When it comes to a relationship with someone, forgiveness is an important step in repairing the relationship. However, the maintenance and continuance of a relationship is based on the faith one has in someone else. Merriam-Webster[1] provides three definitions for the word faith:
- Allegiance to a person
- Belief and trust, especially when there is no proof
- Belief in someone with strong conviction
Think about someone who is special to you. Would you be willing to apply these three definitions to that person? Does that make sense? This type of faith is what keeps marriages intact. We simply apply forgiveness as necessary, and then we subscribe to allegiance, trust, and a strong conviction towards that person. In a similar fashion, we can have an allegiance, trust, and strong conviction towards Jesus Christ and His Word as well. Edward Connell puts it this way, “Faith is but a whole-soul trust in God’s word as true. When God says something, it is true, for God cannot lie; and when man reposes in God’s word, he has faith.”[2] In fact, we could argue that our faith in Christ and His Word is stronger than our faith in a person because of Christ’s demonstrated attributes (e.g. His creation of all things and His death on the cross for our sins). These attributes are available from or attainable through no other channels. The decision is quite simple for us. Are we willing to have faith in Christ and His Word?
[1] “Merriam-Webster Since 1828,” Merriam-Webster, accessed May 22, 2020, https://www.merriam-webster.com/.
[2] Edward John Connell, An Introduction to Christian Apologetics (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1948), 66.