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 to believe and trust someone or something by giving them our faithful allegiance.

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.