5 Fundamentals of Christian Faith

A French philosopher once said “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”

1. I Believe in a Heavenly Father

I believe in a loving Heavenly Father. I am his daughter, and he loves me. He is a perfect parent, guiding us carefully back home through all the trials and tragedies of life. Paul spoke of us as the “offspring of God” (Acts 17:29)

2. I Believe Jesus is My Savior

Many believe Jesus was just a man. They deny the virgin birth. If Jesus was just a man, He could not have brought about the atonement or the resurrection. If Jesus, was not the Son of God then we have no hope.

It is essential to our Christian faith that we believe Jesus was who he said he was, our redeemer. To become the Savior of all mankind, he had to be half God and half man.

Jesus experienced mortality (From Mary) so he could understand our pains and our sorrows. Nevertheless, he had to be God (from His Father) to overcome death and bring about the atonement.

I do not understand this scientifically. But I have a testimony of it through the Holy Ghost.

3. I Believe Christian Faith is a Gift From the Holy Ghost.

True faith is a gift of God. I will quote Paul “So, the things of God knowest no man but the spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:11)

Therefore, we must learn spiritual truths from the Spirit of God. We must study the gospel with our heart and our mind to come to a knowledge of God.

Yet, if we plan to find happiness in this life, or peace in the next, it is crucial we listen to that still small voice inside us. It will guide us to the truth.

According to Paul “the natural man receiveth not the spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

We must continually put forth effort to search for the truths of God.

4. I Believe Christian Faith is Available to Everyone

The truths of the gospel are available to everyone: young and old, rich and poor, educated and illiterate, regardless of gender, race or citizenship.

Faith cannot be purchased with money. It is freely given through prayer. Jesus said, “Ask and it shall be given you. Seek and you shall find.” (Matthew 7:7)

We must ask for faith with real intent. That means intending to accept and honor what we receive. James tells us “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally.” (James 1:5)

Curiosity and intellectual pursuit are not enough. Your heart must be in tune to the spirit.

5. I Believe Faith is a Process

Faith starts with a desire to believe, maybe just a hope. Our faith will grow as we exercise our faith. Jesus said, “if any man will do my will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”

Jesus once compared faith to a mustard seed. It starts out very small. Nevertheless, if it is nourished, it can grow into a great tree. We nourish our faith by reading scriptures and learning to pray. As we do these things our faith will increase.

Someone once said, “If we want to speak to God we pray, if we want to listen to God, we read his word.”

My Conclusion

Getting to know God, line upon line, is a precious experience. We each deserve a relationship with our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. We must want those relationships. Like any relationship it will take effort to get to know them and learn to love them.

Paul said, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”