What does it mean to "trust" Jesus?

Q: "All of this sounds really great but I have never understood what it means to 'trust Jesus.'"

our A: First, trusting in Christ means that you're not relying upon yourself, but on Christ to get you into heaven. We cannot get to heaven by doing good deeds, things that we think will make us acceptable to God. Rather, we need to be forgiven of our sins, realizing that Jesus died for our sins. And what He did for us on the cross is the only way to have our sins forgiven. The Bible says...

• "All the [Old Testament] prophets testify about him [Jesus] that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."¹
  
  
• "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace."²

After someone trusts in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, a new life begins -- "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"³ The person becomes a follower of Christ. As a follower of Christ, a person relies upon Jesus in other areas of their life, not just for forgiveness of sin.

For example, Jesus said that He is the Teacher.⁴ He told His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit to them, and that the Holy Spirit would teach them all things⁵ and guide them into all truth.⁶ God teaches a person His ways and His truth. In terms of our values and our behavior, He cleans out stuff in our thinking that's not right, and shows us from His perspective what is correct. This is another way in which God loves us.

He is the One who knows all truth, and He wants us to build our lives on His truth. Jesus said...

• "Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock."⁷
  
  
• "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."⁸
  
  
• "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."⁹

The most important part of following Christ is to learn from Him. By relying on Christ as our Teacher, He guides us into living a new life that is according to His will and is according to truth. He shows us how to live, and will even guide us in how to pray. When we learn what He wants from us, then we rely on His strength and power (the Holy Spirit) to do those things.

Following Christ is all about relying upon Him. He told His disciples, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."¹⁰

Footnotes: (1) Acts 10:43 (2) Ephesians 1:7 (3) 2Cor. 5:17 (4) John 13:13-14 (5) John 14:26 (6) John 16:13 (7) Matthew 7:24-25 (8) John 8:31-32 (9) Matthew 11:28-29 (10) John 15:5