From the very beginning, the essence of Christian faith has centered on Jesus as the one sent by the Father, the Light of the world, and the source of saving grace and truth. Belief in him, and holding to his teachings, form the foundation of discipleship. Salvation is not dependent on written texts, creeds, councils, or canonical lists; these are helpful tools, but they are not the source of faith itself. Faith arises in the heart, awakened by the Spirit, and rests on the reality of Christ, who imparts life and truth to those who receive him. The earliest believers did not rely solely on texts, yet they were fully confident in the grace of Jesus and the veracity of his teachings.
Individuals come to know Jesus through multiple means: by hearing his words, witnessing acts of mercy and healing, experiencing the Spirit’s guidance, receiving encouragement from others, and perceiving messages through dreams, visions, or signs. Even in the absence of literacy or access to scriptures, grace and truth can penetrate the heart. Symbols, rituals, and lived experiences can also convey his teachings and allow the Spirit to apply them in concrete, transformative ways. Over time, these encounters form a deep, tacit understanding of Jesus and his saving work, producing genuine faith that is lived and experienced.
Faith, in its truest sense, is not faith in texts, rituals, or human authority, but faith in Jesus himself. The Spirit continually brings his teachings to mind, illuminates their meaning, and shows how they apply in daily life. Grace is imparted through him, and the truth he communicates becomes the foundation of knowledge and obedience. Believers sense deep down that the source of this grace and truth is trustworthy, for it flows from the one who sent Jesus, and it sustains and transforms even when external structures or written records are absent.
Christianity, at its core, operates as a living, relational reality.
This faith is enduring, alive, and accessible, and it continues to sustain disciples until the return of the one who was sent. It is a faith that persists, independent of human frameworks, and is even imparted and affirmed by the direct work of Jesus and the Father in the lives of those who trust him.
Worded with AI assistance by Stephen D Green
