The Bible sets before us the Son of God as the object of faith. “You believe in God, believe also in me.” “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.” And it sets before us the Word of God as the source of faith, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” In short, God’s plan is for men to come to faith in Jesus (the Word made flesh) through the written Word. This is the foundation of theology — and salvation.
Despite the clarity of the Bible on the subject, man has come up with a thousand things he confuses with faith. He funnels seekers into membership or baptism or some feeling or experience. This is misguided. Faith is not trusting a church. It is not trusting a baptism, a prayer, or some other form. Faith is not feelings, nor is it based on feelings. It is not having an experience, nor is it based on having an experience. Trusting such things is trusting flesh and blood. It is trusting human institutions and man-induced emotions.
Faith is trusting God — in particular, trusting his Word. It is trusting what he says about our state — we are condemned sinners. It is trusting his promise of eternal blessing for faith and his threat of eternal judgment for unbelief. It is trusting his testimony that man is saved in Jesus ALONE — through faith in his person and cross.