“a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16).
That is, we are sinners and are only saved from God’s judgment against sin and declared righteous in God’s sight by faith in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection for us.
Faith is the key.
Question: How much faith? How do we know if we believe enough to be saved?
Answer: “I believe. Lord, help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:22-27) is enough.
The man who said this had a boy who was possessed by an evil spirit. He came to Jesus and asked, “if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Jesus then healed the boy.
This father didn’t have perfect faith. He only had a little faith and asked for more. It was enough. Jesus healed the boy. And certainly thereafter the man had greater faith when he saw what Jesus did.
We exercise faith in other things all the time. We sit in a chair because we have faith it will hold us up. We travel by air because we have faith in the engineers’ construction of the plane. We go to the doctor because we have faith in their medical expertise.
Notice that our faith is greater in each case if we clearly understand the construction of the chair, airplane or the education of the doctor.
Similarly, our faith in God will be greater if we understand Him, his purpose and his power.
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). Our faith increases as our understanding increases by reading and believing the Bible.
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
The man who came to Jesus with a little faith was blessed for coming and his faith was increased.
It will always be true that those who come to Jesus with a little faith will be blessed and have their faith increased.
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame” (Romans 10:9-11).