I am currently reading an academic book in which professor of science Jane Plant seeks to convince readers to give up milk products as a means of diminishing both prostate cancer and breast cancer. To get us to make such a commitment, she amasses statistics, quotes much research and shares her personal experience, until an average reader would conclude she must be right. That first faith is a necessary step to a further commitment to stop all consumption of milk products. Those who believe will give them up, on the basis of her evidence.
There is a parallel here with Christian faith. Just as Professor Plant, setting forth her evidence, leads people to believe her thesis and to make a commitment that they will honour, so the Christian evangelist sets out the facts of Jesus’ amazing divine life, his death, his resurrection and his promises of forgiveness, so that the evidence leads seekers to faith. They thus believe that Jesus was the unique incarnation of the Son of God and trust in him as the saviour they need. When a person is sufficiently convinced by the evidence, faith leads to a personal commitment to Christ.
Faith is thus a commitment to the person of Christ (comparable to a marriage commitment because it leads to a life-long relationship with him). It is based on an intelligent grasp of evidence that is found to be convincing. Contrary to what some atheists would have us believe, “faith” is not irrational. People just do not believe something unless is appears true. Checking out the evidence can persuade people that what is proposed is indeed true. We assess it, we think it through; we consider whether we agree, and if we do, we decide to believe it. To believe is to take as true, and act in consequence.
Christianity is an evidence-based faith: Professor Carl R. Trueman, renowned theologian and historian, insists that “Christians… take history seriously. We have a faith rooted in historical claims,” he writes, “supremely the incarnation of Jesus Christ and the events and actions of his life”. As we read the historic accounts of Jesus in the Gospels, we see he constantly called people to believe in him, and to those who believe he promised not only full forgiveness, but “life abundant”, “eternal life”, which means entering into an eternal relationship with the God who loves you very, very much. This is the true purpose of human life: this alone gives true fulfilment. This is what we were created in God’s image for, in God’s brilliant plan. If you miss this, you are understandably bewildered, enshrouded in a cloud of uncertainty about the big questions of life. Jesus – and he alone – gives us authentic hope for real answers.
So being informed about Jesus is the first step to faith. As you consider him, you decide whether you are going to believe in him or not.
It’s all the more vital because we suffer from the “deadly cancer” of sin, and Jesus alone can grant full forgiveness and justification. From our general faith in the historic record of Christ, we need to become convinced that he brought the remedy of our spiritual cancer. Jesus offers deep spiritual healing, but his promises need to be believed, laid hold of personally. The Bible clearly asserts that those who believe are “justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2.16). The apostles’ message was, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved” (Acts 16.31). When we make a personal commitment to Christ, that is the faith that saves us. Then, and then only, are we “justified by faith in Christ”.
Clive Every-Clayton
Authentic Hope for Answers 
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