There are many synonyms for faith: belief, trust, conviction, and reliance are a few of them. In its simplest terms, faith is rooted in an object. When we step on board a ship, we demonstrate trust in that vessel not to sink to the ocean floor. Stepping foot on a commercial airliner is an act of confidence in the plane to fly safely. If I sit in a chair, I am convinced that the chair can support my weight.
The point here is that faith, to be faith, must have an object. In a real sense, when faith is seen in the light of its object, it is a verb, highlighting its active nature. It is not just about acknowledging intellectual facts but actively trusting them. Let me illustrate this way. If a man went overboard and, while in the water, believed that a personal floatation device would save his life, he would still drown unless he exercised faith in the floatation device, put it on, and trusted his life to it. Regardless of how close to the life preserver the drowning person is, until they grab the life preserver and put it on, they drown! Proximity to the object, in this case, a personal flotation device, will not save a person! It requires faith in the life-preserving object.
Similarly, the object of our Christian faith is of utmost importance. Consider this passage in James. James 2:19, “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” The demons don’t need convincing that God exists or that Jesus is God’s Son. They believe in facts, but their faith is not in action. This underscores the crucial role of the object of our faith, as it is not just about belief but about what we believe in.
In the same manner, many people attend church, pray, believe, live a moral life, and believe Jesus is God’s Son but are not saved. The object of their faith is not in the One who can save them! It is someplace else. Let’s consider two representative individuals in the Book of Acts with that as our backdrop.
Is There a “Faith” That Does Not Save? A Look at Simon the Magician
In Acts 8:9-25, we encounter Simon the Magician, a man who appeared to believe but whose heart was far from true faith. Simon’s story serves as a sobering reminder that not all belief leads to salvation and that the object of our faith matters eternally.
Simon was well-known in Samaria and revered for his magical abilities. “But there was a man named Simon, who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great. They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, ‘This man is the power of God that is called Great.’ And they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic” (Acts 8:9-11). When Simon saw the signs and wonders performed by Philip, he professed belief and was baptized. “Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed” (Acts 8:13). The three words at the end of verse 13 reveal a lot about what is happening in Simon’s heart unseen to Philip and those around him, “he was amazed.” Far from being convicted of his personal sin and unrighteousness, Simon was amazed by the power demonstrated by Philip. It can be said that the object Simon began to seek was the power shown by Philip and not the salvation offered by God.
However, externally, Simon appeared genuine. He believed, was baptized, and continued with Philip. Jesus, in the parable of the soils, foretold of the “Simons” of the world who would make an initial “profession of faith” but fall prey to the deceitfulness of riches. Matthew 13:22, As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. The internal reality of Simon’s soul was that he was never converted, and with time, his false profession is clearly seen in Scripture.
Simon’s true motive was revealed when he offered money to the apostles in exchange for the ability to impart the Holy Spirit. Notice what the Scripture says, “Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit'” (Acts 8:18-19). Upon hearing Simon’s request, Peter rebukes him sharply, exposing the condition of his heart: “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” (Acts 8:20-23). Simon’s response was to say: “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me” (Acts 8:24). His request echoed the hollow pleas of Pharaoh in the Old Testament, who repeatedly asked Moses for relief from God’s plagues without a genuine change of heart (Exodus 8:8, 9:28, 10:17)
Simon’s story is a cautionary tale about faith in the wrong object; regardless of the size and amount of faith in the wrong object, that faith will not save.
The Bible warns us about various forms of false faith and provides examples of false faith:
1. False faith refuses to confront personal sin: “Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man” (John 2:23-25)
2. A false faith remains a superficial commitment: “And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away” (Luke 8:13). Similarly, Paul expresses astonishment at the Galatians’ quick desertion of the true Gospel: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel” (Galatians 1:6)
3. A false faith produces no life transformation: “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:1-2). James adds that such faith is dead: “Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?… For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead” (James 2:20, 26). James is clear. Good works do not produce salvation. However, true faith always produces good works.
4. A false faith even acknowledges the reality of God and His judgment: Demons recognize Jesus’ authority but remain condemned. “And behold, they cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?‘” (Matthew 8:29) Similar episodes are recorded in Mark 1:24, Mark 5:7, and Acts 16:17.
