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."
Faith receives Christ (John 1:11-12). Believers come to Christ by faith, through the Spirit of grace working in our hearts. The Spirit of God leads us to confess that Jesus is Lord (1 Corinthians 12:3).
Faith receives eternal life as the gift of God in Christ (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 is receiving Christ in a covenant relationship with God (Hebrews 13:20-21).
Faith receives Christ by God's grace (Ephesians 2:8-10). Christ works in us and through us, to the praise of God's 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). Faith is resting in Christ by grace alone, to do in us what we could never do alone.
Faith receives Christ through the gospel, according to the Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Faith in Christ comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). Faith receives Christ, who died for our sins. He is risen from the dead to give us eternal life.
