Michael S. Heiser on the nature of saving faith
Essentially trust that grasps Christ
"This state of belief was demonstrated not by moral (behavioral) perfection, but by the heart's loyalty to the true God / the true God incarnate." — drmsh.com. And: "scripture is absolutely clear that our works do not merit — and that's a key word — or earn God's grace and love... works are the result. Faith and works validate genuine faith."
THE POSITION
Frames saving faith as believing loyalty — trust in the true God that shows itself as allegiance rather than as moral performance. Works are the validation of genuine faith and never its meritorious cause, and the object of faith is what does the saving work.
8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
9 OTHERS HOLD THIS
ABOUT THIS FIGURE
Old Testament and Semitic languages scholar (PhD, Wisconsin, 2004), Scholar-in-Residence at Faithlife/Logos, and host of the Naked Bible Podcast. Argued that the Hebrew Bible assumes a real divine council of lesser elohim under Yahweh, and held that this reading defends rather than threatens the deity of Christ.
Cite this page
"Michael S. Heiser on the nature of saving faith", Examined Doctrine, July 2026 edition, https://examineddoctrine.com/position/heiser/saving-faith (archived at https://examineddoctrine.com/editions/2026-07/position/heiser/saving-faith).