From the last section of Thomas Oden's book The Justification Reader.
Saving faith is personal trust - trust in a person, Jesus Christ, the one mediator between God and humanity. The Greek terms that translate faith imply reliance upon, trust in another who is experienced as trustworthy... Faith is less about Christ than in Christ. "Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness" (Acts 10:43).
This personal trust is grounded in the conviction of the credibility of the apostolic testimony to him. "Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his(her) heart" (1 John 5:10). This testimony is the history of his coming, life, teaching, death, and resurrection. Faith in God assumes that God's disclosures about and of himself in the history of Jesus are true and sufficient for faith.
The distinction between "about" and "in" may seem small but they are quite important. We do not simply believe in the various stories that are told about Jesus. That is, we believe that they "happened" or that the events did occur in somewhat the manner in which they are recorded. Rather, we believe that the story has power for our lives. For example, we trust that the word of forgiveness, as is noted above, is a word that comes to us and has a saving impact on our lives. We are not simply agreeing with some data, we are trusting that what happens in the story of Jesus as the the Christ of God has an impact on my life. We have faith that our lives are shaped and moved and renewed through that story. So...when we "testify" we are speaking of what life believing in Christ has been for us.
Connection: It is good to share with other what has come to life from our trusting in Christ has done and is doing within our lives. It may be the most simple word to share.
Lord, as you are present with us this day, remind us of the power of your love for us and make us a courageous witness to that power so that others may come to trust in you. Amen.
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