Why is faith in Christ's person and work essential for salvation?

The absolute necessity of faith in both Christ's person and work is foundational for salvation in Reformed theology. This is because Christ's work—His death and resurrection—gains its redemptive efficacy from who He is: the God-man. As Walter Pendleton illustrates, believing merely in the historical acts of Jesus without acknowledging His divine personhood leads to a deficient faith. Colossians 1:16-17 affirms that all things were created by Him and for Him, indicating that His divine authority is crucial for salvation. Moreover, faith must embrace both aspects; if one properly understands Christ's person as both fully God and fully man, they will find assurance in His atoning work, which reconciles believers to God. Thus, genuine faith acknowledges Christ in His fullness, ensuring salvation and the entry into God's rest.