I had two interesting conversations today with believers. After both, it led me to wonder whether the role I was playing in the first conversation was the same role as that of the questioner in the second conversation.

The first was with someone who kept saying that God knows our hearts and the hearts of all people, which he does. However, she didn’t seem to think it matter what one believed (although I have no doubt she believed in Jesus). It doesn’t matter what you believe so long as you are sincere. God knows our hearts (yes), but it doesn’t matter what is in them or who we claim to follow. This was salvation by faith, but faith in what?

The second was another believer but one who took the opposite extreme. We had different opinions on a minor issue of doctrine (predestination) which led him to ask question if I was saved (he already knew I was a vicar). I responded that I didn’t think it mattered if he thought I was saved, just if I did and if God did. His position was that the right doctrine is crucial, as “our doctrine is who we are”. Not having ‘the right’ doctrine led him to question my salvation. This is salvation by doctrine.

Doctrine is important, but doctrine alone doesn’t save. Faith is important, but faith in what is important. The biblical position is that it does matter who we have faith in as we need to know who to follow. Jesus is the one to follow as he is the one who came from the Father. Equally, the biblical position is that we a saved by grace due to the work of Jesus. But we are not saved through our understanding of doctrine.

The woman who had been ill for 12 years (in Mark 5) and who crept up behind Jesus to touch his cloak and be healed performed an action of faith. Jesus’ response was, “Daughter, your faith has healed you, go in peace.” The thief who died on the cross next to Jesus (Luke 23) saw Jesus next to him and uttered a statement of faith “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom”. Jesus’ response was not to quiz the man about his doctrine what sort of kingdom he expected, it was instead, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). His action of faith is responded to with an assurance of salvation.

We are saved through faith in Jesus. Who our faith is in is important. Our understanding is important. However, it is Jesus who saves us, not anything else.