We’re Saved By Believing, Not Behaving

Most religions agree that a moral law exists, we are guilty of breaking it, and our guilt creates a barrier between us and God (or the gods). The religious consensus is that we can remove that barrier if we behave. Perhaps our good behavior will cancel our misbehavior. Jesus contradicts the consensus when he says we must believe. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Notice that Jesus didn’t say, “whoever behaves for him,” but “whoever believes in him.” Paul agrees “that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith (belief) in Jesus Christ” (Gal. 2:16). But what does it mean to believe in Jesus?

Three Aspects of Saving Faith

The church has long held that saving faith has three necessary elements. The first element is knowledge of the facts (notitia). No one can believe in Jesus until they are aware of the facts concerning him: who he is, what he said and did, and what he promised he will do.

The second element is comprehension of the facts (assensus). Here we give intellectual assent to the facts, agreeing that they are true.

But these first two elements alone can’t save anyone. The devil and his demons are more aware of the facts than most of us and they freely acknowledge these facts to be true. They agree that Jesus is the eternal Son of God made flesh. They agree that Jesus was a real historical figure whose greatest words and works are recorded in Scripture. They believe he died for sinners and was raised from the dead. But they are not saved. They agree these facts are true and they hate them (Jas. 2:19).

The third element of saving faith is trust in the facts (fiducia). This is the point of commitment and reliance the moves us to act with assurance on the facts we agree to be true. As J.V. Vesko writes,

I can go to the airport and recognize the fact that there is an airplane in front of me. I can acknowledge the fact that the airplane and its pilot can hurtle down the runway and leap into the air for sustained flight. I can study the principles of aeronautics and comprehend that when air rushes over a curved surface it creates lift, which thus enables the airplane to fly. But I must trust the airplane and its pilot, board the aircraft, take my seat, and ride the airplane in order to demonstrate my faith in it. A bare knowledge of Christ and his claims is insufficient for salvation. We must trust that he is the only way to be saved from our sin and the only one who can give eternal life.

Charles Blondin’s Manager

Charles Blondin was a nineteenth century celebrity who became famous after securing a cable across Niagara Falls and walking across to the other side. Even Abraham Lincoln referred to Blondin to describe the balancing act he peformed as the president of the United States. There’s a popular story that I can’t document recounting how Blondin pushed a wheelbarrow across the cable, then asked the crowd if they thought he could safely push a wheelbarrow across with a person sitting in it. The crowd roared their affirmation. But when he asked for volunteers, everyone got a sudden case of laryngitis. The crowed possessed the first two elements of faith, but not the third. None of them were willing to commit their life to what they said they believed.

What I can document is that on several occasions, Blondin carried his manager, Harry Colcord, on his back and walked across the tightrope. While we might question Colcord’s judgment, we can also say that this is a clear illustration of real faith, with all three elements present.

Whosoever Believes Will Behave

One of the surest signs that someone has placed saving faith in Jesus is that they will love Jesus. And if they love Jesus, they’ll want to obey and please him. In other words, if they really believe in Jesus, they’ll desire to behave like Jesus (Jn. 8:42; 14:21-24).

Awareness of the three elements of saving faith helps us understand why so many supposedly “believe” in Jesus, then later say they don’t. They knew the facts about Jesus and for a season agreed they were true, but they never really trusted him. It also explains how many people, especially in places influenced by cultural Christianity, say they “believe” in Jesus, but are not striving to behave like Jesus. They really don’t believe in Jesus. Sadly, many will hear in the final judgment those awful words, “I never knew you.” Jesus clarified that we will recognize true believers “by their fruits” (Mt. 7:20,23).

Do you have saving faith? There’s no question more important to settle than that one. Maybe this brief video can help you think through it: