When I hear someone say “by faith alone,” I sometimes ask them to define what faith is. Often, they’re stumped and can’t give a cogent answer.

Although it includes the concepts of “believing” and “trusting,” if you study the Greek word for faith in the New Testament, it ultimately means a faithful allegiance to someone or something.

So “putting our faith in Christ” is far more than what we feel, think, or believe.

It’s also our loyalties …

And how we act in fidelity to them.

When I took the time to study this decades ago, it changed my whole theological framework.

It also finally resolved so many theological debates that revolve around oft-repeated slogans …

Without understanding the underlying words as Scripture actually meant them.