What does it mean to believe with the heart?
Believing with the heart means trusting with the innermost being, not merely holding head knowledge, that Christ died for the world and for oneself. It is the heart-faith by which a person believes unto righteousness, and when the Gospel is believed, God imputes His righteousness to the believer.
Les teaches that believing with the heart calls for self-examination: a person must ask whether they are only believing a head knowledge or believing with all their innermost being that Christ died for the world and for them. With the heart, man believes unto righteousness, and that righteousness is imputed. As soon as one believes the Gospel, God imputes His righteousness. Les connects this to Adam and Eve being clothed with coats of skins, which covered them with righteousness, and to Isaiah 61, where one is clothed with the garments of righteousness. He also connects it to Romans 3, where Paul says the same happens unto all that believe. The result is that God can clothe the believer with the righteousness of Christ.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
More Questions
What does Romans 10 mean by believing with the heart rather than the head?
In Romans 10, the belief that leads to righteousness is with the heart, not with the head or mind.
How can I tell if my faith is just head knowledge?
Believers should periodically self-examine whether they only have head knowledge or truly believe with their innermost being that Christ died for the world and for them.