During the Easter season, we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Whose sacrifice provides forgiveness of sin and peace with God. And for this we praise Him! But our praise would fall short if we fail to acknowledge all of the further ways in which Christ is engaged in our salvation. Let’s take a moment to look at the comprehensive involvement of our Lord in our saving faith.
Christ as the Object and Means of our Faith
The night before His crucifixion, Jesus comforted His disciples concerning His departure by reassuring them that He was preparing a place for them and that they would be with Him again, as well as with the Father (John 14:2-3, 13:36). When Thomas asked the way to where Christ was going, He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.“ These three titles all emphasize the unique, exclusive position of Christ as both the object and the means of saving faith. He is the object of our faith, for “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). And how did He make a way for us? Through His righteous life, His substitutionary death, and His victorious resurrection.
Christ as the Source and Sustainer of our Faith
Not only is Christ the object and means of our saving faith, but we find in Hebrews He is also the source and sustainer of our faith. In Hebrews 12:2, the author encourages us to run with endurance, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.” Faith itself is a gift from God according to Ephesians 2:8-9.
We are exhorted to run with endurance because Christ is faithful not only in giving us the initial gift of faith, but also in completing His work in us. Thus, we have confidence to forsake sin and endure trials because our faith is not from ourselves but Christ, Who promises to carry us along and to perfect what He began (Philippians 1:6).
Christ as the Reward and Reason for Our Faith
Finally, we know that our faith in Christ is not mainly for our earthly benefit, but ultimately for our eternal benefit and God’s eternal glory. Christ is the reward for our faith in two ways. First, as believers we are being transformed into His image. It has always been God’s goal that those with saving faith “become conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29); thus, our faith is not only in Christ but necessarily makes us like Christ. This is our first reward. Our second reward is that we get to spend eternity with Christ Himself!
As He told His disciples, He has prepared a place for us in His own house, that we may be with Him (John 14:1-3). And the ultimate reason for our faith is that Christ may be glorified. God desired to save sinners to put His attribute and His glory on display (John 17:24, Isaiah 43:1-7, Ephesians 1:12). Christ the Bridegroom will be greatly glorified when He receives His Bride — the Bride who was once filthy and distant but now has been cleansed and brought near. There is no greater reason or reward than these!
We cannot make too much of Christ, for He is the object, means, source, sustainer, reward, and reason for our faith. To put it another way, our faith is in the person of Christ, through the work of Christ, because of the love of Christ, sustained by the power of Christ, transforming us into the likeness of Christ, that we may spend eternity with Christ, for the ultimate glory of Christ! Let’s say along with the angels, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12).