5. A false faith often leads to self-deception: Jesus warns that many who profess Him as Lord will be shocked on the day of judgment: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness'” (Matthew 7:21-23). These condemned are self-deceived, believing that works alone and a mere intellectual belief in the Lord is sufficient.
The Salvation of the Ethiopian Eunuch: A Model of True Faith
In contrast to Simon, the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-40 exemplifies a person with faith in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection in atonement for the sin of every individual who truly believes. This passage highlights several key elements of genuine salvation.
God’s Sovereign Initiative in Salvation
Salvation begins with God’s initiative. The Spirit instructed Philip to go to the desert road that led from Jerusalem to Gaza. “Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is a desert place”* (Acts 8:26). Philip obeyed, encountering the Ethiopian eunuch, a high-ranking official in the service of the queen of Ethiopia.
The Eunuch’s Spiritual Hunger
The eunuch, despite his high status, recognized his spiritual need. He had traveled over 1,500 miles to worship in Jerusalem, yet he left without understanding the Scriptures. As Philip approached, the eunuch was reading from Isaiah, but he was perplexed. “And the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and join this chariot.’ So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him” (Acts 8:29-31)
The Centrality of Scripture in Salvation
Philip began with the very passage the eunuch was reading, Isaiah 53, which speaks prophetically of Christ’s suffering and sacrificial death. “Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: ‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.’ And the eunuch said to Philip, ‘About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus” (Acts 8:32-35).
The Response of Obedience
The eunuch’s faith led to immediate obedience. As they traveled the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch expressed his desire to be baptized. “And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?’ And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him” (Acts 8:36-38).
The Lessons
The stories of Simon the Magician and the Ethiopian eunuch teach us profound lessons about faith and salvation:
1. It is possible to ‘believe’ and not be saved: Simon’s story warns us that a superficial profession of faith without genuine repentance and trust in the resurrected Christ is insufficient for salvation.
2. The object of our faith matters more than the amount of faith: True faith is rooted in Christ alone, not in our works or desires. The size of our faith does not determine its effectiveness in saving; only faith’s object matters!
3. The heart is central to salvation: “Because, 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” (Romans 10:9-10). What comes out of our mouths is meaningless without faith in our hearts.
4. True faith transforms and produces good works: As James 2:26 states, “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.” If the only evidence of salvation you have in your life is a prayer or an experience from years ago and you have no current evidence of salvation in the form of good works (Loving God, loving others, following Christ obediently, a pursuit for holiness, a desire to serve Christ, a hunger for His Word, a desire to seek God in prayer, a desire to live righteously, etc.) God’s word challenges us to examine our faith closely. 2 Corinthians 13:5, Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves…” What is the object of your faith?
5. Our role is to plant the seed of the Gospel: Like Philip, we do not control the soil, but we are called to share the good news faithfully, trusting God to bring the growth.
The faith that saves!
So, the faith that saves is not merely a matter of intellectual assent or outward profession but is deeply rooted in the heart, leading to a transformative relationship with Christ. The story of Simon the Magician serves as a warning that a superficial belief, one that is not accompanied by genuine repentance and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, is insufficient for salvation. Simon’s faith was misplaced, centered on the power he witnessed rather than the Savior who could redeem his soul.
In contrast, the Ethiopian eunuch provides a powerful example of true faith. His genuine hunger for understanding and his immediate response to the Gospel message illustrates the kind of faith that leads to salvation. This faith is intellectually convinced and personally committed to following Christ in obedience.
The Bible makes it clear that the object of our faith is paramount. No matter how strong our belief may be, if it is placed in the wrong object, it will not save us. True saving faith is focused on Christ alone, recognizing Him as the only one capable of reconciling us to God.
As we reflect on these examples, examining the object of our faith is crucial. Are we trusting in Christ alone for our salvation, or are we relying on our good works, experiences, or mere intellectual belief? The Gospel calls us to a living and active faith, evidenced by a transformed life that bears fruit in obedience to God.
In conclusion, the essence of saving faith lies in its object—Jesus Christ. The size of our faith is secondary to the one in whom our faith rests. Let us, therefore, ensure that our faith is not merely superficial or misplaced but grounded in the person and work of Christ, leading to genuine transformation and eternal life.
What is the object of your faith?
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