Charles H. Spurgeon defined faith as an "immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace."
Believing is receiving Christ (John 1:11-12). We come to Christ by faith, through the Spirit of grace working in your heart. The Spirit of God leads us to receive the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:3).
Believing Christ is receiving eternal life as the gift of God (Romans 6:23). Eternal life is a personal relationship with the eternal God, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (John 17:3). It is fellowship or communion with God (1 John 1:7). Believing in Christ is receiving from God through a covenant relationship (Hebrews 13:20-21).
Believing Christ is receiving God's grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Christ works in us and through us, to the praise of His glorious grace (Ephesians 1:6). It is not what we do for Christ, but what He has done for us, and continues to do in us (Philippians 1:6; 2:13). Believing Christ is receiving grace to do in us what we could never do by ourself.
Believing in Christ is receiving the gospel, according to the Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Believing is receiving Christ by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). We are believing Christ died for our sins and he is risen from the dead.
