Benefits of Faith in Christ

Faith in God shapes and changes life in many ways, especially our behavior, mental state, and human relationships.  

Behavior and mental state are greatly influenced by our thinking and attitude.  Over time, repeated Christ-based thinking and practice reshapes the brain through neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to adapt, change, and reorganize.

The teachings of Jesus Christ emphasize purpose based on love, service, and eternal perspective.  These elements stabilize identity and direct our lives.  The very basic commandment to know, love, and serve God and others gives us a purpose for why we are here, what matters, and where things are going.  Without a firm purpose, people often drift or struggle in life. 

Belief in God makes a great impact on changing, adapting, and reorganizing your thoughts and life.   It is like upgrading your brain (central computer) with a faster disk drive.  Faith gives a framework for understanding life: why you are here, what matters, and where things are going.  Without that, people often drift or feel empty.  With it, even ordinary or difficult moments can feel meaningful.   In Christianity, Christ teaches that purpose rooted in love, service, and eternal perspective stabilizes personal identity and direction.

Christianity provides a moral structure with guidelines for right and wrong.  It teaches forgiveness instead of bitterness, discipline instead of impulse, responsibility instead of avoidance.  Faith in God strengthens handling the struggles of life.  Faith reduces anxiety and increases hope.  It does not remove hardship, but changes handling the hardship in a better way. 

Surrendering control to God is a way to reduce anxiety and cultivate peace by accepting that some outcomes are beyond our personal influence.  This encourages focusing on your own actions and virtues while trusting that a larger plan is unfolding.

John 3:16 tells us that believing in Jesus Christ provides us with eternal life.  Eternal life is most often interrupted and acted on as life in heaven upon earthly death, but eternity starts from this very moment, not at earthly death.  Biblical scripture James 2:26 tells us faith is dead without works.  Revelations 12:12 tells us the dead are judged according to what they have done.

Belief and faith are related but have distinct nuances: belief refers to mental acceptance of a claim, while faith implies a deeper sense of trust, loyalty, or spiritual commitment.  One can believe a fact is true without necessarily having faith in its significance or reliability.

Google search of the gospels reports Christ told us 19 times to repent.  Never once did he say He came to die for our sins, but certainly told us to repent.

A summary of the benefits of faith in God follows:

1. Gives us purpose
2. Gives a framework for understanding life
3. Provides a moral structure
4. Strengthens handling the struggles of life
5. Reduces anxiety
6. Increases hope
7. Encourages focusing on your own actions
8. Provides us with eternal life

 But it requires action on our part:

1. Thoughts of God and His commands
2. Study of Biblical scripture
3. Putting scripture into actions
4. Forgiveness
5. Discipline
6. Taking responsibility

Gerald Schmidt   

www.WhoOrWhatShapesYourLIfe.blog 

260416 Faith in Christ